Every culture has a signature cuisine, and for Hawaii, it is the sweet and sticky BBQ. Due to its unique combination of spices, this dish features a slight tang that tickles the taste buds and keeps you coming back for more. For those unfamiliar with this delectable treat, here's a closer look at the main ingredients and the cooking techniques that make it so hard to resist.

Common Ingredients

The base for Hawaiian BBQ sauce starts with a traditional combination of tomato sauce, vegetable oil, apple cider vinegar, and Worcestershire sauce. A cook then adds a few tablespoons of sugar, minced onion, dry mustard chili, and garlic powder. After a touch of salt and pepper, they can start personalizing their sauce.

Popular add-ons consist of soy sauce, teriyaki sauce, fresh ginger, and pineapple sauce. They include these ingredients because the sweetness of the pineapple blends with the tartness of the soy sauce and ginger to give the BBQ its signature tang.

Core Dishes

Kalua pork is one of the most popular types of Hawaiian BBQ. It requires slow-roasting an entire pig under a bed of hot coals. Cooks first wrap the meat in banana leaves to contain the steam and preserve the juices. They then leave it to sit for half a day before peeling it off the bone and coating it with sauce.

Another popular dish is huli huli chicken, which features a whole bird roasting on a spit over an open fire. Cooks will turn the meat halfway through to ensure it develops an even brown color, basting with the BBQ sauce at regular intervals.

Kiawe Wood

The bed of coals used during the process usually includes kiawe wood, which produces a sweet-smelling smoke that flavors the meat. It comes from a mesquite tree that originates along the shores of Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador, and Chile. It was brought to Hawaii in 1828 and is now a prevalent species on each island. Cooks will let it burn down a bit before adding the meat to ensure an aromatic environment.

Sink your teeth into a platter of authentic Hawaiian BBQ by visiting Aloha 'Aina BBQ in Haiku, HI. This locally owned business has been providing quality local food for residents and tourists in Maui since 2016, utilizing traditional techniques to create each of their dishes. Their full menu features popular items, including huli huli chicken, BBQ ribs, and pork belly. View their menu online, and call (808) 437-7754 to place an order.