Freshly Milled Rice

Rice isn't just a side dish in Hawaiʻi. Freshly milled Japanese varieties like Koshihikari and Nanatsuboshi offer sweetness, aroma, and texture that pre-milled rice can't match. Two Honolulu companies are making it possible to enjoy rice at its peak, right here on Oʻahu.

Locally Milled Rice

For some of us, rice is simply what goes with plate lunch or under stir-fry; it’s a filling starch. But for others, rice is like good wine or specialty coffee: It’s a multi-featured delectable. As with wine and coffee, what variety of rice it is, where it was grown, how it was grown, and how recently it went through final processing determines its quality and flavor—which a discerning palate can appreciate.

Labels on bags of locally milled rice showing the milling date
Labels on bags of locally milled rice show the milling date for freshness.

Rice is a regular part of the diet in many countries these days—from paella in Spain to spring rolls in Vietnam. In Japan, rice has been cultivated since around 400 BC, when it reached the island of Kyushu from China via southern Korea. Perhaps no culture reveres rice more today than the Japanese, where the word for “cooked rice” (gohan) is incorporated in the names of a day’s three meals: asagohan (breakfast), hirugohan (lunch), and bangohan (dinner).

It’s really no surprise, then, that it’s two Japanese companies that have taken on milling rice in Honolulu to ensure fresh, high-quality rice is available locally. We just recently learned of these producers, Kubota Rice Industry (Hawaii) and the rice factory Honolulu, and thought we’d bring them to your attention.

Rice is an annual harvest in Japan. Rice is shipped to these providers on an as-needed basis as brown rice, which is stable. Both providers stress that once rice is milled, it is subject to oxidation. They recommend storing rice in an airtight container in the refrigerator. If there’s no room in the ‘frig, put it in something opaque and airtight, and keep it out of sunlight and humidity. For best nutrient value and flavor, use the rice within one month of milling.

Kubota Rice Industry (Hawaii)

Cooked Koshihikari rice
Cooked Koshihikari rice, a popular variety for its sweetness and aroma.

Kubota Rice Industry (Hawaii) opened its Honolulu operation in 2023. The company is part of the Kubota Corporation family, which also includes Kubota Tractor Corporation. Kubota opened its Honolulu operation with the goal of bringing high-quality Japanese rice to local restaurants and making it more readily available in Hawaiʻi. Today, in addition to supplying local restaurants, Kubota also sells through supermarkets and Farm Link Hawaiʻi, too.

At Kubota’s Honolulu facility, brown rice is milled to white just before it is sold. The company uses a specialized rice milling machine optimized for Japanese rice, along with a multi-step quality control process designed to preserve the rice’s flavor and quality.

Kubota currently offers four varieties of Japanese rice in Hawaiʻi and offers these descriptions:

  • Koshihikari: A rice celebrated for sweetness, aroma and delicate flavor.
  • Nanatsuboshi: A Hokkaido variety known for its moderate sweetness and pleasantly sticky texture.
  • Nijinokirameki: A popular Japanese variety, this rice has large grains and a well-balanced combination of sweetness and stickiness.
  • Uonuma: A premium Japanese rice well-suited for sushi and other dishes where high-quality rice is essential.

The Koshihikari and Nanatsuboshi varieties are available at Japanese markets and through Farm Link Hawaiʻi, in 4.4-lb. and 15-lb. bags. The milling date is printed on each package, so you can check freshness. Or you can buy directly from the Kubota facility. Because availability varies, it is best to call ahead to make sure the rice variety and quantity you want is in stock. The factory is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. 439 Kalihi St, Honolulu. Call (808) 570-0100. kubota-rice-hi.com

the rice factory Honolulu

Nanatsuboshi rice
Nanatsuboshi rice, a Hokkaido variety known for its moderate sweetness and pleasantly sticky texture.

the rice factory Honolulu opened in Kakaʻako in 2016 and is the only shop in Hawaiʻi specializing in rice—Japanese rice, only. It has sister sites in New York and Los Angeles. The Kakaʻako store offers milled-to-order rice and some specialty Japanese food products, seasonings made using traditional methods, and kitchenware—from salt-grilled mackerel to shoyu and decorative mamezara (small/sauce) plates. The store also occasionally hosts food pop-ups; check the store’s website for current information.

The rice factory Honolulu typically has seven or eight varieties of rice available, all as brown rice. You decide the variety you want, the quantity (1 to 15 lb.), and the degree to which you want it milled: 10%, 50%, 70% or 100% (100% milled being white). The rice is then milled while you wait, giving you a few minutes to browse other items. Or, you can call the store to place an order for pick up, or order online for home delivery.

A sampling of what’s available and summaries of the store’s descriptions:

  • Koshihikari—This sweet and savory rice is highly popular, eaten plain or for sushi.
  • Nanatsuboshi—A lightly flavored, less sticky rice that allows other elements of a meal to shine.
  • Yumepirika—This rice is the factory’s top recommendation, and is noted for rich sweetness and soft, sticky texture.
  • Yukiwakamaru—This rice has larger grains and light flavor; when milled to white and cooked it becomes “snow white” (“yuki “means snow).
  • Sasashigure—A rare, heritage rice with refined sweetness and a less sticky texture than many modern rice varieties.
  • Akitakomachi—An organic rice, a variant of the koshihikari variety; it offers a good balance of flavor, sweetness, stickiness, and chewiness.

The rice factory Honolulu is located at 955 Kawaiahao Bay 1, Honolulu (one block off Ward Ave.). It is open Weds. through Mon. 11 AM to 6 PM; closed Tues. and at 4 PM on Sundays. Call (808) 800-1520. the-rice-factory-honolulu.square.site