Hawaiian luau food brings together all the good ingredients for a fantastic celebration: delicious dishes, beloved family and friends, and a whole lot of jolly aloha spirit! This guide breaks down the menu for these events, showcasing centuries of the island’s vibrant flavor, rich traditions, and matchless hospitality. Think juicy huli huli chicken, sweet haupia, and everything delectable in between!
14 Mouthwatering Hawaiian Luau Foods You Will Love
1. Kalua Pig
The star of many luaus and a traditional luau food staple, no gathering is complete without the kalua pig!
Either the whole animal or large chunks of its meat are cooked in an imu pit or an underground oven, resulting in smoky, tender, and intensely flavorful pork shreds. It’s like pulled pork, but way better and tastier.
2. Huli Huli Chicken
The word “huli” in Hawaii means “turn”, referencing how this meat is cooked, often getting flipped or turned as it is grilled.
Huli huli chicken is bursting with sweet and savory flavors, thanks to its irresistible glaze, which is made with ingredients such as soy sauce, pineapple juice, ketchup, brown sugar, and other seasonings. Hawaiians love serving this dish at both casual and big gatherings.
3. Chicken Long Rice
Influenced by Chinese cuisine, chicken long rice has been a staple of Hawaiian cuisine for many years, particularly for luaus!
Its broth is created from shredded chicken, mung bean noodles, carrots, onions, ginger, and garlic, then served over fragrant white rice. Chicken long rice is a great dish to serve alongside heavier meats, as its mild flavor is ideal for balancing out the flavors.
4. Poke
Locals and tourists alike love poke as it offers everyone a taste of Hawaii’s rich marine life. This dish features diced raw fish (often tuna) that’s marinated in savory sauces, lime, and chili.
In ancient times, however, poke was often eaten with seaweeds, salt, and kukui nuts. Since then, it’s become a globally popular dish that still retains its deep roots in Hawaiian culture and history.
5. Lomi Lomi Salmon
Similar to poke, cooks prepare lomi lomi salmon by mixing salted and cured salmon with tomatoes, onions, chilies, and green onions.
“Lomi” means “to massage,” as in this dish, where people mix everything by hand until well combined. Often served cold, it’s a bright and refreshing Hawaiian dish that can be enjoyed both as a salad and a side dish.
6. Laulau
Laulau (or lau lau) is made by wrapping meats, such as pork, chicken, or fish, in taro leaves and then steaming them, often in an imu.
This procedure locks in the flavor and softens the meat, making it fall-apart tender. Lau lau is best enjoyed with rice or other Hawaiian luau foods like kalua pig, poi, and lomi lomi salmon.
7. Poi
This is one dish that’s uniquely Hawaiian! Poi is created from pounding taro root with water until it has a smooth texture, then letting it ferment until it develops a tangy taste.
It’s traditionally eaten with kalua pig, lomi lomi salmon, or other dishes with bold taste. Hawaiians serve poi in big bowls, ready for scooping with meats or even with their hands.
8. Molokai Sweet Potatoes
These deeply purple sweet potatoes add vibrant color and nutrition to any luau table!
Developed and cultivated on the island of Molokai, these root vegetables are earthier and less sweet than their regular counterparts. People bake, roast, or mash them, creating colorful side dishes that easily stand out in luau spreads.
9. Macaroni Salad
Creamy and cooling, macaroni salads are both a popular side dish at luaus and an integral part of local plate lunches in Hawaii.
Common ingredients include elbow macaroni, lots of mayonnaise, carrots, pickle relish, and celery. It may not be as ancient as the other entries on this list, but macaroni salad has already found itself entrenched in Hawaiian luau food culture.
10. Squid Luau
This seafood stew involves simmering squid (or octopus) in coconut milk, sea salt, onions, and fresh taro leaves.
This creates a creamy dish that’s full of umami flavors and light sweetness. It might not be well-known outside of Hawaii, but locals love eating squid luau for its comforting qualities.
11. Haupia
Desserts are integral to any menu, and Hawaiian luaus are no exception! Haupia is a coconut-based sweet treat with a jelly or pudding-like texture. Served chilled, it offers a light and refreshing end to an otherwise savory and robust menu.
12. Tropical Hawaiian Fruit Salad
Bursting wth freshness, sweetness, and rich island flavors, locals make this dessert platter with chopped fruits like pineapple, banana, papaya, and mango.
Some add a squeeze of lime or a drizzle of honey to enhance the flavor. They serve this delicious and refreshing fruit salad in carved-out coconut husks or pineapple bowls for added visual flair.
13. Kulolo
Similar to Japanese mochi, kulolo is a dense and chewy dessert made by locals from mashed taro, coconut milk, and sugar.
They wrap it in ti leaves then steam them. Kulolo has a rich, earthy taste with bits of caramel and coconut. Locals serve them in slices or squares alongside haupia.
14. Mai Tai and Piña Coladas
No luau is complete without drinks to wash all the delicious foods down and beat the summer heat at the same time!
Mai tai is a classic cocktail of rum, lime, and orange liqueur. Fruity yet strong, it’s the perfect drink to sip while mingling with guests. Piña Coladas, on the other hand, are a blend of rum, coconuts, and pineapple juice.
They pair beautifully with heavy, smoky dishes like kalua pig. Both drinks offer a cool contrast to the savory notes of traditional luau party foods.
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