Loosen your belt buckle — or in this case, your wetsuit. While Hawai’i may be famed for sand, surf, sun and aloha spirit, the island destination is gaining momentum on the food scene, and for good reason. There is plenty of dining to be done, from traditional dishes and dining customs to cultural fusions such as Spam musubi.
Here are nine must-try Hawaiian food experiences for your next trip to the tropics — plus where to stay.
1. Poke bowl
A gourmet poke bowl with ahi and salad.
Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA), AJ Feducia.Poke your head down any Aloha state street and you’ll find a poke bowl café. Pronounced ‘po-kay’, poke bowls were traditionally eaten by native Hawaiian fishermen, who would slice up their small reef fish catch, season and serve with whatever foods were on hand.
Today, poke bowls look a lot different. Tossed to order, the most popular poke bowl ingredients include either ahi (tuna) and (non-traditional) salmon, served with rice and an array of salad, such as avocado, edamame beans and cucumber.
Best places to try a poke bowl in Hawai’i: There are so many, but if you need directions, try Poke for the People, Ono Seafood or for a twist, Poke Nachos at Alohilani’s Swell Bar.
2. A Lūʻau feast
Preparing the pig for for earth oven (imu), which will then be carved to serve at Lūʻau feast.
Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA), Mark Kushimi.The ultimate Hawaiian feast, a lūʻau features traditional island fare such as an earth oven (imu) cooked pig, poi (a traditional starchy food paste made from taro), marinated and cooked fish, breadfruit, fresh fruits and other local produce, along with singing, storytelling and dancing.
At the Polynesian Cultural Centre (PCC), chef Graham Elliot is at the helm. As well as Pounders and the entire PCC dining, Elliot has designed a lūʻau menu to write home about, with PCC offering one of the only lūʻaus where you eat the pig that is prepared in the imu (others often feature the imu action just for show), dug out in front of you and carved to order.
Best places to experience a lūʻau in Hawai’i: The Polynesian Cultural Center, the KA WAʻA at Aulani, and Hilton Hawai’ian Village.
3. Spam Musubi
Rows of musubi, including Spam.
Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) Daeja Fallas.Spam. Aussies don’t care for this salty processed canned pork too much, but we do like Japanese sushi. Spam musubi is a fusion of the two – a popular snack and lunch food in Hawai’i composed of a slice of Spam atop steamed rice and wrapped in nori. The novel spin became popular during WW2, with its invention credited to an American-Japanese woman living in Hawai’i named Barbara Funamura. If you can’t bring yourself to sample a Spam musubi, there are other uniquely Hawaiian spins on sushi to try, such as raw fish egg, teriyaki bean curd, spicy cod roe and egg, as well as universally popular picks like Teriyaki chicken.
Best places to experience Spam musubi in Hawai’i: You’ll find a café on just about every street corner, and there’s a plethora at the Ala Moana Centre in Waikīkī.
4. Malasadas
Penny’s Malasadas at the Royal Hawaiian Centre in Honolulu.
(Credit: Penny’s Malasadas.)The ultimate sweet tooth treat, malasadas are an irresistible Portuguese doughnut with a light and fluffy inside and crispy, sugar-coated outside. And no hole. Rather, that hole is replaced with generously filled flavours such as zesty lemon, custard, chocolate, coconut, strawberry and more. Made to order, you can have your malasadas coated in plain sugar, cinnamon sugar and li hing (a salty, sweet and sour powder coating). Malasadas made their way into the cultural zeitgeist in the ’50s, when original malasada bakery Leonard’s first made them, and they’ve been a hit ever since.
Best places to experience a malasadas in Hawai’i: Try Leonard’s Bakery, Kamehameha Bakery for the taro version and Penny’s Malasadas at the Royal Hawai’ian Centre in Honolulu.
5. A plate lunch
For those who can’t decide, try a plate lunch. Featuring a selection of comfort foods with scoops of rice or fries and macaroni salad, it’s a fail-safe. At the iconic Rainbow Drive-In, a ‘hole in the wall’ low-key and well-worn restaurant and drive through, you can get a mix plate with BBQ beef, boneless chicken, mahi mahi, rice and macaroni for just US$12.50.
Fast-food chain Zippy’s offers a taste of the islands with their melting pot plates, such as the Korean Fried Chicken and Chili Mixed Plate or a Surf Pac, with two pieces of tender, teriyaki marinated and glazed beef, two pieces of crispy golden fried chicken, and a slice of grilled Spam and on a bed of rice. And Sugoi’s (aka: ‘awesome’) has earned a string of awards for its famous garlic chicken plate.
Best places to experience a plate lunch in Hawai’i: Try Rainbow Drive-In or Zippy’s on popular foodie strip Kapahulu Avenue, or Sugoi’s on Kalani Street, Honolulu.
6. Kona Coffee
Get your coffee fix, satiate your sweet tooth and learn the origins story at Kona Coffee Purveyor, where the ‘farm to cup’ storytelling makes every mouthful even more meaningful.
(Credit: Kona Coffee Purveyor.)Kona is famed for its high-quality coffee plantations, and the Island of Hawai’i is famed for its myriad coffee menu options, from macadamia nut lattes or a 100% Kona Peaberry to the best cold brews for a hot day.
At the Honolulu Coffee Experience Center in Waikīkī, visitors can taste the full farm-to-roast-to-cup coffee experience. You’ll learn about coffee origins and growing conditions (Kona beans are grown on the beautiful slopes of the Mauna Loa Volcano, located on the Island of Hawai’i), the cultivation process, handcrafted roasting and brewing, and your coffee will taste that much better for knowing.
Best coffee in Hawai’i: The Honolulu Coffee Experience Center in Waikīkī, a Coffee Gallery at North Shore Marketplace and Kai Coffee Hawaii, which have an extensive menu of specialty artisan roasted Hawaiian coffee options and Coffee Gallery at North Shore Marketplace.
7. Shave Ice
Shave ice comes in a rainbow of flavours to satiate every sweet tooth.
Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA), Heather Goodman @hbgoodie.I still can’t quite understand why it’s ‘shave ice’ and not ‘shaved ice’, but semantics aside, shave ice from the right venue is heaven. That’s right, not all shave ice is created equally. So what is it? Like the name implies, the Hawaiian dessert is made by shaving a block of ice and adding sweet flavoured syrups and other ingredients such as soft serve ice cream, Japanese Azuki beans (shave ice’s origins throwback to early Japanese settlers who would shave ice and add sugar and toppings), mochi balls, condensed milk and fresh fruit, to name a few.
Best shave ice in Hawai’i: The Island Vintage Shave Ice shack, located out the front of the Royal Hawai’ian Centre on Kalakaua Boulevarde, and Waiola Shave Ice on Kapahulu.
8. Sustainable food and drinks
‘Alohilani resort’s Earth to Cup sustainable cocktails at Swell puts locally sourced products front and centre.
Hawai’i’s rich soils, green pastures, rains and rich aquacultural resources make for very fertile grounds, ripe for farming, produce pickings and fishing. There are loads of farm to table, paddock to plate, and earth to cup experiences, from farm tours to Mālama Experiences (mālama refers to ‘taking care of’ the land) — which embrace the importance of sustainability and how mother earth, and the lands are interconnected, as well as farmers markets and fine dining options to explore.
‘Alohilani resort recently unveiled a new Earth to Cup menu a sustainable food and cocktail series at Swell, centred around locally sourced products.
Foodie neighbourhoods are popping up too, with a local produce menu lens, such as Mud Hen Water. At the helm of Mud Hen Water is Ed Kenney, famed for his farm-to-table movement in Kaimukī. Try dishes such as Beet Poke featuring locally grown avocado, pickled limu, and smoked macadamia nuts, or the Hawaiian Rose Veal with 2Ladyfarmers Pork and sour poi vinaigrette.
Best sustainable farming foods and drinks in Hawai’i: For a ‘farm to glass’ tour and rum tasting with flavour, try Kō Hana Rum, or breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner at Mud Hen Waters, or visit GoHawaii’s farm and agricultural tours for paddock to plate experiences.
9. High dining
For a little something special, try one of the top restaurants. James Beard Award for Best Chef winner, Robynne Maii, heads acclaimed restaurant Fete, which showcases Chinatownʻs variety of high-end fusion offerings, from signature dishes such as fried chicken and Korean chicken sandwich to Coconut Kaua’i Prawns with curry leaves, lime, and black pepper.
Halekulani’s signature restaurant, House Without A Key (‘doors are open’), features live musicians with Diamond Head views and a Waikiki Beach backdrop, sunset cocktails (try the Mai Tai), a carefully curated wine list and a menu to satiate the fussiest of eaters.
Other top tier restaurants to try in Hawai’i: Chef Chai Pacifica (Hawaii Fusion Cuisine), Kaimuki or Mugen.
Flight deals to Hawai’i
Eager to try these quintessential Hawaiian dishes for yourself? Good news, Hawaiian Airlines is offering low direct roundtrip fares from Sydney to Honolulu – and connections to other islands – from $1312 AUD. With 120+ daily flights between the islands, exploring and experiencing the nature, culture and food is made all the more breezy. If you book with Hawaiian airlines, you can enjoy no change fees, one free bag, entertainment and Island-inspired food and beverages on all Sydney to Hawaii flights.
Where to stay in Hawai’i
Spacious rooms, great vibes, great views and a great place to stay.
(Credit: Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort.)Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach
Located on Waikiki Beach, the Outrigger’s recent multimillion-dollar renovation, Club Lounge Access upgrade options, location and views to leading restaurants and shopping make it irresistible.
Halekulani is home to multiple award-winning chefs and cuisine styles, including fine dining at AAA Five Diamond and Forbes 5 Star restaurant, La Mer, ocean front casual al fresco fare at House Without A Key, and enjoy elevated wine and cocktails at L’Aperitif, Lewers Lounge, and Cattleya Wine Bar.
(Credit: Halekulani)Halekulani
Right next door to Outrigger Reef Waikiki, this luxurious property also has Waikiki beach access, ample grounds, multiple award-winning restaurants and is walking distance the main shopping strip.
Dine on a sustainable menu and drink ‘Earth to Cup’ at ‘Alohilani’s Swell Restaurant and Pool Bar, with views over Waikiki Beach and the main Boulevard.
(Credit: Alohilani.)‘Alohilani
Located in the heart of the shopping strip and opposite Waikiki beach, ‘Alohilani is the first carbon-neutral hotel in Hawai’i. The recent refurbishment has resulted in a grand, decadent and impressive entrance, an Oceanarium, and a plethora of locally sourced menu and dining options.
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