For nearly a half century, three Lana'i brothers helped provide for residents on one of Hawai'i's least-populated islands, where pineapple plants historically outnumbered people.

Wally, Bobby and Collin Tamashiro have run Richard's Shopping Center — the general store founded in 1946 by their father, Richard — selling mostly groceries, some clothes and other items in one-stop Lana'i style.

On Feb. 1, however, the store will pass to another prominent name on Lana'i, David Murdock and his company, Castle & Cooke, which owns 98 percent of the Island.

Wally Tamashiro said it was time to retire.

"We're all kind of like getting up there in years," he said. "The labor; it's hard to carry rice nowadays."

Wally is 67. Bobby is 66. The youngest, Collin, is in his early 60s.

Castle & Cooke, which owns the property that includes the roughly 5,000-square-foot store, has agreed to purchase the store's inventory and continue the business in the tradition of the Tamashiros. The new owner also is expected to retain the store's five full-time and additional part-time employees.

Murdock, in a statement, said he has great respect for the Tamashiro family's contribution to the community, and wants to "continue the legacy of Richard's."

Collin plans to stay on to help with the business, according to Wally, but another piece of the small-community lifestyle tied together by generations of close-knit kama'aina families is being lost for Lana'i.

Over the years, the Tamashiro family operated a bowling alley, theater, lodge and restaurant.

Wally said only a few Lana'i residents probably knew him and his brothers when they were just toddlers in his father's store. Still, the siblings took the time to mail a "Dear Lana'i Resident" letter to each one of the Island's 1,380 post office boxes to announce their retirement and the continuation of the business.

"Our family would like to express our deepest appreciation for allowing us to serve you," the Tamashiros said in the letter, which was received by most residents as they picked up mail yesterday.

Genevieve Oshiro, a retired nurse and Royal Hawaiian Air Service manager on Lana'i, said she shops once or twice a week at Richard's.

"They're nice boys," she said of the Tamashiro brothers, who she said are calabash relatives of her family.

Wally said he's not sure what he'll do after helping Castle & Cooke assume operations. "Maybe I'll take up fishing," he said.

Reach Andrew Gomes at agomes@honoluluadvertiser.com.