Hawaiian Regional Cuisine. That’s simply another name for “local kine grinds.” We got your basic fast food folks all over the islands. REAL food is for real local folks. What’s local food? And where do you get it?

Don’t misunderstand. Local folks like burgers and fries. Pizza, too. An island heritage with many cultures means a variety of food you won’t find in a fast food place.

The first visitors to Hawaii, the Polynesians, brought their own food—in the form of plants to grow and a pickup truck full of domestic animals. Dogs, chickens, pigs. Those were not staples.

Taro, which grew in abundance centuries ago, was the main crop. The early Hawaiians steamed the spinach-tasting big leaves. They took other parts and baked them in underground ovens. They pounded other parts into a purple staple known as poi.

You can buy poi in most US cities in the local Wal-Mart stores. It’s called Elmer’s Glue, it’s white, non-toxic, and tastes the same.

One good thing about the ancient Hawaiian diet: white teeth. Food was so non-acidic that ancient Hawaiians had great teeth.

Today, we go to the Brite Smile place on Kapiolani Boulevard and get our teeth bleached. But we get to NOT eat poi.

Of course, no story on food in Hawaii would be complete with discussion of the “luau.” They’re big. They’re commercial.

But don’t miss a chance to go to a luau. The food is great. Kalua pig (pulled or shredded pork to the folks from down south). Sweet potatoes. And lau lau.

Did I forget lau lau?

Lau lau is a bundle of Ti leaves covering taro tops, fish, and pork. Muey delicioso (you didn’t know I was multi-lingual, did you?).

As new cultures assimilated into the island culture they brought their own specialties. Chinese and Japanese brought noodles. Saimin, to local folks. Saimin is a hot and steamy broth of soup with tightly wound noodles cooked inside. You need chopsticks to eat Saimin.
It’s OK to slurp.

No one knows for sure if Saimin in the local form is Chinese or Japanese. No matter. McDonald’s picked up on it years ago and now any local Mickey D’s features rice, Portagee sausage, and Saimin.

Summary: Food in Hawaii covers many different cultures, too numerous to mention them all. Try a luau. Eat sushi and sashimi (raw fish). Grab your fill of food in Chinatown.

Pros: Wide variety to suit nearly any taste.

Cons: New tastes are only for the adventurous.

Want to know the best places to eat in Hawaii? Click over to Ono Dining for totally biased reviews on Hawai's best (and not so best) restaurants.