Hawiian Cuisine
Maddie Mills and Maddie Pearson
About Hawaii
Hawaii, the 50th state of the United States, is made up of islands in the Pacific ocean. Hawaii has 8 main islands: Maui, Oahu, Kahoolawe, Lanai, Moloka, Kauai, and Niihau. The population of Hawaii as of 2014 was 1.42 million.
Some of its many tourist attractions include volcanoes, beaches, Pearl Harbor, and Diamond Head.
Influences on Hawaiian Cuisine
- Early settlers brought plants to the islands including coconut, sugar cane, sweet potatoes, and banana.
- Sea salt was used for seasoning in ancient Hawaii.
- The islands are surrounded by water, leading to many fish based dishes.
- Hawaii is a melting pot of many cultures: Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, Korean, Puerto Rican, Samoan, Thai, Portuguese, and Vietnamese.
Hawaiian Cuisine
Poi
Poi is a paste made out of the underground parts of the taro plant. It is low in fat and protein, but very high in vitamins!
Spam
Spam, also known as "Hawaiian Steak", is sliced ham. Hawaii consumes more spam than any other state.
Fish and Seafood
There are many different kinds of fish and seafood because of Hawaii's geography. A few examples are enenue and opah. Enenue is usually eaten raw and smells like seaweed. Opah is a creamy moonfish that is considered to be good luck.
Fruits of the Islands
Tropical Hawaiian fruits include pineapple, papaya, dragon fruit, bananas, mangoes, and coconut. They grow well due to the warm tropical weather. The fruits are often sold at local farmers markets.
Places to Eat in Hawaii
In Hawaii, there are many luaus. A luau is a traditional Hawaiian party or feast that is usually accompanied by entertainment. Also, a couple popular restaurants include Mama's Fish House in Maui and Aloha Theatre Cafe in Kainaliu.