Nishime
The Japanese, who first arrived in the islands in 1868, have had a profound influence on Hawai‘i's culinary scene.
Nishime is a traditional Japanese dish served for the New Year, with ingredients of special symbolism. Some common ingredients in nishime and their meanings include:
•Gobo: strength & stability
•Carrot: flowers / good fortune
•Konbu: joy / happiness
•Konnyaku: harmony
•Aburaage: favorite food of Inari foxes, which ward off disease and bad spirits
•Lotus root: happy future without obstacles
•Shiitake: longevity
•Bamboo shoots: prosperity
•Daikon: fertility / good health
•Araimo: prosperity
•Snow peas: good luck / ward off evil spirits