Customers flock to Fukushima Store
Rumors of the store shutting down lead locals to get one last hot dog
HAIKU — New and longtime customers of Fukushima Store have been flocking to Haiku town over the past week to get their fill of what might be their last hot dog topped with the works: ketchup and mustard, mayonnaise, relish, chopped onions, and a crisp pickle.
Oh, and don’t forget about the Fukushima family’s secret sauce.
After rumors started circulating on social media recently about the iconic Haiku general store closing, (it closed on Friday for the holidays) floods of people expressed how much they would miss the mom and pop shop if it closed for good.
Owner and operator George Fukushima declined to comment on whether the general store was permanently closing, though many shelves sat empty on Thursday morning.
Fukushima’s general store and nostalgic hot dog stand carrying pantry items, snacks, liquor and chow fun, was founded by George’s father, Tadashi Fukushima, over 50 years ago.
During World War II, Tadashi and his wife, Yoshie, owned and operated a small hot dog stand in Lower Paia before moving into the space at 815 Haiku Road, according to a 1986 article in The Maui News.
Born in Puunene, Tadashi Fukushima served as Maui County Fire Chief from 1968 to 1971, all the while still working as a stonemason building chimneys, fireplaces, walls and other structures before his passing in 2001 at 88 years old, according to a Honolulu Star-Advertiser obituary.
His mason projects are found islandwide, such as the Wailuku Bridge, and portions of the East Maui Irrigation Co. tunnels, a family member said.
Years later, the famous $1.99 red hot dogs topped with Yoshie’s delicious secret sauce are still considered the best on Maui.
And, longtime paniolo Elisai English who stood outside the store Thursday said that not to be forgotten is the chow fun that George Fukushima and his wife, Alice, made which is one of his favorites.
A creature of habit, English said he would be sad if the Fukushima Store did not reopen in the new year since he’d been stopping by the establishment for decades to “talk story” and grab a coffee.
But, most of all, he’d miss the people that work there who made the customer experience more like a family member coming home. Some of them were behind the counter dishing out hot dogs and chili on Thursday.
They were not going to share
Yoshie Fukushima’s sauce recipe, but said it’s made with love.
It has been a hard month for locals and small mom and pop shops as the longstanding Maui Potato Chip Factory officially shuttered last week after the landlord decided to sell the property a month prior.
Lori Kulhavy of Ulupalakua said it was the “worst news ever” when she read the Facebook posts announcing Fukushima’s rumored closure. Many comments were reminiscing about the treats they’d bought and the store’s homey atmosphere.
“I will miss this place,” Kulhavy said. “Saved me so many times.”
For example, she and her son got stuck without food one day during a big storm out in Huelo. There was no power and the roads were shut down.
“Fuk’s was the only place open and she had all the emergency food,” Kulhavy said. “A community treasure. Almost every good store is gone now.”
While living in Haiku and later Paia, Darla Ann Larocque went to Fukushima’s at least once a week.
“One of my favorite stores in Maui, I will Miss those hotdogs!!!” Larocque said via Facebook. “Always chose to have a hotdog from there instead (of) going to any other place to have lunch!!! Truly a well-loved store with famous hotdogs.”
She said she may fly back from Hawaii island, where she now resides, to have “one last great meal” before the store closes.
“Thanking the Fukushimas for all my happy memories in Maui,” she added.
Longtime Maui resident Kathleen Ageton was sad to hear these rumors, too, because Fukushima’s played “a major role” in her childhood.
“I can’t think of Haiku without thinking of Fukushima’s,” Ageton said last week.
She recalled that a library bookmobile used to park close to the store on Haiku Road. One time when the bookmobile was not able to make it to its scheduled stop, they called Fukushima Store to let them know.
“Mrs. Fukushima saw me waiting for the bookmobile and came out of the store to let me know it wouldn’t be there. It was that kind of personal involvement that made the difference,” Ageton said. “They knew the names of the children, and knew what kind of candy we liked.”
She said that the store and staff “went way beyond hot dogs and chow fun in being a central point of the Haiku community.”