1943-2004
Wen Ming Lee owned Waiola Store

By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer

Wen Ming Lee isn't a household name, but anyone who's cooled down with a shave ice on a summer's day at Waiola Store in McCully knows his claim to fame.

For years, throngs of people have lined the corner of Waiola and Pa'ani streets for Waiola Store's signature shave ice. The store is known for its finely shaved ice and its unique flavors — mochi ball, li hing mui, to name a few — that were developed by Lee.

Lee, the retired owner of the mom-and-pop store who put its shave ice on the must-get list of local residents and visitors alike, died Sunday. He was 61.

His son, Jerry, who took over the business in 1996, said his father enjoyed his work and coming up with new flavors of shave ice.

"My dad was a good father and a good husband. He was just a quiet guy; he didn't fight with anybody," said Jerry Lee. "But I know he worked hard, seven days a week, 12 hours a day. We didn't have any employees so he knew how to do everything. He did a lot of work to improve the shave ice."

Wen Ming Lee was born on Feb. 13, 1943, in Taiwan. After retiring as a government employee, he and his family moved to Hawai'i in 1984. No one spoke much English, but Lee was determined to make a better life for his family so he purchased Waiola Store from his uncle.

The store had opened in 1940 and had several owners over the years. Like many neighborhood stores, Waiola struggled as large supermarkets and big-box stores put the squeeze on the smaller operations.

Needing to draw customers, Lee began to tinker with the shave ice side of the business. Lee tried new flavors and worked on the fine consistency of the shave ice.

"It can be a simple operation with just a stand with ice and syrup," Jerry Lee said. "But if you want it to be it real good, it's a lot of work, it's an extra step, otherwise you're no different than anybody else. He always said if we don't do it, then somebody else will."

The elder Lee also stressed the importance of education. He encouraged his son to pursue a master's degree in business administration at the University of Hawai'i.

"He gave me a choice to go out and get a job or take over the store. He allowed me to pursue my own interests," Jerry Lee said. "I like to work here at the store, so he guided me through the first few years."

During his retirement, Wen Ming Lee enjoyed ballroom dancing and traveling. He often visited his parents in Taiwan.

"He was a soft-spoken, warm-hearted person. He was always giving, a very kind person," Jerry Lee said.

In addition to his son, Lee's survivors include his wife, Mei Yu; daughter, Ming; and three grandchildren.

Services are pending.

Reach Curtis Lum at culum@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8025.