Hawaii is known for its pristine beaches and lush greeneries. But have you ever experienced real Hawaiian cuisine? And no, I am not talking about popular Hawaiian pizzas, huli huli chicken, Hawaiian beef stew, Hawaiian rice pudding, chicken katsu, Hawaiian fried rice, spam fried rice, Hawaiian guava cake, Hawaiian spam musubi, Hawaiian butter mochi, Hawaiian chicken kebabs, Hawaiian berry smoothie, Hawaiian haystacks, shoyu chicken, Hawaiian beef, Hawaiian fruit salad, fried chicken, Hawaiian pineapple chicken with pineapple juice and pineapple chunks, many chicken dishes, and other Hawaiian dishes and version of Hawaiian style comfort food.
Hawaiian cuisine is unique in that it incorporates a variety of ingredients you’re likely unfamiliar with, giving it a distinct and exotic flavor. With that in mind, I have 19 delicious favorite Hawaiian recipes here that will make you feel like you are in paradise!
1. Hawaiian Coleslaw
The ideal warm-weather accompaniment, this Island-Inspired Slaw offers a delightful crunch, and a pleasing balance of sweet and tangy flavors, and is a breeze to prepare.
Serving as a flawless addition to your summertime barbeque, this slaw features a combination of sweet and savory components like pineapple, cabbage, and carrots, culminating in a distinct taste that will excite your palate.
This slaw is also an excellent way to encourage children to consume their vegetables, as it incorporates an array of fresh ingredients. If you’re seeking a novel and enticing side dish to include in your warm-weather meal plan, give Island-Inspired Slaw a whirl! It will become one of your favorite Hawaiian side dishes!
2. Hawaiian Pizza (Pineapple Pizza)
An ideal blend of sugary and salty flavors, island-inspired pizza should definitely be on the menu for your upcoming pizza evening! Adorned with gooey mozzarella, Canadian bacon, pineapple, and aromatic Italian seasonings, every portion is packed with deliciousness!
Creating pizza at home is truly the ultimate experience! Air-fried pizza, Mexican-inspired pizza, and low-carb pizza are among my top choices. Be sure to experiment with them and combine your most-loved toppings to your heart’s content!
3. Huli Huli Pineapple Chicken
Frequently encountered at roadside charity events, this island-inspired barbeque dish features crushed pineapple and brown sugar, resulting in a caramelized texture and delightful taste. In case you’re curious, “huli” means “turn” in the Hawaiian language.
Feel free to modify the quantities of ketchup, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, ginger, garlic, and/or brown sugar according to your preference.
For an extra touch of pizzazz, thread marinated chicken pieces and pineapple slices onto skewers and grill until cooked thoroughly.
Please note that the nutritional information provided for this dish includes the entire quantity of the marinade components. The actual amount of marinade consumed may differ.
4. Hawaiian Bruddah Potato Mac (Hawaiian Macaroni Salad)
Greetings, friend! One beloved accompaniment to classic Hawaiian mixed platters is the delightful potato macaroni salad. As with potato salad, there are countless ways to prepare it, varying from one person to another. I’d like to share my preferred and straightforward method for creating a scrumptious potato mac dish. Oh, I’ll gladly take two servings of this delightful side, thank you!
5. Spam Musubi
During the Second World War, numerous islanders from Hawaii had a penchant for stockpiling tins of a well-known preserved meat product due to concerns that provisions might not reach their shores. This canned good, consisting of pork, salt, water, sugar, and sodium nitrate, boasts a shelf life of up to three years. Nowadays, it has become synonymous with Hawaii, where approximately seven million cans are devoured annually, which is close to five times the number of inhabitants in the state.
In the Aloha State, this preserved meat can be found in a variety of locations, ranging from small stores to fuel stations. Encased in seaweed (and frequently plastic), it serves as a portable and convenient snack, ideal for coastal leisure.
A favored island treat is a dish that combines this canned meat with short-grain rice and a grilled, marinated teriyaki version of the meat, topped with a Japanese seaweed condiment and enveloped in seaweed sheets. Numerous versions of this dish exist, with a range of fillings, flavors, and protein sources – some even opt to deep-fry the entire creation. This simple dish is perfect for outdoor gatherings, seaside relaxation, or as a midday treat.
6. Pineapple Fried Rice
Pineapple! Our adoration for this fruit could fill an entire book. Pineapple desserts never cease to satisfy our cravings, and the fruit serves as a fantastic sweet component in any chicken marinade. We’re fond of all the savory pineapple-infused dishes, particularly when they involve incorporating pineapple into the Hawaiian version of pineapple fried rice.
To instill this rice with a more tropical flair, we opted to fry the rice and vegetables in coconut oil. If you don’t have any readily available, you can substitute it with a neutral oil (such as canola). For an added touch of elegance, consider presenting the rice in pineapple bowls, ideally alongside our flavorsome garlic-ginger shrimp and green onions.
7. 3 Ingredient Pani Popo: An Exotic and Easy Hawaiian Rolls
Looking for a unique, exotic, and easy-to-make treat to share with friends or family? This recipe for Pani Popo (Samoan Coconut Rolls) fits the bill, perfectly! These rolls are the South Pacific equivalent to cinnamon buns–warm, fluffy rolls coated in a delicious, sweet coconut sauce. Though Pani Popo originally hails from Samoa, it is a popular dish in Hawaii as well.
8. Sticky Pineapple Hawaiian Grilled Wings
You can do SO many yummy things with chicken wings. It’s so easy! Not only that, it is one of the most affordable poultry choices available. This makes wings the perfect option for appetizers when you need to feed a hungry crowd at think holiday party or tailgating event! This Sticky Pineapple Hawaiian Grilled Wings recipe yields one dozen sticky, tasty wings; however, it’s easy to adjust to make as many as you think you need. Just make sure to supply plenty of napkins.
9. Flavourful Instant Pot Hawaiian Pork Tenderloin
I might have mentioned once or twice before how much I love my Instant Pot! I also love this Hawaiian pork tenderloin easy recipe. This Instant Pot pork tenderloin is quick, easy, meaty, sweet – just amazing! This tenderloin and pineapple recipe makes a great dinner. It’s a really easy Instant Pot dinner recipe. I created this tasty dish when I was looking for a favorite Hawaiian-inspired recipe for the Instant Pot. Save this Hawaiian comfort food as a local favorite in your list of classic Hawaiian dishes.
10. Air Fryer Hawaiian Chicken Recipe
With a sweet and salty glaze and tender meat, this Hawaiian chicken recipe is a quick and easy dinner idea. On top of the flavorful combination of pineapple and soy sauce, your entire family will love the delicious crispy crust on the outside of the chicken thighs thanks to your air fryer. With the help of this handy appliance, you can whip up a simple weeknight dinner with just a few minutes of prep work.
11. Shrimp Poke Bowl with Creamy Poke Sauce
Poke “POH-keh” bowls originated in Hawaii. The term poke means to cut or slice into pieces and comes from fishermen cleaning, cutting into small pieces, and seasoning fresh fish to snack on.
11. Instant Pot Kalua Pork with Cabbage
Instant Pot Kalua Pork with Cabbage is one of my favorite dishes to make for my family or for a party and it’s free of the top 8 allergens. It’s an easy and delicious meal with plenty of leftovers for days when I know I’m busy or just need some downtime and takes about 3 hours.
12. Crockpot Hawaiian BBQ Chicken
I am all about easy dinner solutions. And it really doesn’t get much easier than this 3 ingredient recipe for Hawaiian BBQ Chicken. You just need to plan ahead of time, then throw the ingredients in the slow cooker and a few hours later, you will have a delicious meal. You’ll love the taste!
13. Instant Pot Hawaiian Meatballs – Summer Hawaiian Food Recipe
Hawaiian flavors are just perfect to enjoy in the summer! Maybe you can’t visit the islands, but you can bring the tastes to your home with these Instant Pot Hawaiian Meatballs.
14. Furikake Snack Mix – Traditional Hawaiian Recipe
The ultimate party snack mix should be crunchy, salty, sweet, and savory. This easy furikake snack mix is just that and more. It is easy to make and crowd-pleasing so a must for your next get-together or when you want something new.
15. Tropical Ice Cream Sandwich Recipe – I Love Hawaiian Luau Theme
This grilled pineapple Tropical Ice Cream Sandwich recipe is a unique dessert. Make these for parties and cookouts that have a Hawaiian luau theme.
16. Chocolate Haupia Pie Squares – Easy Hawaiian Recipe
Make this delicious Hawaiian dessert using healthy ingredients in just a few minutes. This Chocolate Haupia Pie has a sweet chocolate crust and a creamy layer of coconut drizzled with dark chocolate.
17. Chocolate Haupia Pie Recipe – Authentic Hawaiian Food
Easy Chocolate Haupia Pie is a Hawaiian classic dessert made with coconut and chocolate. Layered in a flaky pie crust and topped with whipped cream, this no-bake dessert is like a vacation for your tastebuds.
18. Easy Gluten-Free Grilled Hawaiian Chicken (Paleo, Allergy-Free)
Use this quick and easy, tropical, pineapple marinade to flavor up those plain chicken breasts! This easy gluten-free grilled Hawaiian chicken recipe is in the top 8 allergy-free paleo and brings all the island flavors right to your dinner table!
19. Hawaiian Shrimp Street Tacos – Traditional Hawaiian Snack
This recipe is inspired by Tre, one of our local restaurants. One night my yoga friends and I were at Tre, hanging out on their beautiful patio having a drink after yoga and some of us were having a little bite to eat as well. My friend Kay ordered the Caribbean Shrimp Street Tacos and she was just delighted when she tasted them. She loved how the shrimp was slightly shredded … and, I was mentally taking notes as she talked about her dining experience. Fortunately for me, she couldn’t eat all the tacos they brought her, so I got to TASTE them too … and yeah, I figured out a way I could make this marvelous creation at home, or at least something tangentially similar.
