Koko Marina Center - Ahupua'a o Maunalua

In the 1950's and early 1960's on the land on and around where Koko Marina Shopping Center now stands were several commercial establishments.

These establishments included a small "mom & pop" type store called Woodlawn Market that was situated approximately where Foodland is now located. Next to Woodlawn Market was a tavern or road house where brawls and fights were reportedly quite common. There was a saimin stand that was converted into a snack shop called the Pink Poodle also next to Woodlawn Market. A Union Oil Station stood near where the church is on Lunalilo Home Road across from the current Unocal station.

In the early 1960's, Henry Kaiser also had his executive and administrative offices along with some experimental structures on the land where homes are now situated along the highway west of First Hawaiian Bank.

Lastly, radio and television personality Lucky Luck had a tavern where the Mormon Church is now located. At that time, people would bring crabs and fish they caught in Maunalua Bay and Lucky would prepare it for them in his tavern.

Lucky Luck was a neighbor of mine in Niu Valley for a brief period of time when I was a kid. I remember hanging out at his house a few times (he had a swimming pool) and having the pleasure of meeting him. He was quite a jovial fellow.