Here is an e-mail I received from Wendell's good friend Steven Kawada in response to my recent post,
Morning in Kaimuki. Steven is uncanny when it comes to remembering the good ole days, and I often call him up when I'm trying to remember stuff from back then.
Enjoyed your recent photos of Kaimuki. I lived where Kaimuki Dry Goods now stands from about 1959 to 1964, so your pics brought back good memories.
I think Toys & Joys was once also an S.H. Kress store. At the other end of the block, across Queen Theater, was Thrifty Pharmacy (predecessor to ABC Stores, I think). At the other end of the block where Kaimuki Bakery stood, was a drug store, where Gecko Books and Azteca are. I think it was either a Value Drugs or a Rexall. National Dollar (dept store) once stood where Goodwill is located now. A pet shop opened on the other end of the block, across Kaimuki Theater.
Before Okata Bento and Kaimuki Camera, do you remember Aotani's, the okazu-ya/soda fountain? I joined the Kaimuki Hongwanji one year, so I could play on the softball team with my friends. Aotani's was our team sponsor and paid for our tee shirts. People used to ask what Aotani's was, as it was printed in bold letters on the back of our tee shirts. During those days, the Kaimuki Businessmen's Association used to sponsor daily parties, during the Xmas holidays, at the Queen Theater... movies, snacks, magician. prizes, etc. The Kaimuki merchants gave tickets to whoever asked for them. So, my friends and I got to know the businesses as we went from store to store to get tickets for the parties. Those were the good old days, that kids today don't know.
Anyway, thanks for the memories.
Kona was waiting for me in the car so I hurriedly took some quick shots.
Here's the blueberry cream cheese scones. Once in awhile when they're not busy, they'll also make banana scones . . . really, really ono.
I must tell you that once I bought a mochiko chicken bento from off the counter. It gave me and Landon a bad stomach ache. I'll never get it again.
Here's good ole Kona waiting patiently.
This is the Beechwood Smoked Ham with Havarti Cheese ($6.50). It may seem like just an ordinary sandwich, but it has a tiny bit of cranberry chutney on it that turns it into something special. I've actually had it for the last three weekends!
Here's the House Gravlox Appetizer ($7.25). Ono!
