No matter how far I roam, Hawaii will always be home to me. I do my best to stay up to date on things going on back home, and here you’ll find a collection of resources for the best of Hawaii, through my eyes at least…
You can also use categories or search the site if you are looking for something in particular. Read on for a few of my most popular articles.
Oahu / Honolulu
- Honolulu Restaurant Guide – My favorite Honolulu restaurants for a variety listed in a variety of categories.
- Where to Eat on Oahu: Nanzan Giro Giro
- Where to Eat in Honolulu:Cocina Hawaii
- Pau Hana in Honolulu: Fridays at the Modern
- Wine Lovers Guide to Honolulu
- Made in Hawaii Festival (August)
- Things to do in Honolulu: Eat the Street
- Things to do in Honolulu: North Shore Road Trip
Map of Hawaii
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Local Hawaii Recipes: Comfort Food
When my Japanese grandmother passed away, I saved her collection of handwritten recipe cards. I often use them along with stories and blog posts as they come up, but I’ll collect them here as well.
- Corn Chowder – Nothing fancy here, this is just the basic bowl of comfort that we had often when I was growing up in rainy, cool Makawao.
- Mochi Recipes – The main brand we use for recipes in Hawaii has always been Koda Farms from California, so when it was announced that they might be closing in August 2024, panic ensued. Luckily, we’ll still be able to buy the mochiko, so I’ve collected a few of my favorite mochi recipes.
- Tofu Patties – Inspired by a news story that came up just before my brother and I visited Fukuoka. It triggered a craving for tofu patties that my grandma used to make.
- Shoyu-Sugar Spam Musubi – I always love bringing spam musubis to parties and potlucks and I’ve converted SO many people who thought they didn’t like spam. 😉 It’s not necessarily a recipe, but the description of my own way of making them and how to make it your own.
My favorite Hawaii Recipe Resources
- Kau Kau Chronicles – The best old Hawaii recipes are found in old, spiral-bound recipe books and handwritten recipe cards like my grandma’s. For an unbelievable digitized collection of them, the Kau Kau Chronicles are unbeatable and really highlight the unique diversity of cultures represented in our islands.
- Ono Hawaiian Recipes – Not only are the recipes great (and easy to follow) but the photography is stunning as well.
Learn about Hawaii’s food culture
Since I moved away from the islands, I try my best to stay up to date on what’s happening in the Hawaii food scene and fortunately I’ve got a great network of food-loving friends who keep me posted via social media. If you’re interested in learning more about the latest, here are a few places to get your fix as well as some food writers and visitors who have covered the food scene in Hawaii:
- Hawaii’s complicated relationship with canned food (including SPAM) – from chef and food journalist Kiki Aranita
- The Eater Guide to Hawaii
- Anthony Bourdain’s Parts Unknown
Other Hawaii Resources
- Kama’aina Travel Deals – If you’re a Hawaii resident (with local ID) be sure to check out my list here. I keep it updated with Kama’aina discounts, by island, for each hotel chain
- Shop Local – I always believe in supporting local small businesses. Some of my favorites in Hawaii are linked on this page.
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