As the most isolated population center on earth — located more than 2,000 miles from the closest continent — the Hawaiian Islands are unique. Everything from our culture to the food we eat is a bit different than the mainland. From sweet treats and unique pastries to savory dishes and popular snacks, there are certain foods abundant throughout the islands you simply can’t find elsewhere. And if you ever leave Hawaii — whether for two weeks or two years — there are certain local foods you’ll undoubtedly crave.

  1. Poke

Katarina/Flickr 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. The delicious dish is currently taking over the mainland, but Hawaii obviously still does it best.

  1. Kalua Pork

EffingFoodie/Flickr This traditional dish is usually cooked in an underground oven, called a Imu, and served at most Hawaiian luaus and traditional eateries. Unfortunately, all you’ll find elsewhere is plain, old, boring pork.

  1. Fresh Pineapple

Frank Farm/Flickr It’s hard to think about Hawaiian food without talking about pineapple. Hawaii is famous for its pineapple production, though the sweet fruit was not introduced to the islands until the 1500s. While you can buy pineapple anywhere, it’s never as good as it is in Hawaii.

  1. Poi

kimubert/Flickr You sure won’t find this traditional Hawaiian dish anywhere else. Poi is made by pounding boiled taro roots and mixing with water until the ideal smooth consistency is met.

  1. Saimin

bionicgrrl/Flickr This wildly-popular noodle soup dish is inspired by Japanese ramen, Filipino pancit, and Chinese mein. It was developed by immigrants during Hawaii’s plantation era, and has become a staple of Hawaiian cuisine ever since. While you can find ramen elsewhere, saimin is special.

  1. Malasadas

Lesleyk/Flickr Malasadas — Portuguese donuts without a hole — are wildly popular in Hawaii, and nowhere does them better than Leonard’s Bakery. A crispy golden brown exterior gives way to a soft and chewy inside in flavors like cinnamon sugar — some malasadas are even filled with custard or haupia, and there is a malasada flavor of the month. You can guarantee we dream about these delicious treats when we leave Hawaii.

  1. Loco Moco

Danny Luong/Flickr The loco moco: A beef patty nestled into a bed of rice with a fried over-easy egg balanced on top, with a smothering of brown gravy bringing everything together. It’s a shame the rest of the country knows nothing of this mouthwatering comfort food.

  1. Spam Musubi

B D T/Flickr More Spam is sold in Hawaii than the rest of America, so it makes sense that the islands have combined Spam and sushi to create spam musubi… but it’s a shame the rest of the country hasn’t caught on to this tasty snack.

  1. Hawaiian Plate Lunch

Melanie K Reed Photography/Flickr A plate lunch is a specific meal consisting of two scoops of rice, an entrée, macaroni salad, and sometimes a generous helping of gravy. You can get lunch anywhere, of course, but Hawaiian plate lunches will always be our favorite go-to meal.

  1. Manapua

Jennifer Cachola/Flickr Manapua translates to “delicious pork thing” in Hawaiian, and that is exactly what it is: diced pork filling inside a steamed white bun. You can substitute other meats, or even bean paste if you would like, but you’ll only find it in the Aloha State.

  1. Shave Ice

bionicgrrrl/Flickr Ah, Shave Ice: the quintessential Hawaiian treat, the perfect snack for a quick sugar rush after a day spent in the ocean. Is there really any better dessert on a hot Hawaiian afternoon? Other states try, but they’ll never get the consistently quite right.

What foods do you miss when you leave Hawaii? Speaking of leaving Hawaii, you might like to read about the 11 things locals miss most when they leave Hawaii.

Katarina/Flickr

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. The delicious dish is currently taking over the mainland, but Hawaii obviously still does it best.

EffingFoodie/Flickr

This traditional dish is usually cooked in an underground oven, called a Imu, and served at most Hawaiian luaus and traditional eateries. Unfortunately, all you’ll find elsewhere is plain, old, boring pork.

Frank Farm/Flickr

It’s hard to think about Hawaiian food without talking about pineapple. Hawaii is famous for its pineapple production, though the sweet fruit was not introduced to the islands until the 1500s. While you can buy pineapple anywhere, it’s never as good as it is in Hawaii.

kimubert/Flickr

You sure won’t find this traditional Hawaiian dish anywhere else. Poi is made by pounding boiled taro roots and mixing with water until the ideal smooth consistency is met.

bionicgrrl/Flickr

This wildly-popular noodle soup dish is inspired by Japanese ramen, Filipino pancit, and Chinese mein. It was developed by immigrants during Hawaii’s plantation era, and has become a staple of Hawaiian cuisine ever since. While you can find ramen elsewhere, saimin is special.

Lesleyk/Flickr

Malasadas — Portuguese donuts without a hole — are wildly popular in Hawaii, and nowhere does them better than Leonard’s Bakery. A crispy golden brown exterior gives way to a soft and chewy inside in flavors like cinnamon sugar — some malasadas are even filled with custard or haupia, and there is a malasada flavor of the month. You can guarantee we dream about these delicious treats when we leave Hawaii.

Danny Luong/Flickr

The loco moco: A beef patty nestled into a bed of rice with a fried over-easy egg balanced on top, with a smothering of brown gravy bringing everything together. It’s a shame the rest of the country knows nothing of this mouthwatering comfort food.

B D T/Flickr

More Spam is sold in Hawaii than the rest of America, so it makes sense that the islands have combined Spam and sushi to create spam musubi… but it’s a shame the rest of the country hasn’t caught on to this tasty snack.

Melanie K Reed Photography/Flickr

A plate lunch is a specific meal consisting of two scoops of rice, an entrée, macaroni salad, and sometimes a generous helping of gravy. You can get lunch anywhere, of course, but Hawaiian plate lunches will always be our favorite go-to meal.

Jennifer Cachola/Flickr

Manapua translates to “delicious pork thing” in Hawaiian, and that is exactly what it is: diced pork filling inside a steamed white bun. You can substitute other meats, or even bean paste if you would like, but you’ll only find it in the Aloha State.

bionicgrrrl/Flickr

Ah, Shave Ice: the quintessential Hawaiian treat, the perfect snack for a quick sugar rush after a day spent in the ocean. Is there really any better dessert on a hot Hawaiian afternoon? Other states try, but they’ll never get the consistently quite right.

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