Tsutomu Fujioka, ran family store in Waialua
By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer
Tsutomu Fujioka, one of the operators of the family owned Fujioka's Store in Waialua, died Jan. 8. He was 87.
Fujioka's began as a plantation store before the turn of the 20th century. Ryutaro Fujioka, Tsutomu's father, managed the operation and then bought the business in 1905.
FUJIOKA
Nine family members were born in the store, including Tsutomu Fujioka in 1916. Fujioka worked in the family store seven days a week for most of his working life, except during World War II when he served with the 442nd Regimental Combat Team.
"The family was proud of that. He represented the family in the war," said Norman Fujioka, Tsutomu's nephew.
In 1951, Fujioka and his brother, Hiroshi, took over store operations.
"They were like the two pillars of the store, pretty much hand-in-hand," said Norman Fujioka. He said both were dedicated family men and hard workers.
"Fujioka's was one of the longest Japanese generational stores that existed, and there aren't too many left," he said.
The family opened a second, larger store in Waialua town, but that store burned down in 1972 and operations returned to the original site. In 1985, with Fujioka's under the direction of Hiroshi's three sons, Gregg, Lyle and Norman, the family opened a supermarket in Hale'iwa.
In 1997, not long after the Waialua Sugar Mill closed, Fujioka's original store went out of business. Late last year, the supermarket was sold and now does business as Malama Market.
Although he retired in the late 1970s, Tsutomu Fujioka continued to drop by the store.
"The store, that was his life," Norman Fujioka said.
Tsutomu Fujioka is survived by sons Mark and Grant; daughter Lori Ann; and nieces and nephews.
Visitation begins at 5 p.m. tomorrow at the Mililani Mortuary Mauka Chapel; service at 6 p.m.
Reach Curtis Lum at 525-8025 or culum@honoluluadvertiser.com.
