Hawaiian food is a delicious melting pot, the roots of our cuisine planted by Polynesian settlers who brought plants such as taro to the islands and their traditional way of slow-roasting meat in wrapped leaves. After being cooked and fermented, taro transforms into poi, Hawaiian food at its finest and a delicacy. Coffee arrived more recently, in the early 19th century, when missionaries brought Brazilian coffee plants with them, establishing the first lineage of what would become world-famous Kona coffee. And fresh seafood, the spotlight and star of poke bowls, has always been a staple on every dinner table from the Big Island north to Kauai.
One of the real pleasures of visiting Hawaii – along with the awe-inspiring volcanoes, stunning black sand beaches, and towering waterfalls – is the many tastes and flavors of island coffee and eats. From breakfast through dinner, there are endless places near our Volcano vacation rental to explore the best of Big Island cuisine.
Kona Coffee – Grown, Roasted, and Brewed to Perfection
It’s hard to imagine a better way to start your Big Island culinary adventure than with a hot and aromatic cup of Kona coffee, renowned for its intense, nuanced, and complex flavor. In downtown Hilo, Paradise Roasters has been processing the best coffee beans from across the island since 2002, roasted with award-winning expertise at their on-site roastery. Stop by for a pour-over made with beans from one of several Big Island coffee farms where a family-run ethos prevails and every single coffee bean is hand-harvested.
Another great place to dip your taste buds into the legendary world of Kona java is at Big Island Coffee Roasters, located near Hilo Bay and just a block away from the Liliuokalani Gardens, one of the most scenic and zenlike parks anywhere in the world. Whether you get a cold brew on tap or one of their specialty drinks (the Honu turtle mocha is particularly divine, with chocolate, caramel, and sea salt), you’ll come away with a new appreciation for why coffee connoisseurs travel to the Big Island from around the world to sip the coffee grown on the slopes of our majestic volcanoes.
Poke Bowls – Hawaiian Seafood at Its Very Best
In the early afternoon, cruise to the Suisan Fish Market for a poke bowl, one of the Big Island’s most classic dishes. Poke bowls take inspiration from Japanese sushi, with fresh fish prepared delicately and served alongside seaweed, onions, and sesame seeds. At Suisan – where they have been catching and dishing up fresh-off-the-boat fish for over a century – your poke bowl comes with ⅓ lb of ahi, mahi mahi, ono, or salmon, served with your choice of Hawaiian sides and rice.
In poke bowls and other dishes, ahi tuna is the classic Hawaiian fish, prized for centuries for its unbelievably smooth, savory, and tender taste. Even people who are not “into fish” will be surprised by how tasty it is, especially prepared in the traditional Hawaiian way. If you want to try a more modern version, order the ahi poke nachos at the Hawaiian-style Cafe in Hilo, where chips are piled high with avocado, seaweed, wasabi aioli, and green onions.
A Taste of the Ancient: Haupia and Poi Hawaiian food
For dinner, indulge your taste buds with some poi, Hawaiian food at its oldest and most traditional. Since the days of the earliest Polynesians arriving ashore, the taro plant has been one of Hawaii’s main crops, a root vegetable similar to the potato. The long and extending roots, also called the “corm,” are sometimes called ohana, representing the roots that tie us together as a family. With ohana in our name, we love this symbolism, a living emblem of tight-knit Hawaiian culture. After being cooked and mashed, the taro plant sits out to ferment, transforming into purple, pulpy, and pungent poi. Its fermented quality gives it probiotic benefits, and it’s high in vitamin B, making it much healthier than other starches.
At the Kuhio Grill in Hilo (near the Waiakea Pond, a great place to toss in a line if you’re interested in fishing on the Big Island), try the Hawaiian plate, which comes with salmon, onions, and poi. The poi’s unique pudding-like texture makes it perfect for mixing with everything else on your dish, adding an extra depth of flavor. Another excellent local spot to sample poi is the aptly named Poi Balls Hawaii food truck, which sets up in the Auto Zone parking lot on Wednesdays and outside the Tokunaga fishing store on Thursdays. Their specialty is fried dough balls filled with poi, extra crispy on the outside and delightfully chewy on the inside.
For dessert, finish with haupia, made from coconut milk and mouth-wateringly decadent. Along with poi, Hawaiian food doesn’t get any more classic than haupia, a sweet treat made into both ice creams and pies. On the way back to Volcano, stop in at Zippy’s Bakery for a haupia pie layered from top to bottom with coconut milk and coconut flakes, a perfect way to wrap up your delicious dive into Hawaiian cuisine.
Stay with us and explore Hawaiian food’s unique flavors and island traditions!
