Field Guide: Wilder Ave.

This street may look residential upon first glance, but it’s spotted with unique businesses.

Sure Shot Cafe

For Makiki residents, Sure Shot Café is a neighborhood staple. The small coffee shop is usually packed with senior citizens sipping their Americanos and reading the paper, college students taking advantage of the free Wi-Fi and business people stopping in for a blueberry scone to go. “Everyone can be comfortable here,” says Kiko Hayashito, who has owned the café for 11 years. Hayashito notes that Sure Shot is independently owned and the staff makes everything in house except for the bagels. 1249 Wilder Ave., 523-2336.

Paula’s Sports Cards

Photo: elyse Butler

Paula Nakata got into the sports-card business 19 years ago while recovering from a bicycle accident. Nakata (shown in photo) is known in the local trading-card world for carrying an impressive array of high-end cards. Her clients range from school kids to hard-core collectors. Sports cards are her bread and butter, but she also carries gaming and signed celebrity cards. She recently sold a basketball card with Michael Jordan’s and LeBron James’ signatures for $1,000. Nakata also holds gaming tournaments and helps customers trade their cards. 1231 Wilder Ave., Suite 206, 533-4886.
 

Photo: Elyse Butler

Vintage Wine Cellar

“We’re the oldest wine shop in Hawaii,” says Jay Kam, the owner of the Vintage Wine Cellar. Located in the downstairs area of the Makiki Shopping Village, the cellar is a 41-year-old, family-owned business. Kam specializes in unique, artisan wines and the small shop packs in a large variety. “We have wines from all different parts of the world and specialize in European wines,” he says, adding that he and his staff travel to Europe every year. The shop also carries top-shelf scotch, gin and vodka, as well as collector’s edition Champagnes. 1249 Wilder Ave., Suite B-1, 523-9463.

Did You Know? It may look like a large church, and even has the word cathedral in its name, but the Scottish Rite Cathedral is actually home to the Scottish Rite Masons, part of the Free and Accepted Masons in the state. The society has been in the Islands since 1874 and has included members such as John Dominis and King David Kalakaua. 1611 Kewalo St., 533-2326.

Photo: elyse Butler

YWCA Fernhurst Residence

Wilder Avenue is home to one of the island’s YWCAs with its Fernhurst Residence. This Y is more than a place to socialize and get fit—women can spend the night. It’s a cozy escape with amenities such as Internet and telephone access in each room, meals, weekly linen service, resident classes, and even pizza and movie nights. Staff members also live on site. 1566 Wilder Ave., 941-2231.

Makiki Japanese Cemetery

Amidst the high-rise condos sits the Makiki Japanese Cemetery. According to the memoriam plaque inside, it’s the oldest Japanese cemetery in the state and was founded in 1868 as an “epitome of the proud history of the pioneer Japanese immigrants in Hawaii.” 1620 Pensacola St.