Kaua‘i native Holly Kanenaka, owner of the Vim N’ Vigor store on Kuhio Highway between Subway and Rent-A-Center in Lihu‘e, would like to expand her store. Possibly all the way to the Westside, or maybe just to a larger presence
Kaua‘i native Holly Kanenaka, owner of the Vim N’ Vigor store on Kuhio Highway between Subway and Rent-A-Center in Lihu‘e, would like to expand her store.
Possibly all the way to the Westside, or maybe just to a larger presence in Lihu‘e.
Kanenaka, who lives on O‘ahu now but was on Kaua‘i last weekend for the grand opening of the Vim N’ Vigor, previously in Rice Shopping Center, is excited about her new location, but is thinking bigger.
While the new location offers the health-foods store greater visibility, she is acutely aware that there are no health-food stores serving either the Westside or South Shore.
The Lihu‘e-born Kanenaka graduated from Kaua‘i High School and the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa, and is comfortable leaving the store in the capable hands of General Manager Sherry Knowles and employee Janice Hensley.
The grand opening last week offered patrons free food and vitamin samples, as well as hourly prize drawings.
Guests included Russell Da Rooster and Sherrie Rodi, host of “HealthSmart,” a Hawai‘i radio program offering health information.
Representatives from Solaray, New Chapter, Dr. Bob Martin’s products, Atkins, and Dr. Annalia Russell from A Center for Well Being were all on hand.
A store blessing was done by Pastor Merv Walker of Kauai Bible Church, and Colleen Nomura performed a special dance.
There were balloons for the keiki.
Kanenaka said she was pleased with the turnout of both long-time and new customers.
“People are so surprised at how good natural foods taste,” Kanenaka said. “In the past, eating health food meant snacking on a rice cracker that tasted like cardboard. Not anymore,” she said.
“Everything tastes so good, without the artificial ingredients and preservatives you find in grocery-store food.”
B.B. Choi of FM97 stopped by to sample the food and learn more about vitamin supplements.
“It’s so important for everyone to be concerned about their health,” said Rodi. “There are so many mental, physical, emotional and environmental stresses we encounter each day, which wear down our bodies,” she said.
“If we don’t replace the nutrients we use to fight these stresses, our cells and organs eventually break down and stop functioning properly,” Rodi continued.
“Most people wait until they have a medical condition before they start taking supplements. I tell my listeners that the goal is to prevent getting these diseases and to avoid having to take prescription drugs,” she said.
“If you are already on medication, the focus should be on weaning yourself off the medication.”
Kanenaka donates 10 percent of sales from the Lihu‘e Vim N’ Vigor store to Kauai Bible Church, and community events such as the March of Dimes WalkAmerica and Senior Extravaganza 2004.
Any profits go right back into the store, or towards the expansion plans.
She and her staff are committed to these three things, she concluded: “carrying the best natural supplements and groceries; providing the best information on health and nutrition; and finding the best discounts and passing them along to our customers.”
For more information, please call 245-9053.
