Oh Nooooooo! Ever since COVID Lockdown back in early 2020, Hokkaido Ramen Santouka in the Waikiki International Marketplace in the Mitsuya Store has been closed, and I've been patiently waiting for it to open again!

Santouka in better days:

With tourism starting up again slowly but surely, I made my way down to Waikiki this past weekend with fingers crossed that Santouka would be back up and running...but when I got there, I was to find they has closed up and shuttered their shop for good!!! NOOO!

Yes, I know that there are still Hokkaido Ramen Santoukas in town that I could go to, but it was that particular shoppe that made it special for me- I'd take a long walk to Waikiki, have dinner at Santouka, browse the shops and, after getting a cold drink, would make my way home. Now it's gone! 

PS: Holy Crap, I just realized that the Goma Tei in the International Marketplace closed, too! 

 Awhile ago I had reported that they had torn down the old Mililani Jack In A Box near the golf course. Was a bit sad because I had many a lunch there back in my CoCo J-Pop days, talking over burgers with Dan about the wonder of my newfound obsession!
I walked by the other week, and was stunned to see that they had erected this brand-spankin' new First Hawaiian Bank there!

For those who can't remember what the old Jack In A Box looked like, a quick click on googlemaps shows is the establishment back in the day... 

I tell ya, there are complete Miho Nakayama albums that remind me of this Jack in A Box, LOL