What’s your Okinawan craving — andagi, rafute, a steaming bowl of pig’s feet? Whatever the case, this is the time to indulge.
The Okinawan FEASTival launches Monday and runs through Nov. 8, a week to support Hawaii’s Okinawan-owned restaurants by having a meal.
Many are struggling in these difficult times, organizer Shari Tamashiro says, so the FEASTival is designed to raise awareness of the Okinawan menu for customers old and new.
Each participating restaurant is highlighting at least one dish — see a list at hawaiiokinawans.com Opens in a new tab. Some require pre-ordering.
You’ll find the traditional: pig’s feet soup or Okinawa soba at Sunrise Restaurant in Kapahulu; shoyu pork or spare rib soup at Tatsuo’s Hawaii in Kalihi.
And the contemporary: Spam on a stick in fried andagi batter, from Hank’s Haute Dogs in Kakaako. You can also get an oki dog — the classic from the Okinawan Festival, canceled this year — at Gochi Grill downtown.
Some of the restaurants are not outwardly Okinawan, although their ownership is — the Pagoda Floating Restaurant, for example, which is offering adagi, regular and pumpkin-spice flavored.
The project is endorsed by the Hawaii United Okinawan Association, but run entirely by volunteers, led by Tamashiro, a librarian at Kapiolani Community College.
There is no charge to the restaurants to participate. Tamashiro says the effort is in keeping with the spirit of yuimaaru, communities supporting each other, and hopes to build FEASTival into “Okinawan Tuesdays” among restaurants throughout the year.
For now, though, she hopes to encourage diners to try — or revisit — an Okinawan spot, even if it means going a little out of the way.
“If we don’t fight to keep these restaurants open until things are more normal, they’ll close,” she said, “and we will lose our treasures.”
Restaurant card deals
If that Hawai‘i Restaurant Card is burning a hole in your wallet, restaurants statewide are offering deals that will help stretch those state-funded dining dollars.
Food-A-Go-Go, a nonprofit that supports local restaurants, has put together a list of more than 200 deals available to those using a restaurant card.
Some are straight-up discounts — Big City Diner, for example, is offering 15% off the full bill.
Other deals are for a freebie with purchase, such as Cafe Kaila’s waffle with two entrees purchased, or McDonald’s sausage sandwich with $10 spent; some are special packages, like a $49.99 six-meal pack from Elena’s Restaurant.
Go to 808ne.ws/restaurantcard Opens in a new tab to see the full list. Restaurants may add listings at no charge at foodagogo.org.
