Hilo

August 19, 2016 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Puna Plantation Hawai‘i, Ltd

He bought Puna Plantation Hawai‘i, a papaya farm, around the time of the eruption in the Kapoho area of Puna in 1959. Puna Plantation Hawai‘i Ltd became the parent company name for various entities; the most prominent dba bears his name.

Financial records note the company services include: management consulting services; eating place; grocery store Food and beverage industries, Beverage processing, Meat and poultry and seafood processing …

… Fruits and vegetables processing, Dairy and eggs processing, Grains and sugar and oils and fat processing, New business startup consultation services, Corporate mergers consultation services.

Of the 16 officers of parent company Puna Plantation Hawai‘i Ltd., three bear the family surname, but others also are family members.

The company “is held by the family. However, in our organization we do have … nonfamily executives who have been with our organization for a long time have been with (us) so long that we consider them family.” (Company President; Star Advertiser)

Back when the initial company was formed, he and a competitor had identical initials for their company names; merchandise for the competitor, K Tahara store, were marked ‘KT’ at Hilo harbor.

To avoid confusion of deliveries of the goods, his shipments were marked ‘KTA,’ to distinguish them (the ‘A’ has no other apparent significance.) The initials carried on as the company’s name.

Let’s look back …

Koichi, at the age of 17, left his home in Hiroshima, Japan, seeking the opportunities American offered. With the intention to get to San Francisco, he landed first in Hawai‘i on January 14, 1907. He stayed, and found work at Heʻeia Sugar Plantation at Kāne’ohe.

Taniyo, a woman he knew from Japan, arrived in the Islands a few years later; they were married July 7, 1913. A couple years later they moved to Hilo, where Koichi attended a school to learn English and bookkeeping. S Hata, a wholesaling company, hired Koichi as a bookkeeper after he finished his courses.

Their first son, Yukiwo, was born in 1916. That year also marked the founding of K Taniguchi Shoten (store) – a grocery and dry goods store Koichi and Taniyo started to support their son.

They bought a two-story building on Lihiwai Street in Waiākea along the banks of the Wailoa River. The Taniguchis lived upstairs and ran their store downstairs in approximately 500-square feet of space. (Kimura; HRGM)

In the beginning, Taniyo minded the store while watching the couple’s first-born son, Yukiwo. Koichi Taniguchi would deliver orders to Hilo families by bicycle, or customers could come pick up their orders.

Over time, the store’s name changed to K Taniguchi Store, K. Taniguchi Supermarket and, finally, KTA Super Stores. KTA employs about 800 people companywide, making it one of the largest private-sector employers on the island.

The first expansion was in 1939 when the Keawe street store opened in downtown Hilo. Eventually, the company expanded to its present size being a six-store, island wide supermarket chain.

The initial store in Waiākea was lost during the 1946 tsunami. After that operations were consolidated in the downtown Hilo store.

KTA opened in Kailua-Kona in 1959, under the banyan tree, just mauka of the Kailua pier. The Pū‘āinakō store, now its flagship store, on the southern outskirts of Hilo opened in 1966.

In response to the decline in sugar, and anticipating that sugar workers at closing plantations might stay in agriculture, KTA initiated the Mountain Apple Brand of grown-in-Hawai`i foods.

KTA has established many firsts in Hawaii’s grocery industry over the years, claiming to have been the state’s first supermarket to have an in-store bakery, at the Pū‘āinakō store; the first to install UPC bar code scanners at all checkouts; and the first to install and operate energy-saving photovoltaic systems, at its Waimea and Kailua-Kona stores.

Five of the company’s six stores are KTA Super Stores, while the sixth location is a sister-store called Waikoloa Village Market. (Lots of information here is from KTA Super Stores, Engle (Star Advertiser) and Kimura (HRGM.))

KTA now is led by third-generation chairman and CEO Barry Taniguchi and fourth-generation President and COO Toby Taniguchi. Along with third- and fourth-generation family members Lon Taniguchi, Maryan Miyada, Andrew Chun and Derek Taniguchi, they ensure the legacy of Koichi and Taniyo Taniguchi will continue.

Follow Peter T Young on Facebook

Follow Peter T Young on Google+

Follow Peter T Young on LinkedIn

Follow Peter T Young on Blogger

Original_K_Taniguchi_Shoten-1921

Waiakea_Makai-DAGS_Reg3032-1937

KTA-Keawe Opening-1939

KTA-Puainako Ground Breaking-1965

KTA-Puainako-1966

KTA-Taniguchi

KTA-Taniyo and Koichi Taniguchi with their grandchildren. L-R-Lon, Maryan, and Barry-HRGM

KTA-dry goods

March 8, 2016 by Peter T Young 1 Comment

Koehnen

Passengers and cargo landed at Hilo in the surf along the beach until about 1863, when a wharf was constructed at the base of present day Waianuenue Street; the wooden wharf was replaced by an iron pile wharf in 1865.

The northern side of the bay became a focal point for the community’s trade and commerce. During this time, Hilo was ranked as the third most frequented port for whaling vessels in need of repair and re-provisioning.

By 1874, Hilo ranked as the second largest population center in the islands, and within a few years shortly thereafter Hilo with its fertile uplands, plentiful water supply, and good port became a major center for sugarcane production and export.

In 1910, H Hackfeld built a warehouse and related building, a reinforced concrete building, spanning the entire block along Kamehameha Avenue, the two-story Hackfeld Building was the most substantial building in downtown Hilo when completed.

William Hardy ‘Doc’ Hill opened the Hill Optical Co in 1917 and added his jewelry business in 1919, and both his optical and jewelry businesses were among the largest in the Territory.

When he was elected to the Territorial House of Representatives in 1928, Doc sold his optical and jewelry businesses to his bookkeeper, Friederich Koehnen. (Narimatsu)

Friederich Wilheim “Fritz” Koehnen came to Hilo from Germany in 1909 to work for H Hackfeld Company (which later went on to become Amfac, one of the “Big-Five” corporations in Hawaii.)

In 1929, Koehnen and his wife, German-born Katherine Bocker, bought Hill Optical. They shut down the optical operation and started selling silverware, fine china, crystal and giftware as F Koehnen Ltd. (Laitinen)

Their daughter, Helie, who worked at the store from a young age, starting in high school, and joined full time during World War II when she met and married Carl Rohner, a U.S. military officer stationed on the island who came back to join the business after the war.

Rohner opened the furniture business in 1946 as Fritz took ill with pneumonia. He handed over the reins to his son, Fred J. Koehnen, who left college after the war to take over the business.

Koehnen oversaw the jewelry and giftware division; Rohner oversaw furniture sales. After moving to the current location in 1955, which was purchased from Amfac, Fred left the day-to-day operations to Carl and Helie but remained on the firm’s board of directors. (Bishop)

“Normal business day for me was to open up, take a coffee break shortly thereafter at the old Hilo Drug Co. lunch counter. Great place to swap info and tall tales with your business contemporaries. … I was on “the floor” as a salesperson most of the day.”

“In a family business with a small work force, being a manager just meant doing double duty in both sales and administration. You did the office work whenever you could. If that involved taking work home, so be it.”

“My father had a bookkeeping/accounting background, so he made sure his family learned that aspect of business first. Our bookkeeping, including the tax returns, was all done in-house.”

“In the retail business back then you knew just about all of your customers by name. Good service and personal relationships were the things that kept you in business!”

“Business in those days was based on trust. A man’s word was his bond and a handshake every bit as binding as a written contract. Most retail stores, ours included, carried charge accounts for customers. While some banks offered “charge cards,” today’s credit and debit cards were unheard of and most people carried little cash.” (Koehnen)

In 1957, the company bought the Hackfield building at the corner of Kamehameha and Waianuenue avenues in downtown Hilo and the store has called the building home ever since.

In the late 1960s F. Koehnen Ltd spun off its retail operation, which was renamed Koehnen’s Inc., leaving F Koehnen Ltd in charge of real estate holdings. (Laitinen)

After 83-years and three generations in business, Koehnen’s closed at the end of 2012; “We’re closing now not because we have to, but because it’s an appropriate time. We ran out of family to take over.” (Koehnen; Bishop, HTH)

Follow Peter T Young on Facebook

Follow Peter T Young on Google+

Follow Peter T Young on LinkedIn

Follow Peter T Young on Blogger

Koehnen’s-PBN

koehnen-building-name

koehnens_building

Hilo street scene-H_Hackfeld on right corner-PP-29-5-016

Hilo Drug Co., Ltd. near left and American Factors across street-Hilo-PP-29-3-049-1928

Amfac-Koehnen Building

American Factors (formerly H.Hackfield)-PP-7-5-020-00001

Waianuenue Street, Hilo, Hawaii from Hilo Landing-(HSA)-PPWD-5-2-007

Hilo-Landing-PP-29-5-027-1882

Hilo Landing, Hilo, Hawai‘i, early 1890s

Historic_Downtown_Hilo_Walking_Tour-map

February 18, 2016 by Peter T Young 1 Comment

Volcano Stables and Transportation Company

“Following the three casualties on Volcano Road near Glenwood, because of the overturning of the automobile of the Volcano Stables Company; it is necessary to somewhat decrease the numbers of cars so the road isn’t disorderly as we know it is narrow.”

“It is also important for the drivers to be cautious when driving, lest there be more casualties like these. When one driver wants to overtake another, that is stupid; be very careful in every way, whether the road is wide or narrow; because that is how this Hawaiian met with disaster, and took two haole women as victims.”

“Think, O Drivers, and drive appropriately on narrow portions of the road so that you don’t get into accidents and lives are lost.”

“This will be a reason world travellers will not often come here to Hilo, because of this kind of dreadful happenings that are heard of, and it is the very first in the history of Hilo.” (Hoku o Hawaii, March 4, 1915)

“The Volcano Stables and Transportation Company was incorporated (in 1873) … in the town of Hilo, and owing to the limited railway facilities of the Island of Hawaiʻi, has grown to be the largest transportation company in the Islands.”

“The stables of the company are located on Waianuenue street, extending back to King street, and occupy an area 80×230 feet.“

“Besides a complete livery business the company operates draying, stage and express systems which extend from Hilo to Kawaihae and from Hilo to Honuʻapo in Kaʻū, practically covering all of the most Important places upon the Island.”

“In addition to the main stables the company has extra buildings and stables midway between Hilo and Waiākea where the stock used in draying, trucking and building roads is kept.” (Evening Bulletin, March 25, 1909)

It is “by far the most comprehensive institution of its kind in the entire group. Its service includes all kinds of livery, automobiles of all sizes, stages, vehicles, horses, etc.”

“Besides maintaining at its Hilo headquarters a large garage, capable of handling all kinds of repair work, it holds the agency for the White and Ford autos. It has the largest stock of auto goods, material and parts in the Islands.” (Kinney)

“The company owns a stage line which meets the train at Glenwood, conveying the passengers to the Volcano House and from the Volcano House to and from Honuʻapo, where the steamer Mauna Loa is met.”

“Another stage line carries passengers, parcels and mall to Laupāhoehoe each day, while stages cover the ground between Laupāhoehoe and Kawaihae three times a week. At Kawaihae connections are made with the island steamers Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea.”

“Ho’olulu Park, which was constructed by the Volcano Stables five years ago, has recently been sold to the Hawaii Jockey Club. Mr. C. E. Wright is the manager of the Volcano Stables and Transportation Company having been connected with the company since its incorporation.” (Evening Bulletin, March 25, 1909)

Established to transport freight and passengers, the Volcano Stable & Transportation Co, also owned the largest garage and auto shops in the Territory of Hawaiʻi and served as agent for such cars as the Ford, Studebaker, the King, and the Kleiber truck. (Mid-Pacific Magazine)

They also maintained branch stations at Hakalau, Laupāhoehoe, Honokaʻa, Waimea, Kawaihae, Glenwood, the Volcano House, Pahala, Honuʻapo and Waiohinu. “These not only furnish livery of all kinds, and serve as relay stations for the extensive stage service conducted by the concern, but also carry a full line of gasoline, oils, and the auto supplies most generally needed.” (Kinney)

“Owing to the constantly changing rates, which are becoming cheaper as the rapid improvement of the roads makes travel less expensive, it is not practicable to give rates, but it may be stated, without exaggeration, that the auto rates are as cheap as those anywhere on the mainland.”

“The following rates may, however, be mentioned: Volcano—Auto trip, includes drive to main points about Hilo, crater, tree moulds, fern forest, and return, $5 a person.”

“When a longer trip is desired, giving more time in which to inspect the various interesting places, including Kilauea-iki, Goat Crater, Seven Craters, etc., rates are: Second day, $7 a person; third day, $9 a person. Puna—Auto trips. to Olaa, Pahoa. Pohoiki, Opihikao and Kapoho (one trip), $12.50 a person. To Olaa, Pahoa, Kaimu and Kalapana (one trip), $12.50 a person.” (Kinney)

Reportedly, John Maʻa had his own livery stable (horses/carriages for tours) in 1873, then sold it to JR Wilson in 1891 upon Maʻa’s retirement. (Narimatsu)

JR Wilson owned the Volcano Stables in Hilo and from August, 1893, operated a daily stage between Hilo and Volcano House, dropping off mail at Olaʻa, where the Half-Way House was located.

Mail was handled by Mr. McIntosh at the Richardson store in Mountain View before the post office was established at the Olaa store on May 1, 1894.

JR Ryan, manager of the store, actually ran the office for JW Mason. Mail was delivered to residences along the Volcano Road and other residents had boxes at the Olaʻa store. (Hawaiian Stamps)

“From the Herald is it learned that JW Mason put through the deal by which ownership of Wilson’s Volcano Stables passed over to a local syndicate. These are officers of the new hui: President, C. C. Kennedy; vice-president, John A. Scott; treasurer pro tem, FM Wakefield; secretary, JW Mason; auditor, W. W. Goodale; manager, Robert Forrest.”

“Mr. Wilson will remain in charge one month before going to California with his wealth, consisting of close to $50,000 made in nine years. Others than those, named as officers interested in the company are: EN Holmer, L Turner, CH Fairer, Quni, G Ross, CC McCIennan, Henry Deacon and JT Moir.” (Hawaiian Gazette, May 6, 1898)

Follow Peter T Young on Facebook

Follow Peter T Young on Google+

Follow Peter T Young on LinkedIn

Follow Peter T Young on Blogger

Volcano_Garage-Volcano_Stables-MidPacific Magazine

A_Road_To_The-Volcano-(Mid-PacificMagazine)-1913

Fern Forest Road to the volcano from Punaluu, Hawaii Island-PP-28-13-008

Road (new) to volcano-(HHS-6032)

View from Olaa-Volcano-Rd-DAGS1665a-1892

Volcano_Road-Bertram-(DMY)

Volcano_Garage-Volcano_Stables-Mid-Pacific Magazine

September 1, 2015 by Peter T Young Leave a Comment

Hilo Hanakāhi, i ka ua Kanilehua
Hilo of Hanakāhi, where the rain is in the lehua forest
(Naumu)

Each island was divided into several moku (districts,) of which there are six in the island of Hawaiʻi. There is a district called Kona on the lee side and one called Koʻolau on the windward side of almost every island. (Alexander) The moku of Hawaiʻi Island are: Kona, Kohala, Hāmākua, Puna, Kaʻū and Hilo.

In old Hawaiʻi, it was the nature of ‘place’ that shaped the practical, cultural and spiritual view of the Hawaiian people. The name chosen might reflect the physical characteristics of the place, it might recall some event which occurred there, or it might refer to the god or gods which invested that spot.

The meaning of a particular Hawaiian place name might have been evident to all, or understandable only to those intimately familiar with the place and its history. Often times a single place name carried more than one meaning. In addition to its easily discernible descriptive meaning, a place name might also possess a kaona, a hidden meaning.

The name ‘Hilo’ carries several meanings.

Hilo is the name of a renowned Polynesian navigator who is believed to have discovered this coast. His chief, to honor the feat, named the area for him.

Hilo means “twisted,” like a thread or rope as in spun, drawn out and twisted into thread.

Hilo is the name of the first day of the month according to Hawaiian calculation (the first night of the new moon – the first thin, twisted sliver of light.) (It was a favorable day, and the potato, melon and banana seeds planted by the farmer on this day would bear well. (Fornander))

While we call the district and broad Bay Hilo, there are three parts of Hilo: Hilo Pali Kū, Hilo One and Hilo Hanakāhi.

Hilo Pali Kū means “Hilo of the standing cliffs” and refers to the northern part of this moku, where the shore is mainly high, rocky cliffs (extending from the cliffs on Wailuku River to Ka‘ula.)

Hilo One or “Sandy Hilo,” is a stretch of black sand beach fronting the downtown area ( extending from Kanukuokamanu (at the mouth of Wailoa Stream) to Wailuku River.)

Hilo Hanakāhi (the area from Waiākea to the Puna boundary,) named after a great chief of Hilo, is the area south of Kanukuokamanu, where the Wailoa pond meets the ocean. Mokuola, also called Coconut Island, sits in the bay. (Kumukahi) Hanakāhi was renowned for the peace and prosperity of his reign.

Hilo has a long history, and already was populated when the first European visitors arrived. It has been the residence of chiefs and the home of legendary heroes.

The song Hilo Hanakāhi names various places on the island of Hawaii and things for which they were noted: rain, pandanus, wind and sea. The listing is more or less in clockwise direction. The annual makahiki processions went in this order. ʻUmi-a-Liloa was strongly advised by his priests to travel in this fashion.

Pukui notes, when seeking knowledge of the past, to travel with your right (strong) arm on the side of the mountains, where strength lies. Journeys for relaxation or to lessen grief, journey with the sea on the left side, to wash away sorrows and tribulations. (Elbert & Mahoe)

The song, Hilo Hanakāhi, takes the listener on a tour around the Big Island of Hawaiʻi; leaving from Hilo you are taken through eight different districts and learn the physical attributes of each: Hilo, rain in the lehua forest …

… Puna fragrant hala blossoms; Kaʻū , wind scattered dust; Kona, land of calm seas; Kawaihae, a sea that whispers; Kohala, a gusty wind; Waimea, a cold pelting rain and Hāmākua, cliffs where the bird soars, returning to the rain in the lehua forest. (Naumu)

Follow Peter T Young on Facebook

Follow Peter T Young on Google+

Follow Peter T Young on LinkedIn

Follow Peter T Young on Blogger

Hilo-1891-Map_over_Google_Earth

View_of_Hilo,_Mauna_Kea_and_Mauna_Loa_in_the_1820s

Hilo_illustration,_c._1870s

‘Hilo_Bay’,_oil_painting_by_Joseph_Nawahi,_circa_1868

‘View_of_Hilo_Bay’,_oil_painting_by_Joseph_Nawahi,_1888

WLA_haa_Hilo_from_the_Bay_by_James_Gay_Sawkins_1852

View_of_Hilo,_Mauna_Kea_and_Mauna_Loa-Bingham-in_the_1820s

Ke_Kūlanakauhaleʻo_Hilo,_1874

Hilo

Hilo-DMY

Hilo_by_Harvey_Hitchcock-between 1871 and 1891

Edward_Bailey_-_’View_of_Hilo_Bay’,_oil_on_canvas,_c._1875

Charles_Furneaux_-_’Hilo’,_oil_on_canvas,_c._1880s

Near Hilo wharf. Mauna Kea in the background.-(HSA)-PPWD-5-2-011-1895

Beach scene at Hilo Bay, Hawaii-(HSA)-PPWD-5-2-009

April 21, 2015 by Peter T Young 1 Comment

Hilo Yacht Club

While the Club’s website suggests it formed in 1913, the January 20, 1897 issue of Pacific Commercial Advertiser noted, “The past week has recorded another innovation in Hilo the organization of the Hilo Yacht Club …”

It will “aim to encourage aquatic sports and athletics. The initiatory meeting was held on Saturday evening, the 9th (1897)… Within five days the membership roll included 75 names…”

The original site of the Club was the CC Kennedy home built before 1900 and situated near Reeds Bay. The Club maintained a small boat house and several boats to support the lively interest in competitive rowing. During the early years the Club entered rowing competitions in both Hilo and Honolulu against Honolulu rowing crews.

By 1919 the growth and success of the Club prompted members to begin a drive to replace the Kennedy house. Likewise, members concerned with the potential liability from the Club’s indebtedness wanted the protection of the corporation and incorporation was accomplished on December 18, 1919.

Then, expansion took place.

“Architect Davis of the firm Ripley & Davis is preparing plans for the Hilo Yacht Club building, which is to be erected on the Cocoanut Island side of the Hilo Wharf. There is much enthusiasm among the members of the newly formed club and all are anxious to get into their club quarters.” (Star-bulletin, August 16, 1913)

On September 10, 1937 the Yacht Club’s lease came up for renewal. Charles C Pietsch, a prominent Honolulu realtor, outbid the Yacht Club trustees after spirited bidding.

The Inter-Island Steamship Company, the Hilo Hotel and Doris Duke Cromwell were among the possible interested parties.

By April 1938, the community learned that a group of Hilo businessmen headed by Senator WH “Doc” Hill, a Yacht Club member, was negotiating a lease from Pietsch for the purpose of building the Naniloa Hotel.

Having lost the lease, the Hilo Yacht Club, in 1939, moved, again, relocated and renovated the Keaukaha home of Frank Harlocker, on 2.84-acres. (Wilson)

Frank Arakawa, county architect, was hired to draw up plans and specifications for a combination dance pavilion and badminton court, a bar room, alterations to the former Harlocker home and a swimming pool and bathhouse.

The Clubhouse included the new pavilion and the former Harlocker home. The remodeled home included a reception room, dining room, kitchen, ladies’ dressing room, and men’s smoking room.

In 1939 the Club membership included: 106-resident members, 21-lady members, two-junior members, four-life members, one-honorary member and 66-nonresident members.

Just before 7 am on April 1, 1946 a devastating tsunami hit the Island of Hawaiʻi; the water rose up to the level of the steps. Staff was able to escape by the back roads the tsunami washed away all buildings on the site of the Yacht Club.

A bathhouse was quickly rebuilt at the swimming pool, and by July the swimming pool was reopened. The Clubhouse was not so easily restored. The Yacht Club made arrangements with the Girl Scouts to use their clubhouse (until 1949 when the present clubhouse was completed.)

I recently attended a function at the Hilo Yacht Club; unlike prior days (with a ‘boathouse’ and ‘several boats,’) there were no boats in sight.

It seems the mission of organizing a ‘social club’ promoting ‘other’ pastimes is being fulfilled.

The club website notes, “The recreational focal point of the Club is the spacious ocean view pool enjoyed throughout the year. For those who prefer outdoor sports, the club maintains three tennis courts, a black sand volleyball court and a new Fitness Center.”

A recent Club newsletter notes current membership includes: 511-resident members, 38-allied members, 20-honorary members and 55-nonresident members (624-total.) (Lots of information and images from Hilo Yacht Club.)

Follow Peter T Young on Facebook

Follow Peter T Young on Google+

Follow Peter T Young on LinkedIn

Follow Peter T Young on Blogger