Saimin started out as ramen, mein, and pancit- three different noodles from three different cultures. It is a perfect example of what happens when three groups of people out of their comfort zone come together to create something that reminds all of them of the place they came from- their home.

Its name is Chinese- taken from the Chinese immigrants who settled in Hawaii. The first of them traded sandalwood with the native Hawaiians, and the second got to work on sugar cane plantations. While the noodles themselves are Chinese, the broth and other ingredients- char siu, green onions, and eggs- are reminiscent of Japanese ramen.

It is believed that saimin came from the communal meals shared amongst the plantation workers- when people from all kinds of cultures (namely Filipino, Portuguese, Korean, Hawaiians, along with Chinese and Japanese) would each contribute to a dish that would be shared amongst them.

Now, saimin is considered Hawaii’s national dish, and is sold all over the islands. You can even buy saimin at various Hawaiian McDonald’s; it’s become a traditional kind of fast food, and it’s only barely a century old. It’s even offered at school cafeterias in place of less healthy fast foods.

Now, what does this have to do with immigration?

Simple- this widely popular dish came from a mesh of cultures brought to the islands of Hawaii by immigrants. If they hadn’t come to lean on each other and share parts of their identity, things in Hawaii would be vastly different. While it may not appear to make a difference, the creation of saimin from the fusion of cultures is what brought these people together.

With creation of a simple noodle dish, we can learn that food really does bring people together, and that despite differing identities, we can all come to value and respect each other. Through this, we can create something that could become more than we could ever imagine.

Sources:

https://www.robertshawaii.com/blog/saimin-local-food-celebrity/

https://nearsay.com/c/342723/325932/5-fascinating-facts-about-the-history-of-saimin

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saimin