Paauilo Store closes after 70+ years serving Hamakua Coast

News admin June 16, 2026 0 Comments

Paauilo Store closes after 70+ years serving Hamakua Coast

PAʻAUILO (HawaiiNewsNow) – If you grew up on the Big Island along the Hāmākua Coast, you’ve likely shopped at Paʻauilo Store.

Located in Paʻauilo, near Honokaʻa, it was the place to be, thanks to the Saito family, who took over operations with a business partner in 1949.

“Back in the old days, they had everything. A butcher’s store, they had a dry goods center. They had everything you could think of, they had at Paʻauilo Store,” said Jill Chavez, who grew up in Paʻauilo. “It was just our store for the community or whoever wanted to stop there.”

Miles Saito ran the story with his family.

“We always just tried to be a part of the community,” he said. “We always did our best to meet the needs of whatever the community needed.”

Part of meeting the needs of the community was delivering groceries, which Allison Rohfeld says her dad did part-time.

“The people would call their orders in for grocery, and then they (the store workers) would pack them up and put it into my dad’s truck in the bed, and then he would drive around the plantation camp, you know, all the groceries,” Rohfeld said.

“I have fond memories of that, so, you know, some of us kids would jump in the back and ride with him,” she added.

Over the years, the Paʻauilo Store evolved and became known for its grab-and-go meals. This includes their most popular item, the bento-in-a-roll musubi, created by family member Schoen Maekawa for the many truck drivers who didn’t have time to sit down and eat.

“He thought, well, maybe we’ll take the same ingredients that’s in the bento and roll it into a roll form, like a sushi, so they could eat it while they’re driving,” said Saito.

The original store was torn down by landowner Kamehameha Schools in 2008, and moved to its current location nearby, right next to the post office.

The store closed for good late last month after what Kamehameha Schools described as a mutual agreement with the Saito ʻohana.

Miriam Saito, the matriarch of the family, said, “Thank you to everybody for supporting us for the years. I have been with the business for how many years, almost 60 years.”

Mark Saito said, “Appreciate all the customers over the years and, yeah, very grateful to the community again.”

Customers can still get their bento roll fix and other longtime favorites at Earl’s Waimea, which the Saitos still operate on Mamalahoa Highway.

“We are sad, saddened that we had to, you know, that we’re leaving Paʻauilo, but we’re still here. We’re in Waimea and we’re still servicing the community,” Saito said.

Still, community members shared messages of aloha for the Saito ʻohana’s longtime impact in Paʻauilo.

“Thank you for bringing Paʻauilo Store to us and sharing. I mean, they were such a sharing family and that’s all they cared about is the community. So, yes. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart,” said Chavez.

“Thanks for the Christmas parties. Thanks for having Paʻauilo Store and Earl’s, and for the memories. And thank you for giving my dad a job,” said Rohfeld.

In a statement, Kamehameha Schools said:

“The Kamehameha School extends its deep gratitude to the Saito ohana for their generations of service and contributions to the Pa’auilo and broader Hamakua community through Earl’s Pa’auilo Store. For decades, the family has helped make the store a familiar and valued gathering place, serving local families and visitors with care and aloha.

After many years of warm and trusted partnership, Kamehameha and the Saito ohana have mutually agreed to conclude their lease early. This transition allows the family to focus on their store in Waimea while opening the next chapter for the site to continue contributing to the community.

Looking ahead, Kamehameha is working with Hui Malama i ke Ala Ulili (HuiMAU) to expand its community hub into the space. As part of those conversations, the Saito ohana and HuiMAU have expressed interest in continuing to offer Earl’s signature musubi and bentos at the site. Future offerings may also include fresh, local products that support regional agriculture, aina-based stewardship, wellness, and community connection. Kamehameha is exploring additional opportunities and will share more as plans are finalized. Together, the next steps honor the Saito ohana’s important contributions while ensuring the Pa’auilo storefront remains a vibrant, community-centered resource for generations to come.”