The first Tamashiro Market was opened on Kamehameha Ave. in Hilo, Hawaii on May 1, 1941 by immigrants Chogen and Yoshiko Tamashiro. Back then, it was a small store specializing in fresh pork from livestock farmed by the Tamashiro family. When a tsunami struck on April 1, 1946 and demolished most of Hilo’s business district including the family’s store, Chogen worked quickly to reopen at a new location on Keawe St. within a week. Feeling that another tsunami would threaten his family’s safety, Chogen made plans to move to Oahu, and on June 11th of the following year, relocated his family and opened Tamashiro Market in an existing building on North King St. in Honolulu.