ABC Stores wins
one for the family
Paul Kosasa, president of ABC Stores, laughed when he was asked what it felt like to be named by his peers in the industry yesterday as retailer of the year.
"That's like asking what it's like to win an Academy Award," said Kosasa, who received the award from the trade association Retail Merchants of Hawaii.
Kosasa felt that the award was recognition of the quality of work his family has put into the business over the years since his father, Sidney Kosasa, started a drug store in 1949, branching out to open the first ABC in Waikiki in 1965.
The award, Paul Kosasa said, is about "the culture of the organization and how we participate in the community."
ABC now has 53 stores in Hawaii, six on Guam, two on Saipan and three in Las Vegas, all sundry/convenience stores with a Hawaii tourism twist.
Retailer of the year was not the only award ABC picked up. The company was also named Oahu retail business of the year. And Mercedes Manligot, an eight-year employee of the ABC store in the Imperial of Waikiki, was named statewide retail employee of the year. "She is a gem," said Kosasa. "She's truly an ambassador for the visitor industry. She spreads a lot of aloha and it's very sincere, not only on behalf of ABC but, I think, on behalf of our island."
Other awards went to Hilo Hattie, resort retail business of the year; Hasegawa General Store in Hana, Maui, neighborhood retailer of the year; and Mandala Ltd., owner of Pahoa Natural Groceries, Big Island retail business of the year. Also, T-Shirt Factory, retail business of the year, Maui; Kilohana Lighting Inc., retail business of the year, Kauai; and Sharon Serene, president and owner of marketing consultancy Sharon Serene Creative, special governor's award for exemplary service to the retail industry.
