If you’re like most people, you fall into one of two categories: people who really want to visit Hawaii and people who have been to Hawaii and really want to go back! There truly is so much to love about Hawaii and the diversity of experiences that it has to offer. Each island has its own personality, but the thing that unites them all is the amazing Hawaiian food. (Well, that and the Aloha Spirit, of course!)
Every vacation you take will bring with it a bevy of memories. The best memories are often recalled when you enjoy a meal familiar to the experience. Nowhere does this ring as true, as with a Hawaiian vacation filled with ALL the unique Hawaiian food. Whether you are looking to travel to Hawaii or just enjoy a taste of the islands at home, here are a few of the must-have morsels of Hawaiian food to try.
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Da Kine Breakfast Hawaiian Food Options
Let’s talk about the most important meal of the day, breakfast! If you have the opportunity to start your day with some of these Hawaiian food breakfast treats, you’re livin’ the good life.
100% Kona Peaberry Coffee
If a good cup of coffee is part of your morning routine, add to that list a cup of 100% real Kona Peaberry coffee. The peaberry is a rare happening when coffee beans are harvested, and while it may be slightly more expensive than a cup from your hotel minibar, we promise, it’s worth it. Kona is known as quite possibly the world’s best coffee, the Peaberry is the best of the best. So smooth and flavorful, you’ll be grateful to have your eyes opened to this delicious brew.
Macadamia Nut or Banana Pancakes
You’ve had your coffee and your eyes are open. What do you see? A stack of macadamia nut pancakes covered in your choice of several great toppings: macadamia nut sauce, mac nuts themselves, syrup, whipped cream, or fresh fruit. We’re not sure what makes these soooo good, but the texture and flavor will be the perfect start to your day.
Had your fill of mac nut pancakes? (Eating them every day will do that to you, wink wink.) Time to switch it up! As Jack Johnson might say, have some banana pancakes and pretend like it’s the weekend. You’ll be glad you did. The extra sweetness of this cooked fruit in your pancakes will have you going bananas for more.
P.O.G.
If you’ve met your caffeine limit of Kona coffee and still need to wash down your pancakes, we’ve got three letters for you, P.O.G. (Passionfruit, Orange, Guava). This nectar of the Hawaiian gods is a great addition to any breakfast and will add that Hawaiian food flare to your typical glass of OJ.
Authentic Ono Hawaiian Food for Lunch
Next, it’s on to the mid-day meal. While you are on your island vacation, do yourself a favor, get out to experience the island and the Hawaiian food and culture beyond the walls of your resort. When you do, a lunchtime theme you will notice all around town is the “plate lunch.” This is a simple enough concept, but man, when you have one of these meals with a delicious side of mac salad, you will understand why the simple things in life are oh so good.
Loco Moco
At the absolute top of the plate lunch list is the loco moco. While you will surely have ample opportunity to try this delight, we were first introduced to it at the Maui Swap Meet. The dish starts with a base of sticky rice, which has a grilled burger patty placed on it. This gets slathered in brown gravy and finished off with a sunny-side-up fried egg. We know, it sounds like these things might not go together, but please trust us. Your first loco moco will have you searching for your favorite one on the island!
READ MORE: Koloa Landing Resort Review and Visual Tour
Shoyu Chicken
During your plate lunch adventures, you also need to try the Shoyu chicken. This is tender chicken, marinated and cooked in a sweet soy and ginger sauce. Bite-sized pieces of this Hawaiian food staple with some sticky rice and (you guessed it) mac salad will absolutely hit the spot and give you the energy you need to explore the trails and falls.
Kalua Pork
Of course, we can’t omit the original Hawaiian food staple, Kalua pig. This slow-cooked shredded pork with Hawaiian-style seasoning comes with sticky rice and mac salad. It’s a must-have when taking in an authentic Hawaiian food experience. There is so much more that a proper plate lunch has to offer, but be sure to save some room for our other favorite Hawaiian food.
READ MORE: Enjoying Paradise with your Love: Couple’s Activities in Maui
Delectable Hawaiian Food for When You’re Craving Something Sweet
The sweetest things in life are sometimes our just desserts. And speaking of dessert, this sampling of sweet Hawaiian food needs to be enjoyed on your next island vacation.
Malasadas
The Malasada, pronounced like it’s spelled, “ma-la-sa-da,” tastes like… well, YUM! The Malasada is the Hawaiian food version of a donut, only they don’t rob you of the portion that would have been in the hole. This fried donut-like treat is made of small balls of yeast dough which, after cooking, are typically coated in granulated sugar, cinnamon, or both.
These can be enjoyed either plain with just your favorite coating or you can remember, “you’re on vacation” and treat yourself with a tropical fruit filling. Flavors usually available are mango, guava, banana, pineapple, or lychee. Which one will you choose? Simple. Just grab a dozen, try them all, and go back tomorrow to try them all again.
READ MORE: The Best Hotels in Maui for Families
Shave Ice
Last but not least on our list is the famous Hawaiian food, shave ice. Pro-tip: it’s not shaved ice it’s shave ice, as in shave off the letter ”d.” This is a cone-shaped mass of fine ice, topped with your choice of over 30 flavored syrups. Oh so good! Want to make it even more decadent? Add vanilla ice cream or azuki beans to this treat. If you happen to be on the North Shore of Oahu, be sure to stop by Matsumoto’s Shave Ice, a Hawaiian institution since 1951 and a personal favorite of ours.
The fact of the matter is that you could fill your entire island vacation days trying all the wonderful treats Hawaiian food has to offer. If you can’t fit it all in, you’ll just have to go back to Hawaii to try the rest. Aloha!
WANT TO READ MORE?
Looking for an awesome island adventure to help you work up an appetite for some delicious Hawaiian food? Experience an Unforgettable Haleakala Sunrise.
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