9th ISLAND KITCHEN | Authentic Hawaiian Food & Recipes

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Polynesian Hawiian Recipes

Authentic Hawaiian cuisine is a beautiful blend of indigenous Native Hawaiian staples and diverse multicultural plate lunch favorites brought by immigrant plantation workers. Here are 7 essential recipes you can make at home to experience the true flavors of the islands.

Kālua Pork (Kālua Pig)
Traditionally cooked in an underground earth oven called an imu , this iconic shredded pork dish can be easily adapted for a modern home kitchen using a slow cooker.
  • Core Ingredients : Pork butt or shoulder, coarse Hawaiian sea salt (alaea ), and liquid smoke.

  • How to Make : Pierce the pork all over with a fork, rub thoroughly with the sea salt, and drizzle with liquid smoke. Slow-cook on low for 16 to 20 hours until the meat is completely tender, then shred it into its own savory juices.
Shoyu Ahi Poke
Poke translates to "to slice" or "to cut crosswise." Long before it became a mainland trend, local style poke was kept beautifully simple to highlight the freshness of the fish.
  • Core Ingredients : Fresh, sushi-grade ahi tuna cubes, shoyu (soy sauce), sesame oil, green onions, and sweet Maui onions.

  • How to Make : Gently toss the cubed tuna with the shoyu, sesame oil, and onions in a chilled bowl. Let it marinate in the refrigerator for at least 15 to 30 minutes before serving over warm rice.

 Pork Laulau

Laulau is a traditional comfort food where meat is wrapped tightly in layers of leaves and steamed until meltingly tender.
  • Core Ingredients : Fatty pork chunks, salted butterfish (or black cod), taro (lu'au ) leaves, and ti leaves for the outer wrap.

  • How to Make : Wrap the seasoned pork and fish tightly in several layers of edible taro leaves, then wrap them in a sturdy outer ti leaf packet secured with kitchen twine. Steam for 3 to 4 hours until the inner leaves are tender like spinach.
Loco Moco

The ultimate local-style comfort food, the Loco Moco was invented in Hilo as a filling, affordable meal for hungry teenagers .
  • Core Ingredients : Warm white rice, a seasoned pan-seared beef patty, thick brown gravy, and a fried egg.

  • How to Make : Build a generous bed of steamed white rice, place the juicy hamburger patty directly on top, smother everything in rich brown gravy, and crown the dish with a sunny-side-up egg so the yolk flows into the gravy.
Authentic Shoyu Chicken
Shoyu chicken is a staple of the classic Hawaiian plate lunch, loved for its perfect balance of sweet, salty, and savory flavors .
  • Core Ingredients : Bone-in chicken thighs, shoyu, brown sugar, fresh ginger, garlic, and star anise.

  • How to Make : Simmer the chicken thighs in a mixture of shoyu, water, brown sugar, crushed garlic, and sliced ginger. Cook uncovered for 30 to 40 minutes until the sauce reduces into a glossy, sweet glaze and the meat is fall-off-the-bone tender.