Retail pioneer Sidney Kosasa, who founded ABC Stores more than 40 years ago and turned the convenience store chain into one of the state's largest retailers, has died.

He was 86.

Kosasa, who died at his home last Friday, launched the first of his ABC Stores in 1965 on Kalakaua Avenue across from the site now occupied by Planet Hollywood. There are now 71 ABC Stores, which cater to tourists, in Waikiki, the Neighbor Islands, Guam and Las Vegas.

"He created the concept of a convenience store in Hawai'i years before it became popular on the Mainland," said his son Paul Kosasa, ABC's chief executive officer.

The son of first-generation immigrants from Japan, Kosasa attended McKinley High School and the University of California-Berkeley, where he received a pharmacy degree in 1942. During World War II, he was sent to a relocation camp at Tule Lake, Calif.

There he married his wife, Minnie, and returned to Hawai'i just before the end of the war. He worked for Benson Smith Drug Store and worked his way up as store manager before he and his wife opened their own drugstore in Kaimuki in 1949.

The Kosasas later opened pharmacies inside department stores operated by GEM of Hawaii Inc.

Kosasa got the idea of starting ABC in 1964 while attending a national convention for pharmacy operators in Miami. Seeing the busy tourist trade in south Florida, he envisioned a similar future for Waikiki.

His first ABC store was in a 700-square-foot location and sold drugs, discount health and beauty aides and souvenir gifts for tourists.

Back then, Waikiki wasn't the bustling tourist mecca it is today. With exception of the Sheraton Moana Surfrider, the Royal Hawaiian Hotel and the many Outrigger hotels, there were few notable, major hotels, and the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center hadn't been built yet, recalled Paul Kosasa.

ABC was one of Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center's first tenants when it opened in 1981.

Throughout his life, Kosasa was very active in local community affairs. He was a past president and lifetime member of the Retail Merchants of Hawaii, and from 1972 to 1975 he served as president of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce.

He also is a past president of Kuakini Health System and is a former board member of Island Insurance Co., Central Pacific Bank, the Hawaii Visitor's Bureau and the Chamber of Commerce of Hawai'i.

Kosasa is survived by his wife, Minnie, sons Paul and Dr. Thomas Kosasa, and daughters Susan Kosasa and Gloria Gainsley. The family said it held private services and asked that no flowers be sent. Condolences can be sent to ABC Stores, 766 Pohukaina St., Honolulu, HI 96813.

Reach Rick Daysog at rdaysog@honoluluadvertiser.com.