Hawaiian Food Restaurants?

[pzarquon]

Okay, I have to confess. I pretty much only know about Helena's Hawaiian Foods in Kalihi (which I haven't returned to since Ms. Chock died), and 'Ono Hawaiian Foods on Kapahulu (which I've never tried, 'cause it's known just as much for the crowds).

I know there's Highway Inn in Waipahu (HawaiiDiner review (http://www.hawaiidiner.com/directory/results.php?style=56&island=1)) and Haili's Hawaiian Foods, a take-out place at Ward, but I've tried neither.

When you don't want to cook it yourself, or want to take out some visitors, where else in this town do you go for traditional or near-traditional (i.e. verging more on broadly "local") food? Any recommendations?

And more to the point, are they open on Sundays? :)

We're hosting some internet friends visiting Hawaii on vacation, and they want to try Ono Hawaiian Foods. Except there's the crowds, and the vague idea that they're closed on Sundays. So, I'm curious what else is out there.

[scrivener]

Well, it's a food court situation, but that Poi Bowl place in the Ala Moana Food Court is not bad. For really good lau lau, I love KJ's in Kaneohe.

The critics love the People's Cafe (http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&um=1&q=people's+cafe&near=Honolulu,+HI&fb=1&view=text&latlng=21312404,-157857154,3910926836214424442). I've been there twice and have liked it quite a bit. Don't know about open on Sunday.

[1stwahine]

I dunno what to say....das all da places I know.heheheh

In fact, I just pau kaukau ono food from Haili's Hawaiian Foods!

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w161/1stwahine2/HPIM2755.jpg
The usual and ummm..no tell (turkey tails):p

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w161/1stwahine2/HPIM2757.jpg
Na'au. Hmmmm...good.

Auntie Lynn

[Pomai]

I recently learned that Masa & Joyce Okazuya (http://tastyisland.wordpress.com/2007/09/08/masa-joyce-okazuya/) in Kaneohe also features Hawaiian Food (http://www.96seven44.com/images/masajoyce_bigmenu.jpg). Although I haven't tried any of it, so not much help there. To note, there's not much as far as ambiance. Just a regular plate lunch stand setup. If you squint, you might be able to read the menu on that link I gave. Your window of opportunity on Sunday there is short though: they open from 9am to 2pm. Hurry!

There's also Young's Fish Market at City Square on Dillingham. Arguably the best Laulau. They have at least some "decor" style to the place. But per your criteria, they're CLOSED on Sunday.

[scrivener]

Good Hawaiian food at Masa & Joyce. But yeah. Not the nicest of ambiences.

[glossyp]

Given that you need to entertain on Sunday, Highway Inn may be your best bet. I really like the ambiance with all the photos of Waipahu during the plantation era. They are celebrating their 60th anniversary so that adds a bit of meaning to the experience. Lots of local choices outside the classic Hawaiian fare like beef stew and deep fried shrimp. You can get stuff with 'gravy all over' too.

[1stwahine]

Highway Inn's Kaukau is onolious!

Here's my favorite:

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f358/1stwahine/birthday225.jpg
Na'au of course!

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f358/1stwahine/birthday224.jpg
Pipikaula.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f358/1stwahine/birthday109.jpg
Butterfish with Stew Gravy.

Auntie Lynn

[1stwahine]

From Helena's Hawaiian Foods:

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w161/1stwahine2/HPIM2727.jpg

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w161/1stwahine2/HPIM2732.jpg

Auntie Lynn;)

Note: Time for moa Ake and Poi! heheheh I only live once. If I'm gonna go ~ I'm gonna go HAPPY!

[1stwahine]

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w161/1stwahine2/peoples.jpg

Auntie Lynn;)

[LikaNui]

(...) and 'Ono Hawaiian Foods on Kapahulu (which I've never tried, 'cause it's known just as much for the crowds). Always been my favorite. The trick is to go slightly before the normal 'busy' times, or slightly after. I've never had to wait longer than 10 minutes that way.
Not sure about Sunday hours, sorry.
:o

[1stwahine]

Ono Hawaiian Foods
http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w161/1stwahine2/ono.jpg
From The Official Ono Hawaiian Food Website
http://www.geocities.com/napavalley/9874/

I love to eat their LauLau. It's Huge! Also, their Na'au is excellent. Chop Steak is made only on certain days so call first.

Auntie Lynn

[infinitypro]

HAILI'S: Good choice, and not because it's family but you'd have to take out and perhaps enjoy across the way at Ala Moana or Kewalo's?

HIGHWAY INN: Ono food, ala carte style, don't forget to order the DRY pipikaula. It's actually a restaurant, so there's tables...and the menu comes with a good history about the establishment.

ONO'S: It's been years since I've enjoyed their food, because usually when I'm hungry, I just don't have the time to wait in line.

POI BOWL: Also tasty food, but small portions...for me anyways.


Ryan, too bad this wasn't last week Sunday I would've offered for all of you to join us at Tutu Kane's 80th birthday party, had the works! catered from LAVERNE'S and the laulau was homemade from Braddah Ola!

This thread made me realize...there aren't very man choices! :(

[cynsaligia]

here's the link for ono's menu (http://www.geocities.com/napavalley/9874/). yes, they are closed on sunday.

if not for the sunday thing, i'd say ono's is the best place to go to bring visitors to have hawaiian food. after that, i'd say highway inn and then people's cafe. parking at either highway or people's is definitely better than at ono's.

my favorite thing to have besides laulau or kalua would be butterfish with stew gravy. iirc, it's on the menu at both people's and highway; it's not on ono's menu but they'll make it for you if you ask.

i had forgotten about the dry v. wet pipikaula at highway inn. whichever one is in auntie lynn's pic is the one i like--it's more "steaky" versus "jerky-y."

eric thinks ono's laulau is best. i'm not sure i disagree. but honestly, i don't think i can say that any one place clearly has THE BEST hawaiian food.

*sigh* now i wanna have hawaiian food tomorrow.

[DannyWilliams]

its good to hear that HIGHWAY INN in Waipahu is still GOIN from what I read here. Went there A LOT!

Here in the Bay Area there is the obvious L&L Drive Inn

BUT......

Gotta give a shout out to ALOHANA GRILL which is in Downtown Berkeley which I just happen to stumble on.
I was heading towards the BART station there and their sign signifying HAWAIIAN FOOD caught my eye.
I slithered in and my eyes gazed at their full on array of hawaiian food selections. The food is good IMO , their pricing is fair and I have gone there at least 3x's on seperate days of course and they give generous portions I thought I was not goin to finish the meal.
And their service is friendly and top notch.

[jkpescador]

My favorite dish at Ono's is the salt meat watercress.

[infinitypro]

Read a twitter from PZ, they're going to HIGHWAY INN can't wait for the reviews, "RYAN STYLE."

[jkpescador]

We went to Shiro's Saimin Haven. They had lau lau as the special today. So I had laulau and chicken long rice. It was good ... tasty. There was some fat in it. $7.50 for it. It included a big scoop of potato/spaghetti noodle style salad. I think the Hawaiian plate had kalua and cabbage with it.

[pzarquon]

Well. Although our day got off to a rough start (http://www.hawaiithreads.com/showthread.php?t=13594), lunch at Highway Inn turned out to be a great choice.

http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1063/1352123099_c7fdb076ae_m.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/hawaii/1352123099/) http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1230/1353116290_565666ff2a_m.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/hawaii/1353116290/) http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1369/1353159890_009867418a_m.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/hawaii/1353159890/)

It was kismet, I tell you, that we ended up there just because every place else was closed on Sunday. Because not only was Highway Inn open today, but they were celebrating their 60th birthday. As glossyp mentioned they were, yes, but specifically, today was "the" day. They had a giant cake with candles, sang and clapped, and gave everyone cake and ice cream. There was even a raffle for prizes.

Of course, the food was great, too. Jen had the na'au pua'a, I had the laulau, the kids had the kalua pig combo. Our guest, a "LOST" fan from Ohio, went with the laulau (with poi!) and beef stew on the side. The pipkaula was, of course, a highlight. The lomi salmon was delicious too (though it still had ice in it!).

Here's their official website (http://www.myhighwayinn.com/). I guess the old one got nabbed by squatters. Great stuff! Congratulations, Highway Inn. Here's to the next 60 years.