After living in Missouri for two and a half years, there are still a lot of things here I catch myself wondering.

Like, why the Sperrys? What's up with casserole? And how can you all SERIOUSLY choose to put up with god-awful weather for over half of the calendar year when there are warmer, clearer skies just beyond the horizon a little west of here?

These are some things I don't know. But what I DO know - and have known - about the mainland since the move is the typical and widespread aversion to spam.



I said it, spam. The weird, slimy, mystery mincemeat. If there's anything I do know, it's that people here don't like it. They equate it to practically dogfood. If you're eating spam, you're struggling and you clearly need help - is the gist I pick up, anyway.

Well, what if I told you people in Hawaii LOVED it? So much so that's it's sort of a local staple?

It's true. Spam in Hawaii is so commonplace that if you move there and say you don't like it, it's likely you'll have a pretty hard time fitting in. It's everywhere. A favorite is a snack called spam musubi, which is a local twist on traditional Japanese musubis made with nori (dried seaweed), furikake (garnish) and rice - just with spam on top. It's a great example of how cultures truly converge on the islands to make new products unique to Hawaii and the people there.

Japanese musubi

Hawaii spam musubi

 They're so common, in fact, that they're sold in virtually every street-corner 7-11 I've ever seen on O'ahu. I used to pick them up for breakfast or lunch on my way to school in the mornings.

Spam musubis sold in 7-11

On top of that, spam is even on the local Mcdonald's menu, typically sold in a plate lunch with other island favorites: portuguese sausage, japanese white rice, scrambled eggs and shoyu (soy sauce).

This week, we're talking about Hawaiian pizza. Well not JUST Hawaiian pizza so much as Hawaiian food in general, but Hawaiian pizza just so happens to really grind my gears.

It's always flabbergasted me. 'What makes Hawaiian pizza, 'Hawaiian'?" I always ask.
Is it the pineapple? For whatever reason, I know the fruit has come to symbolize the state from places near and far - so much so that I had someone call me "Pineapple" for my entire first year at Mizzou - but surely people know it grows in other places. It isn't even a fruit native to the islands. Surely, by now, someone would have pointed that out.

Maybe people are getting "luau" undertones with the pineapple-and-pork combo. That's always a possibility. Well, my friends, if that's the case - let me tell you now. If you think Hawaiian pizza comes anything close to a luau just because of some measly chunks of ham and cold fruit scattered here and there, you really need to get out of town and book a trip to Hawaii Nei. Slapping pineapple on a dish doesn't magically whip it up into something exotic, tropical, OR Hawaiian. And don't even get me started on "Hawaiian" punch!

That being said, I get it. Meeting someone from Hawaii in this part of the country is rare, so it might be hard to know the difference between "Hawaiian" food and Hawaiian food. Today, let me take a second to list off a few of my favorite local dishes - and surprise! They're all sans pineapple.

I could talk about Hawaiian food all day, so for the sake of time (and my stomach), let's start with the traditional Hawaiian plate lunch.


Clockwise, from the top left:

1. Ahi Poke
Ahh, poke. A sushi lover's dream, and stuff I wish I could bring back to Missouri with me every time I leave home. Essentially, it's raw tuna (ahi) cut up into bite-sized chunks, typically served either in a bowl on top of white rice, as shown above, or as an appetizer. There are many variations of the dish, some with limu (seaweed), Hawaiian salt and sesame seeds, but my favorite has to be plain poke with shoyu (soy sauce) and maui onions to taste.

2. Haupia 

Haupia is basically coconut pudding. Sometimes garnished with crushed macadamia nuts, it's usually served as a side dish and makes for a nice, fluffy dessert after a huge plate lunch. Walking around the islands, you'll see it baked into cakes and pies - McDonald's even has their own variation! (I'll talk more about the beauty of McDonald's in Hawaii next week).

3. Lomi Lomi Salmon


Another delicious side dish - pretty straightforward and super easy to make! It consists of freshly chopped tomatoes, chopped raw salmon, green onion, maui onion, and Hawaiian salt to taste. A personal favorite of mine, of course, but when it comes to Hawaiian food, I'm pretty non-discriminatory. :-)

4. Laulau


It might not look appetizing to many tourists, but it sure is good. Laulau is a classic Hawaiian dish where fish or meat is wrapped in taro leaves and steamed to fall-off-the-bone perfection. The protein in the center can be anything from chicken and pork to butterfish, and is typically served with a side of white rice and other yummy appetizers.

5. White Rice


I guess you could say this doesn't necessarily count because it isn't Hawaiian per say, but steamed white rice is such a staple in Hawaii, I thought I'd add it anyway. Locals will eat it nearly every single day. "Add rice and anything's a meal," my mom always said - and she hasn't been wrong yet!

So, there you go! Real Hawaiian food. Next time you host a luau or a Hawaiian-themed party, add a little authenticity and throw in a few of these fun dishes. No pineapple necessary!