Hawaiian cuisine is a melting pot of ingredients and dishes inspired by immigrants’ home cultures over the course of several hundred years. The journey of those dishes, ranging in diversity from poi to kalua pork to poke, is intertwined with those of the immigrants who populated the islands. Here is a brief overview of Hawaii’s history and cuisine.

Early Settlers

Prior to 300 AD, Hawaii was uninhabited. Around that time, settlers from what is now considered French Polynesia arrived. They brought with them a variety of seeds, plants, and livestock to the islands that were previously barren of almost anything edible. They planted and ate taro, a staple in Polynesia, along with sweet potatoes, yams, and sugarcane. In addition to their crops, they fished, taking advantage of the diverse marine life surrounding them.

Immigrants

In the late 1700s, Europeans and Americans traveled to the islands. They built large pineapple and sugarcane plantations and introduced dishes like salted fish, which later became the Hawaiian cuisine staple lomilomi salmon.

More immigrants came to the islands in the mid 1800s to early 1900s to work the plantations. They came from China, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, Portugal, and more, bringing foods from their respective cultures, like the Japanese musubi and the Portuguese malasadas. The working environments of the plantations created the need for the plate lunch, which features white rice, macaroni salad, and a meat entrée, and is still popular today.

Contemporary Hawaiian Cuisine

Spam was introduced to the islands during World War II when fishing was banned. It became a Hawaii favorite in the spam musubi. Today, as it has previously, Hawaiian cuisine relies heavily on the use of local ingredients like taro, pineapple, and fish. Thanks to the influences from so many different cultures over the years, this fusion cuisine continues to evolve and is gaining popularity across the US.

For authentic Hawaiian cuisine at your wedding reception, graduation party, or corporate event, look no further than Four Sisters Kitchen Catering in Wailuku, HI. These caterers specialize in Hawaiian and Filipino cuisine for events big and small. Whether you want to highlight kalua pork, lomilomi salmon, or another traditional dish, their caterers will ensure the food is as delectable as it is authentic. Learn more about their catering services online or call (808) 242-1135 to start planning your next event.