My introduction to the vibrant and exotic flavors of Hawaiian cuisine happened on a sunny day during a family vacation to Maui. We had just checked into our hotel and headed straight to the beach to dip our toes in the turquoise waters and feel the warm embrace of the tropical breeze. As the sun began to dip lower in the sky, painting it in brilliant oranges and pinks, the unmistakable aroma of smoky kalua pork wafted through the air.
Following our noses, we stumbled upon a casual open-air restaurant right on the beach, twinkling lights strung overhead. The friendly host seated us at a table in the sand, fringed with swaying palm trees. Looking over the menu, I was immediately entranced by the unique fusion of flavors – savory and sweet, tangy and rich all combined into dishes that sounded utterly crave-worthy.
When our food arrived, it was like a flavor explosion in my mouth. The kalua pork was incredibly tender and imbued with hints of liquid smoke and Hawaiian sea salt. The creamy coconut haupia pudding was subtly sweet and so velvety. A poke bowl combined buttery ahi tuna with crunchy veggies and a lip-smacking umami dressing. Each bite seemed to transport me further into an island paradise.
As I sat there with the rhythmic crashing of waves as the backdrop, twirling long rice noodles around my fork and popping juicy shrimp smothered in garlic butter sauce into my mouth, I knew I had discovered something special. The bold yet balanced flavors of Hawaiian cuisine had awoken all my senses. From the kalua pork to the coconut shrimp, the pineapple sauce drizzled over tender fish to the warm, comforting fried rice studded with smoky spam – it was all pure aloha-infused magic. That beachside dinner sparked my enduring love for Hawaiian food and all its unique, delicious fusions of salty, sweet, tangy and umami.
1. Hawaiian Poke Bowl
A vibrant, umami-rich bowl loaded with fresh ahi tuna, creamy avocado, crunchy vegetables and nutty sesame flavors.
Ingredients; Ahi tuna, soy sauce, sesame oil, green onions, avocado, edamame, shredded carrots, cucumber, sesame seeds, brown rice or white rice
- Cook rice according to package instructions. Let cool slightly.
- In a bowl, combine cubed ahi, 2-3 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tsp sesame oil, sliced green onions. Gently toss to coat.
- Assemble bowl with rice base, topped with ahi poke, avocado slices, edamame, shredded carrots, cucumber and sesame seeds. Cook Time: 20 mins
2. Kalua Pork
Incredibly tender, smoky shredded pork with a hint of liquid smoke and sea salt.
Ingredients; Pork butt or shoulder, Hawaiian sea salt, liquid smoke, banana leaves or foil
- Rub pork all over with salt and liquid smoke. Wrap tightly in banana leaves or foil.
- Place wrapped pork in a roasting pan and bake at 300°F for 5-6 hours until fork tender.
- Unwrap, shred pork with two forks, mixing juices back in. Cook Time: 5-6 hours
3. Hawaiian Garlic Shrimp
Plump, juicy shrimp smothered in an aromatic garlic butter sauce with a hint of heat.
Ingredients; Shrimp, butter, garlic, red pepper flakes, chopped parsley, lemon wedges
- In a skillet, melt butter over medium-high heat. Add minced garlic and cook 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add shrimp and red pepper flakes. Cook 2-3 minutes per side until shrimp is pink and opaque.
- Remove from heat, stir in parsley. Serve with lemon wedges. Cook Time: 10 mins
4. Hawaiian Chicken Kabobs
Chicken pieces marinated in a sweet and tangy sauce, charred to perfection with bursts of juicy pineapple.
Ingredients; Boneless, skinless chicken breasts, pineapple chunks, red bell pepper, red onion, teriyaki sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, garlic, ginger
- In a shallow dish, whisk together teriyaki sauce, brown sugar, vinegar, garlic and ginger. Add chicken and marinate for 30 mins to 1 hour.
- Thread chicken, pineapple, peppers and onions onto skewers.
- Grill over medium-high heat, basting with extra marinade and turning occasionally until chicken is cooked through, about 12-15 minutes. Cook Time: 20-25 mins
5. Hawaiian Haystack
A tasty mound of rice topped with juicy chicken, crushed macadamia nuts, crisp chow mein noodles and a creamy pineapple sauce.
Ingredients; Cooked chicken, cooked rice, macadamia nuts, chow mein noodles, pineapple chunks, chicken broth, cornstarch, soy sauce, brown sugar
- Make sauce by simmering pineapple juice, broth, soy sauce, brown sugar and cornstarch slurry until thickened.
- Layer rice, shredded chicken, crushed macadamia nuts and chow mein noodles in a bowl or plate.
- Top with pineapple sauce. Cook Time: 20 mins
6. Spam Musubi
A quintessential Hawaiian snack of grilled, saucy Spam atop a block of sticky rice, wrapped with nori seaweed.
Ingredients; Spam, sushi rice, nori sheets, teriyaki sauce, furikake seasoning
- Cook sushi rice and let cool slightly. Form into rectangular patty blocks.
- Glaze Spam slices with teriyaki sauce and pan fry until caramelized.
- Place Spam slices atop rice blocks and wrap with nori sheet. Sprinkle with furikake. Cook Time: 25 mins
7. Hawaiian Huli Huli Chicken
Chicken pieces glazed in a sweet, salty, slightly spicy sauce with ginger, garlic and pineapple flavors.
Ingredients; Chicken thighs or drumsticks, ketchup, brown sugar, chicken broth, soy sauce, rice vinegar, grated ginger, garlic, Sriracha sauce, green onions
- In a saucepan, whisk together ketchup, brown sugar, broth, soy sauce, vinegar, ginger, garlic and Sriracha. Simmer until thickened slightly.
- Grill chicken pieces, basting frequently with the Huli Huli sauce until cooked through and charred, about 25-30 minutes.
- Garnish with sliced green onions. Cook Time: 35-40 mins
8. Hawaiian Sweet Bread Rolls
Light, fluffy, subtly sweet yeasted rolls with a buttery interior and crisp exterior.
Ingredients; Bread flour, milk, butter, eggs, pineapple juice, brown sugar, active dry yeast, salt
- Warm milk and pineapple juice slightly. Stir in yeast and let bloom for 5 mins.
- In a bowl, mix together milk mixture, melted butter, eggs, brown sugar and salt.
- Gradually stir in flour to form a shaggy dough. Knead for 5-7 mins until smooth and elastic.
- Let dough rise 1 hour, then punch down and shape into rolls. Let rise 30 mins more.
- Bake at 350°F for 18-20 mins until golden brown. Cook Time: 2+ hours
9. Hawaiian Pizza
A fun twist on pizza with specks of smoky Canadian bacon, sweet pineapple chunks and a sprinkle of green onions.
Ingredients; Pizza dough, marinara sauce, shredded mozzarella, Canadian bacon, pineapple chunks, green onions
- Roll/stretch out pizza dough into a round circle and place on pizza pan or baking sheet.
- Spread sauce over dough, then top with mozzarella, Canadian bacon and pineapple chunks.
- Bake at 450°F for 12-15 minutes until crust is crispy.
- Remove from oven and sprinkle with sliced green onions. Cook Time: 20 mins
10. Hawaiian Fried Rice
A medley of flavors and textures with smoky spam, fluffy rice, crunchy veggies and a sweet pineapple kick.
Ingredients; Cooked rice, spam, eggs, pineapple chunks, frozen peas and carrots, green onions, soy sauce, sesame oil
- Dice spam and fry in a large skillet or wok until crispy on the edges. Push to side of pan.
- Crack eggs into pan and scramble, then mix together with spam.
- Add cooked rice, pineapple chunks, peas, carrots, green onions and drizzle of soy sauce and sesame oil.
- Stir-fry for 5 minutes until everything is heated through. Cook Time: 15 mins
11. Hawaiian Chicken Long Rice
Tender chicken and clear rice noodles in a light gingery broth with shiitake mushrooms and bok choy.
Ingredients; Boneless, skinless chicken thighs, long rice noodles, chicken broth, shiitake mushrooms, bok choy, grated ginger, green onions, cilantro
- In a pot, simmer chicken in broth with ginger for 15 mins until cooked through. Remove chicken and shred.
- Add noodles, mushrooms and bok choy to the pot and cook for 5 mins until noodles are tender.
- Return shredded chicken to the pot and heat through.
- Serve garnished with green onions and cilantro. Cook Time: 30 mins
12. Grilled Hawaiian Teriyaki Beef Skewers
Marinated steak chunks with charred edges and a sweet, tangy, gingery teriyaki glaze.
Flank or skirt steak, soy sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, garlic, ginger, green onions
- In a shallow dish, whisk together soy sauce, brown sugar, rice vinegar, grated garlic and ginger.
- Cut steak into 1-inch cubes and add to marinade. Refrigerate for 30 mins to 2 hours.
- Thread marinated beef onto skewers and grill for 2-3 mins per side, basting frequently with marinade.
- Garnish with sliced green onions. Cook Time: 20-25 mins
13. Hawaiian Coconut Shrimp
Plump shrimp coated in a crispy coconut breading with a hint of sweetness and served with a tangy pineapple dipping sauce.
Ingredients; Large shrimp, panko breadcrumbs, shredded coconut, flour, eggs, pineapple juice, rice vinegar, brown sugar, ketchup, soy sauce
- Set up three dishes: 1) flour 2) beaten eggs 3) panko and coconut mixed together
- Dredge shrimp in flour, then eggs, then coat in panko-coconut mixture, pressing gently to adhere.
- Pan fry shrimp for 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown and cooked through.
- Make sauce by simmering pineapple juice, vinegar, brown sugar, ketchup and soy sauce until thickened slightly. Cook Time: 20 mins
14. Hawaiian Baked Mahi Mahi
Thick, flaky mahi mahi steaks baked with a vibrant pineapple salsa spooned over top.
Mahi mahi fillets, pineapple chunks, red bell pepper, red onion, jalapeño, lime juice, cilantro
- In a bowl, combine pineapple, diced peppers, onions, jalapeño, lime juice and cilantro. Season with salt.
- Place mahi mahi fillets in a baking dish and top with some of the pineapple salsa.
- Bake at 400°F for 15-20 minutes until fish flakes easily with a fork.
- Remove from oven and top with remaining pineapple salsa.
Cook Time: 25 mins
15. Hawaiian Haupia (Coconut Pudding)
A creamy, coconut-infused gelatin dessert with a touch of sweetness.
Ingredients; Coconut milk, whole milk, sugar, cornstarch, salt, vanilla extract
- In a saucepan, whisk together coconut milk, 1 cup of the whole milk, sugar, cornstarch and salt.
- Bring to a simmer over medium heat and cook until thickened, about 5-7 minutes, stirring frequently.
- Remove from heat and stir in vanilla and remaining 1⁄2 cup whole milk to temper.
- Pour pudding into a pan or serving dishes and refrigerate for at least 2 hours until fully set. Cook Time: 15 mins + 2+ hrs chilling
16. Hawaiian Loco Moco
A comforting and indulgent combination of white rice topped with a hamburger patty, a sunny-side up egg, and rich brown gravy.
Ground beef, eggs, cooked white rice, flour, beef broth, Worcestershire sauce, butter, salt, pepper
- Form ground beef into patties and cook in a skillet until browned on both sides.
- In a saucepan, melt butter and whisk in flour to make a roux. Slowly whisk in beef broth and Worcestershire, simmering until thickened to gravy consistency. Season with salt and pepper.
- Fry eggs sunny-side up in the same skillet used for the beef patties.
- Scoop rice onto plates and top with burger patty, fried egg, and brown gravy.
Cook Time: 30 mins
17. Hawaiian Tuna Poke Nachos
Crispy wonton chips piled high with marinated ahi tuna, creamy avocado, crunchy veggies, and a zesty poke sauce.
Wonton wrappers, ahi tuna, soy sauce, sesame oil, lime juice, green onions, avocado, shredded cabbage, diced mango
- Cut wonton wrappers into triangles and fry or bake until crispy to make chips.
- In a bowl, combine diced ahi with soy sauce, sesame oil, lime juice, and sliced green onions. Let marinate briefly.
- Layer wonton chips with the marinated poke, diced avocado, shredded cabbage, and mango.
- Drizzle extra marinade sauce over the top.
Cook Time: 20 mins
18. Hawaiian Sweet Potato Chorizo Hash
A hearty and flavorful medley of roasted sweet potatoes, spicy chorizo sausage, bell peppers and onions.
Ingredients; Sweet potatoes, chorizo sausage, bell peppers, red onion, garlic, paprika, cayenne, salt, pepper, eggs (optional)
- Dice sweet potatoes and toss with oil, paprika, cayenne, salt and pepper on a baking sheet. Roast at 400°F for 20 mins.
- Cook chorizo in a skillet until browned and crumbly. Remove chorizo, drain excess fat, and sauté peppers, onions and garlic.
- Add roasted sweet potatoes and chorizo back to the skillet and toss everything together.
- For extra protein, fry a few eggs sunny-side up and place on top of the hash.
Cook Time: 30-35 mins
19. Hawaiian Banana Bread
An ultra-moist quick bread studded with ripe bananas and accented with tropical flavors like coconut, macadamia nuts and pineapple.
Ingredients; Ripe bananas, flour, sugar, eggs, oil, pineapple chunks, shredded coconut, macadamia nuts, baking soda, salt
- In a bowl, mash bananas and mix with eggs, oil, and vanilla until well combined.
- In another bowl, whisk together the dry ingredients – flour, sugar, baking soda, salt.
- Fold the dry ingredients into the wet until just combined, then gently fold in the pineapple, coconut and macadamia nuts.
- Pour batter into a greased loaf pan and bake at 350°F for 55-65 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Cook Time: 1 hr 10 mins
20. Hawaiian Yakisoba
Pan-fried curly noodles tossed in a tangy sauce with chicken, veggies and a sprinkle of furikake seasoning.
Ingredients; Yakisoba noodles, chicken breast, cabbage, carrots, onion, teriyaki sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, furikake seasoning
- Cook yakisoba noodles according to package, then rinse under cold water and set aside.
- Slice chicken into strips and sauté in a large skillet or wok until cooked through. Remove chicken.
- Add sliced cabbage, carrots, and onions and stir-fry for 2-3 minutes.
- Return cooked noodles and chicken to the skillet. Pour in teriyaki sauce, rice vinegar and sesame oil. Toss everything together.
- Serve noodles topped with a sprinkle of furikake seasoning.
Cook Time: 25 mins
21. Hawaiian Kalua
Pig and Cabbage Luscious shredded kalua pork and steamed cabbage wedges drizzled with a rich, velvety coconut cream sauce.
Ingredients; Pork butt, Hawaiian sea salt, liquid smoke, green cabbage, coconut milk, chicken broth, cornstarch slurry
- Prepare kalua pork by rubbing pork with salt and liquid smoke, wrapping in foil and slow roasting for 5-6 hours until falling apart tender. Shred pork.
- Core cabbage and cut into thick wedges. Steam or boil cabbage wedges until tender but still crisp, about 8-10 mins.
- Make sauce by simmering coconut milk and broth. Thicken with a cornstarch slurry.
- Serve shredded kalua pork over steamed cabbage wedges and drizzle coconut cream sauce over the top.
Cook Time: 5-6 hours
22. Hawaiian Chicken Katsu Curry
A Japanese curry soup dish with a Hawaiian twist – crispy panko-crusted chicken cutlets and pineapple chunks in a rich curry sauce over rice.
Ingredients; Chicken breast, panko bread crumbs, eggs, flour, vegetable oil, carrots, onion, Golden Curry sauce mix, pineapple chunks, cooked rice
- Pound chicken breasts to 1/4-inch thickness. Set up dredging station with flour, beaten eggs, and panko crumbs. Coat chicken and fry until golden brown.
- In a saucepan, cook sliced carrots and onions until softened. Add curry sauce mix and water according to package. Simmer for 10 mins.
- Add panko-crusted chicken cutlets and pineapple chunks to the curry sauce and heat through.
- Serve over steamed rice.
Cook Time: 30 mins
Conclusion
Ever since that memorable first taste of Hawaiian cuisine on the beaches of Maui, I’ve been hooked on replicating those bright, punchy, crave-worthy flavors at home.
From backyard luaus with kalua pork and huli huli chicken to weeknight poke bowls or Hawaiian-style fried rice, these vibrant dishes always transport me back to that balmy evening under the swaying palms.
Hawaiian food represents the spirit of aloha through its seamless blending of diverse influences into something uniquely delicious. Each bite is like a mini tropical vacation bursting with the perfect balance of salty, sweet, tangy, and rich flavors.