Food is central to the local lifestyle. Life is planned around "where/what we going eat?" Every get-together has everything from "pupus" (appetizers) to desserts that will be a feast for your eyes and tummy. It's usually "potluck," so the host is not cooking the whole day. However, what's nice about visiting Hawaii, is that local food can be found on almost every corner. A visit to the Islands is not complete without trying some of the following local favorites.

(Email any places that you think must be added to the list.)

arare (a.k.a. kaki mochi) -- crunchy, baked treat made from rice flour, dipped in soy sauce

chicken long rice -- chicken pieces and "long rice" (cellophane bean thread (noodles)) served in a ginger-flavored chicken broth, topped with green onions

dim sum -- manapua (char siu bao (bow)), pork hash, and many other baked, steamed or fried pork, chicken, seafood, vegetable, or bean filled delicacies

haupia -- a silky, creamy pudding made with coconut milk

kalua pig -- pig roasted in an in-ground pit (imu) with heated, carefully chosen river rocks

kulolo -- a steamed pudding of coconut, brown sugar, and taro

laulau -- pork, chicken, and/or salted fish and taro leaves steamed in ti leaves

li hing mui -- a salty, slightly sweet flavoring for plums, mangos, cherries, shave ice and pretty much everything else. You usually have to be local to crave this. Crack seed brings back a flood of memories.

lomi salmon -- diced pieces of salted salmon, tomatoes, onions, and green onions

lu'au -- a "feast" that usually includes kalua pig, lomi salmon, and poi.

malasadas -- a local confection akin to doughnuts, but round with no hole in the center

musubi -- a Japanese favorite, steamed rice molded (usually by hand) into a triangular shape. It is usually wrapped in nori (seaweed).

pipikaula -- flank steak marinated in salt, chili peppers and other spices. Similar to beef jerky.

plate lunch -- entrée plus 2 scoops rice, macaroni salad…and usually gravy over da rice

poi -- this Hawaiian staple is cooked taro (the local version of a potato) pounded and mixed with water to a gravy-like consistency. An acquired taste.

poke -- cubed raw fish seasoned with onions and seaweed, salt, chili peppers, and sometimes roasted kukui nuts. Also made with octopus (tako poke).

saimin -- noodles served in a soup base, usually topped with char siu (seasoned roasted pork), slivers of scrambled eggs, green onions, etc.)

shave ice (a.k.a. shaved ice or snow cones on da mainland) --shavings of ice with flavor(s) of your choice drizzled over the top: strawberry to bubble gum to lilikoi (passion fruit) to li hing mui. Also served with ice cream and/or azuki beans (a sweet bean confection).

shoyu -- soy sauce

Spam™ -- made by Hormel, a delicacy in Hawaii

Spam™ musubi -- a local treat made with rice, Spam™ and nori (seaweed). Usually prepared with spam cooked in a teriyaki sauce.

squid luau -- squid cooked in coconut milk and taro leaves

Here are some places where you can experience "local grinds."

OAHU:

Char Hung Sut   (dim sum)
    Take-out only. 64 N. Pauahi, Honolulu  (808)538-3335
Big City Diner  (local-style food, including kim chee fried rice, guava-glazed ribs)
    3569 Waialae Avenue, Kaimuki  (808)738-8855
Chowder House (excellent fish, especially mahimahi)
    Ward Warehouse, Honolulu, HI  (808)596-7944
Kozo Sushi (Good "fast-food sushi")
    Check website for several locations throughout the island.
Leonard's Bakery  (malasadas, desserts)
    933 Kapahulu Avenue, Honolulu  (808)737-5591 or (808)732-2133.
Note: We have yet to try malasada puffs which have a chocolate dobash, custard or haupia filling.
Like Like Drive Inn  (local food: breakfast, lunch & dinner)
    745 Keeaumoku Street, Honolulu  (808)941-2515
L & L Drive-Inn (Plate lunches and local-style food)
    Check website for various locations throughout the island (there are also locations in California, Nevada, and Oregon).
Matsumoto Shave Ice
    66-087 Kamehameha Highway, Haleiwa  (808)637-4827
Maunakea Market Place Food Court  (produce, fresh fish, char siu, leis, food of every variety.)
    1120 Maunakea Street, Honolulu
Note: Saturday mornings for best selection. Parking can be hard to find.
Napoleon's Bakery  (desserts: try da Apple Napples, Haupia and Guava Chiffon Cakes)
    various locations (adjoining Zippy's)
Rainbow Drive-In  (plate lunches)
    3308 Kanaina Avenue, Honolulu  (808)737-0177
Roy's Restaurant  (Excellent blending of the elegant with a local flair)
    6500 Kalaianaole Highway, Honolulu  (808)396-7697
Saint-Germaine  (formerly Dee Lite Bakery) (guava, lilikoi, haupia chiffon cakes)
Various locations
Sam Choy's Diamond Head Restaurant  
    449 Kapahulu Avenue, Second Floor, Honolulu  (808)732-8645
Sam Choy's Breakfast, Lunch, Crab & Big Aloha Brewery   (Island cuisine)
    580 N. Nimitz Highway, Honolulu  (808)545-7979
The Willows Restaurant (Excellent Hawaiian style Sunday brunch in a tropical setting)
    (Located on Houston Street 2 blocks mauka of Date Street, between Waikiki and the University of Hawaii) Honolulu, HI  (808) 952-9200.
Zippy's  (plate lunches, saimin, chili, etc.)
    various locations

BIG ISLAND:

Big Island Candies  (chocolate-dipped shortbread cookies that melt in your mouth)
    585 Hinano Street, Hilo  (808)935-8890
L & L Drive-Inn (Plate lunches and local-style food)
    Check website for various locations throughout the island (there are also locations in California, Nevada, and Oregon).
Manago Hotel  (Local food with family style dining.)
    Captain Cook, Big Island   (808)323-2642
Ocean View Inn  (Great local food. Popular, very casual spot.)
    75-5683 Ali'i Drive, Kailua-Kona  (808)329-9998
Roy's Waikoloa Bar & Grill  (Excellent blending of the elegant with a local flair)
    King's Shops, Waikoloa (808)886-4321
Sam Choy's Kaloko  (Local food. Great saimin.)
    73-5576 Kauhola, Kailua-Kona  (808)326-1545

KAUAI:

Bubba's  (Great burgers)
    Hanalei and Kapaa locations
Hamura's Saimin  (great saimin and teriyaki)
    2956 Kress Street, Lihue  (808)245-3271
Hanalei Mixed Plate
    Ching Young Village Shopping Center, Hanalei  (808)826-7888
Hanamaulu Café  (Japanese, local food. try da Hanamaulu chicken)
    3-4291 Kuhio Highway (Route 56), Hanamaulu  (808)245-2511
L & L Drive-Inn (Plate lunches and local-style food)
    733 Kuhio Highway, Kapaa, HI 96746  (808)821-8880

MAUI:

Bubba's  (Great burgers)
    Kihei
T Komoda Store & Bakery  (cream puffs)
    3674 Baldwin Avenue, Makawao  (808)572-7261
L & L Drive-Inn (Plate lunches and local-style food) Check website for various locations throughout the island (there are also locations in California, Nevada, and Oregon).
Mama's Fish House  (by recommendation, great seafood)
    799 Poho Place, Paia (East Maui)  (808) 579-9764 or 1-800-860-4852
Roy's Kahana Bar & Grill (Blending of the elegant with a local flair)
    4405 Honoapiilani Highway, Kahana  (808) 669-6999

MOLOKAI:

Kanemitsu Bakery And Coffee Shop  (famous Molokai bread, also serves local food)
    79 Ala Malama Street, Kaunakakai  (808) 553-5855

LUAUS:

If a luau adventure is part of your plan, the site below has its Luau Recommendations by island. It also has recipes to help you re-create your island favorites!

http://www.hawaii-luaus.com/visitorluaus.htm