Day 326: Mā'alaea General Store, Wailuku, Hawai’i
📌APIA Every Day (326) - The Mā'alaea General Store was established in 1910 and was operated by various Japanese immigrants living on Maui. Originally, the shop was constructed and managed by the Maui Drygoods & Grocery Company with land leased from the Wailuku Sugar Company. By 1914, due to low sales, the Mā'alaea store was eventually sublet to local Japanese merchant, Sukijo Nagatani. For 90 years following this development, the store remained under the management of Japanese families who continued to serve the local Mā'alaea community.
Between 1918 and 1922, the Mā'alaea General Store was purchased by Yosaburo and Masu Tsuboi, who renamed it the “Tsuboi Shoten.” The Tsubois recognized that the local Japanese fishing community needed a place to sell their wares, and operated the business selling general merchandise and fresh fish. In the late 1920s and early 1930s, several updates were made on the property including the expansion of the store and the addition of a restaurant, kitchen, warehouse, and an adjacent residence for employees.
After World War II and the passing of Yosaburo, Masu sold the store in 1946 to her nephew, James Uno, who had previously been living in Sacramento, California. After being incarcerated at Tule Lake during the war period, Uno had opted not to return to his home city and move to Hawai’i instead. Soon after taking over the business, Uno married Grace Miyamoto with whom he lived on the premises and raised three children with. The store continued to be a successful enterprise, often referred to as “Maui’s Oldest Marine Supplier,” selling marine hardware and general goods.
In the 1990s, commercial developments were steadily replacing buildings located along Mā'alaea’s shore. This included the construction of a new shopping mall at the site of a former Japanese shrine, negatively impacting the general store’s business. Although the Uno family continued to operate the shop despite this challenge, the business was eventually closed in 2005. Later, local businessman Dominick Marino, purchased the property with the intention of restoring the building and preserving the Japanese American history associated with it. In 2013, the site was reopened as the Mā'alaea General Store & Cafe.
In the same year, the store was added to the National Register of Historic Places in recognition of its significance to the early history of Japanese American commerce in the region. Today, the building is the last remaining wooden structure in Mā'alaea connected to the local historic Japanese fishing community. It now operates as a deli, cafe, and grocery store, continuing to serve the residents of Mā'alaea.
Written by Avneet Dhaliwal
LEARN MORE:
NPS Gallery: Mā'alaea General Store NRHP Nomination Form
National Park Service: Case Study: Mā'alaea General Store, Hawai’i
Maui News: Ma‘alaea General Store & Cafe expands horizon | News, Sports, Jobs
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