Abundant Life Natural Foods
Abundant Life Natural Foods in downtown Hilo, founded by Leslie Malulani Shizue Miki in 1977, has been making healthy living affordable on Hawai‘i Island for 34 years. The retail store is an out-growth of Abundant Life Herb Company, which used to distribute bulk herbs to retail natural foods stores around the State of Hawai‘i.
Abundant Life Natural Foods was opened after Miki received numerous requests from the community to offer what would be the third natural foods store in Hilo. The retail store grew organically, with products added one-by-one through special requests.
“It has always been our mission to bring high-quality food to the marketplace at reasonable prices so that families can afford to choose healthier ingredients in creating their meals,” said Miki.
By the end of the ‘70s there were 13 natural food stores on Hawai‘i Island alone,” she said. “I started the business on a shoestring. There has been lots of competition over the years, but old-fashioned family values, perseverance and good prices have carried us through. I got my ‘Go for Broke’ motto from my dad, who was part of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team (and one of Hawai‘i’s first Asian movie stars, co-starring in the movie Go for Broke).”
Aa a single mom, Miki raised her daughter while building Abundant Life and now has help running it from her partner, Cornelius Callaghan.
“What makes our store unique is the importance we put on organics. We have one of the few all-organic produce departments in the nation. All the cheeses we carry are rBovine Growth Hormone free. We buy local first, if it is made/grown free from synthetic chemicals. We support open labeling of GMO’s (an issue that is currently on Hawai‘i State’s legislative table). We prefer to support family farms before big conglomerates. The resurgence of home-spun, sustainable businesses is a trend we feel is important to support and nurture. We call this philosophy ‘Vote with Your Wallet.’ As retailers and consumers we need to ask ourselves ‘Do the profits from the products we buy go to support unethical or unsustainable practices for our planet?’ Every purchase we make as retailers and as consumers has consequences for both our own health and the health of the earth that sustains us all.”
292 Kamehameha Ave., on Hilo’s Bayfront
808.935.7411
