Growing up on Oahu, there are few places that I would frequent as a kid that are still around. There’s no more Castle Park in Pearl City, Kanda Lunchwagon at Kewalo Basin is closed, and I’ll never see a movie again in a theater in Waikiki. But a favorite restaurant of mine growing up was […]
It’s not every day that you want to splurge on the best restaurant you can find. For those busy days, casual lunches or when you only have enough time and money to grab and go, we’ve got you covered. The HAWAII staff put our heads together and came up with this list of affordable and quick
Locally owned and operated since 1948, Foodland has long been the go-to supermarket for locals. Its popular poke, made fresh in each store daily, tops our 2019 Readers’ Choice Awards, and the company has been committed to stocking its shelves with local produce and products. Late last year, Foodland, the state’s largest locally owned grocery
The original Liliha Bakery has been an institution in Hawaii since the Takakuwa family opened it in 1950, serving freshly baked cakes and pastries and operating a counter-only coffee shop with comforting local dishes. Growing up on Oahu—a mere 2 miles from this bakery—this has long been the go-to spot for my family. (My grandparents
A fish what? I had to read my email again. When I heard about the world’s first fish sommelier at Mina’s Fish House, a line-to-table restaurant at the Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina, I needed to know what that meant. I knew what a sommelier was: a highly trained and knowledgeable wine professional who
Several Maui restaurants have dedicated zero-proof menus for patrons who want to enjoy beverages sans alcohol, which isn’t a bad idea following an overindulgence of food and drink during the holidays. Dubbed mocktails—mock cocktails—these handcrafted drinks are made with fun ingredients such as housemade syrups, local fruit juices and muddled herbs. They’re so good, you
Chocolate just may be the perfect gift—and not just for Valentine’s Day. And if you’re going to buy chocolate in Hawaii, you should find a chocolatier that sources locally. (Yes, we grow cacao trees in the Islands!) Choco lea, a charming chocolate boutique—with a white picket fence!—in lush Manoa Valley, crafts artisanal chocolates using a
If you grew up in Hawaii, you’ll instantly remember these flavors. And if you didn’t, you’ll instantly love them. Asato Family Shop, which opened a new brick-and-mortar shop near Downtown Honolulu last month, is all about nostalgic flavors of sherbet. Owner Neale Asato, who has worked in various kitchens in Honolulu and ran the cafeteria
Nestled amid old monkeypod trees and lush greenery in Manoa Valley on Oahu, the historic Waioli Tea Room, which opened in 1922, had been serving finger sandwiches and fragrant teas in pretty china until it closed four years ago. The beautiful restaurant, with its lava-rock fireplace and garden views, sat empty. But, late last November,
Food blogger Melissa Chang gives us the rundown on Hawaiian shave ice, its origins and two of the best places to get it: Shimazu Store in Honolulu and Baldwin’s Sweet Shop in Aiea, both on the island of Oahu. She’s also got some valuable tips on how to eat the fast-melting treat. Have Aloha
For breakfast, a visit to Café Haleiwa is a must. The North Shore staple has been serving generous portions of American cuisine to salt-crusted early morning surfers since it first opened in 1982. And though its traditional breakfast platters are good, the real winner here is the café’s dessert Belgian waffles. 66-456 Kamehameha Hwy., Haleiwa,
You can get a Hawaiian food plate lunch almost anywhere in the Islands, with nearly all of the required fixins (kalua pig, laulau, lomi salmon, etc.). But if we were to craft the best Hawaiian plate ever, here’s where we’d go. 1. Haupia: Yama’s Fish Market (Oahu) We appreciate Yama’s taking creative license with the coconut
