Most travelers think of Hawai’i and its visions of surfing, hiking, and snorkeling in a lush tropical setting. But for food lovers, it brings to min the unique Hawaii local food culture, including everything from local eats to fine dining.
That isn’t to say that watching the sunset over Diamond Head or catching a few early morning waves at WaikÄ«kÄ« is anything short of incredible. If you ask us about our favorite island memories, we’ll go on and on about how there is some of the best food in Hawai’i.
Hawaii Local Food History
As we’ve discussed before, “Hawaiian Food” refers to food made by indigenous Hawaiians, and it’s very much worth seeking out. But we adore that history made for a unique Hawai’i local food culture.
Thanks to the many ethnic groups that made their way to this corner of the Pacific to work on the sugar and pineapple plantations, the local food you see today is a delicious mix of Native Hawaiian, Asian (Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Filipino), American, European (mostly Portuguese), and Latin (Puerto Rican) ingredients and preparations.
And the uniqueness of the Hawai’i local food scene doesn’t stop at the food – it includes how locals talk about it. Going back again to Hawai’i’s plantation era, these different ethnic groups, each with their own language, had to find a way to communicate with each other. As a result, Hawaiian pidgin – aka Hawaiian Creole –was born.
The pidgin language exists today, so you’ll hear it in casual conversation and woven into menus. Knowing a few of these local food terms is helpful for getting the best food.
Must-Know Hawai’i Local Food Terms
Here are the twelve Hawaii local food terms, from traditional Hawaiian words to local slang, to know before you travel to Hawai’i:
Grindz
Also spelled “grinds,” this word is local slang for food, and you’ll see it used a lot on menus and in advertising. The word is often paired with ‘ono, meaning delicious (more on that below). So you might hear that the Hawaiian BBQ spot serves “‘ono grindz.”
Use the terms to talk about your favorite plate of garlic shrimp (pictured above) or a beachside potluck, where there were plenty of grinds (aka choke).
‘Ono
Pronounced oh-no, this is the local word for “delicious,” as in, Helena’s has an ‘ono Hawaiian food menu. For added emphasis, include so as in something is “so ‘ono,” like the Vietnamese-inspired grinds at The Pig and the Lady.
Onolicious is a variation on ono that means the same thing but is somehow even more fun to say. A heads-up that ono (without the okina diacritical mark) is also the name for a type of firm, white fish mostly caught in Hawaiian waters.
Choke
Another local slang word you may encounter in Hawai’i is choke, which means a lot. You might use it in a sentence like “there was choke chicken katsu at the potluck yesterday.”
Pau
In Hawaii, when you are finished with something — be it a meal or work — you say you are pau, as in to say that you’re pau with the kalua pork on your Aloha plate.
The term extends to happy hour because that time is known as pau hana. For your pau hana at home, try this Daiquiri Moderno Cocktail from our friends at the Luana Bar at Maui’s Fairmont Kea Lani.
Brok da mout
This phrase is spelled a few different ways, but the meaning is always the same: whatever you ate was incredibly satisfying. It’s a local slang term you throw out when something is even more delicious than ‘ono can describe.
For example, here’s where you should go for some brok da mout malasadas.
Pūpūs
Even if you’ve never visited Hawaii, you’ve likely come across this term that was oh-so-popular during the Tiki era. PÅ«pÅ«s are appetizers or snacks like boiled peanuts or poke and are often served at pau hana. They’re also familiar at social gatherings, where you will likely find crispy wontons with spicy mustard and soy or a sweet chili sauce, sashimi, lumpia (Filipino egg rolls served with vinegar dipping sauce), and much more.
Junk
Locals use this word to describe anything that isn’t good, including food. But don’t worry—you’ll never come across any junk recommendations here!
Kanak Attack
If you feel a food coma coming on, you’ll want to use this island term: kanak attack – aka the satisfying feeling you have after you’ve explored every foodie corner in Hawaii in search of choke onolicious grinds.
As you can see, the food in Hawai’i reflects its multicultural history. On that note, below are some common ingredients and preparations to also know about and try when you see them in a cafe, restaurant, supermarket, or side-of-the-road stand:
Got any other Hawai’i local food terms you learned while traveling in the Aloha State? Let us know in the comments below!
Hawaii Food Tours
If you’re still thinking of food, you may be interested in hearing about our pick of unique Hawaii food tours for your next trip. From baking Portuguese bread to honey farm visits, there are many ways to dive into the local food culture.Â
Have Us Plan Your Hawai’i Trip
Did you know we’re also a boutique travel agency specializing in Hawaii vacation planning? If you’re planning a trip to Hawaii, our Hawaii trip planner services can help you create your perfect itinerary.
Photo Credit:Â Natalie Jeffcott
Hawaiian Diacritical Marks: We use diacritical marks in our articles on the region to be accurate and respectful of the Hawaiian language. For more about which marks are used in the language and how to find proper spelling, refer to this Hawai’i Magazine article. Â
