Breaking open da lilikoi: Understanding Hawaiian Food

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Quick Etiquette - If it’s on the street, not hanging from a tree, and obviously not in someones yard. Then the general rule is the fruit is up for grabs. But use discretion, and have a look-out.  

Poke

  • Poke, Poke, Poke!! I live for this stuff. A hawaiian style sashimi. Go to the fish counter at any grocery store and get Shoyu or Hawaiian style poke. Load cooler with poki, beer, spam musubi and chopsticks. Go beach.

Poi

  • The foundation of a good Hawaiian plate, and a taste into Hawaiian history. This purple paste is boiled and mashed taro root. Eat it with your fingers.

Spam Musubi

  • Yeah, that’s right SPAM! Nori, sticky rice, and spam. What else do you need. If you’re sticking your nose up at spam, fine more for me.  

Lau Lau

  • Salty fish and pork wrapped in tender taro leaves and steamed. This is traditional Hawaiian food you shouldn’t miss.

Kalua Pork

  • Tender pork, cooked underground in a pit. Salty, shredded, meaty. Think Hawaiian carnitas.

Steinlager

  • The official beer of Hawaii, which is strange because it’s from New Zealand. If you really want to fit in with the locals, carry a 12er of this to the beach.

Plate Lunch

  • The modern Hawaiian diet consists of three types of carbs and salty meat. Looking for vegetables? No bahdah.

Loco Moco

  • This is the king of Hawaiian plate lunch. Two scoops of rice (at least), two hamburger patty’s, two fried eggs, covered in gravy. Seriously.

Li /hing Mui

  • Sweet, deliciously sour, strangely addictive (is that MSG?) All your candy, and all your dried fruit will be covered in it, and you will love it.

Street fruit

  • Lilikoi - Passionfruit. Easily found on the side of the road. Keep you eye out for yellow easter eggs.

  • Mango - During mango season the entire island smells sickly sweet. During the winter, your best bet is at a fruit stand or at the store.

  • Avocado - We get choke! T’ree times as big as the mainland kine. If you see em on the road, feel free to scoop em up.

  • Star fruit - They look like a star, but their fruit. Duh.  

  • Street chicken - you catch ‘um you eat um. Just kidding, try Huli Huli.  

  • Coconut - Skip the can, go right to the source. You can pick low hanging fruit and smash em open on rocks. May the best coconut win.

  • Dragon Fruit - Red, spiney on the outside, custardy and white on the inside. Looks like it came from another planet.

  • Banana - Banana’s of all shapes and varieties on Hawaii. Scour the markets for tiny yet flavorful ice-cream or apple variety.

  • Papaya - Mmmmmmmmm. Eat every morning. Best with a squeeze of lime, or filled with lilkoi.