Hawaii’s rich culture extends to its cuisine, which includes a colorful variety of traditional dishes. If you’re browsing oceanfront hotels in Hawaii and making other travel plans, you’re probably wondering what types of fare are available on the island chain. If you'd like to discover popular Hawaiian foods, consult the guide below.

What Are a Few Delicious Hawaiian Food Dishes to Try?

1. Hawaiian Plate

Trying several traditional foods at one time is possible with the Hawaiian plate, which typically features one or two scoops of white rice, mayo-based macaroni salad, and steak, pork, or chicken served on ti leaves. The chosen protein is paired with lomi salmon and poi, which is cooked taro thinned with water. You can find the dish at restaurants, drive-ins, and roadside food carts – if you want dessert with it, you’ll receive a serving of either kulolo, which is taro and coconut cream pudding, or haupia, which is coconut cream pudding. 

2. Poke

Diced raw fish combined with assorted sauces and vegetables make up this traditional dish, whose name translates to “cut crosswise into pieces.” The raw fish component is typically salmon or tuna, though it can also feature foods like tofu, edamame, and crab. This dish was originally seasoned with Hawaiian sea salt, crushed kukui (candle) nuts mixed with salt, and limu kohu, a type of rare seaweed. As people from around the world began to move to Hawaii, poke started including onions, soy sauce, ginger, wasabi, and garlic. Many variations are available today at oceanfront hotels, restaurants, food trucks, and fish markets. 

3. Luau Stew 

The traditional luau stew pairs cooked-until-tender luau leaves with Hawaiian sea salt, making it an ideal dish for vegetarians and vegans. Additional ingredients also pair well with veggies, including rice, ginger, onion, pepper, coconut milk, and seaweed, which enhance the stew’s flavor and heartiness. The popular dish does not discount those who eat meats, and can feature chicken, pork, beef or beef brisket, or squid. 

4. Manapua

Chinese and Cantonese immigrants came to Hawaii in the 19th century looking for work, bringing many of their culinary traditions with them. One of them was the Chinese char siu bao, which is a steamed pork bun. Today’s version is the manapua, or a bun bursting with sweet pork filling. The favorite street food provides a hearty snack when you need a quick break from sightseeing. 

If you’re still searching for the perfect oceanfront hotel for your Hawaii vacation, look no further than Napili Hotel in Lahaina. The family-owned hotel has served the west side of Maui since 1967, providing comfortable rooms within a two-minute walk of Napili Bay. Call (808) 669-6228 today to reserve your oceanfront hotel room, or visit the website for accommodation information. Like the Facebook page for more travel tips.