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 ninety-eight 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, and HPU freshman Andrew, the baby of our bunch.  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!

All of us at Eki Cyclery invite you to come visit our spacious showroom. Take a stroll down memory lane, and at the same time, check out the latest in bicycling!