Just wanted to say mahalo and thank you for the great comments and feedback on this video. It's been great reading about all of the places people will miss. 🤙
Hang on, Shirokiya is ... SHUT??? I loved that food court when I was last on 'Oahu in 2015!!! Man, this IS sad. 😥 I just saw this answer, online: Question: What happened to Shirokiya Ala Moana? Answer: Shirokiya closed for business at Ala Moana Center in 2020 and the lease was terminated earlier this year, July 19, 2021
I really miss the Wailana Coffee House, Shirokiya and the Like Like Drive Inn. They were nice places to hang out with some good comfort food. Glad that Zippy's and L & L are expanding to the mainland.
It closed before the pandemic, but the local restaurant I really miss for nostalgia & memories is Hungry Lion. It was a place my son & I used to eat breakfast at once or twice a week on the way to drop him off at school. He’s 30 now, but I can still see him ordering his Portuguese Sausage breakfast and my Sweetbread French Toast like it was yesterday. 😢
You hit the nail on the head. Years ago my grandmother told me to enjoy the life you have in Hawaii. Cherish every location, every restaurant, every person because one day they’re not going to be here. I never quite understood that as a child. Now that I’m older, I truly understand every word she meant.
Yeh, was working Shirokiya security when they closed. The shutdown was longer/more complicated than what was released publicly but it was Tragic. IMO, Char Hung Sut was a bigger mystery/perplexing shock, as was Wailana/Likelike. Tho not in HNL/WKK area, my personal fave that closed was Kawailoa Tavern in Haleiwa. Their prime rib loco moco was KILLAH!
Love’s had a bakery in Aiea/PearlRidge but the store was like a discount store. Lots of my friends who were on food stamps shopped there; there was never judgement. Shirokiya is always going to be my Japanese shopping adventure store. I bought my first KENWOOD stereo there 💕
Albeit it closed years before the pandemic, I still look fondly back at Pearl City Tavern. Great food, but the main attraction for a kid was the Monkey Bar. I still remember being enthralled watching the antics of the squirrel monkeys playing behind the glass. I probably asked my parents countless times if we could take one home.
I am Pearl City High grad 1979. I remember but never gotten the chance to go inside. Remember Pizza Hut was over there also and it shut down before that shut down?
Definitely miss Wailana Coffee House and Flamingos in Pearl City. My family used to pick me up on Saturday nights after I was done with work in Waikiki and one of our favorite places was Wailana Coffee House. Prices were affordable, food was ono and the staff got to know you when you came in. My husband and sons used to go to Flamingos after UH football games and the staff would always recognize them when they came in. Sure miss the old time favorite establishments. Great content as always! Keep it up!
Ohhh, Wailana was awesome! Back in the day in high school, that's where we went after late night outings. Back then, not many places opened late. Parking was very tight though. I used to borrow my dad's Chevy Impala and remember having to squeeze through tight aisles into equally tight spaces. Good times!
My cousins took us there when we visited from the mainland over 40 years ago. Every time my Ohana returned to Honolulu I'd want to return there but sadly didn't.
Hello From Hawaii… No! Not the drive in!! 😩 So sad about all the businesses that were affected by the exaggerated lock down. I hope things will change for the better, soon. Have a beautiful day!!
I really miss the original Shirokiya near Liberty House. Bought every TV that I owned for decades, there. And, if you went after 4 PM, the food court was half-price! They also had a really ono bakery on the first floor.
New Eagle Cafe on Nimitiz closed during the pandemic and that was SO sad! It was our GO TO place. The Hamburger Steak was so delicious, like NO OTHER place! But prior to the pandemic and over the years these old time restaurants closed and we STILL talk about them: Kelly's, Flamingo's, Columbia Inn, Silver Dragon, Bob's Big Boy, Jolly Roger's. Theo's, etc
Unfortunately New Eagle Cafe closed during the pandemic, but it was Eagle Cafe that opened in same location and it is NOT the same. Tried it and will NEVER go back again. Our favorite dishes were awful. Very sad. Trust me, we knew the old NEW Eagle Cafe very well.
Ahh, Wisteria's, KC Drive In, Diner's, Like Like Drive In, etc etc. It's really a strange thing that I miss these so much. Growing up into my teens I went to these places all the time with family and friends, but as I got older didn't really go there more than once or twice a year. I think 'knowing' that they were there and available made everything good and comforting. Knowing that they're gone, ahh.....pretty sure most of us wish we could have them back. Never thought I would miss a Zip Min until Covid.
Thanks! Great Video . I currently reside in Los Angeles but I grew up in Kailua . I was born in San Francisco moved to O’ahu when I was 5 years old . My Mom took us to all of her childhood spots . Where she waitresses in college (King’s Bakery, Like-Like) . She wanted us to form our own experiences down where she calls “Memory Lane”. I was happy I had that opportunity . ALL of my favorite spots are a bygone conclusion. Wong’s Okazuya, Patty”s, Like-Like, Craig’ Bakery . Magoo’s Pizza is still around. Grace’s Drive-Inn was always fulfilling, however anytime I step off of the plane in Hilo, I always ask my brother to take me to the nearest store so I can take a walk down the Cracked-Seed isle… and close my eyes . The smells take me back to a better time . The smells of Li Hing Mui, Mangos and fresh cut Aku transcend time. It’s real magic. Aloha ! 🤙🏾
Here's another six that can be added to your great list . . . they are missed by us all. Libby’s Manapua Naka’s Okazuya KC Drive-Inn Byron’s Drive-Inn Barbque 99 Ali’i Grill I recommend for us all to continue to "SUPPORT LOCAL" restaurants and eateries. Our patronage goes a long way to supporting family ownership of these establishments and their employees.
@@maxfit68906 I forgot about all of the great bakeries that were in Kalihi. Dee-Lite Bakery was great! Going near closing they would discount the daily pastries, and they would have curbside service for their wonderful Thanksgiving pies.
I cannot believe Char Hung Sut is gone. I can remember going as a kid with my family in the mid-60's. Sometimes we could not wait to to go home and just ate it in the car in Chinatown. My mom loved Like Like Drive-inn. I remember in the late 70's they still had car hops. I got such a kick out of the simple communications with the restaurant, using you parking lights.
Very timely video with the recent news about Henry Louis' and the 99 Ranch Market closing down to make way for another home depot. You nailed it at the end, these long time mom and pops are institutions in their communities, and to see one go is a loss worth mourning. On the flip side, happy to see the expansion of businesses like Liliha Bakery and Rainbow Drive in stepping up to compete with larger corporate chains.
Oahu was an eaters paradise. I miss all those places, the deli at Don Quijote, the farmers mkts, the small town plate lunch here and there. I would sometimes hang around family parties at Magic Island hoping for an extra plate and maybe an oxtail soup recipe!
I really missed Char Hung Sut. Loved their yummy manapua with so much meat inside, moist pork hash that you can eat 5 pieces easily and rice cakes… so ono.
I remember reading that we have about 30 million small businesses here in the USA. I've heard that as many as 15 million of those businesses are gone permanently, which is really a disaster. California and New York have been hit hard by business closures. Of course, some new businesses are popping up. Take care!
Okay sorry to see these establishments go but as long as Leonard's Bakery, Rainbow Drive In, Sekiya's Restaurant, and St Louis Drive-In I have something to go to when I come home to visit. I know what you mean about a place not the best place as a restaurant but it was the best place to hang out; it had an ambiance all by itself and it made you feel at home.
I remember when Shirokiya was in the OLD section of Ala Moana...yea same time when could still smoke on the plane! I was devastated when Wisteria closed, but I wasn't living on Oahu. FYI you might want to head on over to Sekiya's across from Kaimuki High School for an old-time experience. I never really liked okazuya food, especially those yellow grease soaked shrimp tempura. My uncle used to always go to Char Hung Sut when he visited from Maui. But once "authentic" dim sum and char siu bao appeared, Char Hung Sut became Manapua1.0. As a final note, when I was a kid the manapua man used to come around the neighborhood in Kaimuki with two containers carried Chinese style on a pole. He had a distinctive doleful cry, "Oh-o-o-o..." and we would rush out of the house to buy half moon, siu mai, and manapua.
Love's Bakery used to be in Kapahulu, where Safeway is now, then moved to Middle Street. It's still available, but is baked by United States Bakery in Portland. Same recipes but mainland company.
I truly enjoyed this video. My mom and dad ran a full fledged grocery store. But when the big chain stores began to invade, we could not compete and closed down, after my dad being in the business 50 years. I lived in Hawaii in the 80's and loved the Thai food. I say stop the big box stores. Home Depot, Costco, etc. have no personal service and hire people who don't even look up to you when they are checking you out. Enjoy your memories and you and your children will make more.
That place was awesome. The plov, bread, and pirozhki. So good and the pelmeni soup. I miss that place. Still got Rada's pirozhki on fort street though. Not the same but still good. 🙂
Howzit🤙from Kentucky. Thanks of your videos. I left Hawaii many years ago and miss it sometimes. Your perspective and presentation are right on and I really like listening to someone who, from one Kaneohe boy to another really knows what he's talking about. Thanks again and keep it up! Dave Knight
Came home from Hawaii. I had a really good time. When I reflect back on the time I spent in Hawaii, I feel sad. I feel sad not because I miss all the fun I had in Hawaii. I feel sad about all the native people who live in Hawaii. Some of those beautiful souls really touched my heart. Struggle their ancestors had to live in those isolated islands never ended. Especially most of the locals still struggle to live in a land which has one of the highest cost of living.
This happened long before the pandemic, but I have never gotten over the loss of Patti's Chinese kitchen in ala moana food court. Manapua is probably my favorite food and of all the manapua on earth, theirs was the best in my opinion. It is sad to see so many local favorites vanish because of the pandemic though. Hawaii just isn't the same without them.
Thanks for bringing back great memories from Hawaii. I used to live in Kailua and miss everything about the island since I moved to California for work. Used to go to Zippy’s, The Shack, Boots & Kimo’s, and for cheap eats-Kapahulu Chop Suey (not sure if it’s still open).
Azteca (mexican resturant near Kaimuki) closed. They had good salsa and I loved the shredded beef chimichanga [not sure if I spelled it right lol]. My mom used to go there when she was younger, and she took me and my sister there when we were little. Family that ran it was lovely and friendly and knew my mom's side for a very long time. I'm sad that it closed down.
@@HelloFromHawaii It's been a really long time since my mother drove past the place at where Azteca used to be at and I haven't been out much anymore since it's the summer and all (haha I just happen to be playing a lot of games and drawing). Couple things I remembered about where it was is that it was right there at a bus-stop and a school is nearby or something, and there was a crack-seed store around the corner. And it's all I remember. And about the mexican food being hard to get part, that's true. Either my mom has to drive all the way to Manoa just to get to another mexican restaurant. There is another place that does serve mexican food. And there's another one, although it's in one of the old towns on the other side of the island.
Sad to hear Char Hung Sut was closed. I miss Okole and Manapua there. November 2019 just before pandemic I visited Honolulu after 12 years break and went to Likelike drive inn and had saimin. Never thought that would be the last chance. Yes I remember Shirokiya dining. It was exactly you described. It was narrow and kind a funny position to have. I went to new Shirokiya food court as well but I missed old one. I miss those familiar places that have already gone. Even I feel there is no point to go back to Honolulu anymore.
Thank goodness Kamehameha bakery didn’t make this list!! That’s our favorite place to hit coming out of the airport in Oahu. We were on Maui and the Big island recently. We noticed sooo many places closed in Hilo :((( so sad to see!
you wouldnt beleive how different it looks now with Home Depot...in fact, if you HATE the crowds and battle for parking, you WILL LOVE the HD that replaced Ranch 99.....
The closing of some of these places really hit home to me. Char Hung Sut always had the best manapuaq and dim sum (aside from Libby's), and when I went there last year and found they had closed, it was really tough. Likelike was always the site of late night dinners for us. I used to be a musician in Waikiki, and we would often go to Likelike for a plate lunch after the gig (or Caonterbury Coffee Shop, which also closed a long time ago). But most of all, I still miss Kelly's Coffee Shop, which closed about 15 years ago. Best Crispy Gau Gee and Char Siu on the island. We always went after a day of school at UH, and had that with beer. My friend with whom I used to do that is also gone. Time passes, Things and people go away. Ass why hard, eh? 😪
@@HelloFromHawaii Kelly's was in Mapunapuna, across Puuloa Road from Gibson's (originally Family Fair). They had the best on the island, but I've never tried Kin Wah. I'll try it when I go back (maybe Thanksgiving or Spring Break).
The Kabuki in Waimalu is still open. Also, Sato's was taken over by the kids, I heard. They're now called Hayashi's or something. From what I've been told they kept the same recipes.
💔💔💔😢, Breaks my heart to hear so many, God I miss the food so bad, especially the mom & pops ones. Mahalo for this one, sorry to hear but glade to be able to keep up, wouldn’t if it wasn’t for channels like yours. Aloha 🤙🏼❤️🇺🇸🤠
Hi from Japan. I miss Jimbo, the place was my son’s favorite when he was small. And Not related with Covid but I really miss King’s Bakery at Kaimuki and South King. Coco’s at Ala Moana. Holiday Mart and Liberty House. Miss my school days. : (
I'M 70 YEARS OLD. BORN AND RAISED IN KANEOHE!! MOVED YO MAINLAND. REMEMBER KANEOHE BAKERY. THE DAUGHTER IF THE OWNERS WAS IN THE CLASD BEFORE ME AT CASTLE. A CLASSMATE OF MY BROTHER A WALTER MENDEZ WAS THE BAKER PART OWNER. MANY MEMORIES OF KANEOHE BAKERY.
Don't forget Dillingham Saimin. i always appreciated that they kept the place looking as i remembered it in the `70's (except for the karaoke machine), when we'd stop over after visiting relatives in Kalihi Valley (or did anything in town).
Based on this video the most missed will be Loves Bakery and the Original Shirokiya for sure. Kaka'ako kitchen was not a childhood staple as they were only a recent loved favorite that will be missed. Like Like was always just ok as was Hungry Lion and Wailana.
All of the top tier Manapua places have closed sadly. Both libbys and char hung sut were my favorites. Also as a kaneohe resident, kaneohe bakery will be missed. Their frosted brownies were bomb af
if you notice how BUSY it gets at the Royal Kitchen manapua shop alongside River St. mall across from the japanese temple....they took over the slack where CHS and Libbys said Aloha! Also, I dunno who cooks it, but i think for those who dont want to go far or fight for parking, 7-11 has manapua and pork hash and they do run out also.
Been vacationing in Hawaii every summer. Watching your video while I am on the Big Island. Anyways one thing that’s always catching my eyes is I see a lot of Toyota Tacoma trucks in Hawaii on the Big Island, Maui and Oahu. It’s like 90% of the trucks on the road are Tacoma. What’s up with that? Maybe you can do the video in that. I live in the Bay Area and I own a Tacoma myself, but I’ve never seen so may Tacoma trucks concentrated in one state.
On Kauai had Hanamaulu Cafe. My favorite order there is the Deluxe Plate Lunch. Inside get the Kayuk Red Pork, their Kayuk was better than the ones they have now, for me...
I was dismayed and saddened when I heard Alan Wongʻs closed -- my favorite fine-dining restaurant, as well as a favorite of Barack and Michelle Obama. Alan Wong even prepared a lūʻau at the White House for the annual Congressional picnic. The restaurant was so popular, they never had to advertise, and it won Hale ʻAina awards every year. I had a wonderful dinner there with my family in the first few months after it opened and celebrated my birthday with another fabulous dinner in 2019. They were not struggling to survive by any means, but no fine-dining restaurant that only served dinner could survive the curse of the COVID pandemic.
Yes, the closing of Sato’s (as we knew it) was the worst news for those of us who grew up eating those delicious noodles (best ever, anywhere, IMO). ☹️🌴
Char Hung Sut was my favorite noodle place with Manapua...oh hell it was all good. The old school Hawai'i I knew and loved so much is no more. I'm missing it already. I now live here in Pahrump, Nevada and there's no beef stew and rice plate lunch, no food trucks no mo nothing.
Sad to hear the devastation this virus that could have simple been avoided and stopped if someone had just taken it seriously. Heart broken about all these being there for so long and now they are no longer You are so right go for the new business or who knows someone else to revamp the old and bring ‘em back better than ever
Blame the government and media. China and big pharma created this virus. The government teamed up with big corporations to destroy local economies. The government does not care for any of us poor people.
I think the pandemic certainly played a big part in a lot of closures but honestly, it has been going on for years as it seems to be really hard to keep mom and pop shops open in such an expensive place like Hawaii. Not sure how old you are, but I am originally a Kaneohe boy, too. I recall Windy's Drive In where Burger King now sits. Best pancakes in Hawaii! Then there was Top's Bakery in Windward City Shopping Center across Foodland. Best fudge brownies! Ed & Dons Ice Cream Parlor sat near to where McDonalds is today in the main building next to Kress which also closed down. Ice cream was way better than current shops. Other places have come and gone like Windward Bowl where Toyota is now located, and Kaneohe Crack Seed near Times where I had my FIRST Icee. It was orange flavor! Small businesses come and go for various reasons. Enjoy them while you can! (BTW - MY favorite manapua place was Libby's on Kalihi Street. Closed before the pandemic supposedly because no one in the family wanted to take over.)
Yes! Family knew owners and distant relatives. Char hun sat! Liliha street Mui kwai. Like Like drive inn. So many even back then with kuhio grill, Columbia inn, flamingos (restaurants and chuck wagon). Just to name a few.😔
These ones that you already been born yet was shut down. The Yum Yum tree, Pioneer Chicken. These were so good yum yum trees pies were five inches tall. Pioneer Chicken was so Ono the skin was so crispy and the meat was so juicy then you dipping in the barbecue sauce and the french fries were so good.
Now Okahara saimin. No more saimin at McDonald's or UH games. You also know your old if you remember the aviary outside Shirokiya.also I'd didn't even know Char Hun Sut closed! The Chinese place at Windward mall makes bomb pork hash though!
