"Small-town Hilo charm at its finest, Kawamoto has been a go-to okazuya (a local-style Japanese delicatessen) since Masako and Takeji Kawamoto opened the doors in 1947. Though it started as a family-owned shop selling local farm goods and other grocery items, the business has adapted as large-scale supermarkets moved into Hilo, expanding into sushi and bento boxes. In 2001, the Kawamotos’ daughter passed the store to employee Celeste Nathaniel, who oversees operations with her mother, Cheryl Kualii, and her sister, Darleen Shimabukuro. The trio have maintained the deli’s roots, including the Kawamoto name, and longtime customers often comment on how the place hasn’t changed. The variety of Japanese cuisine includes fish cakes, nori chicken, and tempura-fried purple sweet potato (items come by the piece, allowing customers to customize their bentos on a budget), and the shop offers custom catering orders featuring Filipino, Chinese, and Hawai‘i foods as well. If you happen to be in Hilo on the first Wednesday of the month, stop in for malasadas. Make sure to arrive close to opening time (6 a.m.) or place orders a day in advance; items tend to sell out quickly." - Maya-Lin Green
