Whether you’re visiting the Islands or a local resident, you don’t want to miss the chance to try bento. It’s a popular single-serving takeout lunch box containing noodles or rice, steamed fish or grilled meat, and cooked or pickled vegetables. It originated in Japan and is now common throughout Asia and Hawaii. You can find it throughout the Hawaiian Islands at food stands, convenience stores, and other quick-bite eateries. Kawamoto Store, a beloved Japanese takeout joint, catering service, and food store, has been selling bento options to please almost any palate for more than 70 years.

To give you an idea of what's available, they discuss some of their most popular bento meals below:

• Keiki Bento: Keiki bento is a kid-sized portion with two Musubi (spam and rice wrapped in seaweed) and Korean chicken. The cost is $3.50.
• $5 Bento:  This inexpensive full-sized portion includes a cone sushi, one Musubi, 1/2 serving of noodles and nishime, and fried vegetable tempura with rice.
• $6 Bento: This features everything in the $5 meal, except the tempura includes shrimp, and it comes with sides of shoyu chicken and spam. Shoyu is the Japanese term for soy sauce, so a shoyu meal is chicken, pork, or beef marinated for several hours.
• Larger Meals: For larger appetites, you can find a variety of bento meals that include more food and different sides, but whatever your choice, you’re guaranteed delicious, authentic cuisine.

For delicious Japanese takeout and traditional Hawaiian food on the go, you can't go wrong with Kawamoto Store in Hilo, HI. They carry a variety of mouthwatering local Asian cuisine menu items, from sushi to okazuya to bento, all at affordable prices. Check out their website to view a menu, business hours, and a map to their location.  Otherwise, call (808) 935-8209 to inquire about available bento options.