Dining Hawaiian Style: a Guide to Understanding Hawaiian Cuisine
November 27th, 2007 by Rocco
Visitors may flock to Hawaii for its friendly residents, breathtaking scenery and warm, gentle weather, but Hawaiian cuisine could serve as a tourist magnet in its own right! While visiting Hawaii, it is helpful to know a few local words that will appear on restaurant menus and local attraction descriptions.
The following is a brief list of some of the more common Hawaiian cuisine terminology you will encounter.
- Ahi (AH-hee) This familiar tuna usually refers to the bigeye or yellowfin variety of fish. It is a mild flavored fish and is a popular menu selection.
- Alaea – (a-LAH-eh-ah) Alea is colored rock salt, mined from clay.
- Haupia – (how-pee-ah) This coconut cream pudding is thickened with cornstarch or arrowroot and is a sweet treat that should not be missed.
- Kalua – (kah-loo-ah) This popular cooking method involves wrapping food in leaves and roasting the bundles in an open pit over hot coals
- Kalo – (KAH-low) Another word for Taro, this plant is used to make Poi and Lu’au.
- Kau kau – (kow-kow) Kau kau means “food” in Hawaiian.
- Kiawe – (ke-ah-veh) This wood from the algarroba tree is often used for open pit roasting.
- Lau lau – (lauw-lauw) Pork or fish wrapped in Taro leaves and steamed is called lau lau.
- Liliko’i – (LEE-LEE-koh-ee) Hawaiian for passion fruit
- Loco moco - (loh-koh moh-koh) refers to steamed rice with fried hamburger, egg and brown gravy or any similar variation on this rice, meat and gravy dish
- Lomi salmon – (loh-me salmon) salted salmon, free of bones and served in salad or as a relish
- Lu’au – (loo-ow) a feast
- Mahimahi – (mah-hee-mah-hee) refers to the dolphin fish, not a dolphin
- Manapua – (mah-nah-poo-ah) steamed buns filled with deliciously prepared pork
- Moi – (moy) Pacific threadfin fish, once reserved for royalty only, now available to all
- Na’au – (nah-ow) steamed beef intestines
- Ono – (oh-no) the Wahoo fish
- ‘Opakapaka – (oh-pah-kah-pah-kah) popular snapper fish, usually pink or crimson in variety
- Pipikaula – (pee-pee-kow-lah) This thinly sliced beef snack is dried in the sun, slated and broiled.
- Pua’a – (poo-ah-ah) means pig or pork
- Pupu – (poo-poo) refers to snacks or appetizers( Be sure to explain this one to young children before dining out in Hawaii!)
- Squid – (skwid) On the islands, this term refers to octopus rather than traditional squid.
Learning to speak a little Hawaiian before your trip can be a great way to gear up for your visit to tropical paradise. Knowing what you are ordering can help save you from a nasty case of indigestion or help you choose a new favorite Hawaiian dish.
If you are unsure of what a term means, most dining staff members are pleased to fill you in on the terminology, and maybe even a small dose of Hawaiian culture and history to boot!