Hawaii is a vibrant and fascinating location, with the same applying adjectives to the island’s culinary history, which has led to a melting pot of cuisines. In 300 AD the first islanders arrived, yet there was hardly any edible animals or plants in Hawaii at the time. It is believed that the voyages brought dogs, poultry, pigs and plants to eat. They taro they brought proved to be a success story, as they discovered it was suited to the island’s humid and wet conditions, which is why it became a stable.

But, this only scratches the surface of the melting pot. Captain Cook introduced seeds for pumpkins, melons and onions, as wells English pigs and goats. When the Chinese came to Hawaii around 1850 to work in the field they bought their stir fries and woks, which influenced the cuisine. Portuguese people then brought their love of malasadas, chilli peppers and pork. After this, the Japanese came to Hawaii, adding another touch of cultural culinary flair to Hawaiian cuisine and this is why it is known as a melting pot of cultures and influences. 

Traditional Hawaiian Dishes

•    Laulau – Laulau is made using taro leaves. Pork is wrapped in these leaves and then it is cooked in a hot rock oven underground for a number of hours until smoky flavoured and soft.

•    Poke – This is a raw seafood dish. Poke is essentially the Hawaiian version of Japanese sashimi. It is served in cubes and many different types of fresh saltwater fish are used, although tuna is the most common.

•    Poi – Thick paste that is made from taro root. This is a must-try when you travel to Hawaii. The root is either baked or steamed. It is then pounded and water is added to create the right consistency. 

•    Pineapple – If you are going to embrace Hawaiian cuisine you definitely need to incorporate fruit into your diet and the islands are famous for their pineapple, making it the ideal choice.  

Given that Hawaii is such a journey away, a lot of people tend to incorporate this trip with visiting other countries around there. It is not uncommon to visit Central America, for example, a lot of people incorporate Los Angeles into their trip. You could go a bit further afield and visit some culture-filled places in South America too. Where should I travel to in South America? There are lots of amazing options, including Peru and Lima. the best thing to do is align with a professional company who can organise all of this for you. After all, you may even want to do a worldwide tour and venture into Africa and Asia too!

So there you have it: a glimpse of the amazing Hawaiian cuisine! It’s reason enough to visit this part of the world.