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Hawaiian Food and Cuisine
Guide
Eating in Hawaii is almost as much fun as drinking here.
As one would expect from an island, fresh seafood is a
specialty. Fresh fruits – some unique to Hawaii – are also
plentiful.
When it comes to fish, Hawaii has a language all it's
own. One of the most popular varieties is mahi mahi, or dolphin fish.
Ahi is yellowfin tuna, hapuupuu is groper, onaga is red snapper and
ono is wahoo (or king mackerel). In some dishes, the fish (or other
meats) are wrapped in leaves.
There are other specialties. Poke is pieces of
marinated raw fish, often served with edible seaweed called limi. Lomi
Lomi is pounded raw salmon with onion and tomatoes.
Hawaii is famous for the luau, a pig roast beach
party. For tourists, these are mostly staged events at major hotels.
Another custom preferred by locals is the imu.
This is a large pit heated by volcano coals and covered with banana
leaves. Inside, a pig or turkey is smoked to juicy perfection overnight.
Pupus (also written as two words, pu pu) are appetizers.
One type of meal favored by locals but hardly even known
by visitors is the plate lunch. This is a full meal of beef or
chicken served with "chowfun" (Hawaiian noodles) and white
rice. For about $5, it's the best food bargain in Hawaii. But you won't
find it as a selection in restaurants; it's served at specific plate
lunch establishments or out of the mobile lunch carts scattered throughout
the islands. You'll notice them crowded with locals.
One food item that is easier to find is the macadamia
nut. This is a true taste of Hawaii, but eat too many of them and
it will be difficult fitting into that bikini.
Next
stop on the Hawaii Party Bus: Honolulu!
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