For years, Aloha Mondays didn’t even have a sign outside its unassuming kitchen in the heart of Hilo, on the corner of Lono Street and Kīlauea Avenue. And they still don’t have a set menu, but that’s on purpose. Known for its catering and food delivery services, Aloha Mondays also serves lunch and dinner, which are based entirely on […]
You’ll hear the same story from restaurants around the state: They want to work with as much local produce as possible, knowing that food grown right here in Hawai‘i is as fresh as it gets. However, there are always some concessions. This comes from Costco. That we have to bring in off-island. Those are too expensive
It was called the Hau Tree Lānai when I was growing up, an open-air, oceanfront restaurant right on Kaimana Beach in Waikīkī. It was the spot for bridal showers and brunch with friends. And because of its location—on the ground floor of the iconic New Otani Kaimana Beach Hotel—many visitors to Oʻahu have fond memories
Growing up in Kailua on O‘ahu’s Windward Side, Ryan Katsuno would go to Agnes’ Portuguese Bake Shop at least once a week, stocking up on sweet bread, pastries and—the bakery’s signature treat—malasadas. Malasadas are Hawai‘i’s quintessential comfort food. They’re basically deep-fried, sugar-dusted doughnuts, brought to Hawai‘i with the 1878 arrival of Portuguese plantation laborers from the Madeira and Azores islands. And
(Editor’s Note: Mochi Do Hawaiʻi closed in 2021.) If you haven’t heard of mochi doughnuts, maybe you haven’t been to a bakery or farmers market lately. These chewy versions of the fried dough confection, made with sweet rice flour (mochiko), is popping up everywhere, from Seattle to Houston to Canada. In Hawaiʻi, several bakeries have
This cool, overcast and sometimes humid fall weather has me craving everything sweet. If you’re feeling the same way, check out these three eateries for a fun adventure on Kaua‘i’s east side. Sweet Shop By The Sea Step into Sweet Shop By The Sea and you’ll be met with walls filled with colorful gummies, rocky
The best lū‘au in Hawai‘i will serve the authentic stuff: succulent kālua pig, creamy haupia and, of course, poi. So if you are lucky enough to get handed that perfect plate, here’s what you’ll be eating: Squid lūʻau (top right), poi (bottom right) and chicken long rice (left). Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino Squid lū‘au: A classic lū‘au dish made with taro leaves (aka lū‘au or kalo leaves) simmered with octopus (tako) and coconut
It’s not quite lunchtime and there’s already a line forming outside a small window on Mokauea Street in the industrial part of Kalihi. And no one here needs a menu. The loyal customers of Alicia’s Market, a former grocery store that started serving poke when it opened in 1949, know exactly what they want, whether
When ESPACIO opened in Waikīkī in September 2019, it was lauded as the most indulgent luxe hotel on Oʻahu—arguably the state. The hotel features just nine three-bedroom suites sprawling over 2,250 square feet each with ocean-view balconies equipped with Jacuzzis and personal butlers. Rooms start at $5,000 a night, which includes two 50-minute spa treatments and
Starchy and addicting. That’s how I describe poi and kūlolo, two Hawaiian staple dishes made from kalo (taro). Poi, which is made from a mixture of cooked kalo and water, starts off sweet and sours as it ferments. It also has a starchy taste and a puddling-like texture. Depending on where you get it from,
This year may just be the year of peak poke. As far east as New York City, you’ll find hip restaurants and lunch counters slinging bowls of the seasoned cubed fish, piled high with every topping under the sun, from boiled soybeans to crunchy puffed rice. More often than not, these teeming bowls are starkly
It’s not a beach day without something to snack on. And you can’t just bring any snack, either. Nothing that melts or spoils—so chocolate-covered mac nuts and poke bowls are out. Here are our picks for grab-and-go snacks that are sure to satisfy—and will last an entire day at the beach. Coconut Chips, Foodland
