Aloha, B&S Store
B&S Store was on School Street, near Frog Lane, between Aʻala Street and Liliha Street above the freeway. We used to live nearby, and when I took the kids for walks at Liliʻuokalani Gardens I’d invariably make a detour and we’d all have shave ice at B&S. I thought their shave ice was just as good as the shave ice at Waiola Store — it’s just that B&S didn’t get all the publicity.
Now that we live in Kalihi, I rarely stop there any more — although I pass by in the mornings and afternoons on my bike route to work. It’s been open less and less in the afternoons the past year or so.
This afternoon, as I was pedaling past, a sign caught my eye:
Ai-yah. They’re closing? Curse this sudden but inevitable turn of events! It’s the way things go with mom and pop stores; eventually mom and pop decide they’re tired and want to stop running the store. “B&S” meant Betsy and Seiko Higa, the owners. They were always nice to me when I went there.
Well, at least the new owners will still have shave ice.
June 21st, 2006 at 7:50 am
It’s funny as you grow older in Hawaii you tend to give people directions in terms of where things used to be. You know, turn left at where the Ranch House used to be or go straight until you get to where Koko’s used to be. Now you’ve got one more former landmark to use.
June 22nd, 2006 at 7:47 am
And whether or not you can recognize all those former landmarks will peg your age for the person you’re talking with.
June 22nd, 2006 at 6:42 pm
Mahalo Eric for posting this story. I will truly miss B&S Store too. Ice-Cream w/ Azuki Beans – Strwberry Flavor!
I hope the new owners keep the old maching and serve the same ono kine shave ice!
Hey! The sign says they going sell Halo Halo!
Yummmmmy! Going be hard to choose.
Lynn Vasquez
June 25th, 2006 at 11:20 am
You know, I’ve never tried halo halo.
November 25th, 2007 at 8:50 pm
I went there Saturday. The shave ice is better now. Seriously. Comes in four sizes, too: small, large, bowl, and “the larry.” I didn’t ask.
But I did have a bowl. Yum.