Poi
Poi is made by mashing the cooked roots of the tropical taro plant that grows throughout the Hawai'ian islands. Although taro is toxic when raw, the roots are pounded with water and cooked to make poi, a popular staple starch eaten by Polynesian people. It is almost entirely flavorless and generally does not appeal to western tastes. It varies in thickness depending on the amount of water that is used.
Kalua Pork
A kalua pig is the centerpiece of a luau. Traditionally, a whole pig seasoned with salt (and sometimes green onions), wrapped in ti leaves and buried in an underground oven called an imu. After steaming underground for many hours, the pig is dug up, unwrapped and eaten. In modern times, kalua pork is made in regular ovens or crock pots and cooked at a low heat for a long time, sometimes with the addition of liquid smoke for flavor.
SPAM
SPAM--processed, cooked canned pork--is extremely popular in Hawai'i. It is eaten hot and cold, fried, baked, steamed, deep-fried, in sandwiches and burgers and at any mealtime. A popular snack is sushi made with SPAM.
Plate Lunch
A "plate lunch" is a characteristic local Hawai'ian meal eaten both at home and out at restaurants. It is a loose term applied to a dish of rice, macaroni salad and a large portion of meat, fish or seafood. Additional extras include fried eggs and gravy. Portions of all the components of a plate lunch tend to be huge.
Breadfruit
Breadfruit grows on trees throughout Hawai'i. It is a large fruit with a starchy, potato-like texture and a taste similar to bread, hence the name. It can be cooked in a variety of ways--boiled, baked, roasted and fried, and sometimes the core is cut away and filled with a stuffing.
Lomi Lomi Salmon
Lomi Lomi Salmon is a cold salad served as a side dish or an appetizer; it is a traditional element at luaus. "Lomi lomi" means "massage" and refers to the process of rubbing salt into the salmon to be used for the dish. The salted salmon is chopped and mixed with chopped tomatoes and sweet onions.
Poke
Poke is made from raw fish, usually tuna but sometimes octopus or other fish. The fish is chopped, marinated in lime or lemon juice and combined with salt, onion, candlenuts and seaweed. Sometimes chili, soy sauce, coconut milk and/or sesame oil are added too.
About The Author
Joanne Lewis is a freelance writer who has written for newspapers since 2005. She is currently the editor of a weekly community newspaper in Los Angeles, Calif. Lewis holds a Bachelor of Science in politics from the University of Bristol, England.
