Fish & Kon Mart opens to fill post-Sinlaku breadfruit need

Fish & Kon Mart owner Akiki Aiashy was visiting Saipan when he saw firsthand the damage left by Super Typhoon Sinlaku and realized the storm had left many in the Chuukese community without access to one of their traditional staples—breadfruit.

Aiashy, who founded the family business and has similar operations in Chuuk and Guam, said he decided to open the Saipan store in May after seeing the damage caused by the Category 5 super typhoon.

“When I saw it, there is no breadfruit, so we stand up, then I say, better we have Fish & Kon market here so we can help the local people here in Saipan,” Aiashy told Marianas Press.

Darlene Castro, Aiashy’s niece, said the family wanted to help meet the community’s need for local food following the storm.

“I’m working here as a cashier, helping my uncle here at Fish & Kon, trying to help the community with local food, because after the typhoon, we don't have any more breadfruit,” Castro said. “Any local food, because it was all gone, just from the typhoon.”

Aiashy said Fish & Kon takes its name from two foods popular among people from Chuuk—fish and “kon,” a preparation made from pounded breadfruit.

The family business brings breadfruit from Chuuk and processes it on Saipan.

The store also sells taro and “opot,” another breadfruit preparation. Aiashy said opot involves burying breadfruit underground for an extended period as part of a different preparation process.

Fish is another major part of the business, with Fish & Kon buying its seafood from local fishermen. Aiashy said reef fish has been particularly popular among customers.

“We fry, we sell. Mostly people, they come and look for reef fish,” Castro said. “They like to buy.”

Despite its emphasis on traditional Chuukese food, Aiashy said Fish & Kon is not exclusively for the Chuukese community. He said the store serves customers from different ethnic and cultural backgrounds on Saipan.

The business also operates as a small grocery store. Aiashy said business is still developing and Fish & Kon is waiting to be able to accept food stamp benefits.

Asked why he decided to open a business while Saipan continues to recover from the typhoon and faces a difficult economy, Aiashy said helping the community was more important than the timing.

“Because we love our people,” he said. “And even though we don't make any money, the economy down, but we try to help.”

Fish & Kon Mart is open seven days a week from 9am to 8pm. Customers may call (671) 689-6419 for more information.