Makua, Oahu, Hawaii 1982

This authentic 1980s colour photograph, captured in 1982, documents the rural roadside landscape of Farrington Highway in the Makua and Makaha region of Oahu, Hawaii. The archival image features a prominent Cornet department store, a once-ubiquitous five-and-dime chain in the islands, with its distinctive yellow facade and mid-century patterned masonry. To the left, several large green industrial dumpsters sit on a dirt shoulder near a puddle, reflecting the rugged, undeveloped character of the Leeward Coast during the early eighties. Period-correct vehicles, including a white sedan and a red station wagon, are visible on the asphalt and in the store parking lot. Massive utility poles and tangled power lines stretch across the frame, leading the eye toward the distant Makaha Resort buildings and the coastal mountains. While the Cornet chain eventually shuttered its Hawaii operations in the late 1990s, the building itself is still standing today, having been repurposed for other local retail and community needs. This factual record preserves the quiet, local commerce and slow-paced atmosphere of West Oahu before the further modernization of the coastline. All our images are available as royalty-free instant downloads for use in books, media, and creative projects – or make your own prints for home, work, or as a truly unique gift.