Spam Musubi
Often eaten: This can be enjoyed as a snack or part of a meal.
Known for: Statewide in Hawaii
SnackPicnic
Photo: takaokun (CC BY 2.0)
4 dishes to discover
Food of Hawaii
Hawaii is home to a variety of delicious foods that reflect its unique mix of cultures. You'll find influences from Native Hawaiian, Japanese, Filipino, Portuguese, and other cultures in its cuisine. Meals often feature fresh seafood, tropical fruits, and taro, a Hawaiian staple. Let's explore some tasty traditional dishes you might eat if you visit the islands.
Featured Dishes
Meal Culture
In Hawaii, food is a big part of family and community gatherings. Meals often reflect a mix of different cultures and are enjoyed together at large gatherings called luaus. Sharing food is a way to connect with others and celebrate special moments.
Eating Etiquette
When eating in Hawaii, it's common to be invited to try different foods. It's polite to say 'Mahalo' when you're grateful, which means thank you.
When People Eat It
Haupia
Often eaten: Usually eaten as a dessert after a meal.
Known for: Statewide in Hawaii
DessertCelebration
Poke
Often eaten: Often served as a main dish or appetizer.
Known for: Statewide in Hawaii
MainAppetizer
Lomi Lomi Salmon
Often eaten: Usually served as a side dish.
Known for: Statewide in Hawaii
Side dishCelebration
Make It Yourself
👩🍳 Cook together! Always ask a grown-up to help with hot or sharp steps.
Spam MusubiSpam Musubi
Makes 6 musubiIngredients
- 3 cups (550 g)Cooked sushi rice
- 1 canSpam, sliced
- 2 tbspSoy sauce
- 1 tbspSugar
- 3 sheetsNori sheets, cut in strips
How to Make It
- 1Ask a grown-up to fry the Spam slices until lightly browned.
- 2Stir the soy sauce and sugar together, then coat the Spam in the glaze.
- 3Press a layer of warm rice into a small rectangle mold (or a clean Spam can).
- 4Lay a slice of Spam on top of the rice.
- 5Wrap a strip of nori around the middle to hold it together.
- 6Enjoy as a tasty Hawaiian snack.
HaupiaHaupia
Makes 9 squaresIngredients
- 2 cans (14 oz / 400 ml)Coconut milk
- 1/2 cup (100 g)Sugar
- 1/3 cup (40 g)Cornstarch
- 1/2 cup (120 ml)Water
How to Make It
- 1Stir the cornstarch into the water until smooth.
- 2Ask a grown-up to heat the coconut milk and sugar in a pot until warm.
- 3Slowly stir in the cornstarch mix and keep stirring until it thickens like pudding.
- 4Pour the mixture into a square dish.
- 5Chill in the fridge for about 2 hours, until firm.
- 6Cut into squares — a wobbly Hawaiian coconut dessert.
PokePoke
Makes 4 servingsIngredients
- 1 lb (450 g)Sushi-grade tuna, cubed
- 3 tbspSoy sauce
- 1 tbspSesame oil
- 2 stalksGreen onion, sliced
- 1 tbspSesame seeds
- to serveCooked rice
How to Make It
- 1Ask a grown-up to help cube the very fresh tuna.
- 2In a bowl, mix the soy sauce, sesame oil, and green onion.
- 3Gently toss the tuna in the sauce.
- 4Sprinkle in the sesame seeds.
- 5Chill for 15 minutes.
- 6Spoon over warm rice for a Hawaiian poke bowl.
Lomi Lomi SalmonLomi Lomi Salmon
Makes 4 servingsIngredients
- 1/2 lb (225 g)Cured/smoked salmon, diced
- 3 tomatoesTomatoes, diced
- 1/2 onionSweet onion, diced
- 2 stalksGreen onion, sliced
- a fewIce cubes
How to Make It
- 1Dice the salmon, tomatoes, and onions into small pieces.
- 2Put them all in a bowl.
- 3Gently 'lomi' (massage) the mixture with clean hands until juicy.
- 4Add the green onion and a couple of ice cubes to keep it cold.
- 5Chill for 1 hour.
- 6Serve cold as a fresh Hawaiian side dish.
Vocabulary
Hawaiian food is all about fresh, local ingredients—kind of like Mediterranean or Japanese cuisine, where seafood and fresh produce are key.