Savor the flavors of Hawaiian food when visiting the Big Island of Hawaii.
If you’ve been to a Big Island luau, you’ve seen it: The heaping plates of Hawaiian food with everything jam-packed together — lomi salmon resting atop a mound of kalua pork, with lau lau leaves balancing just above a purple puddle of poi. For most visitors to the Big Island, a luau is the only place they’ll experience traditional Hawaiian cuisine, but locals satisfy their cravings elsewhere; here’s a list of where to find Hawaiian food on the Big Island outside of the luaus and resorts.
Ka’aloa’s Super J’s
Located down in Captain Cook by the famous South Kona coffee belt, Ka’aloa’s Super J’s is the definition of authentic, with juicy plates served up in an old wooden building which is literally part of the family home. While the menu features various Hawaiian food items, the specialty here is definitely the lau lau — a dish of flavorful, slowly-cooked pork wrapped in taro leaves and served piping hot. The family-run business is a local classic, and a good place to stop after a morning spent snorkeling at Kealakekua Bay.
Umeke’s Poke Bowls and Local Lunch Plates
Recently poke (which means “sliced” in Hawaiian) has become a darling on the mainland culinary scene, but this simple island dish of raw fish chunks has been a staple of Polynesian cuisine for centuries. When visiting the Big Island, one of the best places to stop in for poke is Umeke’s Poke Bowls and Local Lunch Plates, which has three locations in the Kona area.
Da Poke Shack
Another Big Island poke establishment, simply known as Da Poke Shack, has locations in Kona as well as Captain Cook. Traditionally poke was flavored with limu kohu (seaweed), but now the chunks of ahi tuna might be flavored with shoyu, wasabi, avocado, onion, chives or garlic sesame. Da Poke Shack’s fish is caught fresh off the Big Island, and the affordable prices are almost as appealing as the heaping mounds of cubed fish.
Kanaka Kava
If you want a switch from endless bowls of poke, head to to humble Kanaka Kava in the heart of downtown Kona. In addition to classics like ulu (breadfruit), you’ll also find poi (mashed taro), kalua pig (traditionally, pork cooked in an underground oven), lau lau and creamy haupia pie. The restaurant’s staple and namesake, however, is the island elixir, kava, which is also known as ‘awa in Hawaii and derived from the root of the ‘awa plant. A natural and relaxing antidepressant, kava has a mildly numbing effect on the mouth when you drink it, and is served in a hollowed out coconut shell in a casual, bar-style setting. For an extra dose of native health, add on a shot of noni juice.
Kuhio Grille
Over on the east side, Kuhio Grille is a local favorite serving huge, one-pound servings of lau lau featuring chicken, beef or pork. To really stuff your empty opu (stomach), order up the Kanak Attack, featuring lau lau, kalua pig, lomi salmon (salmon and tomato salad), rice, poi, pickled onions and haupia (a coconut dessert). Located inside of Prince Kuhio Plaza, Kuhio Grille has been perfecting its lau lau recipe for generations, when Japanese immigrants began farming taro in the fields of Waipio Valley. The family spent years both farming the taro as well as steaming it for lau lau, and you can now find those classic, country flavors in the heart of downtown Hilo.
Liko Lehua Cafe
While the entire menu isn’t authentically Hawaiian, you can still find dishes like pork lau lau at Liko Lehua Cafe, which has two locations in the Hilo area, for a cheap, Hawaiian food fix. The Kaumana location is just around the corner from popular Rainbow Falls, and makes a convenient and affordable stop while visiting sights around Hilo.
Some other spots to find Hawaiian food on the Big Island? Check out the farmers markets and pick up something to eat from one of the family stands, then shop for handmade island crafts while digesting your poke and poi.
Where the Locals Go for Hawaiian Food on the Big Island from Hawaii Things to Do
