A cruise to Hawaii will provide you with plenty of tropical delights. With its eight main islands and miles of beaches and shoreline, the Hawaiian archipelago is the perfect destination to soak up the sun and try the many native delicacies while on vacation.
From Long Beach/Los Angeles, San Diego, or Vancouver, Canada, you can take a cruise to Hawaii. You’ll be able to visit a variety of ports of call depending on your voyage, including Hilo, Kona, Kauai, Maui, and Honolulu.
You’ll enjoy delectable onboard meals while on vacation, ranging from gourmet chef specialties to casual, snack-on-the-go meals. However, you should set aside some time to sample the variety of foods that are distinctive to Hawaiian cuisine. On your next Hawaiian cruise, make sure to sample these 10 popular Hawaiian food and drink selections.
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Poke
Poke is a delicious dish with of savory, simple ingredients that is perennially popular among locals and visitors alike. Most variants mix ahi tuna, onions, sesame seeds, limu seaweed, and soy sauce with small cubes of ahi tuna. Other freshwater fish or even octopus are sometimes used instead. The dish has become so popular that it can now be found in restaurants all around the United States.
Poi
This traditional side dish is made using taro root, a sweet potato-like vegetable. The taro is cooked or boiled before being mashed and gradually combined with water until a thick, tasty paste develops. What method do you use to consume it? It’s entirely up to you! Eat it by the spoonful or use it as a dipping sauce with shredded pork or lomi lomi salmon.
Lomi Lomi Salmon
Although lomi lomi salmon is similar to poke in that it uses raw fish, it is prepared differently. The salted salmon is gently massaged several times before being combined with onions, tomatoes, and chili peppers. The entire flavor combination is acidic but delicious.
Kalua Pua’a
Pork slow-roasted in a subterranean oven results in flesh that virtually melts off the bone in this recipe. Without the need for additional seasonings, the wood smoke utilized in the oven provides the meat a pleasingly rich flavor. Kalua pua’a is a meal in and of itself when served over rice.
Lau Lau
This time we’re going back to the taro plant for the leaves. Large taro plant leaves are wrapped around pork or seafood in lau lau. After that, the entire mixture is placed in an underground oven. The smokey meat and soft greens are ready to consume after several hours of slow simmering. This dish is perfect for every occasion, from a huge group gathering to a romantic dinner for two.
Haupia
Were you looking for dessert options? This one is guaranteed to make your mouth water. Haupia is a classic Hawaiian dessert made with coconut. The coconut cream is mixed with arrowroot powder before being baked underground. Before chilling in the fridge, modern versions often boil the cream and thicken it with cornstarch. Whatever way you use, haupia will fulfill your sweet tooth after the main course.
Pipi Kalua
Anyone in the mood for some beef jerky? This Hawaiian-style rendition is one you’ll want to make again and again. For a rich, smokey taste, the flank steak is usually dried outside or in a drying box before being charbroiled. The beef is frequently marinated in sauce or mixed with other ingredients.
Loco Moco
This dish is comfort food at its finest for the locals. What could be better than a hamburger patty smothered in gravy and topped with a fried egg, all served over a mound of rice? It’s filling, delectable, and ready to brighten your day.
Manapua
It’s essentially a steamed bun with a delicious filling that pays homage to Chinese immigrants who arrived in Hawaii in the 1800s. Sweet beans, chicken, veggies, curry, and sweet potato are just a few of the savory fillings that have been reimagined for the manapua. The original filling, pork, is still used in many variants.
Hawaiian Cocktails and Drinks
What would an evening be without a cocktail or two? Enjoy it with a meal or when relaxing with a drink and watching the sun set. After all, you’re in Hawaii. It’s time to take things slowly and enjoy life at its most peaceful. There are several drinks to try, including the Blue Hawaii, Mai Tai, and Lava Flow, which are among the most well-known. You could, of course, choose a non-alcoholic option. Tropical smoothies, pineapple iced tea, and virgin pia coladas will have you relishing the tastes just as eagerly.
