PO‘IPU — Terry Kuribayashi was busy watching workers move heavy equipment in place in the Kukui‘ula Store parking lot Tuesday. “We’ve got to take care of the septic system,” Terry, who along with her husband Paul, own and operate Kukui‘ula
PO‘IPU — Terry Kuribayashi was busy watching workers move heavy equipment in place in the Kukui‘ula Store parking lot Tuesday.
“We’ve got to take care of the septic system,” Terry, who along with her husband Paul, own and operate Kukui‘ula Store located at 2827 Po‘ipu Rd., just a stone’s throw from the Po‘ipu roundabout. “Today is the first day they’re working on it. We’ve been lucky because we have our loyal customers who still come despite the inconvenience.”
But the work is part of progress being done to the store, which moved to its current location in 1972.
Terry said on Dec. 1, there are all kinds of changes in store for customers, including the change of ownership of the juice bar located inside the store, the appearance of Sweet Marie’s near the front checkout and the start of work on a kiosk, which will eventually serve wraps.
The juice bar, one of Terry’s idea, proved to be too much of a burden, leading her to rent it out.
“It was just too much work trying to run the store and keep the juice bar operating,” Terry said. “I had to rent it out, but the good thing is we ended up with Jutatip Labedz — affectionately called ‘CJ’ — working.”
Labedz recently moved to Kaua‘i from Thailand and brings a wealth of information, Terry said. Under the new ownership of the juice bar, she said Labedz should continue working, and when the kiosk for wraps is completed, she plans on having Labedz balance working the juice bar as well as create wraps based on her Thai experiences.
One of the creations, a Brazilian acai bowl, is Paul’s favorite, Terry said.
“It’s healthy, fresh and good for you,” she said. “Paul has a few of those for dinner every week.”
Work on the juice bar and the kiosk area where wraps will be dispensed is scheduled to start soon.
“The tiles on the floor are all starting to pop because they’re so old,” Terry said. “I’ve changed out the floor in the juice bar area with bamboo. The next area is the old tiles.”
The juice bar, offering a variety of bowls, juices and smoothies, joins the store’s offerings of a fresh salad bar where customers create their own salads, vegan and vegetarian offerings featuring locally-produced items.
Terry also bakes up fresh goodies, noting she needed to prepare more somen salad for the local residents. The freshly-baked goods also includes some gluten-free varieties.
“We try to have as much locally-produced items, including hamburger,” Terry said. “Paul is the butcher and is particular on how he cuts the locally-produced beef and pork.”
She is also excited about Sweet Marie’s, a gluten-free eatery, joining the Kukui‘ula Store offerings starting Dec. 1.
The specialty areas join the traditional offering of groceries, beer, wine and spirits.
Kukui‘ula Store is open 8 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Mondays through Fridays. Saturday and Sunday hours are from 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Call 742-1601 for more information.
