Iris Huynh organizes piping hot aburage as it drops from the frying machine.

Aloha Tofu Factory in Iwilei is the only local business producing the deep-fried tofu pouches, says company president Paul Uyehara. Six of the company’s 35 employees work in the frying department producing about 2,000-3,000 aburage a day, Uyehara estimates, the majority of which is distributed to restaurants and vendors for cone sushi skin. Aloha Tofu Factory is a third-generation family business founded in 1950.