The beloved Talk Story Bookstore in Hanapepe, Kauai is moving down the road to Kaumakani due to the condition of the current building. The information comes from the bookstore’s Instagram page, in a post made on March 4th, 2025. At almost 93 years old, the building will no longer be covered by property insurance starting next year. Due to the situation, the landlord plans to tear down the building and rebuild, according to the post. Hailed as the westernmost bookstore in the United States, Talk Story recently celebrated its 20th anniversary in 2024.
The next decade will see the new Talk Story Bookstore located about 3 miles west at the old Gay & Robinson Community Hall, next to Aloha Sweet Delights and JP’s Pizza. The moving process will commence in April and May, with a reopening date planned for June 1st. The Hanapepe location will remain open until the move-in begins.
The Hanapepe Talk Story building was built in 1933 and was originally called the “Mikado Store”, soon renamed to the “Yoshiura Store” during World War II – the name most people remember the building as, before it was closed in the mid-1990s. After the Yoshiura Store, the building was BJs Music and Video for ten years, then Santa’s Vacation Hale (a Christmas store) for three years, then empty for a year until Talk Story relocated into the space in June of 2006.
Credit: Talk Story Bookstore
Built in 1946 during the sugar cane era, the Kaumakani building also has a unique history and character. However, it doesn’t have the western-style facade and the owners are currently seeking contributions to cover the $15,000 cost of a new facade.
A Treasure Trove of Discoveries
With over 25,000 unique titles lining its shelves, Talk Story Bookstore is a haven for bibliophiles. From beach reads to mysteries, children’s books to Hawaiiana, the store boasts an impressive array of new and used books, comic books, vinyl records, vintage finds, retro video games and collectibles. It’s a place where every visit reveals something new, ensuring that there’s always something for everyone.
What started as an at-home eBay business for owner Ed Justus transformed into the beloved West Side bookstore in 2004, thanks to an offer of a month’s free rent. Ed notes it was “the late Elsie Nishi who allowed us to start renting there. Since that time, both her daughter, Donna Richards, and now her grandson, Chris Zenger, have kindly made it possible for us to continue to lease their building.”
The bookstore’s original location (2004) was on the other side of the 1911 bridge at the old Shimonishi Orchids & Feed building. The bookstore never would have started if the owners Elsie & Tom Godbey (Elsie being the daughter of the late Mr. Shimonishi of whom the building was named after) hadn’t kindly offered Ed a month’s free rent to start a business there.
“After that month’s free rent, I had made only enough money to pay for the place I was living or pay for the next month’s rent at the store,” Ed recalls. “So, I went to the Hanapepe Swinging Bridge to think about what to do, and when I got there, a radiant double rainbow suddenly appeared. I said to myself out loud, if that’s not a sign, I don’t know what is. For the next month or so, I was homeless, sleeping in my van, until I had made enough money to rent one of the upstairs living units from the Shimonishi’s. Thankfully, the store has continued on ever since.”
Stepping inside Talk Story Bookstore, visitors are greeted by more than just books. Original artwork by local artists, including Ed’s wife, adorns the space, adding to the store’s charm and appeal. The presence of the bookstore cat, now Natalie following the beloved Celeste, adds a warm, homely feel, making each visit memorable.
Celeste’s legacy lives on in a line of Mochi-Celeste products and stickers designed by Ed’s wife Yuriko Kihara. Yuriko’s works, including her Yuriko J. Design products, can be found in the bookstore and in shops across the islands.
Since opening its doors, Talk Story Bookstore has garnered numerous business awards and has been hailed as the #1 shopping destination on the island by TripAdvisor. The bookstore has been listed on sites such as MentalFloss, Country Living and PureWow as being one of the Best Bookstores in the country. “However, I think our former boss cat Celeste deserves the praise,” Ed notes, “as she was once listed by MentalFloss as being on the “Top 10 Bookstore Cats in the World”!
As Talk Story Bookstore steps into a new location, it will continue to be a place where stories are not just told – they’re shared, cherished, and live on in the hearts and minds of those who visit. Whether you’re seeking refuge on a rainy day, looking for that perfect read, or hoping to find a unique gift, Talk Story Bookstore will continue to be a space where people from all walks of life can come together to explore, imagine, and converse.
