In 1962, Tomizo and Mitsue Ikei, whose parents immigrated from Okinawa, started The Saimin House. Their shop was located where the present First Hawaiian Bank Building now stands on North King Street near Aala Park.By day, the shop was a service station, and by night, it was converted to a saimin stand. The diverse area consisted of a mochi factory, soda fountain, pawn shop and several bars. With pitched tents and a gas burner, saimin was sold at 25 cents a bowl and BBQ beef at 10 cents a stick. Those were the days.