Mr. K's Recycle and Redemption Center, Inc., started with Thomas T. Kadota, who had grown up during the Depression Era and appreciated making the most of every resource. He repurposed the 20-lb paper rice bags to protect bottles at the liquor store, and recycled glass bottles for a penny a pound in the '70's and '80's. A county recycling worker encouraged his son, Roy Kadota, to open a HI-5 redemption center, since Mr. Kadota already had bottles and cans from the two Kadota Family businesses, Kadota Liquors and K's Drive In.