Everyone In Hawaii Absolutely Loves These 11 Foods And Drinks

The Aloha State is the most isolated population center on earth, and as a result, our food preferences and culinary styles are unique from those you will find on the mainland. While some of these Hawaiian food dishes have roots in other cultures or have since made their way to the continental United States, here are 11 foods and drinks everyone in Hawaii loves – from popular soft drinks to desserts and specific varieties of sushi.

1. Shave Ice is way better than a snow cone – so please don’t confuse the two sweet treats.

2. Also known as passion orange guava, POG is a wonderful fruit “juice” concoction.

3. Poke, a raw fish salad, usually consists of cubed ahi (yellowfin tuna) marinated with sea salt, soy sauce, sesame oil, limu seaweed, and chili powder.

4. Malasadas, or Portuguese donuts, are wildly popular treats.

5. Kalua Pork, a traditional food usually cooked in an underground oven, is served at most Hawaiian luaus.

6. Taro, a staple in Hawaiian cuisine, is usually grown in pond fields. It can be used to make taro pie, dinner rolls, and even burgers.

7. Made from taro, Poi is a traditional Polynesian staple food.

8. Unlike most of the country, Heineken is the most popular beer in Hawaii.

9. A plate lunch is a specific meal consisting of two scoops of rice, an entrée, macaroni salad, and sometimes a generous helping of gravy.

10. A Loco Moco includes hamburger steak, an egg, rice and gravy – and while it is extremely fattening, it is also pretty scrumptious.

11. And last, but not least, more Spam is sold in Hawaii than in the rest of America. There's even an annual festival dedicated to Hawaii's love of this canned meat.

So, what would you add to this list of foods and drinks everyone in Hawaii loves? Which of these foods made it onto your next grocery list? Do you have a favorite food or beverage common in Hawaii? To learn more about Hawaii's favorite foods, check out these 10 Interesting Food Combinations Only People In Hawaii Will Love.