Times Super Market chain founder dies at age 89
By Shayna Coleon
Advertiser Staff Writer
Albert Teruya, a businessman who co-established the chain of Times Super Markets on O'ahu, died Sunday. He was 89.
Advertiser library photo
Teruya opened the first Times Super Market, a small 6,000-square-foot store, on South King Street with his brother, Wallace Teruya, in 1949. The business grew steadily, with 13 stores across O'ahu, and became the state's third-largest supermarket chain. The Teruya family sold Times Super Market Ltd. to Quinn Supers Inc., a California supermarket operator, in January.
Albert Teruya is remembered as "more than just a businessman."
"It's something to have a string of successful businesses," said Teruya's nephew, Dexter Teruya. "A lot of people try with several businesses, and when one makes it, that's good. But, to have a string of successes, that's more than just luck.
"He just felt you could accomplish a lot of things through hard work, and all his life, he always worked hard."
Albert Teruya was born in February 1913 in Honomu, Hawai'i, and lived on a sugar plantation. He worked on the plantation until he moved to Honolulu in 1929 and worked as a dishwasher, waiter and cook.
The Teruya brothers opened the South King Street store after they sold their first business venture, Times Grill, later known as Columbia Inn, in 1947.
They built Times Super Market Ltd. in memory of their third brother, Herman, who had been killed in Italy during World War II, and expanded the chain during the post-war boom into one of the biggest supermarket operators in the Territory of Hawai'i.
In 1960, after celebrating the company's 11th anniversary, Teruya credited his business success to "the loyalty and cooperation of our employees."
Dexter said his uncle was a respected businessman because of his modesty.
"He always gave credit to his customers, but he also gave credit to his employees," Dexter said. "He knew in any business, you can't do it on your own. The supermarket business is service-oriented and you're very dependent on your employees. He appreciated them."
Teruya was elected as a director of the City Bank of Honolulu in 1961. Teruya was also a director of the Honolulu Chamber of Commerce, the Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce and the Hawai'i Economic Study Club.
In 1979, Teruya spearheaded a program that donated $180,000 to the Blood Bank of Hawai'i's fund to build a new building.
"He was more than just a businessman," Dexter said. "He also helped out with fund-raising, and he was a generous person who was active in the community."
Teruya is survived by sons Elton and Galen; daughters Lorainne Yoshioka and Arlene Kozuma; brothers Wallace and Robert; sisters Doris Uyehara and Barbara Teruya; four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Visitation is at 1 p.m. Aug. 3 at Hosoi Garden Mortuary, followed by memorial services at 2 p.m. No flowers. Casual attire.
