Just three short years after developing the land in lower Waimalu to open Waimalu Super Market in March of 1960, Katsumi and Haruko Kazama held the grand opening for their larger Waimalu Shopping Center project on November 15 & 16, 1963, officially announcing 26 merchant shops including Waimalu Super Market as its anchor tenant. The Kazama family celebrated with prizes, a traditional dragon dance and firecrackers by the Chinese Physical Culture Club, entertainment by Mrs. Pang’s Hula Troupe, Rock ‘N Roll by the Roadrunners, autograph signing by Hawaii’s Miss America Sue Pickering, and the throwing of free mochi – with coupons attached to them – off the roof tops.

Since then, Waimalu Shopping Center has historically been associated with the early development of strip malls on Oahu.

Here is a list of the 26 original tenants back in 1963:

• 50th State TV Service
• Animal Clinic – Waimalu
• Ann’s Chop Suey
• Burger Boy
• Civic Reading Club
• D&M Photographers
• Finance Factors, Ltd.
• Guzman Barber Shop
• Irene’s Dress Shoppe
• Leeward Medical Center
• Pearl Lounge
• Russell’s Men’s Wear
• So-Lovely Hairstyling
• Southern Pacific Flower & Garden Shop
• State Farm Insurance Co. Ltd.
• Value Drug
• Waiau Bakery
• Waimalu Barber Shop
• Waimalu Chevron
• Waimalu Chop Suey
• Waimalu Delicatessen
• Waimalu Grill
• Waimalu Hardware
• Waimalu Salon of Beauty
• Waimalu Super Market
• Waimalu Wash & Dry