Char Hung Sut in Honolulu's Chinatown is known for three things: manapua, pork hash, and half moon. It's a takeout shop, famous for boxes filled with nostalgic, dim sum-esque ...
Char Hung Sut (Oahu)
Ali’i Kula Lavender Farm (Maui)
Ali'i Kula Lavender is a famous Maui lavender farm. It's located in Kula town in Upcountry Maui. They have tours, a fun gift shop, and housemade lavender tea and ...
Japchae (Korean Glass Noodles)
Japchae is a Korean noodle dish that is very popular in Hawaii. It's made from glass noodles (dangmyeon) and many different vegetable. Some places add meat but we love to make this ...
Sun Noodle (Oahu)
Sun Noodles is a world famous noodle factory that started in our hometown of Honolulu, Hawaii. Stop by their Kalihi factory to pick from a wide selection of fresh noodles. Take ...
Next Stop, Zippy’s!
Zippy's is a casual restaurant and bakery chain (locations on Oahu, Maui, and Big Island) popular for local food like saimin, mac salad, and much more. They are extra famous for ...
12 Reasons Why I Love To Fly Hawaiian Airlines
Hawaiian Airlines is my go-to airline. They fly all the routes I frequent (such as Honolulu to San Francisco and NYC), and they do it with grace. There are many reasons to love ...
Banán Hawaii (Oahu)
Banán Hawaii is a popular soft-serve business on Oahu. They make dairy-free soft-serve (in many fun flavors like lilikoi, acai, and turmeric) from locally grown Hawaii ...
Furikake Chex Mix
Furikake Chex Mix is a sweet salty Hawaii snack made from cereals and chips, tossed with furikake and a sweet and savory butter-soy sauce syrup. Step-by-step photo recipe ...
Hawaiian Lau Lau
[This post was originally published July 30, 2019. It was updated November 17, 2019 to include a step-by-step photo recipe on how to make Lau Lau at home.] Lau lau is a Hawaiian ...
Crack Seed Store (Oahu)
Crack Seed Store (located in Kaimuki town on Oahu) is a legendary mom-and-pop shop known for li hing mui Icees and crack seed (preserved, salted fruit snacks made from fruits like ...
Manapua and The Manapua Man
Big, fluffy, and stuffed with everything from sweet-savory char siu to kalua pork and Okinawan sweet potato, the manapua is Hawaii's answer to Chinese baos. Baked manapua ...
da Cove Health Bar (Oahu)
da Cove Health Bar on Oahu is where we go for amazing acai bowls (which you can get topped with paiai), fresh juices and smoothies (including a kulolo smoothie). It's located just ...
Over Easy (Oahu)
Over Easy in Kailua (Oahu) is a local breakfast spot that's popular with locals and visitors. They make crispy edge pancakes, kalua pork, a fancy version of Portuguese sausage and ...
Andagi
Golden, deep-fried orbs, a batter rich with milk and sugar...this is Andagi, an Okinawan doughnut that is Hawaii staple at local markets, bento shops, and bon dances around ...
Tin Roof Maui
Local favorites like fresh ahi poke bowls, mochiko chicken, and mac salad fill the menu of Tin Roof Maui, a famous and very casual lunch spot located just a two minute drive from ...
Tasaka Guri Guri (Maui)
Like a cross between sherbert and ice cream, guri guri is a famous Hawaii dessert served at Tasaka Guri Guri on Maui. Tasaka Guri Guri offers two flavors: strawberry and ...
Osmanthus and Goji Agar Agar
Osmanthus flowers and goji berries come together in this light and clean agar agar dessert. It's easy to make ahead of time, and is a super refreshing treat. Serve it chilled with ...
Strawberry-Haupia Agar Agar
Homemade haupia (Hawaiian coconut pudding) made with agar agar, fresh strawberries, and a splash of almond milk! Easy to make, this is a beautiful and healthy ...
Manju, Hawaii-Style!
Manju is a Japanese pastry traditionally filled with sweet azuki beans. Hawaii has a specific style of manju, baked and flaky, with fillings like sweet potato, coconut, and even ...
Aburaage
Aburaage! These puffy pouches of deep-fried tofu are so good braised in a dashi-sugar-shoyu-sake mixture. Serve prepared aburaage as a side dish, stuffed with seasoned rice, or in ...
Aloha Tofu Factory (Oahu)
Welcome to Aloha Tofu Factory! This is where we buy our favorite tofu products. Aloha Tofu is sold at Hawaii supermarkets, but you need to visit the factory for special items like ...
Almond Tofu
Almond Tofu is a light, refreshing dessert that is popular in Hawaii (and at many Chinese restaurants :). It's easy to make, really onolicious, and goes well with fresh or canned ...
Tofu Poke
Tofu poke! It's like traditional Hawaiian poke, but made with tofu for an easy vegetarian meal. Step by step photo recipe below :) Sometimes I love tofu poke even more than ...
Chicken Long Rice
Chicken Long Rice is a Hawaiian noodle dish made from vermicelli noodles, chicken thighs, fresh ginger, and green onions. It's comforting and clean, a go-to side dish or simple ...
Kaka‘ako Farmers Market (Oahu)
Kaka‘ako Farmers Market offers a super variety of fresh produce/fruits and prepared foods (including mochi and baked goods)! Visiting this Honolulu farmers market is a Saturday ...
Teruya’s Andagi (Oahu)
Teruya's Andagi (Honolulu, Oahu) is one of my favorite takeout spots. They've been around since 1987, making local Japanese bentos, hot andagi, and sweet potato mochi. Head this ...
Plantation Iced Tea
Plantation Iced Tea is a popular drink in Hawaii, and found on menus of restaurants and cafes. It's made from black tea, pineapple juice, and simple syrup. Refreshing on a warm ...
Ti Leaf Versus Luau Leaf
People often confuse Ti Leaf and Luau Leaf (the two essential leaves of Hawaiian food). Here's the difference between the two, and when/how to use each leaf. Preparing a ...
Ono Seafood (Oahu)
Poke is made to order at Ono Seafood, a tiny, low key spot that offers some of the best poke bowls and poke by the pound in Hawaii. Ono Seafood is just five-minutes from Waikiki ...
Ahi Assassins (Oahu)
Ahi Assassins is a popular spot in Honolulu for fresh poke, locally caught. It's a tiny hole in the wall, offering poke bowls, ahi plate lunch, and smoked dips. Here's everything ...
Leonard’s Bakery (Oahu)
Leonard's Bakery in Honolulu is where you go for malasadas, a popular Hawaii dessert. Malasadas are golden on the outside, fluffy on the inside, and super onolicious. Here's ...
Lomi Lomi Salmon
[This post was originally published July 22, 2019. It was updated September 26, 2019 to include a step-by-step photo recipe on how to make Lomi Lomi salmon at home.] Lomi Lomi ...
Garlic and Fish Sauce Eggplant
Garlic and Fish Sauce Eggplant is one of our family's go-to dishes. We ate it often as kids and eat it even more as adults. It's easy to make (and tastes even better the next ...
Hawaiian Boiled Peanuts
Hawaiian Boiled Peanuts are a local snack we all grew up eating in Hawaii. Here's where to get it, how to make it (and eat it) ^_^ Growing up in Hawaii, I always thought that ...
Tea In Hawaii
Locally grown tea is a new crop for the Hawaii agriculture industry. Most of it comes from the Big Island where the east side is populated with small tea gardens that grow and ...
Pumpkin Crunch! Lemon Crunch!
Pumpkin Crunch Bars/Cakes and Lemon Crunch Cakes are popular local desserts in Hawaii. Growing up, we ate them often at birthday parties and potlucks. Now as adults, we make it at ...
Travaasa Hana (Maui)
Travaasa Hana is a tranquil resort located in Hana, Maui. With cottages in place of traditional hotel rooms, it's remote and relaxing, unlike any other hotel on the ...
Luau Stew
Luau Stew is a traditional Hawaiian dish made by cooking fresh luau leaves (which come from the taro plant). Eat it with rice and/or poi! You can find luau stew plain (happens to ...
Best Dim Sum in Honolulu (Oahu)
Honolulu has many great dim sum options. From Jade Dynasty to Legend Seafood, Tai Pan, and Tim Ho Wan Waikiki, these are the restaurants we love to visit for dim sum. Sesame ...
Halekulani Hotel (Oahu)
Halekulani is a luxurious and iconic Hawaii hotel. Located in Waikiki, Halekulani also has great dining (think coconut cake, afternoon tea at Orchids and sunset mai tais at House ...
What Is Poke?
Poke is Hawaiian dish of diced raw ahi tuna mixed with Hawaiian sea salt, inamona (kukui nuts), and ogo (seaweed). There are many variations. Poke is so trendy now, but we ate this ...
Maguro Brothers Hawaii (Oahu)
Maguro Brothers Hawaii is a wonderful place in Honolulu for super fresh sashimi, grilled fish, and ahi poke over rice. We love this place! King salmon sashimi on rice, add uni. ...
Yama’s Fish Market (Oahu)
Yama's Fish Market is one of Hawaii's best Hawaiian food spots. It's loved by locals for housemade lau lau, ahi poke (many different options!), and the dreamiest haupia ...
Hawaiian Macaroni Salad
Mac salad is a staple side dish in Hawaii. Our version is unique to the islands, often a bit tangy and loaded with add-ins like kamaboko and 'ulu (breadfruit). Mac salad (with ...
Opihi, The Hawaiian Limpet
Opihi is a Hawaiian delicacy. It's a limpet that lives on seaside rocks (they are notoriously hard to pry off). Remove the shell and eat them raw or cooked. Cleaning and eating ...
A Taste of Hawaii in San Francisco
San Francisco is rich with Hawaii-influenced food. From shave ice to homemade spam and butter mochi, it's easy to find a taste of Hawaii in SF. Homemade POG at Boba Guys Did ...
Helena’s Hawaiian Food (Oahu)
Helena's Hawaiian Food is an iconic restaurant, famous for traditional Hawaiian food. Helena's is loved by locals and visitors. It's a must-try when in Hawaii! Welcome to ...
Spam Musubi, A Hawaii Snack!
Spam Musubi is a famous Hawaii snack made from Spam, rice, and nori. It's portable, affordable, and tasty! It's the most popular way to eat Spam in Hawaii. Spam (with Egg, ...
POG aka Passion Fruit-Orange-Guava Juice
POG stands for Passion Fruit, Orange, and Guava! It's a chilled fruit juice that was invented on the island of Maui, and is now popular worldwide. Aloha Maid POG juice You'll ...
10 Things To Get At Costco Hawaii
Costco is a big deal in Hawaii. Everyone loves Costco because they do a great job stocking the local, Hawaii-only eats! Here's what to get at Costco Hawaii. The famous macadamia ...
Waiola Shave Ice (Oahu)
Waiola Shave Ice is a famous shave ice store in Hawaii. They have all the classics flavors, plus Hawaii-only treats like li hing mui, lychee, and lilikoi! Li hing mui and ...
Poi, Hawaii’s Staple Starch
Poi is the staple starch of Hawaiian food. Made from the root of the taro (kalo) plant, it's sticky, sweet, and a bit sour. It's a Hawaii must-try food. Fresh bags of poi, still ...
Li Hing Mui, A Hawaii Obsession
Li hing mui is a Hawaii dried plum treat that comes in the form of a seed (for snacking) and powder (for sprinkling on anything from shave ice to fresh fruits). It is sweet, salty, ...
The Ultimate Hawaii Shave Ice Guide
Shave ice is a popular Hawaii dessert made from shaving blocks of ice and topping it with fruit syrups. Here's how to eat it, make it, and where to get it! Pineapple shave ice ...
Kalua Pig aka Kalua Pork
Kalua pork (also called kalua pig) is a traditional Hawaiian dish made from a whole pig that's roasted underground. The pork meat is shredded, seasoned, and served with rice and ...
Māmaki, Native Hawaiian Tisane
Māmaki is a native Hawaiian tisane / herbal tea. It's caffeine-free, refreshing, rich in antioxidants, and often believed to be a miracle brew. Brewing hot mamaki at home I ...
Loco Moco, So Ono!
Loco Moco is a popular Hawaii dish. It's made of rice, burger patty, gravy, and fried eggs. More about origins, and where to eat Loco Moco in Hawaii! Loco Moco at Cafe 100 ...
‘Ai Love Nalo (Oahu)
'Ai Love Nalo is plant-based cafe/restaurant on Oahu. They have vegan Hawaiian food, refreshing smoothies, sweets, and Hawaii's best local fruit parfait! I've driven far for ...
Saimin, Hawaii’s Noodle Soup
Saimin is Hawaii's favorite noodle soup dish. This post covers: what is saimin, origins of saimin, different types, and most important...where to eat saimin! Saimin at Zippy's ...
Sam Sato’s (Maui)
Sam Sato's is a beloved Maui institution. It's a bustling (always busy!), very casual noodle shop famous for dry noodles, bbq sticks, and manju. I like counter seating best at ...
Hamura Saimin (Kauai)
Hamura Saimin is a famous, no-frills noodle restaurant in Kauai. They are best known for two things: saimin and lilikoi chiffon pies! If you ask a dozen people for a list of ...
Liliha Bakery (Oahu)
Liliha Bakery is a Hawaii institution famous for Coco Puffs, grilled butter rolls, and oxtail soup. It's part-bakery, part-diner, and very delicious. Ok Liliha Bakery! Liliha ...
Where to Eat at Ala Moana Center
Ala Moana Center is located in Honolulu, and it is Hawaii's biggest shopping mall. From restaurants to snack shops and desserts, this is where we eat at Ala Moana. Ala Moana ...
Coconut Haupia Cake in Hawaii
Whether you call it coconut cake or haupia cake or coconut-haupia cake, all you need to know is that Hawaii loves these cakes. Here's where to find the best of the ...
House Without a Key (Oahu)
House Without a Key at the Halekulani Hotel is my favorite place in Honolulu for sunset drinks. It has the best mai tais (very strong), onion chips, and beautiful Waikiki ...
The Good Stuff at Kahala Mall
Kahala Mall is my favorite Hawaii shopping mall. It’s small, but has everything you need and is family friendly. Plus it has good food! There are my favorite spots at Kahala ...
Afternoon Tea in Honolulu
Afternoon tea is a must-do activity when in Honolulu. There are three main afternoon tea spots in the city, and we'll take a look at the pros/cons of them all. Many major cities ...
Chili Pepper Water
Chili Pepper Water is beloved Hawaiian condiment made from garlic, chilis, and vinegar. Think of it as a Hawaiian hot sauce. Here's where to get it and how to make it. Bottle of ...
What to Eat at KCC Farmers’ Market (Oahu)
KCC Farmers' Market (Saturday mornings) is Hawaii's most popular farmers' market, loved by locals and tourists. These are my favorite food/drinks at the market. Welcome to ...
The Rice Factory (Oahu)
The Rice Factory on Oahu is a true Hawaii gem. Here you can get fresh rice milled on the spot alongside other Japanese treats like onigiri and ohagi. The Rice Factory I go back ...
Special Items at Whole Foods Hawaii
Whole Foods Hawaii is very different (and I daresay, better) than mainland Whole Foods. We have many Hawaii-only items like poke, li hing mui, and mamaki, come take a ...
The Tale of the Honolulu Baking Co. / Starbucks / Costco Oatcakes
[December 11, 2019: oatcakes update! Oatcakes are no longer available at Starbucks or Costco. They may only be purchased from the original baker, Honolulu Baking Co. in Kakaako. ...
Haupia (Hawaiian Coconut Pudding)
Haupia is a Hawaiian dessert that is often referred to as “coconut pudding.” The key ingredient in Haupia is coconut milk and it's pronounced as: "how-p-ahh." Hawaiian ...
Afternoon Tea at Halekulani Hotel (Oahu)
Afternoon tea at Halekulani Hotel, one of Hawaii's best afternoon tea spots. We're taking a detailed look at the menu, food (and tea!) offerings. Plus a few tips for your next ...
Special Menu at McDonald’s Hawaii
McDonald's Hawaii offers a special menu of items you can only find in Hawaii. There are breakfast platters loaded with Spam and Portuguese sausage, a dessert menu with hot haupia ...
Valley Isle Kombucha / Alchemy Maui
Valley Isle Kombucha makes kombucha with local fruits (like passion fruit, pineapple, and guava). Find them at local Hawaii markets or visit their cafe/kombucha bar in Maui. I ...
Malasadas in Hawaii
Malasadas are an iconic Hawaii dessert/snack. It's a plush, eggy, yeast doughnut (usually without a hole in the middle), rolled in lots of sugar and served hot. What are ...
Thang’s Avocado Smoothies (Oahu)
Avocado smoothies are one of my favorite things to drink, and Thang's in Honolulu is where I go. Velvety and rich with local avocados and condensed milk, this tiny Kalihi shop ...
Two Ladies Kitchen | Mochi! (Big Island)
Two Ladies Kitchen is *the* go-to mochi shop on the Big Island. They're famous for fresh strawberry mochi, grape mochi, butter mochi, and so much more. Come take a look! There ...
Hawaiian Desserts: Kulolo (Taro Pudding)
Kulolo is a super good Hawaiian dessert made from taro, coconut, and sugar. It has a texture like pudding crossed with fudge. Eat it at room temperature (or warm, with ice cream!) ...
Happy Hearts Mochi (Oahu)
We love local-style mochi in Hawaii. We visited Nisshodo Mochiya in the last post, and today we're eating mochi from Happy Hearts Mochi! What is Hawaii mochi? Hawaii mochi is ...
Nisshodo Candy Store / Mochiya (Oahu)
Nisshodo is one of my favorite spots for fresh mochi in Hawaii. Here's a look at what to order (chichi dango! stuffed mochi!) and insider tips. I love mochi! I have a list of ...
Local Sweets: Butter Mochi
Butter Mochi is a local treat (like a cross between cake and mochi) that you can find in Hawaii. See below for our favorite butter mochi spots (including places for chocolate ...
Local Snacks: Hurricane Popcorn
Every Hawaii local knows and loves Hurricane Popcorn. You can buy it online, at stores in Hawaii, or make it at home. Super simple: popcorn, furikake, and kakimochi. I only ...