A trip to Hawaii comes with a lot of anticipation — from visiting stunning beaches like Waikiki Beach to experiencing the laid-back, island lifestyle first-hand. No matter which island you visit, you’ll quickly discover that food is at the heart of its culture. Trying authentic, local Hawaii foods not only gives you a guaranteed delicious meal, but it also teaches you something new about the islands you visit. Trying these new foods gave me a deeper sense of connection and appreciation for the islands. of Hawaii. Don’t skip trying these 5 local foods on your next trip to Hawaii.
Spam Musubi
Spam musubi is a type of musubi originally from Hawaii, dating back to the 20th century when Spam first became a local staple food during World War II. The long shelf-life and versatility of Spam made it a staple of cuisine in Hawaii at the time, sparking locals to find creative new ways to use it. This type of musubi was inspired by Japanese rice balls, which were brought to Hawaii by Japanese immigrants. Today, spam musubi is still a favorite snack in Hawaii and can easily be found in quick-service locations and convenience stores throughout all the islands of Hawaii.
During my trip to Kauai, I took a “Corner Store” cooking class, which taught us how to make this unique treat. Though I thought I didn’t like Spam, Spam musubi changed my thoughts. Not only is it a blast to learn how to make this local food, but it’s actually quite delicious (and a great treat for when you’re craving something salty). In this class, we used a fun device that I didn’t even know existed: a Musubi maker.
Loco Moco
The Loco Moco is easy to find on nearly any menu, offering a little something different for breakfast than your standard ‘bacon and eggs‘ breakfast. A Loco Moco is a savory breakfast option that is made with a hamburger patty topped with a fried egg and smothered in brown gravy, all served over a bed of white rice. After trying this breakfast, I was instantly hooked (and ordered it every chance I could while I was visiting).
The origins of the Loco Moco date back to 1949, when a teenager with the nickname of Loco of requested an inexpensive, filling meal at a restaurant in Hawaii. The “Moco” name was chosen simply because it rhymed with Loco. At the time, the meal consisted just of the hamburger patty, gravy, and rice, but the fried egg was a “breakfast” adaptation that was added later as the meal gained popularity. Today, this meal symbolizes a comfort food and is typically served at breakfast (though some restaurants today serve it all day long).
Somen Salad
Somen Salad is a cold vegetable salad that includes somen noodles with carrots, cucumbers, ham, scrambled eggs, fish cake, and cucumbers, topped with a special sauce made from vinegar. This local food is popular at parties, gatherings, and special occasion events. This salad, which includes Japanese somen noodles, is served cold in a “layered” fashion, creating a piece of art from the salad’s presentation itself. As Japanese immigrants came to Hawaii, dishes like the Somen Salad became a fusion of Hawaiian and Japanese culture.
Although this salad seems simple, its preparation is quite time-consuming as it requires carefully cutting all of the vegetables and arranging them on the plate. Though the classic style includes fish cake and eggs as a topping, some other modern adaptations include other toppings like pork or spam.
Butter Mochi
Those with a sweet tooth will love trying butter mochi, a popular dessert made from butter, rice flour, eggs, sugar, and coconut milk. This super-simple dessert has a unique texture unlike anything I’ve had before. Many locals describe the texture as chewy or bouncy, creating a nice “bite” throughout. This dessert is not too sweet, thanks to the buttery flavor, paired with the slightest hint of coconut from the coconut milk.
Butter mochi first became popular in Hawaii in the 20th century, representing a fusion of many cultures (Japanese, Hawaiian, Filipino). Although the exact origins of butter mochi aren’t known, this easy dessert is still a staple found at parties and at bakeries throughout Hawaii.
Açaí Bowl
If you’ve spent any time online checking out Hawaii social media content, you’ve most certainly seen an Açaí bowl. These delicious fruit bowls are popular across all the Hawaiian islands, offering a healthy taste of the island’s fresh fruit. Whether for breakfast or a snack, or a ‘just because’ nosh, there’s really no bad time to have an Açaí bowl. At the base of each fruit bowl is frozen Açaí puree, a small purple fruit that comes from a palm tree in the Amazon rainforest.
Açaí bowls are often found at fruit and smoothie stands throughout the islands and can be customized to include all of your favorite fruits. During a hike at Waimea Falls, I took a mid-hike break to snack on this delicious acai bowl (and it was so worth it).
