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Crack Seed
As with manapua trucks in the not-too-distant past, kids growing up in the islands are well-familiar with and very fond of crack seed stores, which were the equivalent of candy stores anywhere else. Crack seed are the large variety of fruits and other items that are salted, sugared, or pickled into a snack or candy choice. They were first brought over from China, where fruit was preserved for later consumption and for traveling when refrigeration was non-existent. They were first made popular in Hawaii by the well-known Yick Lung Company, which began in the year 1900 by the recently-immigrated Yee family. They are sold by weight and held in rows of large glass jars, the more sought-after varieties pre-packaged and held in small plastic bags. Historically, the most popular crack seed types are the dry or wet lemon peel, apricots, rock salt plum, and most of all, li hing mui, a salty-sour plum that can be purchased with seed or without, are red, brown, or white in color, and come in either dry or wet forms.
I must give you fair warning with all crack seed products in case you are not aware – the salt and pickled preserves are often so strong that some degree of care need be taken. You will either love it or hate it! I have many friends from off-island who love the stuff, and just as many who won’t come near it with a 10-foot bamboo fishing pole.
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The Crack Seed Store in Kaimuki is typical of the old-fashioned snack/candy stores of days-gone-by. |
Crack Seed Center. Ala Moana S.C. 949-7200. Monday-Saturday 9:30am-9:30pm, Sunday 10am-7pm. Parking in center lot.
Wholesale Unlimited and Wholesale Unlimited Express. Main store 960 Ahua st. in Mapunapuna. 834-2900. Weekdays 9am-7pm, Saturdays 8am-4:30pm, Sunday 10am-3pm. Parking outside store. Various other express locations available in stores and shopping centers throughout Honolulu. Though there are varieties of crack seed here, you won’t find them in the classic glass jars and sold by weight. They are pre-packaged here and are well known in the islands as the largest supplier of Hawaiian snack products mentioned earlier.
| Lots of little nibblies at this small outpost at the Pearl Ridge Shopping Center called Seed City. |  |
Seed City. 98-1005 Moanalua rd. at the Pearl Ridge S.C. in Pearl City. 488-9755. 10am-9pm daily, except closed 6pm Sunday. Parking in center lot.
Seeds ‘n Things. 46-056 Kamehameha hwy. at the Windward Mall S.C. in Kaneohe. 235-5050. 10am-9pm daily, except closed 5pm Sunday. Parking in center lot.
