Sure Save plans
to close 1 store

Fifty Big Island jobs will be lost

By Russ Lynch
Star-Bulletin

Sure Save Super Markets will close its Kaiko'o Mall store in Hilo at the end of the day Saturday.

Carl Okuyama, president of the Big Island grocery business, yesterday said most of the 50 employees at the store are senior workers at the company and may be able to keep working for Sure Save by bumping more-recent hires at other stores.

"We go by seniority," Okumura said.

He said the 18,000-square-foot Kaiko'o store, which opened in 1970, is too small to be a modern supermarket but too big to operate efficiently as a convenience store.

Okuyama said that the declining economy of the Big Island and increasing retail competition played a part in the decision to close the store.

Sure Save is keeping open its other Hilo store, on Kinoole Street, which Okumura said has a much wider selection of merchandise, an in-store bank, a pharmacy and a take-out deli.

Sure Save, which opened the Kaiko'o store in 1970, has stores in Captain Cook, Keaau and Waimea in addition to the Kinoole store in Hilo. It also has six convenience stores and two video rental shops on the Big Island.