As someone who has grown up in Hawaii, I can’t help but rave about the delicious food the islands have to offer. I put this list together to help you find some of the best local food in Hawaii. All of the islands offer these delicious local food, and I’ve named a couple of great restaurants + islands that have these foods.
I promise you’re going to LOVE these when you try it! I’ll even give you a little explanation of what each one is. When you actually try it though, you’ll be savoring every bite and exclaiming, “Ono!” (which means “delicious” in Hawaiian ;)).
Shave Ice
This is a classic Hawaiian treat/local food, a refreshing way to get away from the heat of the day. Shave ice comes in all shapes and colors, but I recommend getting ice cream on the bottom of your shave ice because it adds that extra pop. 🙂 Some of the most popular shave ice shops on Oahu are Matsumotos Shave Ice and Aokis on the North Shore. On the Big Island, there is a shave ice shop at the Hilo Bayfront.
Poke Bowl
If you don’t like raw fish, give this a chance. Poke is cubed ahi tuna that is marinated in shoyu (aka soy sauce), sesame seeds and oil, and mixed with onions. You can also get other flavors, like one of my favorites, the spicy poke. My favorite Poke Bowl is from Foodland, aka Sack n’ Save. Make sure to say yes to furikake and shoyu on your rice. And, if you don’t want to commit to a poke bowl, at least try the samples.
Acai Bowl
Wow Hawaii has sooo many places with AH-MAZING acai bowls! An acai bowl is a beautiful, thick fruit + acai smoothie topped with granola, bananas, coconut, and other healthy goodness. You can find acai bowls at Banzai bowls in Oahu, Farmers Markets, or even food trucks on the side of the road.
Laulau + Rice
This is a traditional luau dish and local food favorite of Hawaii. When you order laulau and rice, you’ll receive a plate with a wrapped and cooked bunch of luau leaves, also known as taro. When you cut into these soft, dark green leaves, you’ll find pork. The richness of the taro leaves, along with the saltiness of the pork is absolutely ONO. You can get laulau at restaurants throughout Oahu. One of my favorite places to get laulau is on at the Prince Kuhio Grill on the Big Island.
Fresh Sushi
Hawaii has some of the best fresh sushi, whether you just get a couple of packets from Foodland (aka Sack n’ Save at some locations), or you go to a fish market and have them prepare it for you. One of the best fresh fish markets is Suisan on the Big Island.
Li Hing Mui Watermelons
This is a fun snack for the beach. Sour watermelon candies are mixed with li hing mui—a sweet, mouth-watering Chinese powder—to satisfy any sweet tooth. You can find this at any grocery store or gas station, such as 7-11.
Spam Musubi
Ever heard of Spam sushi? I don’t know a local who doesn’t like spam, and spam sushi certainly satisfies all the cravings. Spam and rice, topped with furikake, and wrapped in seaweed is a great on-the-go snack or lunch. You can find spam musubis at pretty much any grocery store or gas station. You gotta try this local food favorite!
Manapua + Rice Cake
Manapua is a pork filled, steamed bun. The bun is so soft and pleasant, while the pork filling gives it a rich flavor. The traditional manapua has char-siu marinated pork (char-siu is a sweet Chinese flavor), but nowadays they sell all kinds of different flavors. Manapua tastes delicious with a side of rice cake, a traditional Chinese dessert. Oahu has one of the best manapua shops, Chun Wah Kam. Grocery stores and gas stations (like 7-11) also have manapua.
A Bento
These little boxes stem from Japan, in which you basically have a meal on the go. Typical bento boxes include rice and any kind of side, from spam, teriyaki beef, and chicken to fish, sushi, and even fried egg. You can find bento boxes at grocery stores, gas stations, and there are even restaurants dedicated to serving only bentos! My favorite bento box is from Zippys, called the “Zip Pack.” Zippys is on most of the islands.
Fresh Mochi
If you’re a fan of mochi ice cream, you MUST try fresh mochi. Mochi is a sweet rice dessert that originated in Japan. It comes in all shapes and sizes, but my favorite is the strawberry-filled mochi. Sometimes they can be filled with peanut butter, azuki bean (a sweet bean), or pretty much anything you can think of. You should definitely give it a try! My favorite mochi is from the Two Ladies mochi in Hilo on the Big Island. You can also find mochi at local grocery stores. 🙂
So there you have it! I can’t wait for your adventures in Hawaii, and I hope you’ll jot notes so you can try some of these local favorites. What is one Hawaii food you want to try? Or, if you’ve already been, what are your favorite local foods?
Have a wonderful trip!
With joy + aloha,
Leialoha
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