Food
One Thousand Mauians
Longing For Long's

BY BUCK QUAYLE

Food for thought-Is this Maui, Hawaii?-can it be real?

"Almighty God bless Long's Drugs," intoned the Rev. John Kucahiko before untying a maile lei across the automatic doors with the help of Miss Hawaii (left) and friends last Wednesday. Like flies to honey, over 1,000 persons poured into the big glass-fronted, air-conditioned building at the Maui Mall in Kahului, wisking up shopping carts and food baskets in a matter of minutes.

Oo-ing and Ah-ing, the holiday-spirited throng picked and poked among the 27 counters of low-priced goodies, and surveyed the cosmetic, pharmaceutical, liquor, and camera counters spaced along the walls.

While Ma and Pa picked up pupus, soap and light bulbs, the keikis cavorted among the toys. Agnes Pang-Miss Sylvania-took pictures of the "little darlings" and presented them free to their masters.

The 40 Mauians employed at the store seemed excited on their first day at work as they racked up the sales.

Thomas J. Long, chairman of the board of directors of the big mainland-based discount store, said the "same price schedule used in Honolulu" was used at the Kahului store.

Long's will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays.

An Unsolicited Testimonial

BY SHARMEN GRAYDON

Unreal. This was Maui, Hawaii. Kahului, Maui, Hawaii. Still in the middle of an island in the middle of an ocean, but something had happened-a link had been established with the other world. Unreal.

Long's Drug Store. An immense store by Maui standards. A fluorescent bright Hardrock Candy Mountain to every Mauian who has paid those exorbitant prices on this island for a slim selection of items from toothpaste to dog yummies.

I walked through the automatic dood with my chin set against the expectation of prices adjusted up for Maui. The chin was not needed. Everywhere I looked, I saw prices I'd read about in Honolulu papers and never expected to see on Maui.

In every one of the wide, uncluttered aisles I noticed others like me, eyes wide in appreciative wonderment at the new face Long's had put on the whole shopping scene on Maui.

No longer will I make my weekly pilgrimage to Central Maui grudgingly grateful to save a few pennies over Lahaina's inflated food prices.My week will now revolve around that magical trip to Long's, there to face the delicious problem of choosing from a great selection of goodies and necessities and paying almost realistic prices to a very friendly, if not totally experienced, cashier.

Unreal.

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