Submitted by Melissa Rolwood on the 2016 winter session program in Hawaii sponsored by the Department of Behavioral Health and Nutrition…
Aloha from Kona, Hawaii! Exploring the Hawaiian Islands for the past two weeks has given me a chance to sample the incredibly versatile mix of cultural cuisine that is available. Hawaii’s location in the middle of the Pacific Ocean has allowed people from many different sides of the world to converge together on the islands.
Thai, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Portuguese and mainland American are a few of the cultures that are represented in Hawaii. In my opinion, the best way to experience and learn about these cultures is through tasting their food.
In Hawaii, legitimate cultural cuisine can be eaten at restaurants specific to each culture. However, the most interesting way that Hawaii has embraced different cultures is by mashing them together in combination foods. One example of this is the Hawaiian “plate lunch.” A plate lunch is a mix of the Japanese bento box and a food truck lunch, with a variety of toppings and proteins. Rice or macaroni salad can be the base of the meal, and Korean chicken, teriyaki beef, seafood and even spam are the protein options. Hawaiians have chosen bits and pieces of the many cultural foods to merge into their own island cuisine.
I’m looking forward to discovering more of the unique Hawaiian fare as we leave the Big Island and head to Oahu! Next on my list of foods to try are “malasadas” — Portuguese doughnuts!