GREAT EATS HAWAII: WAIPAHU PLANTATION MARKETPLACE

Monday, January 18, 2016

WAIPAHU PLANTATION MARKETPLACE

94-333 WAIPAHU DEPOT ROAD

WAIPAHU, HI 96797

808-224-1608

A good buddy of mine who I have known for over twenty years and done several real estate deals with in Hawaii totally cut me out of the deal when he purchased the old Alakawa's Building in Waipahu. This historical building is full of Hawaii Plantation history and an important piece of history in the small town of Waipahu. Sherman Louie, the new owner of the building transformed the once famous landmark into a Plantation Marketplace where you can find a variety of local, family owned merchants selling everything from vegetables to fish, meats, Filipino food and Chinese baked goods and food. The Marketplace is filling up with vendors but there is still room for plenty more. I love the fact that this Marketplace concept allows for local families to own their own business in the town where they live. I spent some time here and found that most of the merchants were families with children living the American dream of working for themselves. Really thought this was cool at a time when big box retailers and mainland conglomerates were taking over our small Island. You won't find a Starbucks here but you will find the Plantation Life Cafe who serves great coffee and other types of specialty drinks. Whats nice about the Waipahu Plantation Marketplace is that the entire building is air conditioned so you can shop and eat in a very comfortable environment. We dined on Crispy Gan Gee ($4.50) from Ocean Dim Sum. Served with your choice of Sweet and Sour, Vinegar and Garlic or Hot Mustard Sauces. I went for the Vinegar/Garlic sauce and loved it. The Gan Gee were stuffed with a good amount of meat and were not just a big fried won tons like many places. Lots of filling and flavor. We sampled the Pancit and Pork Adobo and Bebot's. These Filipino staple dishes were both good and the the owner was friendly and gracious.

Following is more info on the history of Arakawa's and the new Waipahu Plantation Marketplace

as reported by KHON television in Honolulu. Congratulations to Sherman and Kris Louie for pulling off the purchase and renovation of this historic building. Next time please remember your partner in real estate and cut me into the deals!

A lot has changed in Waipahu over the years.

What was once an old plantation community is now filled with houses and restaurants, and now the rail guideway.

One of the olden day stores that drew crowds of people was Arakawa’s, and a new business just opened up in that iconic building.

Just below the old sugar mill on historic Depot Road sat Arakawa’s.

Its famous palaka was part of the fabric of Waipahu’s old plantation life.

Arakawa’s opened in 1909 selling goods to plantation workers.

Years later, it was known for selling a little bit of everything at bargain basement prices.

But in 1995, the community said sayonara to the store beloved by so many.

“I’m 65 years old now. I’ve been going to Arakawa’s since I was a small girl when I was ten years old,” Arakawa’s customer Emily Tomas said in 1995.

“We are just like one whole family. I like the environment over there,” Arakawa’s employee Elizabeth Arcalas said in 1995.

It’s been 21 years since Arakawa’s closed, and now there’s new retail life in the old building that sits just below the old sugar mill.

Waipahu Plantation Marketplace opened last month.

“We turned it into an indoor marketplace with a food court someplace where to give back to the community, so they have a place to go to and support local businesses and local farms so they can come and sell their produce here,” Waipahu Plantation Marketplace Owner Kris Louie said.

It’s still a work in progress. Kris and her husband Sherman Louie still want to add more vendors, and expand their food court. They also plan to add a seafood and fish market.

The Louies bought the property in 2014.

“Arakawa’s closed its doors in 1995, and they sold it to a Samoan church in 1998, and then since 1998 until 2014 it was being run as a church,” Kris Louie said. “We wanted to restore it but keep it as close to what people remember Arakawa’s to be. So we didn’t want to demolish the building because it’s such an iconic building.”

Waipahu Plantation Marketplace is holding a grand opening celebration on Saturday, January 16 from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. There will be free shave ice, popcorn and cotton candy, and live entertainment.

Waipahu Plantation Marketplace is open M-F 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Sat. 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and Sun 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.