I love the feeling you get when you walk into an old store. It exudes a timeless charm. This place has been around for 47 years...and I've been coming here for decades. I enjoy visits here because I'm always interested in the history of any place I frequent. And this one has a long history and is a treasure.
The original owner, was Patricia Morriss. Her dad was a plantation manager in Hana, Maui. When she was a teenager, she had the opportunity to act as guide and host to artist Georgia O'Keeffe during her stay in Hana, Maui in the 1930's. Pat published her memoir of Georgia O'Keeffe, during her final years. Her family still owns the shop today, her son Lex, is the General Manager. The person that runs the store on a day-to-day is Jolene. She's here every time I stop in. They are fortunate to have her. She's been an employee for over 30 years. I've enjoyed conversations with her because she is often happy and helpful. Soft spoken, mild mannered old-fashion and shy, someone with a big heart. Decades ago, she found a stray cat, that would frequently visit the store, she fed and nurtured it. She named her stray Phoebe, till today, the cat still resides at the store. When you walk by, you'll often see Phoebe, sleeping in the first window closest to the front parking lot.
Back in the 70's, during the time when the town of Waimea, (which is somewhat isolated) was comprised of a small amount of stores, this store was born out of necessity. It was named general store because it was the spot where residents were able to purchase household and general needs for their homes. The distance between towns on the Big Island can be quite far, so the store really earned its name by carrying goods of conveyance for its residents.
This "one-stop" destination for rural or small-town shopping was an essential part of the community. Today, life is different, a newly opened Long's Drug Store shares an adjoining parking area. The merchandise, and gift selection at Long's differs and is set up in a new building, in a modern setting.
The store no longer operates as a General store. Today, it is a gift shop with a crazy amount of eclectic selections. If your style is like mine, mixing and matching old and new, east and west, luxe and humble, showy and quiet you'll love this place. Locally made and imported gifts, wall hangings, a specialty kitchen section, Hawaiiana, bags, footwear, Hawaiian children's books, soaps and lotions, Hawaiian taste treats, funny gift cards, books, postcards, tea pots, elegant paper goods, candles, dinnerware, cotton kimonos, local jams, night lights, chocolates, local honeys, and more.
My favorite part is the specialty kitchen area. Dining out is fun because it inspires me to go home and recreate the dishes at home. I love cooking and baking. This section of the store is time well spent, occasionally, I find things that I really don't see elsewhere.
Stop in when in the area, it's located directly across the street from the Hawaiian Style Cafe. 30-40 minutes away from the large hotels in the Waikoloa area. I've popped in to this store many times while my family was waiting for a table at the cafe.
Waimea General Store, has a great array of gifts, and it's own resident cat, it's small town charm will capture your heart. Online shopping will soon take over our world and these places will no longer exist. Visit before that occurs :) Bring a jacket, the elevation of the area is 2500 feet, so it can get nippy. read more