This beautiful Hawaiian island is a well-liked holiday spot for honeymooners, family travel, or adventurous solo travelers alike. With its gorgeous waterfalls, friendly locals, lush tropical landscape, and breathtaking views from the dark blue ocean, Maui is the best travel destination for people looking to relax using their busy lives.
Travelers visiting Maui must take their time and thoroughly enjoy some Maui (and Hawaiian) fare, which offers a number of savory, sweet, tangy, and sour dishes. Travelers can enjoy some of these delicious favorites next time they finish up in Maui!
8 Mahimahi
Also known as a dolphin fish, mahimahi means “very strong” in Hawaiian, and it is a nearby favorite. Fishers love catching mahimahi, that is prized for its vibrant colors of blue, yellow, and silver. This fish could be enjoyed by sautéing the fillet in butter, garlic, honey, lemon juice, and sesame seeds. Mahimahi packs a punch of nutrients, including a healthy dose of protein, omega-3 fats, and vitamin B12.
7 Huli-Huli
This sweet and savory way of preparing chicken was created by Ernest Morgado and Mike Asagi in 1954. The happy couple barbecued chickens having a teriyaki-style marinade (an ultra-secret recipe that belonged to Ernest’s mother) and realized how delicious the chicken ended up. Since that time, Huli-Huli chicken has been sold in a variety of fundraisers and can certainly be found in restaurant menus, whether it’s a dine-in establishment or perhaps a roadside stall! This lip-smacking, sweet, and tangy chicken is a well-liked dish among locals and tourists alike.
6 Loco Moco
This beloved Hawaiian breakfast was reportedly introduced by teenagers in Hilo, seeking a filling, yet affordable breakfast choice for their hungry bellies. Today, this comforting breakfast can be found across the state, whether it’s local diners or at pricier establishments. Typically, this hearty breakfast includes fried eggs, a burger patty, white rice, along with a generous ladle of brown gravy. However, variations of this breakfast happen to be invented to include macaroni salad, braised ribs, Kimchee, and soba noodles!
5 Spam Musubi
Another Hawaiian favorite, this savory snack is straightforward and delicious, which only involves 3 ingredients: rice, seaweed (or nori), along with a generous slab of Spam! This handheld delight had gloomy origins—it had been made in 1941 at internment camps, where Spam was baked, sliced, and put on white rice. Today, travelers searching for a quick bite can grab this snack at many supermarkets or quick-service food establishments across Hawaii, Maui included. It’s a perfect treat to consume while driving along the Route to Hana.
4 Malasadas
Malasadas were brought to Hawaii through the Portuguese in 1878. In 1953, Leonard’s Bakery opened up in Oahu, serving up these fluffy, doughnut-like treats. Deep-fried batter and generously dusted with sugar (some bakeries even fill them with custard), malasadas are eaten everywhere around Hawaii. The smell will entice your senses and stimulate your tastebuds! Komoda’s Bakery, Home Maid Bakery, and Zippy’s Napoleon Bakery are the many bakeries in Maui and you'll discover these little balls of happiness!
3 Ahi Poke
A savory mixture of tuna with soy sauce, onions, and sesame oil make ahi poke a delicious appetizer. In Maui, other fish like mahimahi, red snapper, octopus, and salmon are also used to make poke (that is a Hawaiian verb meaning “to cut or slice”), alongside other mixins like oyster sauce and green chilies. This popular dish is found across Maui; visitors can check out places like Takamiya Market, Ula Ula Cafe, South Maui Fish Company, and Eskimo Candy Seafood Market to get their ahi poke fix. Foodland—a local grocery store chain—can also be known by locals for excellent poke.
2 Shave Ice
Travelers cannot leave Maui until they’ve had shave ice—seriously! This refreshing treat is not a simple snow cone—mountains of freshly shaved ice are bathed in sugary syrup, garnished by having an endless range of toppings, from toasted coconut shavings to fresh cream. Tourists can taste this delicious treat on the hot day from Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice, Surfing Monkey Shave Ice, Peace Love Shave Ice, and lots of other establishments across Maui!
1 Poi
This Hawaiian staple offers a sour and sweet tanginess that lots of locals adore. Poi is usually served at luaus and is made using the taro plant root. This local favorite has a sticky consistency much like pudding and could be more sweet or sour depending on the person’s tastes. For any tangier flavor, poi can be left to ferment for a couple of days! This pale purple pudding is traditionally enjoyed using your fingers—either one, two, or three fingers is appropriate, with respect to the texture!
