What the Big Island Likes to Eat

The question always asked of Big Island residents, both when they travel as well as by visitors to the island—is “what do you like to eat?” The answer: food from all over—food that was once Polynesian, Asian, European, or American. We mix ’em up, give ’em a local twist, and enjoy. Contains over 125 recipes.

Recipes

Local Grinds, Island-Style

• Korean Chicken Musubi
• Nori Chicken
• Oven Roasted Kālua Pork
• Omelet Shreds
• Char Siu
• Somen Salad
• Winter Melon with Pork
• Egg Foo Yung
• Easy Malasadas
• Sweet-Sour Lemons
• Ice Cake
• Goodie Sherbet

Ethnic Potpourri: Plantation Days

• Sweet and Sour Spareribs
• Daikon and Carrot Pickle
• Sekihan
• Aku Burgers
• Portuguese White Bread
• Portuguese White Bread (Small)
• Hamburger-Zucchini Jun
• Kamote and Kamatis Gulay

Ethnic Potpourri: Melting Pot

• Miso Marinated Salmon
• Nantu
• Chinese Steamed Buns or Mantou
• Chicken Nishime
• Red Fish with Somen
• Honto Rice or Gandule Rice
• Pork Guisantes or Pork and Peas
• Palusami
• Aku with Vinha D’alhos
• Paniolo Taro Stew
• Paniolo Chili
• Pipikaula
• Portuguese Boiled Dinner
• Chicken Long Rice
• Slow Cooker Laulau

Big Island Eats Out

• Steamed Mullet, Chinese Style
• EriLei’s Fried Rice
• Okinawan Shoyu Pork or Rafute
• Chicken Papaya
• Loco Moco
• Fresh Yogurt Sauce
• Tomato Beef
• Taro Corned Beef Hash
• Kālua Pork Omelet
• Pork Tofu
• Pork Adobo
• Ogo Namasu
• Tempura Batter for Shrimp & Fish
• Taro Puffs
• Chicken Satay Pot-stickers / Bamboo Restaurant
• Bacon Noodles
• Captain’s Seafood Pasta
• Miso Butterfish with Oshitashi
• Tripe Stew

Celebrations

• Coconut Cream of Celery Soup
• Baked Stuffed Shrimp
• Kona Coffee Crusted Rack of Lamb Stuffed with Portobello
• Grilled Shrimp Nachos
• Wok Charred ’Ahi Over Slaw
• Kona Coffee Almond ’Smore Torte with Cocoa Nib Tuiles
• Macadamia Nut Praline Seared Scallops
• Banana Bread
• Seared Island Kampachi with Kamuela Tomato Poke & Toasted Garlic Vinaigrette
• Purple Sweet Potato Cheesecake with Haupia Topping

Gone But Not Forgotten

• Corned Beef Hash, Hilo Style
• Old Style Saimin
• Bi Bim Bap
• Reliable White Cake
• Kau Yuk or Chinese Roast Pork with Taro
• Summer ‘Ahi Tartare
• Inarizushi or Cone Sushi
• Tea Cakes
• Candied Popcorn
• Teriyaki Beef
• Mahimahi Florentine
• Hard Tack
• ‘Ahi Spring Rolls
• Blueberry Cream Cheese Pie

Home Grown: From the Land

• Lamb with Spicy Kiele O Kona Coffee Sauce
• Big Island Honey and Lemon Glazed Chicken Breast
• Macadamia Caramel Shortbread Bars
• Seafood Flan with Hāmākua Pepeiao Mushrooms & Big Island Green Tea Consommé
• Brownie Squares
• Liliko‘i Granita
• Spicy Hawaiian Vanilla Coarse Ground Mustard
• Wailea Spicy Hearts of Palm Salad
• Macadamia Nut Crusted Mahimahi with Wasabi Cream Sauce
• Cherry Tomato Compote
• Seared Hirabara Baby Romaine Greens with Roast Big Island Tenderloin of Beef
• Smoothie
• Goat Cheese Won Tons
• Ali‘i Oyster Mushroom Risotto

Home Grown: From the Sea

• Asian-Style Steamed Kona Kampachi
• Kona Kampachi Carpaccio with Ānuenue Hō‘i‘o Ogo Relish & Ginger Ponzu Sauce
• Abalone: Steaks, Fried, Sushi, Sashimi
• Steamed Moi with Lup Cheong, Green Onions, and Ginger
• Tako Poke
• Kona Cold Lobster
• Kona Cold Lobster Au Gratin
• Sweet and Sour Tilapia with Island Fruits

Home Grown: Farmer’s Markets

• Warabi Mixed Rice
• Crunchy Salmon Salad
• Chicken Tinola
• Pickled Young Ginger
• Puna Papaya Crème Brûlée
• Chunky Guacamole
• Mango Crack Seed
• Pohā Berry Jam & Pohā Berry Sauce
• ‘Ahi Sakura Boshi
• Crispy Rice Cookies

Big Island Omiyage

• ‘Ahi Wasabi Poke
• Spicy Oyster Sauce ‘Ahi Poke
• Sanbaizuke Daikon
• Punalu‘u Sweetbread
• Azuki Anpan
• Char Siu Bau
• Cathy’s Favorite Mousse Cake
• Pie Crust Manju
• ‘Ulu Chips
• Chichi Mochi
• Sweet Nuts and Bolts

Sugarcane Sweet

• Macadamia Nut Sticky Buns
• ‘Ōhelo Berry Cream Cheese Pie
• Rich Vanilla Ice Cream
• Cascaron or Filipino Fried Doughnut
• Fresh Waimea Strawberry Tart
• Banana Cream Pie
• Hawaiian Ogo Carrot Cake
• Grand Marnier® Soufflé
• Liliko‘i Chiffon Pie

Author: Audrey Wilson