Used to make the trek from town proper, all the way out to this sketchy-ish Kalihi/Likelike-Highway-area neighborhood, down the street from Kamehameha Shopping Center, just for the CHEAP GAS prices, often just a tad beneath those of CostCo. But do check shopping-comparison-sites like this one, to make sure, before making the travel commitment: http://www.honolulugasprices.com/GasPriceSearch.aspx (because sometimes, Tesoro's in-town, cash prices are actually comparable)
Anyways, gasoline cost aside, even if you don't like Kalihi, try to make the trek to this neighborhood, and go into the Freedom convenience store inside the service station, 'cuz...
1. While you're there, you want to get 'ono PASTELE in the strip mall right across the street (further down North King St., across Gulick, at The Pastele Shop): http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-pastele-shop-honolulu
2. You also want a-may-zing CHOW FUN at Matsumoto Okazuya a block or two down the other road (Gulick, the cross street): http://www.yelp.com/biz/matsumotos-okazuya-and-restaurant-honolulu
3. MOSTLY, inside the Freedom convenience store, you want to try the FRIED CHICKEN here which comes ala carte, or as part of a reasonably priced plate lunch ... when I went last a few years back, it was still under $7, but maybe now it's higher (rice that's not too mushy for that part of town; mac salad that's not too greasy/oily/mayonnaise-y; plus 2-3 pieces of thighs/wings). [The fork and napkin are rubber-banded together in advance, which shows you the mentality of the owners, being super organized and thoughtful about customer needs.]
It's sincerely the BEST fried chicken on island, more than the one sold at the Pastele Shop, more than the one at the soul food place in Maunakea Market. I no longer eat fried meats, so I am sad just missing it. PERFECTLY crisp on the outside and moist on the inside, not too salty, but salty enough, never overcooked, OH GOD, why did I go off the stuff?!
4. The store's managers also had long ago developed their own SPAM KATSU MUSUBI which now the sushi counter at new mega-spaceship-Wal-Mart (Ke'eaumoku Street) has poached, I see. As far as I know, though, theirs--Freedom Station's--is the original. You can also buy regular (spam, etc.) musubi, too.
5. CUSTOMER SERVICE is on-point, efficient, and polite. Workers are trained VERY well by whomever owns this place, making it a pleasant place to do some unplanned food and drink shopping on your way to the West or East sides of the isle.
If you pay cash at the pump, this convenience store is where you'll hand over your $$ for the gasoline. read more