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The Okahara Saimin Story
“Now saimin will taste more ono. Hawaii is truly unique. Saimin at McDonalds…
When Maurice Sullivan approached a local distributor, he chose Okahara Saimin, a well known supplier of that famous Hawaiian style crinkly noodle. That texture was developed by your Uncle Ted’s Aunty and Uncle Okahara.
Aunty Okahara was my grandmother’s sister. Uncle Okahara and just about all of his brother-in-laws (except my grandfather) worked for Ebisu Lumber and that company was instrumental in building homes in Kapahulu. In fact, the home that my grandparents lived in and the home above that (occupied by my great grandparents) were built by Ebisu and all of the cabinetry was done by another uncle, Uncle Hayase. The bookkeeper for Ebisu was another uncle, Uncle Hakuichi who lived with his family in the house above my grandparents.
The story goes that a Chinese family living across the Okahara’s in McCully taught the Okahara’s how to create their noodle. Thus was born Okahara Saimin Factory. As a kid, my cousins and I would visit this factory in McCully. I can still remember my grandmother returning from a visit to Japan on the President Cleveland. Traveling with her were Aunty and Uncle Okahara and as they cleared customs, they had tons of machinery coming off that had to be hauled to their factory. They were quite known for their saimin. In those days, saimin was sold “fresh” and not dehydrated. Once processed into noodle form, they were kept loose and a serving size would be placed in pile with about a dozen piles in a wooden box. The boxes could stack one on another and delivered to saimin “houses” as they were called, or restaurants. Hence, locals back then would say, ‘We go saimin house.”
Their son, Toki Okahara (my dad’s cousin) traveled to Japan to study a new process of dehydrated noodles. He introduced this to his line and I remember them saying that it would take over the saimin business but you can’t beat the old fresh noodles. I agree but “saimin houses” are far and few today.
Okahara Saimin Factory still exists today in old McCully. Its not the bustling place I remember it to be. But, with their fortune back then, they purchased several lots adjoining their factory and I believe till today, there are still rental apartments next to the factory. Back in the 50’s, there was an old house next to the factory and Uncle Okahara’s father lived there. He was a widower, a happy go lucky man who spoke only in Japanese. Hence, all his children and grand children spoke the language. Even your Uncle Ted was fluent but I hardly heard him speak in his family’s native tongue.
So, enjoy your next bowl of saimin, and please, make it Okahara’s.”
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