A Brief History...
 

 
 
    KTA Super Stores started as a 500 square foot grocery/dry goods store in 1916 by Koichi & Taniyo Taniguchi.  Since then, KTA has grown under three generations of Taniguchi’s to a six-store chain with over 800 employees, serving the entire island of Hawai‘i.

Taniyo and Koichi Taniguchi
 

Original Store in Waiakea Town
 
   Koichi Taniguchi had no idea when he opened his small Hilo grocery store that it would someday evolve into a major supermarket chain.  He and his wife, Taniyo, simply believed that their friends and neighbors needed a way to obtain necessary groceries and household items.  So, Koichi began visiting and taking orders from Hilo area families and delivering the needed merchandise by bicycle.  A little later that same year, the Taniguchi’s built their pick-up and delivery business to the point where they were able to open a “real” store.
     In 1940, the first branch store opened in downtown Hilo.  This proved to be a wise move when the original store was destroyed by the 1946 tsunami.  The “branch” store was converted to a supermarket format in 1953.  In 1959, a second store opened in Kailua-Kona and seven years later, the Puainako KTA opened.  Following that, a Keauhou store opened in 1984, a store in Waimea in 1989, and the Waikoloa Village Market in 1990.
 
First Branch Store (now KTA Keawe)
 

Original Kailua-Kona Store
 
KTA Puainako Groundbreaking Ceremony
 
 

KTA Keauhou
 
 
KTA Waimea
 
 
 
Waikoloa Village Market
 
      When Koichi and Taniyo Taniguchi started their grocery business in 1916, they believed that service and value were needed to ensure progress and success.  They were committed to the people of their community and their generosity was never-ending.  Today the tradition continues at all KTA Super Stores.

 

 

     One of the ways the tradition of generosity and kindness continues is through KTA Super Store's ongoing support of various community organizations such as the Hawaii Island United Way, American Lung Association, American Cancer Society, American Heart Association and others; nonprofit groups, service groups, churches, schools, hospitals, athletic and sporting groups, community associations, government programs and much more.
 

 

Important Dates

 

1916    

K. Taniguchi Shoten founded by Koichi & Taniyo Taniguchi in Waiakea.

1939

Acquired branch store in Downtown Hilo - 321 Keawe St.

1946

Tsunami destroys first store in Waiakea Town.

1953

Downtown Hilo store converted to supermarket format.

1956

Downtown Hilo store underwent major renovation.  Included Big Island's first self-service Meat Department.

1959

Kailua-Kona store opened.

1963

Kailua-Kona store enlarged.

1966

Puainako Street (located at KTA Center) store opened.

1975

Kailua-Kona store relocated to Kona Coast Shopping Center.

1977

Expansion of Puainako Store.  First in-store Bakery in the State.  Publicized "super store" format.

1979

First supermarket in the state to use UPC barcode scanners at checkouts.

1984

Keauhou Kona store opened in the Keauhou Shopping Village.  First full-scale Deli department on the Big Island.

1988

Puainako Street store renovated and expanded.  Increased service departments & revitalized "service" meats.

1989

Waimea Store opened at Waimea Center.

1990

Waikoloa Village Market opened at Wailokoa Highlands Shopping Center.

1992

Kailua-Kona store renovated.

1994

Created Mountain Apple Brand® private label promoting products grown or made in Hawaii.

2000

Living in Paradise television show started.

2002

Waimea store renovated and expanded.

2004

Puainako store renovated.

2006

Waikoloa Village Market renovated and expanded.

2007

KTA Super Stores' website, www.ktasuperstores.com launched.

2007 Energy-producing photovoltaic (PV) systems installed at both the Kailua-Kona and Waimea locations.