Rice Pilaf

History of Rice in Hawaii. The demand for rice started with the Chinese, the first immigrant workers on the Islands.

They demanded rice instead of poi. Rice at the time was imported. As the Hawaii population declined, the demand for taro also declined. Taro patches were vacant, and like rice paddies, taro patches are terraced and irrigated, thus ideal for rice. Rice production was established in the early 1860s. Rice paddies and water buffalo used to occupy the land in Waikiki where the hotels and skyscrapers now stand.

After the tariff free treaty was signed in the United States, rice production took off. Hawaii had more than 10,000 acres in rice and more than 130 different experimental varieties. Sugar was the only other crop to surpass rice as a crop.

With the influx of Japanese immigrants, rice production declined. The Japanese preferred the short grain rice that was grown in California, not the long grain that the Chinese grew and ate. Rice was being imported from California even though Hawaii was growing more than enough rice. Furthermore, the techniques used in Hawaii by the Chinese and Japanese, hand labor, couldn’t compete with the mechanized production technology in California.

The University of Hawaii attempted to revive the rice industry in 1906 and again in 1933 and 1934. However, today the rice fields in Hawaii have left no trace of their existence. The history of the rice industry and the people who created it will be remembered and the restored Haraguchi Rice Mill will be a reminder.

Research Source: Hawaii Rice Fest

This rice pilaf taste so down home good. It’s simple; just take a look at it.

Rice Pilaf

Copyrighted 2013, Christine’s Pantry. All rights reserved.

Ingredients:

2 cups beef broth

1 (1 oz.) package dry vegetable soup mix

1 tablespoon butter

1 cup uncooked rice

1 green onion chopped

Directions:

Add beef broth to a saucepan and dry vegetable soup mix. Bring to boil. Stir in rice. Cover, reduce heat and simmer 15 to 17 minutes, until rice is tender and liquid absorbed. Stir in butter. Then stir in green onion. Enjoy!