Petland, a longtime favorite in East Oahu for 86 years, is closing its final store in Kahala. This comes after its other locations in Ala Moana Center and Waipahu have already shut down. According to a report by Island News, Petland began shortly after WW2 when Jiro Matsui, a veteran, sold goldfish from a wheelbarrow in Chinatown.

The store’s life cycle spanned over eight decades, adapting through changing times it become an iconic name among local businesses, customers like Ariana Kakugawa lament the closure, saying, "I've bought several pets here. I bought all my fish here," in a statement obtained by KHON2, "It's very upsetting. You've been here all your life and it's kind of sad to see your local store going away." Together with gratitude for the journey shared with patrons and employees by owner Kenneth Matsui, the decision to close has resonated deeply with the community that grew alongside the pet store.

Challenging economic tides and the rise of e-commerce giants like Amazon have added pressure on local establishments, making it increasingly difficult for them to stay afloat in this rapidly evolving retail landscape, Kenneth Matsui's son, Richard, grappled with the reality saying, "We have some real doubts about our ability to survive in the era of Amazon and same day delivery," voicing concerns echoed in family discussions and eventually leading to the closure decision, as per KHON2. Furthermore, the family faced a pivotal moment when the elder Matsui encountered health issues, a matter that Richard detailed in an interview, highlighting the impact such events have on reassessing business and personal priorities.

According to report from Island News, Petland is holding a closing sale starting August 12, with most items at 30% off. This is a final chance for customers to shop before the store closes. After shutting down, the Matsui family plans to shift to a wholesale pet supplies business, focusing on inventory management without a physical store.