How We Started

Hyo Kyu and Hae Joo Lim started their Korean grocery business in 1977 on the corner of Kalakaua and Phillips street as Dae Han General Grocery Store. They were the pioneers of importing Korean products like frozen fishcake (odeng/uh-mook), SacSac orange drink and one of the original importers of Nongshim products like the ever popular Shrimp Chips and Shin Ramyun to the United States.

They would go on to open the original Palama Supermarket in the Kapalama Shopping 1985 and later in 2003 with the return of their son, Daniel, break ground on the Kalakaua/Makaloa store. In 2010, Palama Waimalu opened in the old Marajyu Market location in Aiea. In 2014, the Kalihi Kapalama location moved to its new stand alone location a few blocks away on King Street. In 2016, the first Palama Express opened at the Aloha Tower Marketplace introducing a convenience store concept to the business.