During our recent Hawaii vacation, we purposed, with our friends Gabe and Jeanne, to sample as many local foods as we could. Since we were on the go so much, it was easy, as we stayed hungry! So...from pupus and Spam to scallop and lobster pot-stickers...we indulged our taste buds to the limit!
The traditional Hawaiian luau offered us the chance to try a delicious roasted pig with all the local side dishes, such as purple yams, poi, marinated salmon, and lots of fresh fruit. The fresh bread was made with the yams...and was also purple in color.
Here is a smiling Gabe and Jeanne at our luau, where they ordered a delectable,fresh pineapple drink.
Jeanne insisted we stop for ice cream whenever possible. Her favorite ice cream concoction was called "Angel's Halo." It consisted of a huge scoop of pineapple-coconut ice cream topped with shaved ice which was saturated in your choice of tropical fruit syrups, then drizzled with condensed milk and topped with fresh whipped cream. Jeanne was in ice cream heaven! She encouraged a lady we met to try this dessert. After feasting on it she quipped, "If I were a dog...I'd be rolling in it! It's THAT good."
All the ices, smoothies, ice creams, fruit drinks...and fruit platters...were memorable.
I tried this little guy for lunch one day at the International Market Food Court, with the delicious clear noodles on the side. He was YUMMY!

One secret to afford-ably enjoying Hawaiian food, we were advised, is to eat at the less tourist-y places, which the local folks frequent. One favorite chain is called Zippy's. The Zippy's Restaurant offered a larger menu than the Zippy's Drive-In, but both serve excellently prepared Hawaiian food, which reflects the influence of other cultures, primarily Asian, Portuguese, and...
American...circa World War 2. See the slice of SPAM? You find it served all over the islands with breakfast (even at MacDonald's!), lunch and dinner.
Another favorite local establishment we gladly frequented was called L & L Drive In. The shrimp burgers were to die for! Fresh food...well prepared. Yum-o!
Here is Jeanne at our only stop a MacDonald's, when we tried something we cannot get on the mainland..."haupia pie," which is a fried pie filled with warm coconut-pineapple pudding.
Dotted along the North Shore of Oahu, you will find "Shrimp Shacks"...kind of like the Taco Wagons we find here in Texas. At Macky's Shrimp Shack, we feasted on the freshest and best tasting coconut shrimp plate, as well a buttery garlic shrimp. I would return to Oahu just to visit Macky's!
I saw a plaque at a gift store which read, "Give us this day our daily rice." Even breakfast in Hawaii is served up with a scoop of rice. And no matter what other starches are served, rice will be added as well.
Eating afford-ably a large part of the time enabled us to enjoy several meals in nice hotels along Waikiki Beach. On a tip from a friendly shop lady, who told us to "bite the bullet, valet park and eat lunch," we visited The Kahala Hotel and Resort, and marveled at the elegant, live-orchid-laden surroundings, complete with pools of animated dolphins and sea turtles. Here we are pictured, seated at our outside table. You can see Diamond-head in the horizon...and we watched a movie being filmed in the distance. Definitely a time out of the ordinary for us!
Our favorite dining experience...which we gave an enthusiastic 5 STARS...was The Hula Grill. Knowing that every table offered a breathtaking sunset view over the ocean, we chose to have an early dinner...for the sunset experience. The menu offered Hawaiian Regional seafood and steaks complimented with locally grown produce. We even ordered pupus that night...Hawaiian for appetizers and pronounced poo-poos. We got silly with that one all week. Our pupus of choice were the scallop & lobster pot-stickers. "Even if you don't dance the hula, your tastes buds will," The Hula Grill boasts. We found that statement to not be exaggerated!
The meal was topped off with their house specialty dessert...a huge, homemade ice cream sandwich.
Our evening was blessed as our spirits feasted upon the spectacular sunset backdrop, specially painted for our enjoyment by the Master Artist of our world.