Hawaii’s cuisine commonly combines local ingredients with various elements of Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, Korean, and Portuguese cooking. The result is a unique culinary fusion that is just as much a part of island life as breathtaking sunsets and swaying palm trees. Here are few of the most popular foods to try at restaurants when you step outside your vacation rental.

A Guide to Must-Have Hawaii Specialty Dishes

1. Spam Musubi 

A true testament to Hawaiian history, this dish features a slice of grilled SPAM®, which became an island staple during World War II, placed over white rice and wrapped in seaweed. It’s a simple combination that provides a flavorful snack. 

2. Kalua Pork 

The word “kalua” refers to the method of cooking in an underground oven. A whole pig is wrapped in leaves and left to slowly smoke for hours before the tender meat is shredded up to eat. If you leave your vacation rental to attend a luau, it’s likely you’ll get to see this dish prepared firsthand. 

3. Loco Moco

Often considered island comfort food, loco moco includes a hamburger patty topped with a fried egg and gravy. All of this is served on a bed of white rice. Each restaurant offers its own version of this dish, so it’s common for recipes to incorporate additional ingredients, such as seafood, onions, and other meats. 

4. Poke

Although poke has become a favorite menu item all over the world, it originated in Hawaii. This dish is similar to ceviche and consists of cubed raw fish seasoned with sesame oil, soy sauce, chili flakes, and seaweed. Ahi is the most commonly used fish for poke, but it can also be made with other kinds of seafood, like salmon or octopus.

Once you’re ready to start traveling again, the multilingual staff at Marina Hawaii Vacations will help you find comfortable and affordable accommodations in Honolulu. They offer a variety of resort-style vacation rentals that boast spacious floor plans and a wide range of amenities to make you feel right at home. For more than 55 years, this property management company has provided guests with a clean and safe place to stay, and that continues through these uncertain times so everyone can still live out their dream of visiting paradise. Call (808) 946-0716 to make a reservation, or visit them online to browse through their vacation rental options.