Traditional Hawaiian dishes
- Kalua pig: pork slow-cooked in an imu, an underground oven. Smoky, salty and tender. The centerpiece of a luau.
- Laulau: pork, sometimes with butterfish, wrapped in taro leaves and ti leaves and steamed until soft.
- Poi: cooked taro root pounded into a paste. Mild and slightly sour, eaten alongside salty dishes.
- Lomi salmon: salted salmon with tomato and onion, served cold.
- Haupia: a firm coconut pudding, served in squares.
Try them together on a Hawaiian plate at Helena's Hawaiian Food or Highway Inn on Oahu, or at any luau.
Local food: the everyday favorites
| Dish | What it is | Where to try it |
|---|---|---|
| Poke | Cubed raw fish seasoned with shoyu, sesame oil, onion and limu seaweed | Ono Seafood (Oahu), Da Poke Shack (Big Island), Pono Market (Kauai), and most grocery store fish counters |
| Plate lunch | Two scoops of rice, a scoop of macaroni salad and a main | Rainbow Drive-In (Oahu), Tin Roof (Maui), L&L Hawaiian Barbecue (statewide) |
| Loco moco | Rice, hamburger patty, fried egg and brown gravy | Cafe 100 (Hilo), Hawaiian Style Cafe (Waimea and Hilo), Zippy's (Oahu) |
| Saimin | Noodle soup with dashi broth, kamaboko and green onion | Hamura Saimin (Kauai), Zippy's, and the McDonald's menu in Hawaii at times |
| Spam musubi | Grilled Spam on a block of rice, wrapped in nori | Every convenience store and many plate-lunch counters |
| Garlic shrimp | Shrimp sauteed in butter and lots of garlic, over rice | The North Shore shrimp trucks, including Giovanni's |
| Manapua | Hawaii's version of char siu bao, steamed or baked | Chinatown bakeries in Honolulu |
| Dry mein | Noodles with a light sauce and broth on the side | Sam Sato's (Wailuku, Maui) |
Sweets
- Shave ice: Matsumoto (Haleiwa, Oahu), Ululani's (Maui), JoJo's (Waimea, Kauai).
- Malasadas: Leonard's Bakery (Oahu), Tex Drive-In in Honokaa (Big Island).
- Coco puffs: Liliha Bakery (Oahu).
- Hula pie: macadamia nut ice cream pie at Duke's and Keoki's Paradise.
- Lilikoi (passion fruit) anything: chiffon pie at Hamura Saimin, butter and bars at farmers markets.
Taste it on a tour
A food tour, coffee farm tour or luau is the easiest way to try a lot of local food in one go.
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ViatorBig Island coffee and farm tours →
Tours and tickets from our partner Viator. Prices are from-prices in USD and can change. We may earn a commission when you book, at no extra cost to you.
Viator
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Viator
ViatorTours and tickets from our partner Viator. Prices are from-prices in USD and can change. We may earn a commission when you book, at no extra cost to you.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Hawaiian food and local food?
Hawaiian food means the traditional dishes of Native Hawaiians, such as poi, kalua pig and laulau. Local food is the everyday mix that grew up in plantation-era Hawaii, such as plate lunch, saimin, Spam musubi and loco moco.
Why is Spam so popular in Hawaii?
Spam became common in Hawaii during and after World War II, when fresh meat was scarce, and it never left. Hawaii eats more Spam per person than any other state.