{"id":1170,"date":"2025-03-18T12:02:51","date_gmt":"2025-03-18T16:02:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/living.okinawa.halekulani.com\/?p=1170"},"modified":"2025-03-18T12:51:55","modified_gmt":"2025-03-18T16:51:55","slug":"%e6%b2%96%e7%b8%84%e3%81%ae%e3%82%b0%e3%83%ab%e3%83%a1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/living.okinawa.halekulani.com\/en\/%e6%b2%96%e7%b8%84%e3%81%ae%e3%82%b0%e3%83%ab%e3%83%a1\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Ono Okinawa"},"content":{"rendered":"
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Thick slabs of pork belly marinated in black sugar and soy sauce; delicate cubes of tofu stir-fried into the sharp taste of bitter melon; a broth of fresh mushrooms and thin, tender strips of pork stomach\u2014dishes such as these have been enjoyed in Okinawa for hundreds of years. The fare has bold flavors cultivated from centuries of cross-cultural influence from China and Southeast Asia and has been considered the cause of Okinawans\u2019 longer-than-average lifespans. Yet it is often overshadowed by more familiar Japanese cuisine.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Though Okinawa has been a part of Japan since 1879, the country\u2019s cuisine is distinct from that of mainland Japan. In fact, it more closely resembles Chinese cooking, a result of the islands\u2019 cultural and political connections to China prior to its Japanese annexation. The result is a menu with a heavy emphasis on pork, considered the essence of Okinawan food. Its geographic location also lends a lush subtropical climate where a range of vegetables\u00a0thrive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Okinawans immigrated to Hawai\u2018i at the turn of the 20th century. While restaurants specializing in Okinawan cuisine are still few and far between, the fare of these O\u2018ahu eateries will satisfy any visitor craving a taste of Okinawa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sunrise Restaurant<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The simple exterior of Sunrise Restaurant looks unassuming among the glowing neon lights that dot Kapahulu Avenue. Situated around the corner from Hawai\u2018i icons like Rainbow Drive-In and Leonard\u2019s Bakery, it is easy to miss. But owner and chef Chokatsu Tamayose is not interested in drawing in long lines of hungry tourists. His clientele is smaller, more exclusive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Stepping inside, I\u2019m struck by how homey the restaurant feels. The atmosphere gives the impression of visiting a relative\u2019s house for dinner. Family pictures and personal memorabilia decorate the walls. Okinawan folk music plays over the speakers. As I pore over the menu, I am engulfed by conversations in Japanese, and I realize that I am the only non-Japanese speaker in the place.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"