Hawaii's Cuisine
Hawaii Regional Cuisine
From dawn until well past dusk, Hawaii offers visitors a dizzying menu of culinary wonders including the islands’ own Regional Cuisine which blends the islands’ diverse, ethnic flavors with the fruits of Hawaii’s farms and plantations. Originally created by an even dozen Hawaii chefs, this is a movement that leverages the freshest island ingredients including locally-raised cattle, fish from local waters, and fruits and vegetables grown in volcanic soil.
Farm to Table
You can actually witness the entire farm to table process in Hawaii by taking walking tours of farms, gardens, ranches, and pasturelands. On an upcountry farm on Maui, you can pick a sweet Maui onion; you can take a taro farm tour on Kauai and sample fresh Waimanalo greens at dozens of Oahu restaurants; on Hawaii, the Big Island, you can take a coffee tour along the upland slopes of Kona; and throughout the islands, you can visit some of America’s most lavish farmers’ markets. Needless to say, no tour is worth the effort unless you get to sample the food (fortunately, that’s the case almost 100% of the time).
Eating Like a Local
In Hawaii, our palates have been influenced by generations of immigrants from around the globe, so it’s no surprise that our melting pot is filled with countless ethnic specialties. Local tastes are as varied as you’ll find anywhere in the world but there are local delicacies that are more or less exclusive to Hawaii residents. Street food in the islands reaches its zenith in the plate lunch, served on a paper plate and featuring everything from teriyaki beef with two scoop rice to the Japanese hybrid, spam musubi. Locals are also drawn to loco moco breakfasts (white rice topped with a hamburger, fried egg, and brown gravy), exotically-flavored shave ice (finely-shaven ice), and custardy, coconut haupia. One more thing you need to know: the Hawaiian word for ‘delicious’ is ‘ono!’
To get you started, you’ll find a sampling of Hawaii culinary festivals, fairs, and more below.
Events:
Coconut Festival
26th Annual Koloa Plantation Days
Farms and Markets:
Hanalei Taro & Juice Co./Haraguchi Rice Mill
Events:
2011 Hawaii Fishing and Seafood Festival
Waikiki Spam Jam
Farms and Markets:
Honolulu Farmers Market
777 Ward Avenue
Honolulu, HI 96814
Kahuku Farms
Kahuku, HI
(808) 372-7522
Kapiolani Community College Farmers Market
When: Saturday Mornings
4303 Diamond Head Road
Honolulu, HI 96816
Nalo Farms
41-574 Makakalo Street
Waimanaki, HI 96795
(808) 259-7698
Event:
The Annual Lanai Pineapple Festival
Events:
19th Annual East Maui Taro Festival
Annual Maui Onion Festival
Kapalua Wine and Food Festival
Farms and Markets:
Alii Kula Lavender Farm
Kapalua Farms
4900 Honoapi'ilani Hwy.
Lahaina, HI 96761
(808) 665-5491
Oo Farm
Waipoli Road
Kula, HI 96790
(808) 667-4341
Orchids of Olinda
Shim Coffee and Protea Farm Tour
Surfing Goat Dairy
Tropical Gardens of Maui
200 Iao Valley Road
Wailuku, HI 96793
(808) 244-3085
Events:
41st Annual Kona Coffee Cultural Festival
Kau Coffee Festival
Mealani's Taste of the Hawaiian Range
Farms and Markets:
Hawaiian Vanilla Company Inc.
Hilo Farmers Market
Keahou Farmers Market
75-349 Hualalai Road
Kailua Kona, HI
(808) 322-9133
Kona Lea Plantation
77-6261 Mamalahoa Hwy
Holualoa, HI 96725
(808) 322-9937
Toll Free: (800) 334-0348
The Original Hawaian Chocolate Factory
78-6772 Makenawai Street
Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
(808) 322-2626
Toll Free: (888) 447-2626
