Da Best Grindz

I've lived in Hawai'i my entire life. Let's just say there is no other place like it out there. The scenery is beautiful and so are the people. The Aloha State is the place to be if you really want to expand your tastes.

It's not a mystery that Hawai'i is expensive as it is. Just buying a plane ticket to go there can be well over a grand. But lets just say, you've finally made it there. Now you want to know whats the best places to eat some authentic food.

What do the locals like?

Well one thing that is a must have when you go there is to eat seafood.

Seafood!

Seafood!

Seafood!

All the locals eat this one thing on the daily. In Hawaiian terms its called "Poke" but pronounce Po-Keh, okay?

Poke is fresh raw seafood ranging from tuna to octopus. Thats incredibly seasoned with seaweeds, salts, vinegars, garlics, shoyu (Soy Sauce), sesame, mayo, and spice. There are many different kind you can buy from almost any local grocery store. Such as Foodland, Safeway even at Whole Foods.

There is typically a huge display case that you can see and choose from. Almost like an ice cream shop but with Poke instead. Everything is sold by the lb. and at a decent price too. Poke is definitely a must have when visiting Hawai'i.

Secondly, If you are a tourist or just a local. Everyone loves to make there way out to North Shore.

North Shore is the place to be on the weekends. Up on that side we have many beautiful beaches, so beautiful that picture can't really do it justice.

North Shore everyone knows that the food trucks is where you want to stop to eat. Shrimp trucks are popular, from Fumi's, Kahuku Shrimp and especially Giovanni's (my personal favorite).

Order one plate of either garlic buttered shrimp or if you like the spicy side of things, some cajun shrimp. Severed on two scoops of jasmine white rice and your choice of other sides. The shrimp is grilled to a perfect tender crisp, once you bite into it the butter melts around your lips and garlic aroma fills your mouth.

Leaving you for more.

As we journey further done North Shore we will run into a huge line of people waiting. Now what are they waiting for? Well theres nothing better than a cool shave ice from Matsumoto's.

Shave ice is a Hawai'i favorite. The ice is shaved into a soft mound of white. While you get a huge variety of choices for flavors and toppings, Hawaiian style.

There are original flavors like rainbow of course, but also a 10 foot menu of others kinds of flavors, such as white cake, passion fruit, mango, lilikoi, dragonfruit, lychee and even organic if you'd prefer. On top of that, after you pick your flavors you're able to add extras such as azuki beans, vanilla icecream and Ice Cap! (Ice Cap is condensed milk over the top).

Personally if it's your first time, I suggest picking 2 flavors you're familiar with and then one that you're not. Then add all the toppings. Its the only way to do it, right honestly.

Lastly if you really want to feel the local "grindz" (Grindz is a slang word for good food). Then you have to stop and get some Huli Huli Chicken!

Huli Huli Chicken is a loved Hawai'i favorite. It's been around since I was a kid and way before that. Huli Huli, means "turn around". So what is "turn around turn around chicken" you may ask?

Well it's exactly what is sounds.

Imagine you're driving and you see smoke in the distance. But it's not a fire. When you get close enough to see it, you will definitely smell it. There you'll see 15 to 20ft metals poles being turned over a blazing fire.

As you look close you can see the juice dripping down into the flames adding more to the smoked flavor. By then there is probably already a line of people waiting to buy some. You can buy a whole chicken for usually around $12 or a lunch plate, that comes with rice and a choice of sides.

Just writing this, is making me miss home. Since the pandemic started it feels like the world will never be the same. But in Hawai'i as long as the people continue living Aloha, then it will always feel like home and the flavors will always win people over.

Old to young, Hawai'i food is the best food you can get anywhere.