Hawaiian cuisine

Hawaiian cuisine reflects the islands’ diverse cultural influences, blending native traditions with Asian, American, and European flavors. Key ingredients include fresh seafood, tropical fruits, taro, and sweet potatoes. Common dishes are poke (raw fish salad), laulau (meat and fish wrapped in taro leaves), and poi (mashed taro root). Barbecue and plate lunches combine flavors from American and Asian cuisines. Coconut, ginger, and luau leaves add local flavor. The cuisine emphasizes fresh, locally sourced ingredients, balanced with bold, savory, and sometimes sweet profiles, creating a distinctive culinary identity rooted in land and sea.