Charles Kan Chui Goo was born on 2 Dec 1915 in Kailua, Oahu, Hawaii.  His parents immigrated from southern China to Hawaii and his Dad was a rice planter and general store manager. His mother prepared meals 4X/day for the men working in the fields, took care of the children and home and when her husband passed away, she went to work in the cannery for up to 12 hours/day earning 50 cents.  Charles was the oldest of 6 children and was only 9 years old when his father passed away.  Consequently, he had to stop his formal education after the 8^th grade and took correspondence classes and started selling newspapers.  He then started work as a grocery clerk and assistant manager at C.Q. Yee Hop, a wholesale and retail market from 1932-34.  From 1934-42, he worked at S.H.  Kress where they sent him in 1936 to Los Angeles for 6 months to learn the operation of a soda fountain and lunch business and he became the manager of their soda-lunch department.  During this time, Charles served in the National Guard and was a mess sergeant.  With the coming of the war, he was the camp manager of the mess department at Hickam Field for construction workers for the Navy Yard oil storage project.   From 1942-49 he was a manager of American Drug for 2 years, worked as a pipe fitter at the Navy yard, opened his own ice cream fountain on the corner of Smith and King for 1 year, went back to work at the Navy yard, managed the Waikiki Pharmacy for 2½ years, managed Stewart’s Pharmacy for 8 months, managed the Café Maxim dining room in January 1950.   He then leased Hale Nu’uanu from 1950-1955 from Dairymen’s and operated a fountain-drive-in on Nu’uanu Avenue on the corner of Pauoa Road where he cooked, made ice cream sundaes, ice cream floats, sandwiches, and served his customers.  He believed that a businessman needs never be too humble to pick up a broom or help with the chores, even if he has employees.  He even opened his own business in 1955, Wiki Wiki Fountain at 1112 Fort Street.

Charles states he knew Mildred when she was working at S.H.  Kress but he didn’t have any real contact with her until he met her again working at the Navy yard.  He states that he happened to walk by her office, spoke to her and asked her for a date.  They were married on 19 September 1943 at St. Clements Church during the wartime blackout.  They first lived on Lauhala Street near Queen’s Hospital, moved to Pauao valley, built their own home at PacificHeights which had to be sold when they moved out to Laie in 1955.  Charles and Mildred had five children: Geralyn (Nihipali), Charles W.H. Goo Jr., Cynthia (Fong), JoAnn (Lau), and Eloise (Tyau). 

  From 1946-47 he was active in the Chinese MIA of the Waikiki Ward, was the MIA superintendent and joined the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1947. Mildred joined the church a year later. Charles later served as one of the seven presidents of the quorum of seventies in the Oahu Stake. For his civic duties he served as president of the Pauao School PTA from 1952-53 and as one of the vice-presidents of the Goo Association.

In 1955 President Edward L. Clissold, the Oahu Stake President asked Charles if he would be willing to open a fountain and store for the benefit of the students who would be attending the Church College of Hawaii in Laie in September 1955 on a temporary campus located diagonally across from the Plantation Store. 

The Plantation Store located at 55-075 Lanihuli Street was built in 1915 by the Kahuku Plantation as a company store for the Laie Camp.  It was built on a raised platform along the railroad track so passengers could step out.  The store closed in 1953.

Charles decided to move his family from Honolulu to Laie and they first lived with the Kinolau family on Pu’uahi Street and then moved into a home on Lanihuli Street which they rented from Clinton Kanahele.  Their family home was later built on Moana Street. 

Charles renovated the inside of the Plantation Store and opened for business on 14 August 1955 and it became known as “The Old Plantation Store” or “Goo’s Store”.  The front right side was the store (grocery, dry goods, hardware) and the left side was the fountain where customers could order hot dogs, hamburgers, saimin, sandwiches and ice cream.  The fountain side didn’t do well and so it was closed down and became a storeroom.  The store remained open for 25 years when Charles retired 31 December 1980 but he leased it out for another 6 years to Paul and Valo Tailele.  Charles started demolishing the building in January 1987. The store was open everyday except Sundays from 7am-9pm.  Each of his 5 children and even Mildred worked different shifts at the store, especially after school and on Saturdays and holidays.  Cigarettes and alcoholic drinks were not sold there.  The store supplied food, toiletries, and other items that the people ate, used, and requested.  Whatever was in season from the land(bananas, papayas, breadfruit, corn, mangoes) and the ocean(all sorts of fish, lobsters) Charles would purchase to sell and/or freeze.  There was always fresh fruits and vegetables, ice cream, soda, kerosene, pake cake, almond cookies, opae, poi, abalone, Chinese seeds, candies, all sorts of canned goods, brooms, paints, lawnmowers, bicycles, etc.

When Charles was interviewed for an article in the Honolulu Advertiser in 1967, he stated that he gives credit to about 60 percent of his customers…”this is a very informal open credit…a lot of people are on welfare, social security and pensions.   I cash their welfare or pay checks whenever they come and we settle accounts.   Some of these people couldn’t send their children to school if I didn’t extend them abou t $150…and then let them work out the amount over a period of time…and look – a check had come in yesterday’s mail – this guy’s check has bounced.  I don’t get him into trouble.  I understand.  I know he’s good for it in time.  We’ll work it out when he comes in.” 

When Charles was interviewed by the Ke Alaka’i in February 1987, he estimates he lost more than $10,000 over all the years.  “I was more blessed to give…it was good to have that experience to see how some you can trust and some you can’t.  You see all kinds of people, some honest and some dishonest.  We were so lenient and some took advantage.

He never lost faith in his neighbors.  He often extended credit knowing he would never see his money.  He was compelled by his own good fortune to help others.  He sometimes referred to himself as Laie’s one man Relief Society.”  There was an Old Indian Saying printed on a piece of poster board that was placed on the back wall of the store:  

“You ask for trust, I no give. You get mad, I give you trust. You no pay, I get mad. Better you get mad...better we be friends.”

The Old Plantation Store became an integral part of the Laie Community until the supermarkets and shopping centers opened up.  Charles states that he opened for business and closed shop at the right time.  The decision Charles made to move to Laie in 1955 had far-reaching effects for his family, especially with full activity in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – opportunity for them to participate in all of the programs of the church, to serve full-time missions, to work at and attend church-sponsored colleges, to continue to work at or have spouses who work at church-related institutions.

Charles Goo Sr. was a branch president for BYUH 6^th ward, a temple ordinance worker and sealer in the LaieHawaiiTemple, member of the high council, senior high councilman in charge of church facilities, dedicated home teacher. 

Mildred Goo was the meetinghouse librarian, temple ordinance worker, Relief Society teacher, Sunday School secretary, and dedicated visiting teacher.  Both Charles and Mildred served in the Austrailia Mission for 6 months. They also served in the TaiwanTemple for 1 ½ years, and then served in the Hong KongTemple for 1½ years.  (Written by Geri Nihipali)

Other thoughts shared by members of the La'ie Community:

I thought Bro. Goo was a mean old man who was just out to make a buck; I'm sure a lot of people thought the same. But after learning of the individuals and families he had assisted financially (without saying a word) and with no thought for himself, I grew to appreciate Bro. Goo.  I am amazed at the many sacrifices he and his wife had made to raise their children in the truth and to make them honerable hard working adults.