5 Things You MUST Eat While In Maui.
FOOD! Itʻs one of my favorite things on this planet. I, personally, love to be adventurous with my meals. I love to eat things and then figure out what I ate. It’s all because of the unique place I’ve grown up in. Hawaiʻi.
While on vacation here in Maui, here are some things I would suggest that you try. Some youʻll love immediately, others you will never want again. The important thing is that you tried it, and you lived to tell the tale. Here are my 5 things you should try to eat while on Maui:
Loco Moco
This is my favorite meal ever! To say this is my comfort food, I feel, would be an understatement. It is such a local favorite that nearly every “Local themed” restaurant/eatery has the original version or a specialty of their own. Some of my favorites are a Chili Loco Moco, Prime Rib Loco Moco, Chicken Patty Loco Moco, and so much more! Here are the original ingredients for this piece of Heaven.
- Bed of rice
- A piece of hamburger patty topped with gravy
- And a fried egg.
Poi
This is a classic side dish here in Hawaii. Poi comes from the Taro Root, a vegetable similar to sweet potato. The process of making poi includes steaming the taro, pounding the poi repeatedly while adding water until it becomes a paste like substance. This process repeats until it forms a thick delectable paste. From there, you eat it with creativity. As a topping with your kalua pork or lomi lomi salmon, eat it with a spoon/your fingers, or you can use it as a dipping sauce if you want.
Kulolo
A Hawaiian dessert made primarily with baked or steamed grated taro corms and coconut meat/milk. It’s a snack I’ve grown up with, and still love to this day! Considered something in between pudding and fudge, this chewy, tapioca like dessert has a taste similar to caramel.
Guri-Guri
This is a popular treat on Maui that is a hybrid between a soft serve ice cream and sherbet. Typically made with a mixture of guava juice, lime soda, and condensed milk. It’s served at a little shop called “Tasaka Guri-Guri”, at the Maui Mall. They also have special limited time flavors that you may be lucky enough to get. The guri-guri comes in two flavors: Pineapple and Strawberry.
Poke
Ok… you may have had it someplace else on the mainland, and that’s all fine and dandy, but it’s not the same. I donʻt care who you’re talking to, poke from Hawaiʻi is different from the poke shop where you stand in line and they assemble it for you. The biggest difference is that in Hawaiʻi we marinate the poke with the ingredients. Other places put the ingredients on top, and then mix it. There are many flavors such as Shoyu, Hawaiian-Style w/ sea salt, inamona, limu kohu, spicy ahi poke, and more. We also substitute the ahi for things like salmon, tako (octopus), shrimp, and more.
For me, I love experiencing a culture. From itʻs history, language, people, and the local meals. I welcome your experiences with these foods, and even your opinions on other foods not on this short list. Leave a comment, share photos and videos, and donʻt forget to like, subscribe, and follow our social media accounts!
Maui No Ka Oi - Hawaiian Music
By: AlohaImZane
Like many cultures all across the globe, the musical roots of Hawaii can be traced back thousands of years, and still be heard today through todayʻs rhythms, percussion instruments, chants, and vocal styles. Hawaiian musicians have also incorporated various styles world wide. From country, reggae, jazz, modern rock, hip-hop, and more. In this blog we will share some favorite Hawaiian Artists to add to your playlist!
Queen Liliʻuokalani – Last Ruling Monarch of Hawaiʻi
Weʻll start with the last ruling Queen of Hawaiʻi, Her Royal Majesty Queen Liliʻuokalani. During her lifetime, the Queen composed more than 200 works. Beginning in 1845, she started her musical training at seven years old as part of her schooling. During her time in school she was an adept sight-singer that developed perfect pitch and proficient in playing the guitar, piano, organ, autoharp, and zither. Her best known work, and our suggested song to add to your playlist of Hawaiʻi, is the song of the loverʻs embrace, known as “Aloha ʻOe”.
Makaha Sons of Niʻihau – Where Israel Kamakawiwoʻole started
Formed in 1976, the group started off with five members, Jerome Koko, Louis “Moon” Kauakahi, Sam Gray, Skippy Kamakawiwoʻole, and the world famous Israel Kamakawiwoʻole. The group that I remember, and brings nostalgic memories, consisted of Moon, Jerome, and Jeromeʻs brother John. We suggest the song Mehaeha/White Sandy Beach. Itʻs somewhat a sad song, but you donʻt feel sad, at least I donʻt, but relaxed…
Ekolu – Hawaiian Reggae from Maui
Starting in 1994 with members Lukela Keala, Akoni Dellomes, and Makapu Hoopii, they were all enrolled in Baldwin High School music class. Day after day they would have jam sessions, and as the years grew, so did their talents. Their style of Hawaiian Reggae has reached people all over the world. Performing in Alaska, Seattle, LA, Colorado, and internationally in Japan. Of all these achievements, their big goal is to share their music with the rest of the world, which they have done many times over. They’re not done though, their latest album was released in 2020 called… 2020. My suggestion would be Honestly from their 2001 album Shores of Waiehu.
Don Ho – No, Iʻm not suggesting THAT song.
Born and raised on the island of Oahu, Don Ho actually left the U.S. Air Force in 1959 due to his mothers developing illness. He began singing at her club in Kaneohe that year. Honeyʻs (his mothers club) grew to be a hotspot for locals and the growing customer base from the Kaneohe Marine Base. He always honored the military remembering his own years of service. In 1963 he moved his mothers club to Waikiki, and later moved his show to the nightclub called Dukeʻs (owned by world renowned suffer Duke Kahanamoku). I would suggest “Iʻll Remember You” written by his friend Kui Lee. Many people have covered the song, including the king of Rock-and-Roll Elvis Presley.
Genoa Keawe – Hawaiian Lady of Song
Genoa Keawe, simply known as Aunty Genoa, is one of the most celebrated Hawaiian recording artists in the first half of 20th century. Hawaiian ethnomusicologist Amy K. Stillman describes Keawe’s importance to Hawaiian music: “In addition to her unrivaled falsetto technique, bell-like yodeling, and her trademark ability to hold high notes for over two minutes, Genoa Keawe is particularly significant for her focus on presenting repertoire for modern hula, i.e., hula performed to westernized melodies and the accompaniment of western instruments such as guitar and ukulele. She operated a hula studio in Pauoa for many years, and has served as a resource for scores of Hawaiian musicians throughout a career that has spanned over 50 years.” If you want music of renaissance Hawaii, Aunty Genoa is our choice.