Baseball cards have been an integral part of American culture since the late 19th century, with kids across the country trading, collecting, and admiring their favorite players through these small pieces of cardboard. In the small town of Hilo on the Big Island of Hawaii, baseball cards have held a unique significance within the local community for generations.
Some of the earliest memories many Hilo residents have involve hunting through stacks of cards at neighborhood variety stores or making trades with friends at local parks and beaches. Even in a place thousands of miles from the major league ballparks, the allure of baseball drew kids to the hobby. For decades, baseball cards provided children in Hilo with a connection to the national pastime and a gateway to learning about players from different eras and teams.
While the roots of baseball card collecting extend back to the 1800s, it truly exploded in popularity in the postwar 1940s and 50s as production ramped up significantly. In Hilo during this time, five and dime stores like Kress Five & Ten as well as drugstores like Longs Drugs and Apaka’s Rexall became the epicenters of card trading activity. Kids would spend their allowances and money from odd jobs buying wax packs, hoping for stars or valuable cards to add to their collections.
Old-timers remember the thrill of pulling a Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, or Hank Aaron rookie from a fresh pack. Since Hawaii was still a U.S. territory at this point, baseball cards were one of the primary ways for local children to learn about players and teams from the mainland. The cards brought the majors to a small tropical town thousands of miles away. What started as a hobby blossomed into a lifelong passion for the game for many in Hilo.
As the 1950s rolled into the 1960s, card collecting in Hilo entered a golden age. The rise of the Los Angeles Dodgers and their move to Chavez Ravine brought even more spotlight on the National League. Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale, and Maury Wills became household names in Hilo thanks to their cardboard representations. Meanwhile, the Boston Red Sox dynasty and Yankees-Red Sox rivalry captivated local fans. More kids were playing organized Little League and enjoying cards than ever before.
The 1970s saw new developments that further embedded baseball cards into Hilo’s culture. In 1973, Topps gained the exclusive license to produce cards, eliminating competition from other brands that had emerged. This standardization made trading much easier nationwide and locally. Meanwhile, the rise of Frank “Hondo” Robinson and Hank Aaron’s home run chase that decade made baseball a daily topic of discussion, especially at schools and among multi-generational card collector families.
Perhaps the biggest change was the opening of Hilo’s first card shop, Baseball Card World, in 1975. Run by longtime collector Tommy Akana, the small store on Kamehameha Avenue became a hub for the community. Kids flocked there on weekends and after school to trade, buy packs and boxes, and discuss the latest stats. Akana was happy to educate newcomers to the hobby as well, passing down his extensive knowledge. His shop helped cards grow from a childhood pastime to an intergenerational bond between young and old in Hilo.
The 1980s saw cards reach new heights in popularity nationwide due to stars like Ozzie Smith, Wade Boggs, and Roger Clemens. In Hilo, the rise of local heroes like Shane Victorino, who broke in with the Dodgers and Phillies, inspired pride. Meanwhile, shows featuring the history of the game on ESPN further embedded baseball in the island’s culture. With the video game era looming, cards remained central to many young fans. Places like Akana’s shop, the library, and neighborhood parks hosted regular trading sessions.
Entering the 1990s, the business side of cards was booming. Ken Griffey Jr. rookies were as coveted and pricey as any in history. The rise of the internet also allowed for more efficient online trading. This presented a challenge to Hilo’s brick and mortar shops. Baseball Card World closed in 1996 after over 20 years, a sad moment for the community. The hobby’s heart remained. Informal trades still happened wherever fans gathered on the island.
As cards transitioned to the 21st century, the industry faced new uncertainty. But in Hilo, a new generation has embraced the tradition. Annual baseball card shows draw hundreds. Local shops like Da Shop and KTA Super Store sell new releases. Online groups arrange meetups for kids and collectors. And the library continues organizing learning programs around the cards and their history.
Now over a century since their inception, baseball cards remain stitched into the cultural fabric of Hilo. Multiple generations of locals grew up embracing the hobby, sparked by childhood memories of pack searches and playground swaps. Even in an isolated tropical town thousands of miles from MLB stadiums, cards provided a connection to America’s pastime that still resonates today. They remind Hilo of its deep baseball roots and represent the universal appeal of stats, stories and childhood wonder the sport provides.
