Welcoming in the New Year with Gau

Happy Day Chinese Restaurant is making the lives of Hawaii’s foodies all the brighter, thanks to a diverse selection of dim sum and other Chinese favorites.

Lisa Lum has owned and operated the Kaimuki eatery for the past 10 years, and with Chinese New Year quickly approaching Feb. 3, Lum and her staff are busy cooking up specialty foods specifically made for this time of year. For instance, Chinese mochi or gau is available now through February, priced at $5 each.

“Gau represents good luck and we’ve been making it for the past three years at Happy Day to celebrate Chinese New Year,” Lum says.

Made out of Chinese mochi powder and brown sugar, Lum says, this sticky dessert takes up to six hours to cook and steam.

“We make more than 50 gau per day, which totals up to close to 3,000 by the end of February,” Lum states, adding that it’s best when eaten fresh, but can last for seven to 10 days.

“The seed in the middle also represents good luck and the gau is sprinkled with sesame seeds. The stickiness of the gau represents the family sticking together throughout the year.”

Happy Day Chinese Restaurant