Hawaiian Foods You Must Try in Hawaii
Whether it is your first time to Hawaii, or you are an annual visitor, there are few other places in the world where you can feel welcomed and at home wherever you go. When visiting with locals, bring your appetite, because they love to feed their guests! We are fortunate enough to be hosted by my uncle and aunt for most of our stay in a typical Hawaiian home in Punaluu. My Uncle is of Hawaiian origin, and he is always very welcoming and very happy to cook us a meal! After spending plenty of time with them, I have come up with the best Hawaiian foods to try in Hawaii.
Surfboards for Rent on Waikiki Beach – A Great Picnic Spot
Because of its position in the Pacific Ocean, the cuisine you will find in Hawaii is a fusion of culinary influences that come from Traditional Hawaiian dishes, as well as Asian and North American cuisine. You will find American, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Polynesian and Portuguese
And no, don’t expect to find Ham and Pineapple Pizza in abundance or Pineapple fields all over the islands. Hawaii actually grows very few pineapples today.
Here are some Hawaiian foods you you must try in Hawaii.
Shoyu Poke courtesy of Gregg Tavares
Shave Ice (not Shaved Ice) courtesy of Michael Saechang
Pineapple Ice Cream from Dole courtesy of Jun Seita
Hawaiians eat a lot of SPAM Courtesy of Mike Mozart
Poi (Taro) Like a Pudding Texture
Poke Courtesy of Anokarina
Kalua Pig
Locally Grown Papaya
Mochi Ice Cream Courtesy of _e.t
Hawaiian Juices (be careful, they are full of sugar, but the kids love them)
Sweet Bread Couresy of Joel Penner
Japanese Taro Bread
Have you tried any of these? What were your favorites? After you have finished snacking, consider picking up some of the best Hawaiian souvenirs!
More Great Hawaiian Resources:
– The Best things to do in Oahu with Toddlers and Preschoolers
– Are you celiac? check out The Best Gluten free Island in Hawaii
– Heading to Maui? Check out this 5 Day Maui Itinerary
– Check out this post for Cheap Eats in Hawaii before your next trip!
– Honeymooning in Hawaii, Three Week Island Hopping Itinerary
– If you are planning on visiting Maui with kids, I suggest you read this post on the very best things to do in Maui with kids.
Have you ever traveled to Hawaii? What was your favourite typical Hawaiian dish! let me know in the comments!
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Lindsay is the founder and editor of Carpe Diem OUR Way. She is passionate about sharing her experiences of traveling with children on adventurous family holidays around the world! She resides in the suburbs of Vancouver when not jet setting abroad.
No one does Shave Ice like Hawaii!!! The kids loved it!
I love Hawaiian food. Fresh fruit everywhere. Poke, shave ice, malasadas. Mmmmmmm.
Great list! Love shave ice, I commented on your facebook page about a recommendation on Maui. 🙂
All tasty, especially the Kalua pig!
All my favorite foods from the Big Island, but you missed those yummy malasadas too, the best in Na-alehu at Punalu’u bakery where your uncle lives.
Never had the food from Hawaii, so I’m definitively intrigued. The poke looks great and the mochi ice cream is my fav. Haven’t been to Hawaii in ages, this makes me want to go back again and visit soon 🙂
I’m so sure I want to try them all! Thankk you for sharing
I’ve never tried any of these. Curious to find out how the Portuguese influenced some Hawaiian food. We (Portuguese) seem to be everywhere!
Delicious! Never been to Hawaii but I’ll make sure to eat some of the things you mentioned when I have the chance to visit 🙂
How lucky that you have an uncle there already to go and stay with 🙂 Can’t believe they eat all that spam though >< Want to like it and all being a British lady but urgh. No thank you haha.
I’ve always wanted to go to Hawaii, some of those desserts look delicious.
That shave ice and the papaya look like something I’d be eating a lot of for sure! So interesting about Spam. Why is it so beloved in Hawaii?
That Shave Ice and pineapple ice cream both look so refreshing!
I spent two months in Hawaii and have to confess I didn’t try any of these foods … er, except Spam. I’ve definitely tried that. Okay, and papaya. But definitely not taro bread. Yum.
Didnt make toHawaii yet. And admit that apart from the fruits I don’t know much about Hawaiian food.
The Kalua pig looks delicious! And usually those canned juices are full of sugar all around the world!
I’m saving this for a trip I have coming up to Maui. Love Dole Whip from a trip before. Want to try a few of these at least.
It seems that you ate lots of ice-cream – they look delicious and I guess I would go for ice-cream as well, especially those pinapple ones 🙂
A great list!