Hawaii’s food culture and its Emphasis on Naturality

Written by Margaret Lavin

Hawaii is a place deeply committed to sustainability - encouraging renewable energy, waste reduction, and water conservation. While in the food world, Hawaii implements similar standards that promote clean and healthy living. The foods offered in Hawaii are a fusion of many different cuisines. From Japanese to Italian and American to their signature dishes – the food culture of Hawaii is very inclusive. 

On my recent trip to Hawaii, (in which I visited Maui and Kauai) I had the privilege of trying many different types of foods. While a lot of the foods that I had differed, the common similarity that the dishes shared was their freshness. Most (if not all) of the fruits and vegetables that I ate were grown on the island. Even so, most of the fruits and vegetables offered at the markets and hotels that I visited were ones that were in season, prioritizing freshness. Known as a fisherman's Paradise, Hawaii has some of the best fish. Poke, a traditional Hawaiian dish, is heavily served throughout the island. During my stay, I tried a Poke Bowl with tuna, seaweed, and rice. While I do not usually opt for raw fish, the tuna in the Poke bowl was incredibly fresh and delicious - making every bite enjoyable. 

Image: Tuna Poke bowl served with sticky rice, and seaweed.

I was impressed with Hawaii’s dedication to keeping the foods served in their natural state as much as possible. Specifically, the acai served at the hotel breakfasts was pure with no added sugars or ice. Additionally, most of the shaved ice that I had was flavored with pureed real fruit instead of artificial flavoring. According to the National Institutes of Health: out of all 50 states, Hawaii has the longest life expectancy. Not only do their foods contribute to longevity, but the Hawaiian lifestyle is refreshingly nature-focused and slow-paced. 

Shaved ice with selected flavoring of blueberry and strawberry fruit puree

Pure Acai served with coconut flakes, chia seeds, cacao nibs, sunflower seeds, granola and an orange