Another Koloa family we must spotlight is the Sueoka `Ohana.

In 1918, Mankichi Sueoka (1882 – 1964) and Yoshi Sueoka (1891 -1989), 36 and 27, respectively, started Sueoka Store in Korean Camp, three dirt roads or 10 houses away from the Old Plantation Store, where First Hawaiian Bank is located today.  In 1933, Sueoka Store moved to its present location on Koloa Road and shared the space with the bank until the bank moved to its present location in 1955.

The History Committee that produced a 12-page pamphlet and a two-fold brochure in October 2008, in celebration of 173 years of service of Koloa Union Church, found an interesting detail on Yoshi Sueoka.  She was a Charter Member of the church, which was formally established on October 22, 1923, but traces its beginnings to the Congregational Mission at Koloa, which was established in April or May 1835 by the Reverend Peter J. Gulick,

Charter Members included Florence (Mrs. Caleb) Burns, You Keru Chock, the Reverend Royal G. Hall, Mrs. Royal G. Hall, James Kondo, Mrs. James Kondo, F. A. Gluud, Mrs. F. A. Gluud, Greta Gluud, Saburo Ichinose, Yoshiichi Miyahara, Iwao Miyake, Yasu Nakao Watada,  Edene Naleimaile Vidinha, Clinton G. Shiraishi, Ellen Sisson, Jean Sisson, Maud Sisson, Yoshi Sueoka, Katsuko Tashima, Tsui Tashima Yamagata, Dr. Alfred Herbert Waterhouse, Mabel Palmer Waterhouse &  Toraichi Yamada.

The year 2018 marked the centennial anniversary of Sueoka Store.  Three generations of the Sueoka `Ohana provided a century of service and aloha to Koloa’s townspeople and to visitors.  Wendy Kawaguchi, the last co-manager of the store, is the daughter of Edith Sueoka Hashiguchi (1914 – 2007), who managed the store for many years.  Rod Sueoka, the last co-manager, is the son of George Sueoka (1918 – 2010), Edith’s younger brother, who, among other things, managed Po`ipu Inn, an extension of  Sueoka’s Snack Shop, which was started by Ernest, the youngest of 12 Sueoka siblings.  The take-out eatery was located on the lower-left-hand corner of the building where Brennecke’s Beach Broiler is located.

 

 

One-third of the Sueoka Walking Unit

 

The year 2019 marked a milestone in the history of Koloa, when ABC Stores, one of the operations of the Kosasa Family of Honolulu, took over the ownership and management of Sueoka Market.   Koloa residents are happy that the store they have known for decades is pretty much the same.  Prices have gone up to be sure, and there are new faces at the checkout counters.  However, familiar faces continue to grace the store.  And the Spirit of Aloha is alive and well.

— OO —

Sources:

“Koloa Union Church:  Celebrating 173 Years of Service.” [12-page pamphlet]  History Committee:  Josephine Duvauchelle,  Kahu Nani Hill, Chito Isonaga, Toyokazu Nishida, Penny Osuga, Kiyoko Sako, Catherine Lo, Text & Format.  Photos:  Church Office & Karl Lo.  Koloa:  Koloa Union Church, 2008.

__________.  [2-fold brochure].   Koloa:  Koloa Union Church, October 2008.

Lo, Catherine Pascual.  The Filipinos of Koloa.  Koloa:  K & C Co., 2017.

United States Census.  1940.

www.ancientfaces.com.

© 2020.  COPYRIGHT Catherine Pascual Lo