what's your favorite Hawaiian food?

[craigwatanabe]

Re: what's your favorite Hawaiian food?

Good point.

Looking at the original list of this thread brings to thought...
What exactly are the origins of each dish?...
-Laulau
-Lomilomi Salmon
-Poi
-Squid luau
-Chicken long rice
-Mahimahi
-Haupia

I'd say of those, Laulau made strictly with fish (not pork), poi and squid luau are the only ones that date all the way back to the original Kanaka Maoli.

Haupia in its current form (made with cornstarch and sugar) has to be a modern dish from various influences.

Mahimahi (Dolphin fish) can be found all over the pacific, prepared by various methods.

Chicken Long Rice obviously has Chinese roots. Salmon certainly isn't from Hawaii, so who from and when was that introduced here? Pipikaula (cured beef) had to of been introduced by white Paniolo ranchers. Pork (Kalua Pig).... who from and when was that introduced to Hawaii?

It's funny, with the popularity of Hawaii nowadays, if a chef creates a dish that even remotely includes Pineapple or Coconut, they'll give it some Hawaiian-themed name like "Kauai Coconut Prawns" or "Paia Pineapple Pie". lol

Maybe the more accurate definition of these foods is "Local" food as the ethnic mix makes it much more than simply Hawaiian.

And in them days only the Alii ate pork.

[craigwatanabe]

Re: what's your favorite Hawaiian food?

I had the impression that when the Kanaka Maoli first came to Hawaii (or other waves of mirgation) they brought over dogs and pigs (or boars) for food.

They did. Remember they came from Tahiti where dog is a food item.

[craigwatanabe]

Re: what's your favorite Hawaiian food?

squid luau first then laulau.

But you cannot make the squid luau without making the laulau first.

Haupia rocks. Love coconut everything. Kalua Pork is awesome, too.

Haupia Rocks? Hmmm am I missing something here

[Miulang]

Re: what's your favorite Hawaiian food?

Salmon certainly isn't from Hawaii, so who from and when was that introduced here? Pipikaula (cured beef) had to of been introduced by white Paniolo ranchers. Pork (Kalua Pig).... who from and when was that introduced to Hawaii?

Having done a little anthropological research on the origins of lomi salmon, I think there is a West Coast connection. At one point, there were many kanaka maoli who were crew members on whaling ships. Those whaling ships would hunt for whales in the North Pacific and make ports of call all along the West Coast, where they came in contact with Native Americans. Most of the tribes in the Pacific NW were fishers, and most prized salmon and either smoked it or brined it to preserve it for use when salmon were not in season. Tomatoes come from Central and South America. So the confluence of both ingredients may have occurred in northern California during the Gold Rush. Lomi salmon is similar to the Spanish ceviche, except ceviche uses lime juice to "cook" fresh fish. The salmon used in lomi salmon is usually salted to cure it.

The paniolo were Hispanic cowboys who came from Mexico and Latin America and who were famous for their cattle tending abilities. Pipikaula is beef jerky, so the cowboys definitely would have known about this food in their home countries. The addition of soy sauce to the marinade is an Asian influence that was incorporated once beef jerky was shared with the locals.

Pork probably came with the Polynesians from Kahikinui (along with chickens). where the people used to serve roast pig.

The neat thing about modern Hawaiian cuisine is how food from several different countries got mixed together...during the glory days of the sugar plantation, laborers of different ethnicities would sit down and often trade what was in their lunch pails with their friends. So it's no wonder we now have Chinese, Japanese, Puerto Rican and Filipino dishes that could be part of a modern "luau".

Miulang

[helen]

Re: what's your favorite Hawaiian food?

I had the impression that when the Kanaka Maoli first came to Hawaii (or other waves of mirgation) they brought over dogs and pigs (or boars) for food.

[Pomai]

Re: what's your favorite Hawaiian food?

Chicken long rice is considered a authentic Hawaiian food now?

Good point.

Looking at the original list of this thread brings to thought...
What exactly are the origins of each dish?...
-Laulau
-Lomilomi Salmon
-Poi
-Squid luau
-Chicken long rice
-Mahimahi
-Haupia

I'd say of those, Laulau made strictly with fish (not pork), poi and squid luau are the only ones that date all the way back to the original Kanaka Maoli.

Haupia in its current form (made with cornstarch and sugar) has to be a modern dish from various influences.

Mahimahi (Dolphin fish) can be found all over the pacific, prepared by various methods.

Chicken Long Rice obviously has Chinese roots. Salmon certainly isn't from Hawaii, so who from and when was that introduced here? Pipikaula (cured beef) had to of been introduced by white Paniolo ranchers. Pork (Kalua Pig).... who from and when was that introduced to Hawaii?

It's funny, with the popularity of Hawaii nowadays, if a chef creates a dish that even remotely includes Pineapple or Coconut, they'll give it some Hawaiian-themed name like "Kauai Coconut Prawns" or "Paia Pineapple Pie". lol

[Leo Lakio]

Re: what's your favorite Hawaiian food?

hey. were am I
dis ain't waaaaaa.....

we're missing a particular warrior here, that's Y

[Palolo Joe]

Re: what's your favorite Hawaiian food?

Mmmmm... lau lau and kalua mix from Masu's this afternoon.

With an extra lau lau on the side...

And had chicken, pork and fish inside!!! Needs the fat for flavor.

Kanak attack for reals...

[kupomog]

Re: what's your favorite Hawaiian food?

I don't eat all that much when i think about it...but I do love kalua pig, lau lau, haupia, and mahimahi. I'm not a fan of fat so I don't eat the fat in kalua pig or lau lau, and I usually only eat pork lau lau but when we go to Masu's I eat the fish inside. Haupia = <3, anything coconut = <3. Mahimahi I looooove but rarely ever get to eat anymore.

[Miulang]

Re: what's your favorite Hawaiian food?

Hmm...lau lau would be it. I love bitter greens. I need to try to make my own, because I'm not fond of the greasy pork-fat that's usually included. An all-fish lau lau sounds good.

Try it with chicken thighs. Works really well and isn't as fatty as the pork laulau.

Miulang

[beaker]

Re: what's your favorite Hawaiian food?

Hmm...lau lau would be it. I love bitter greens. I need to try to make my own, because I'm not fond of the greasy pork-fat that's usually included. An all-fish lau lau sounds good.

[DannyWilliams]

Re: what's your favorite Hawaiian food?

My take on Hawaiian food often is NOT the traditional luau type but pretty much food items that are well known.........


I myself looooooooooooooove PIPIKAULA!
Trow in da poi and I am one happy campa!

Non-Traditional Hawaiian Faves that I have been able to get my hands down here in the bay area.......

Chicken Katsu
BBQ Chicken

[kimo55]

Re: what's your favorite Hawaiian food?

I was just wondering what are your favorite hawaiian food to eat?

mine'ses;
KaLua Pua'a
Chicken long rice
Haupia
Mahimahi
Opah
Poi
'awa
not in that order.





hey. were am I
dis ain't waaaaaa.....

[cezanne]

Re: what's your favorite Hawaiian food?

kalua pig - especially if its served from the pig to your plate.

Aww I miss those days of eating the skin right off the chicken wire!

[helen]

Re: what's your favorite Hawaiian food?

One would figure rice and lomilomi salmon would be two things that pre-contact Hawaiians did not have.