Every Store Has a Story: B. Ikeuchi & Sons, Inc. Hardware Store

By Barbara Fahs

At the gateway to historic Waipi‘o Valley, in the town of Honoka‘a, the B. Ikeuchi & Sons, Inc. Hardware Store has been serving up essential supplies to local residents since 1918. It holds the record for being the oldest business in Honoka‘a.

In an online review, one customer says, “The big chains have nothing like the charm and selection of this old family-owned store in a great little Hāmākua Coast town.”

Bunso Ikeuchi established his store at the tender age of 22 because as a trained plumber, he needed specific tools to complete his jobs. In those faraway days nearly a century ago, the trip from Honoka‘a to Hilo often consumed two days of travel, requiring an overnight stay in Laupāhoehoe, so Bunso filled a need for himself and—as it turned out—for an entire community.

Three members of the Ikeuchi family continue to operate the store and are the only employees. Alan Ikeuchi is the third generation president of the store. Along with Alan, his sister, Susan Tanoue and their mom, Daisy keep the small store well stocked, extremely clean, and they provide just about everything the locals might need for their home repair and improvement projects.

Early Years

Honoka‘a sits on the Hāmākua coast, which has a long and active history. Native Hawaiians lived, farmed, and celebrated life along these shores and mauka into the coastal mountains for many generations. Honokaa.org tells us, “This was the original birthplace of kings, and locals believe this place has been infused by mana (spiritual power). Legend has it that Waipi‘o Valley, located at the heart of Hāmākua, was formed by a boastful warrior who dragged his club through the land to demonstrate his strength.”

Daisy has strong ties to Waipi‘o Valley, having been born and raised there.

Sugar plantations dominated the economy and lifestyle of the area beginning in 1899 when the Hāmākua Sugar Company emerged from a coalition of seven smaller plantations. Sugar was king for nearly a century until 1993. A six-mile railroad was built, and flumes were created to transport needed water to the sugarcane fields. The flumes also allowed harvested cane to flow to the large sugar mill in Haina, downslope from Honoka‘a, and then to ships bound for the U.S. mainland.

Modern Honoka‘a sprang up in response to the sugar industry and the many jobs it created. At first, most residents were native Hawaiians. Soon, immigrants from China, Portugal, Japan, Puerto Rico, Korea, and the Philippines arrived, making this budding town a true melting pot. Buildings and businesses popped up, giving the town its architectural charm and a history that reflects the plantation and paniolo character.

Bunso Ikeuchi—Part of the Area’s History

Bunso was born in Japan in 1896 and arrived in Hawai‘i in 1913, when he was only 17 years old. He spoke no English.

“I give my father-in-law great credit,” says Daisy, “because he taught himself to read and write a foreign language.”

He worked for the Hāmākua Sugar Company for a time, and later lived in North Kohala before he started the hardware store. Bunso’s original store was in a different location, next door to the local credit union. He moved to the present site in the Andrade Building in the late 1920s or early 1930s, according to Alan’s memory.

The “& Sons” in B. Ikeuchi & Sons refers to Bunso’s sons, Walter and Harold, who were two of his six children. Walter, who was Alan’s and Susan’s father and Daisy’s husband, was born in 1928 and went to business school in Honolulu. Harold, who was two years older than Walter, and Bunso ran the store. After finishing his studies, Walter managed the store with Harold for several years as Bunso became older, and then took the reins completely when Bunso passed away in 1970, at age 74. From the time Walter became the chief operating officer until he suffered a stroke in 1987, he managed the store for 20 years. Harold retired before Walter’s stroke, leaving the top job to Alan. Harold passed away in 2004, at age 78. Walter passed in 2012, at age 84.

Alan shares some fond memories of his grandfather Bunso.

“What I remember most of my grandfather was when I was young. He impressed me as being someone that was very self-disciplined and dignified. A modern-day samurai. He grew orchids, anthuriums, hibiscus, and bonsai. He also raised koi. He practiced calligraphy, played competitive Go, and enjoyed travel and photography. I remember my dad telling me all my grandfather wanted from the business was for it to provide his family with a comfortable living. It’s done just that for three, going on four, generations.”

Current Cast of Characters

Alan had years of experience when he took over the store after his father’s stroke in 1987: he had been working there during his summer vacations as early as the second grade.

“I have always lived in Honoka‘a,” Alan shares. “It’s a friendly town, and it’s changing fast now because we get a lot more tourists. The town seems to stay much the same, but the characters change.”

Susan and Alan work at the store full-time, while Daisy, who retired several years ago, comes in three days each week. She is far more than a valuable employee: customers love her and ask for her when they come to shop.

No other employees are involved in the store’s operations. Have they ever thought of hiring extra help from outside the family? “Not really,” says Alan. “Some of our children, who range in age from 20 to 32, have worked here during their summer vacations, just like I did.”

You Can Get Anything You Want

“We are a part of the True Value buying co-op,” explains Alan, “and purchase our merchandise primarily through them. We try to buy heavy and bulky items like fertilizer and potting soil from local vendors because shipping costs to Hawai‘i can be very high, so we support local suppliers such as HPM Building Supply, C. Brewer & Company, and Central Supply, which provides us with our irrigation, plumbing, and safety equipment supplies.”

Down the street, the Ikeuchis maintain a 40- by 60-foot warehouse, where they stock lumber and provide services such as cutting glass and threading pipe.

The range of items the store carries runs the gamut from gardening supplies to nuts and bolts, which are kept in an antique wood cabinet made with no nails. If a Honoka‘a resident needs a hammer, paint, a doorknob, fishing supplies, epoxy, porcelain touch-up, duct tape, or Bunso’s favorite plumbing supplies, they can be assured of finding it in their hometown hardware store.

Need a key made? That is just one of the many services the Ikeuchis provide. Every square inch of the store is utilized to its fullest capacity and the selection and choices are astounding for a store with only about 1,000 square feet of space, including an entire rack with different types of gloves.

They manage their huge inventory the old-fashioned way—by hand.

“We don’t use a point of sale system and have no website,” says Alan. “We do have computers for ordering our merchandise, but we conduct all of our sales by hand.”

High Praise From Customers

The locals love the B. Ikeuchi & Sons store. Reviews posted on the Internet reflect the important role the store plays in their lives. One of the customers who praised the store online says, “They carry an ample supply of tools and fixtures for any handyman. I would recommend this store to any Honoka‘a resident that needs to buy hardware.”

Another review on Yelp.com gave the store five stars and raved: “This family run business is terrific! We were visiting my parents and did some repairs, as well as putting a railing on their stairs. We needed galvanized pipe cut and the ‘big box’ stores would not cut it. We called the Ikeuchi store and they cut it to size in less than 30 minutes, AND you don’t have to buy the whole length of pipe—only what you need. The service was excellent and it’s located right in downtown Honoka‘a.”

What the Future Holds

Neither Alan nor Susan has plans to retire in the near future. Unlike the previous generations of Ikeuchis, all five of their children (now grown) have migrated to different careers and interests. “When Susan and I do retire, I suppose we will sell the store,” Alan says.

Let’s hope the future management keeps the same Ikeuchi charm and customer service alive. ❖

---

Contact B. Ikeuchi & Sons: 808.775.0600
Store location and hours of operation:
45-495 Lehua St, Honoka‘a, Closed Sundays.
M–F: 7:30am–5:00pm. They close for lunch in the old style from 11:30am–12:30pm. Sat: 7:30am–12 noon.

Contact photographer Alea Shechter: Alealani.com

Contact writer Barbara Fahs: hiiakas@lava.net