by Christi DuPre

Created on: May 07, 2008   Last Updated: December 22, 2011

Hawaii has a long history of multicultural influences that have deliciously shaped what we recognize today as authentic Hawaiian cuisine. When visiting Hawaii, you will be introduced to fare that commingles Hawaiian, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Samoan, and many other native cuisines.

Ancient Hawaiians believed that health and life were inextricably linked, hence they had one word, ola, for both health and life. They were strong, sturdy people who enjoyed a diversity of foods that the land and water provided. The very same basic foods are still the key ingredients in many Hawaiian foods today. Proteins are derived from seafood, beef, pork and chicken, and carbohydrates are plentiful in taro root. The main leafy vegetables are taro tops and other edible plants such as tree fern and fan palm. Bananas, coconuts, raspberries, strawberries, mountain apples and sugar cane add healthy, sweet flavoring. Original seasonings came from kukui nut, seaweed, hoio fern and salt, but the influence of other cultures has expanded the pizzaz of Hawaiian fare.

If you have visited Hawaii, you are well aware that the staple starch of Hawaii is poi. Taro root, one of the most nutritious carbohydrates known, is pounded into a glutinous purple paste and cooked to make poi. Today, poi is added to many Hawaiian recipes, served as a side dish, or used to make purple colored poi dinner rolls from taro flour. In its many forms poi is customary at a traditional Hawaiian luau. Although it lacks visual appeal, don't pass it up until you have given it a try.

Pork is a popular meat in many Hawaiian recipes, being combined with fruits and vegetables or roasted unaccompanied. The whole roasted pig prepared in an underground oven called an imu is the essence of the luau celebration. Pork tenderloin, or baby back ribs, marinated in blends of soy sauce, corn syrup, soybean oil, lemon juice, red pepper, and garlic is also popular when roasted or grilled.

If you hunger for chicken, one of the finest treats is the Huli-Huli chicken, a universal favorite. This dish is often sold at local fundraisers in Hawaii. You need only search the newspapers and look for Huli Huli benefits! The chicken is drenched in a luscious barbeque sauce flavored with pineapple juice, soy sauce, sherry, ginger and garlic.

Beef is served up in Hawaii in an assortment of appealing mixtures. A fun dish you may want to seek out for a Hawaiian breakfast is the hearty Loco Moco. You won't leave the cafe hungry after consuming

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