Liza Ochiai wasn’t born in Hawaii; she just has a knack for cooking food that feels like it. For nearly 30 years, Ochiai has been part of a growing legion of restaurants dedicated, wholly or in part, to feeding the large diaspora of former Hawaii residents who have decamped from the islands to the dry heat of Las Vegas. The migration to Nevada has been so prominent, specifically over the past two decades, that Las Vegas is now known colloquially as the Ninth Island. The vast region is home to tens of thousands of former Hawaii residents, and hundreds of thousands more fly in every year to gamble, party, take in shows or, increasingly, see friends and family.
And they all have to eat somewhere. That’s where Ochiai comes in.
Since 1998, Ochiai’s small but mighty Aloha Kitchen has been a staple for the greater Las Vegas Valley, first as a tiny restaurant at the edge of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus and now with four total spaces that dot the growing desert. She credits a mix of great timing, good food and a committed support network for her quiet success…