The Asahi Soda Building
Building 4Before the current building was constructed, this was the site of a taro processing poi factory run by the Akona Family (prior to 1900). Customers provided their own containers for the poi which had been brought in as taro corms grown in Kauaʻi’s valleys.
Before the current building was constructed, this was the site of a taro processing poi factory run by the Akona Family (prior to 1900). Customers provided their own containers for the poi which had been brought in as taro corms grown in Kauaʻi’s valleys.
In 1905, John Cockett, a former Kōloa Plantation employee, purchased the property from his grand-uncle. A liquor store at the time, Cockett continued the thriving business until prohibition went into effect in Hawai’i in 1918. Cockett and former employee, Yozaemon Yamamoto, then formed a new partnership called Asahi Ice and Soda Works which produced soda offsite but sold it at their Kōloa store along with ice.
After Cockett died in 1931, various businesses occupied the property. Ice cream was sold here by Tadayoshi Yamada. During and after World War II, portions of the building were used as a music store run by Mr. Maladora, a rear room pool hall by Mr. Yamamoto who also ran the Yamamoto Store, a fish market by the Hamamuras, a butcher shop run by the Nakamuras and finally a bar.
