On Aug. 6, 2025, Sushi Okalani celebrated its 20-year anniversary. The celebration took place at The Ruins, the same location where they held their 10-year anniversary, while being “easily twice as big,” according to owner Justin Williams.
At The Ruins, they held a food drive and sold merch to support victims of the Lyle fire, the local FISH Food Bank, and to support charities helping with wildfire relief in Maui.
While they celebrated on Aug. 6, the official anniversary of Sushi Okalani was on July 27. Two decades prior in 2005, Sushi Okalani first opened its doors. Williams and Amy, the original two owners of Okalani, wanted to “bring back some of the Japanese culture that was lost during World War II,” to “introduce more people to the cuisine and culture,” and to “create a space for their family and others to come to,” Williams said. When they opened their restaurant in the New Yasui Building, they hoped it could become a “hub of the Japanese community” and “pay tribute to how important that culture is to Hood River.”
Since opening, Sushi Okalani has made it through many hurdles that could have ended the restaurant. In 2008, they ended up in a “pretty big hole” because of the recession, said Williams. With the help of the building owner and business advisors, he was able to keep Sushi Okalani afloat. Around 8 years after opening, Williams bought out the restaurant from Amy and became the sole proprietor.
Williams took on all the restaurant’s debt but was able to keep Okalani alive. When the lockdown started in 2020, Sushi Okalani was forced to lay off its entire staff. Williams pivoted the restaurant to be pick-up only, and after closing for three days, Sushi Okalani reopened with only Williams and his daughter working in the restaurant.
Making it through COVID, Sushi Okalani returned “stronger and busier than ever,” said Williams.
Being in Hood River also comes with its struggles. With the changing economic landscape from season to season and the high cost of living, it is challenging to hire seasonal employees and retain staff year-round. Further, the weather in the winter can impact the restaurant, “a bad ski year can affect business,” said Williams.
Sushi Okalani has remained successful for 20 years by focusing on efficiency and community. Williams says that by keeping a “smaller footprint” and “less staff,” the restaurant remains “easier to manage.” By not cutting down on wait time or expanding their footprint, they have been able to remain resilient in the face of challenges as they arise. Sushi Okalani has one of the “most efficient per square foot businesses in Hood River,” said Williams, and serves 160-200 meals per night in a space seating 45.
Sushi Okalani is also committed to making its food “accessible to a huge range of people” by being “very mindful and efficient with food costs.” Additionally, they have managed to retain a lot of their staff by fostering an environment where they “treat employees like family,” said Williams. In fact, Okalani has four employees who have been with them for more than 10 years and many more for six to 10 years. The employee they have worked with longest is Felix Resendiz, who has worked there for 16 years.
Beyond efficiency and strong employee retention, Okalani has been able to make it through 20 years because of support from the local community. Other than the help from business advisors and the building owner, Williams said that Sushi Okalani wouldn’t have “survived and thrived” without “the passion in the Gorge and how it lifts people up through adversity and challenges.”
From the start, Sushi Okalani has been dedicated to giving back to its community. After all, it’s in the name. Sushi Okalani is named after Williams’ daughter’s middle name and means “heavenly child” in Hawaiian. The name refers to the last reigning queen of Hawaii, Lili‘uokalani. Lili‘uokalani was “known by her service to the community, despite being dethroned,” said Williams. It was important to Williams that Sushi Okalani continue the spirit of serving the community, which is why it supports local charities and the Tsuruta Sister City program.
Sushi Okalani was also created to revive a hub of Japanese culture in Hood River. After working as a sushi chef in Portland when there were only five sushi bars in the whole metro area, Williams wanted to “introduce more people to the cuisine and culture” and opened Sushi Okalani in Hood River. Williams said that he enjoys the “unique open kitchen,” which “creates lots of interaction with customers.” He says that it is “very rewarding” to be “present in the enjoyment of the food.”
Despite his 20 years of success, when he first started, Williams struggled with proving that he could make good sushi. He says that because he isn’t Japanese, he felt that he “had to try harder to prove himself.” Clearly, 20 years of success at Sushi Okalani and 35 years as a chef illustrate that Williams has proven himself. Okalani has even had customers for 20 years and maintains a list of 100 regulars. As the kids of past patrons return with their own families and sushi gains more exposure, “you can even get sushi at Safeway,” says Williams, the Okalani community will only continue to grow.
Williams says that he is “very honored and proud” to have “made a difference, bringing a lot of joy to a lot of people.” He says that Okalani will continue to be focused on “creating a fun environment, a good consistent quality and value, and making people feel like they have a home, a space to feel welcomed.” Williams hopes that 20 years from today Sushi Okalani will still be a “major hub of community and tight family of employees and fans of the restaurant” and that by then he will “hopefully be finally sitting down.”
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Riley McNamara is a 2025 Hood River Valley High School graduate and is now attending Oregon State University. McNamara worked at Columbia Gorge News this summer as an intern.
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