ABC Stores, known for its touristy shops in Waikiki and other visitor hot spots, has taken over the operation of Kapalua's historic Honolua Store.

ABC Stores President Paul Kosasa said that the new managers will bring only "very minor changes" to the more than 80-year-old store, and even though there will be renovations in the future, ABC Stores plans to keep the building's "small-town feel."

"It's still going to be the Honolua Store," Kosasa said. "I understand the sensitivity of commercialization of that kind of stuff. . . . We have a lot of employees that live in Maui. They are sensitive to that."

Kosasa said ABC rehired all of the store's existing employees when it began leasing the property on June 27. Maui Land & Pineapple Co. still owns the store.

Honolua Store was built in 1929 by pineapple plantation carpenters. It remains a central feature of Kapalua Resort. Not only was it a "company store," stocking goods and merchandise for plantation workers, it served as a town center for village residents. A bulletin board displayed notices of activities and events; pineapple workers could check the times for starting their field shifts and read labor union notices.

In an emailed statement, Tim Esaki, chief financial officer of ML&P acknowledged Honolua Store has been a big part of the company's history, and therefore the company was careful in selecting a "proven and successful local retailer who also understands the cultural significance of the store."

"We are confident they will carry on the legacy of the Honolua Store," Esaki wrote.

He did not say why ML&P had decided to seek an outside retailer to take over management of the store. But he confirmed that the store's classic take-out food offerings and plate lunches will be continued, along with the store's coffee bar and deli. Kapalua logo items also will still be sold.

Kosasa said ABC might also expand the food selection and add more health and beauty products.

While acknowledging that island residents may strongly associate the ABC Stores brand with touristy Waikiki, Kosasa noted that the company already has a track record of operating sites similar to Honolua Store that include a food-service component. That experience includes operating Island Country Markets at Ko Olina Resort on Oahu as well as Island Gourmet Markets at Waikoloa on the Big Island. Both have food offerings.

Kosasa said his company already has 11 other stores on Maui, including stores on Front Street and at Whalers Village, which opened in 1984.

The genesis of ABC Stores was in the 1930s on Oahu, according to the company's website. The Kosasa family went on to open drugstores and eventually opened the first ABC outlet on Waikiki Beach in 1964.

Since then, ABC Stores has expanded to every major island in Hawaii and the ABC concept has been exported to Guam, Saipan and Las Vegas.