Midlife Crisis Hawaii

Since we’re on a high from JindoMaster808‘s excellent guest blog post (Big MLC Mahalo once again, JM808), I thought we’d do a Thursday 3 about Makin’ Music.

 

Copy and paste the 3 questions and answer them or just answer them by number, order, whatever.  And don’t forget to leave any comments, stories, memories, etc. relating to the topic.  So, with a one, and a two, and a three…

 

1. If you woke up one morning and had the magical ability to play, I mean really jam, any musical instrument – what instrument would you choose?  And why?
2. If you used to or still do play a musical instrument, what made you choose that specific musical instrument?
3. What’s your take on music?

 

Here’s my replies:

 

1. If you woke up one morning and had the magical ability to play, I mean really jam, any musical instrument – what instrument would you choose?  And why?
   In my younger days, I would’ve liked to play the electric guitar – like Eddie van Halen.  But now, in my MLC age, I’d choose the saxophone.  To me, the sound of the sax is both sexy and soulful.  The way the notes have the ability to blend together.  How you can almost feel your passion through the music that you play – like it’s an extension of your soul.  Now that’s Makin’ Music.
2. If you used to or still do play a musical instrument, what made you choose that specific musical instrument?
   Since my brother had a guitar, I tried to learn how to play it.  Didn’t happen.  I think with my short and stubby Okinawan fingers – it just wasn’t meant to be.  In high school, I tried taking a few slack-key guitar lessons.  Nope.  Nada.  Nuttin’.  I even tried the harmonica.  No go.  Then it dawned on me – even if I knew how to play something, if I’m simply not musically inclined – it wouldn’t sound good anyway (which leads me to question #3).
3. What’s your take on music?
   Since Makin’ Music was so hard for me, I gained an appreciation for music.  It’s so amazing to me that individual instruments making all different sounds can come together and produce something so beautiful in harmony.  And when I’m tired, stressed, or just need to relax – music calms me down.  And one of my biggest loves for music is how it can transport me back in time and trigger my memories to when I used to hear that song.  In fact, it still does that to me today.  For example, a couple of times when we were playing at the Main Street casino, this song was playing in the background.  I heard it although I wasn’t really listening to it – I’m guessing that my subconscious was soaking it all in – and the song was suddenly burned into my memory.  So of course whenever I hear this song now, I remember sitting at the poker machine at the Main Street casino, relaxed and having fun.
   
   

 

Congratulations to Eki Cyclery on 100 years of business!

From Eki Cyclery’s web site:

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In 1908 at the age of nineteen, Toichi Eki arrived in Honolulu, Hawaii from Yanai City in Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan. While many of his companions on the long boat ride over headed out to the sugar plantations for work, this young Japanese immigrant was lucky to have a brother-in-law who landed him a job clearing brush for the next nine-hole expansion plan of the exclusive Oahu Country Club golf course. Eki was promoted to bus boy, then waiter and within three years had saved up enough money to launch a business venture with a relative. Noticing an increase in bicycle use among workers and students, the entrepreneurial Eki saw potential in this market and so, in classic pursuit of the American dream, he opened a one room bicycle store on King Street – Eki’s Cyclery.

Toichi Eki and his wife Miyo went on to raise two sons and four daughters in back of the original store at King and Alapai. Back when the store was first starting out, the sale of a single tire would mean dinner for the family that night! Business gradually improved, enabling Eki to pay his $10 monthly rent promptly. He soon moved next door to a spacious shop 14 feet wide which rented for $16 a month.

The distinctive plantation-style wooden walls of the original Eki Cyclery are now long gone, but our business continues in high gear and into its third generation at 1603 Dillingham Boulevard in Kalihi — still just minutes from downtown.

In the mid-60′s, Toichi Eki’s son, Jack Yoshio, youngest daughter, June Setsuko – and her husband Shuichi Arakawa, took over and guided our store into the professional business that it is today. A branch store was opened in Ala Moana Center from 1966 to 1987 and the main store moved to Dillingham Boulevard in 1971. Since 1995, our store has been managed by Jayne Kim, youngest daughter of Shuichi and June, and her husband Jay.

History runs strong in our family business. We pride ourselves in the knowledge and experience that ONE HUNDRED years in the bicycle business brings.  Jay has a deep knowledge of bicycles ranging from the current theories and hottest trends in mountain and road bikes to his outstanding collection of vintage Schwinn bikes. Jay is also the head mechanic and skilled wheel builder. Jayne’s forte is understanding the “regular” cyclist. Not interested in the latest gizmo gadget? Haven’t ridden a bike in 20 years? Jayne is the one to see. Her philosophy is regular bikes for regular people. Let her fit you on a bike and open you up to a lifetime of fitness. Rounding out our team is the Brat Pak — AJ, our eclectic artist/musician/fixie to the core, Dean, our down-to-earth roadie, HPU sophomore and eager beaver Andrew, and Da Boyz from Da Kalihi Hood, Forest Whitaker look-a-like, Philip and Justin “Tuta”.  Bobby Jones Dacanay, ten year cracker-jack mechanic featured in the Honolulu Star Bulletin article “Pursuing His Passion” (see our “Links” page) has moved on to paving our streets, but he continues to come in and help when he can.  Bringing up our tail is Arthur Rivera, whose help with the daily chores makes everyone’s job a whole lot easier.  We are all dedicated workers who enjoy cycling and genuinely care about our customers.

Eki Cyclery’s emphasis has always been on families and recreational cyclists.  We are a full service Raleigh dealer, and one of the oldest surviving original Schwinn dealers in the United States.  We also carry a great selection of Diamond Back BMX, Dahon folding bikes, Sun Cruisers and Recumbents, and Adult Trikes.

Aloha Hawaii!  Thank you for your many years of patronage and for the opportunity to serve our bicycling community in our lovely fiftieth state! Hawaii no ka oi!

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100 years.  That’s quite an accomplishment in this day and age.  I think Toichi knew his business would celebrate 100 years and more – because he had a mission.  He had a vision.  He had a goal.

 

 

Toichi Eki

The original Eki Cyclery at King and Alapai street

Frank V. Schwinn and Toichi Eki

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This past Saturday, I stopped in to congratulate Jay and Jayne Kim on their huge milestone and to join in the celebration.  Plus, Jay is a fellow Okirean too!  (Okinawan/Korean).

Jay & Jayne with Jayne’s mom.  Toichi Eki is Jayne’s grandfather

Jay & Jayne with Jay’s mom

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And besides the cake, cookies, and refreshments, there was also a vintage bike show outside.  Check out some of these pictures.

Classics in a row

 

Fiesta (girls bike).  Us guys wouldn’t be caught dead riding a girls bike.

 

Schwinn Liberty – restored

 

Junior Stingray and Stingray in the background

 

Lil Tiger

 

Lil Tigers in a row

 

Phantom

 

Slik Chik

 

Cycle Truck

 

1964 license plate – Remember these?

 

1942 license plate – I don’t remember these.  In fact, first time I ever saw one of these

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If you want to walk down MLC memory lane, just stop on by Eki Cyclery on Dillingham.  Jay & Jane will be more than happy to talk story with you and recall all the old hanabata days of riding bike around the neighborhood.  After all, Jay & Jayne are MLC readers. 

Here’s some MLC pictures for you, courtesy of Eki Cyclery:

Remember this store at Ala Moana between Keiki Land and Wiki Wiki Coffee Shop?

 

 

 

1980 – 1987 Ala Moana mauka street level store

 

Dillingham store across HCC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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And if you’re in the market for a bicycle or parts or need repairs, check them out!

Bikes

 

And more bikes!

 

Low-Riders

 

His and Hers UH bikes

 

Unicycle – go, chance ‘um.  I like see.

 

Huge department of accessories

 

First rate work shop

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MLC memories:

 

Remember doing this with your slippers?

 

Classic Schwinn seat

 

Speedometer.  I had one of these!

 

Remember “hub cleaners”?  These don’t make the same tinkling sound.

 

Here’s an original hub cleaner – the kind that make the tinkling sound we’re all familiar with

 

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Trivia: Who knows what this little knobbie thing with the reflector is for?  I just found out about it on Saturday from a vintage bike owner.  If you can tell me, you are MLC x 2!

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And one of our own MLC readers is also a bike collector – Rob@96744.  Here’s his collection:

Rob@96744 bike collection

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Congratulations once again to Eki Cyclery on their 100th birthday!

If it wasn’t for Eki Cyclery, I would’ve never gotten my root-beer colored Schwinn Varsity 10-speed English Racer bike.

If you enjoyed this read, please click on the Like button on Eki Cyclery’s Facebook page.