In 1971 - Mickey Sussman -- met two girls named Greenblat who had the building next door (old KC Kai store)and this was the first place he stayed on Kauai. Next door, Victor and Connie Aquino ran the old pool hall and asked Mickey to take over.Victor Aquino sold business to Mickey back in 1971. Mickey bought business for $3000 and lease was month-to-month $90 per month paid to Mrs. Edith Chang. The Aquino’s moved out, but there were renters remaining in back.

Victor Aquino used to rent one back house to some Filipino guys $10 per month each.

Mickey always allowed the old guys and the Aquino brothers to play pool. Most of the gambling was gone but a few guys still played pool there. The property was not really run as a pool hall business during this time, but Mickey turned the middle into a guitar making shop which he operated. In middle of pool hall building was guitar making shop. IE: Buffy St. Marie came in to the shop one day and bought a “crib” made by apprentice for her son. Musicians would order guitars from Mickey.

He made first guitar there. Lived and worked there on the property from 1971-74. He established his Kaua’i roots there and has many good memories of the place and the people.

Filipinos still came in to shoot pool but mostly came with the chickens...trained them in the back. It was noisy. Big dirt area to park and stake out chickens. Almost every morning the Filipinos would come and train roosters. That was a cultural thing going on for a long time from when the Malapits ran the place, so Mickey never interfered. These chickens were mostly a Masa Ajimura run operation. They never fought or bet chickens on private property because that was illegal. Every one knew they had to find a place in the woods for that or it would put the property at risk.

All the older Filipino’s, those in their 70’s were good guys. He remembers one in particular: Pedro Manini was a most “cool” Filipino man who would throw net at Salt Ponds, and often give a bunch of fish to Mickey.

Pedro would “rack” pool halls by hand. He was the best guy ...all who knew Pedro were good friends with him. He was that kind of man.

One other old friend, Paulino Sumebque, would come in to Mickey’s guitar shop to work on his mandolin and play mandolin sometimes.

Other old Filipino names Mickey remembers include (note sure of spelling) : Thomas Navaro; Certo; Bisayan; and Paulino

Music was played often when the Hawaiians would come in when they came to town- Many musicians from the Carino family (Pongi, Linsey,) Marshall “Kamehameha”Aki; There was also a group of full Hawaiian ancestry - the Keali family from Ni’ihau. IE; Tony Kaimana, Chiefi.

These Hawaiians came in from plantations and from Ni’ihau and played music well - ukulele & guitar. They played the popular stuff...Hi’ilave (songs from Gabby Pahinui); and these guys could also play rock and tunes they heard on radio (IE: Stairway to Heaven - Led Zeplen.) Very talented musicians. Mickey recalls this being the beginning Hawaiian renaissance. It was pre- Makaha sons of Ni’ihau. There was no recording equipment back then, but these Hawaiian musicians were laying the foundation for cultural renaissance.
This time at the old pool has was a real cultural exchange opportunity - cultures mixed with equality and respect.--pool hall was a place to share the culture together. Sussman was working hard at his craft. Because he was not scamming anyone but just good role model and running the place well the old pool hall was a good place to be. It was a gathering place for lots of people. It was an important time in Mickey’s life and he has many good feelings about the time and place.

Mickey states: “There was so much soul in the building. Everyone had some kind of respect for the pool hall.” This is where Mickey established friendships with Hawaiians and learned much about local life and ways.

One unfortunate thing is that the old pool hall and only 1 toilet; and the cesspool backed up. Victor Aquino had poured concrete over access years earlier so it could not be pumped.

Lots of guys would come in and play music and smoke marijuana (called “kolas”). Guys would drive by and ask you “Get kolas?” Do you have any to smoke?? There was no buying or selling. Only smoking. It was grown all over Kauai back then and easy to get.

Mickey remembers the alley was called “Haoli” Alley because the Greenblats building next door. Most of the town was still local ethnic, very few haoli’s back then in Hanapepe.

Next door (on Ajimura property on left), Masa Ajimura used to raise fighting chickens in between backhouse and river. Back yard dirt area of pool hall building was used for this purpose. Things got rough sometimes. Masa Ajimura pretty much did whatever he wanted around there.

Eventually, Mickey decided to live in a quieter part of town, and a guy named Liko De Leon bought pool hall business from Mickey and took over management and rent payments. Mickey learned that Liko did fine for a while, but after some time the property management went downhill and he heard Liko had stopped paying rent to Mrs. Chang.

When Mickey had the business, there were only five pool tables left. Before he left in 1974 he gave one to the brothers “local” boys in Hanapepe. He kept one and is using it on his Anahola property to build guitars on. He may have other memorabilia and will look around for it.

A Place Remembered - The Old Hanapepe Pool Hall

Interview transcript of Mickey Sussman by Carol Bain