1918-2003
Rachel Haili had recipe for success
By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer
When Rachel Haili opened Haili's Hawaiian Foods in 1950, poi was so plentiful it was sold by the barrel. Over the years, the Hawaiian food staple has been in decreasing supply and the cost to run a business has soared.
Photo courtesy Haili family
But two things remained constant at Haili's Hawaiian Foods and the family matriarch made sure it stayed that way: customers were treated with respect and served good food, and the Haili family would support each other through thick and thin.
Rachel Haili worked hard to make her business succeed, but never let work take priority over family, her daughters say.
"She always allowed us to express our views," said Lorraine Alo, one of Rachel and Peter Haili's six daughters who continue to run the business. "She passed her knowledge on to us and she was always very adamant that, 'OK, you disagree with your sisters and you have your fights, but by the end of the day you go home and you're sisters. You're not working partners.' She always stressed taking care of each other and making sure that we're OK."
Rachel Haili, founder of the Haili's Hawaiian Foods at the Ward Farmers Market, died Oct. 3. She was 85.
Haili was born Rachel Moi Lin Ching on April 17, 1918, the youngest of 11 children of Chinese immigrants. After graduating from Mid-Pacific Institute, she worked as a waitress at Lau Yee Chai and also worked the lines at the pineapple cannery.
She married Peter Haili, a full-blooded Hawaiian, and began her food service career as co-owner of the Family Inn, a bar and restaurant that served Hawaiian food. But with six daughters, Rachel Haili felt that operating a bar was not appropriate, so in 1950 the couple opened Haili's Hawaiian Food at what was then known as the Ala Moana Farmer's Market.
Daughter Rachel Haili said her dad was more the PR man, while her mom had the business sense.
"People loved coming and talking to them," Rachel Haili said. "They had a charge account for special customers who couldn't afford to pay. They knew some people lived from paycheck to paycheck and ... had kids and they needed the food, but payday was next week. So my dad would let them charge and they would come in and pay the next week."
The girls were encouraged to follow their own interests and never forced into the business. But each wound up making Haili's Hawaiian Foods their career.
"We always came back here because we didn't want it to close down," Rachel said. "And we enjoyed working together."
Although she was Chinese, the elder Rachel Haili perpetuated the Hawaiian culture by sharing her knowledge of Hawaiian foods. She regularly provided the food for the old "Lucky Luck" TV show.
"Mom made sure that we learned our Chinese traditions and culture," Alo said. "But because of the family and my dad, we had a good Hawaiian background. It was very important to her that we were proud of our Hawaiian heritage."
Although work was very important to her, Rachel Haili enjoyed life. She often took her grandchildren on trips to China and Las Vegas.
"If you're looking at what a successful person is, I think my mother would be a good example," Alo said. "She maintained her business life, but she also had a family life. It wasn't all material."
In 1997, Rachel and her family were honored by the Native Hawaiian Chamber of Commerce with the O'o Award, which recognizes exemplary achievement in business, the professions and community service.
Haili is survived by daughters, Donna Pang, Sandra Antone, Roberta Ahnee, Rachel, Lorraine Alo and Carol Ann Hirayama; 20 grandchildren; 32 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
Visitation from 9:30-11 a.m. Sunday at Diamond Head Mortuary; service at 11 a.m. Burial will be at 12:45 p.m. Monday at Diamond Head Memorial Park.
Reach Curtis Lum at 525-8025 or culum@honoluluadvertiser.com.
