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 everything you need to know about visiting Leonard’s Bakery.
Hot dough, fried golden, rolled in sugar. Made to order! Meet Leonard’s malasadas….
[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 Salmon is a Hawaiian side dish (made from salted salmon, tomatoes, onions, and green onions). It’s a must-have for any Hawaiian meal or luau. Here’s everything you need to know about Lomi Lomi Salmon, plus a step-by-step photo recipe!
Lomi Lomi Salmon at home. Step-by-step recipe below ^_^
No real Hawaiian lunch/dinner is complete without lomi lomi salmon….
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 process 100% Hawaii teas. You can also visit the tea gardens!
Tea room at Tea Hawaii & Company
Did you know Hawaii is one of the few places in the US that can grow tea?…
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 home or buy it from local bakeries!
Pumpkin Crunch Cake from Pipeline Bakeshop & Creamery (Oahu)
It’s a local favorite!…
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 be vegetarian), or with squid, chicken, or beef.
Luau stew served over rice, with kalua pig (aka kalua pork), ogo (seaweed), sweet potato, and ulu (breadfruit). Kulolo on the side for dessert. Iced mamaki to drink.
Luau stew is saucy, savory, and so good spooned over rice!…
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 shrimp mousse and eggplant at Jade Dynasty
Going for dim sum (aka yum cha) is a popular thing to do in Honolulu….
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 often growing up in Hawaii!
Big poke platter at Pono Market (Kauai)
Nothing so nice like poke and rice!…
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 chicken katsu and rice) at Gochi Grill (Oahu)
We love to eat mac salad in Hawaii….
Fresh 
King salmon sashimi on rice, add uni. Eaten in the car!
Hawaiian Plate #7 at Yama’s Fish Market