Our Story
Jim Jr. arrives in Hawai'i
1952
James Harold Reddekop Sr.
Leaving the family farm in Aberta, Canada for the South Pacific, Jim finds himself on the sunny shores of Waikiki. Here he opens the Hawai'i chapter of Thomas Cook Travel, taking Hawaiian tourists on grand adventures all over the world.
Wedding Bells
1962
Jim & Erna Reddekopp
Jim marries Waikiki beach girl Erna Florence Pi'ilani at Kawaiha'o Church in Honolulu
Jim Jr. is born
1963
James H Reddekopp Jr.
James Jr., called Jimmer, future founder of the Hawaiian Vanilla Co. is born at Queen's Hospital in Honolulu
Wedding Bells
1964
Gary & Barbara Fuller
Gary Fuller marries Barbara Bruton, Long Island, New York
Tracy is born
1969
Teresa Fuller
Teresa, called Tracy, future founder of the Hawaiian Vanilla Co. is born at Long Island Jewish Hospital in New York
The Fullers arrive in Hawai'i
1970
The Fullers
Gary and Barbara Fuller arrive in Hawai'i with their family in tow. Gary teaches geography at the University of Hawai'i and Barbara teaches at the Waimanalo correctional facility for the next 35+ years
Fly Away Holidays
1972
Jim Sr. starts his own travel co
with offices on Keeamoku and in the Kailua Shopping Center. Jim Jr. remembers greeting the airplanes on the tarmac, his arms lined with lei, as his father welcomed the guest each with a lei, the ladies with a kiss.
Meet Cute
1990
West Side Story
In a local production of West Side Story, Jim is cast as Tony, Tracy is cast as Velma. While out with the cast at a party at Bobby McGee's on the edge of Waikiki, the two dance together. From that night on, they are inseperable
Wedding Bells
1991
Jim & Tracy Reddekopp
are married at the Moana Surfrider on June 29th, 1991
Big Island
1996
Pa'auilo
Jim and Tracy purchase a piece of raw land in a sugar town on the Hamakua coast. No road, no electricity, but it did have county water!
The Mill
1998
Old Deluz Slaughter House
Jim buys a dilapidated building 1/2 a mile from the property in Paauilo with the vision of turning it into a meeting place