❁Continued from page 33 “People are often confusing the bento roll with a sushi roll,” explained Saito. “There is a difference. The sushi rice is made with vinegar and the bento roll rice is just plain rice.” Capitalizing on their popular specialty foods, the family started a catering service, (winning the bid at the former Hyatt Regency) and three lunch wagons in 1987 to service the island community—especially construction workers and hotel workers along the Kohala Coast. Between the store and the other services, the family business peaked at 22 employees. In time, the economic downturn would effect Earl’s business, bringing the lunch truck down to one and employment down to five people. However, following in the footsteps of their late father, with hard work and a determination to bring local, favorite food to the community, Mark and Miles opened a second store in Waimea—called Earl’s Waimea—in 2009. In 1994 Kamehameha Schools acquired the bankrupt lands of the closing Hāmākua Sugar Co., including Pa`auilo Store; and
34 | www.KeOlaMagazine.com | MAY/JUNE 2012
Painting of the original store
in October of 2010 the trust decided to tear down the old store building, deeming it in poor shape. The trust offered the Saito family a five-year lease in an adjacent building just 30 yards away from their former location. Today, the Pa`auilo Store sits in a space that was once the former office of Hāmākua Sugar’s industrial relations department, sharing the building with the Pa`auilo Post Office. Newly renovated by the trust, the new store’s grand opening was held on December 22, 2011. It would have been Earl’s birthday. In a congratulatory message to the family, both the Hawai`i County Council and State Senate acknowledged and applauded the Saitos’ exemplary employees, excellent customer service, quality food and community connection. One of the plaques reads: “Whereas the Saito family has When the old Pa`auilo Store welcomed, fed and also provided reopened in their renovated for the small Pa`auilo community space Mrs. Miriam Saito saved all the old relics from the past 62 for over three generations— [and] continued to serve Pa`auilo years the store has been in operation, including this antique proudly as a gathering place with adding machine. familiar faces and Earl’s famous Bento Rolls… we recognize and congratulate the Saito `ohana.” The original plantation store and community landmark now swings open its wide-hinged doors six days a week. Mrs. Saito