Makaha Art Gallery is marking its fifth anniversary this month, and owner Al Frenzel assures would-be customers "the drive to the gallery is along one of the most scenic routes on Oahu with the best beaches, the best weather and friendliest people."

The 1,100-square-foot gallery is among the businesses located in the old Cornet store on the Leeward coast and includes what Frenzel calls "an eclectic assortment of vintage Hawaiiana and surfing memorabilia," the result of more than 30 years of collecting items during his travels throughout the U.S. and other countries during his military career.

"Many of the items for sale were repatriated back to Hawaii where they were originally created … or (were) made available," he said.

Frenzel has one-of-a-kind and rare merchandise including originally signed documents and photographs of Hawaiian royalty, and books about Hawaii going back to 1784 that document Capt. Cook’s third voyage and Western discovery of Hawaii. He also offers prints and original art from Madge Tennent, Joseph Feher, Jean Charlot, Shirley Russell and other celebrated Hawaii artists.

The gallery currently is featuring vintage artwork created for Hawaii menu covers by artists John Kelly, Frank McIntosh and Eugene Savage, Frenzel said.

In addition to traditional artwork, the store’s melange of merchandise includes posters, maps, novelties, photos "and other ephemera," Frenzel said.

Some of the posters are movie posters. "I’ve got posters from almost all the movies filmed in Hawaii, including many of the most popular surfing movies," he said. Movie memorabilia also include still photos, some of them autographed, including a shot of Elvis Pres­ley.

He gets new inventory from around the world through auctions and estate sales. He has "pickers that look for things for me," and when he travels to the mainland, Frenzel frequents antique malls and flea markets, he said.

Hardly any of his merchandise purchases are made in Hawaii, because Hawaii’s climate and vermin can be tough on vintage things.

Price start as low as $1 for "maybe an old photo or a small book or shell." He also has a discount area of Hawaii trinkets. Prices go up from there.

Frenzel retired from the Army as a lieutenant colonel after 27 years of service, and had been stationed here three times beginning in 1975. He loved Hawaii and decided in 1996 that when he got out, he would move here permanently, which he did in 2002.

The first iteration of his business was named the First Weekend Art Gallery. It was not a bricks-and-mortar deal back then, but he would set up as a vendor at a particular monthly event. "It didn’t work out," he said.

Avid collectors, it seemed, did not make it a point to be on the Leeward coast on the date of the event each month.

He opened the permanent gallery in 2009 and has since sold items to Aulani — A Disney Resort & Spa, and to the current "Hawaii Five-0" production for props, decor and other uses.

Collectors and celebrities from all over the world have become customers of the gallery at the intersection of Farrington Highway and Makaha Valley Road.

Those who have never been to the gallery can sample Frenzel’s wares at several annual events at Blaisdell Center, including the Hawaii Collectors Expo each February; three of the four Sunday Wiki Wiki One Day Shows in the Hawaii Suites; and at the Hawaii All-Collectors Show in July.

Being at those events "serves as advertising," he said.

Frenzel obviously can’t bring all 5,000 items in his inventory to the Blaisdell events, so would-be customers can get a look at a representation of his stuff when he comes in to town.

To see all of his inventory in a more relaxed atmosphere, however, the opportunity for adventure awaits in Makaha, an area that the late Hawaiian recording artist Israel Kamaka­wiwo­‘ole described as "almost heaven."

Reach Erika Engle at 529-4303, erika@staradvertiser.com or on Twitter as @erikaengle.