About Us
Humble Beginnings…
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 A new facility in 1987 brought the company to its present location |
It was 1938 when Hisakichi Yukimura first opened a little general store on the south side of rural Kauai. Located in the back room of the family home and surrounded by banana patches, Yukimura’s sold groceries and dry goods to the sugar mill workers from the nearby plantation camps. The store catered to the Oriental workers, stocking hard to find items like kimonos, Japanese magazines and sake cups. So remote from the main town that people would say, “How do they do business?” The answer was whatever you needed, it could be found at Yukimura’s.
Kauai’s First Supermarket…
Before long it was time to expand. In 1948, Yukimura’s moved to a 6,000 foot store and warehouse in the center of town. It was a pretty new building with big picture windows and a bright blue and yellow scalloped awning. Oldest son Yoshio and the new wife Masako began this new operation. Here, they opened the island’s first self-service market, providing shopping carts for customers. You could find everything under the sun at Yukimura’s from foods to pots and pans and paper goods.
Focus on Wholesale…
But, as the big supermarket chains began to come to Kauai, Yoshio realized it was tough times ahead for the Mom and Pop grocery. He changed the direction of Yukimura’s, focusing on servicing the growing hotel and restaurant industry. After 30 years in business, in 1969, Yukimura’s closed it’s retail store and moved into 15,000 square feet of a warehouse space in the Lihue Industrial Park. By 1980, business had more than doubled.
Today New Beginnings…
In 1983 the company built a brand new facility with major additions in 1987 and 1991. By stressing dependability, service – and its past track record, current President Peter Yukimura continues the family tradition, now in its third generation.
A Fresh Image…
In 1987, the company reached back to the past to create a new logo image and changed its name to Koa Trading Company. The new name and logo salute the pioneering spirit of the first “traders” who bought food and supplies from all over the world to Kauai. Koa Trading Company stands today for our promise to bring you the freshest foods and finest beverages available, delivered on time to your doorstep.