If you’re visiting Hawaii for the first time, your goals are probably to soak up the sun and enjoy the breathtaking sights. But before you head home, make sure to sample some of Hawaii’s fresh seafood. The waters around the islands teem with many delicious types of fish, providing opportunities for fresh dining that few other places can offer. Below are four reasons to try some of Hawaii’s local, fresh seafood.

4 Reasons to Eat Seafood on Your Hawaii Vacation

1. Get a Taste of the Culture

With so much fresh seafood available in Hawaii, it’s only natural that innovative cuisine can be found all over the islands. Many of the seafood dishes found here are a hybrid of many diverse cultures, including Japanese, Filipino, and native Hawaiian. When you visit a local restaurant, your options include fresh sushi, poke bowls, and crab cakes.

2. Support Local Businesses

When traveling, you can show appreciation for the people and places you visit by supporting their hardworking local businesses. Eating fresh seafood at a local Hawaiian restaurant is one of the best ways to do this. Not only are you supporting the chefs and waitstaff; you’re also contributing to the livelihood of the area’s fishermen.

3. Experience New and Fresh Flavors

If you live in a landlocked area, tasting fresh seafood may be impossible without paying an exorbitant price because of shipping costs. Even if you live along the shore, the fish available in your area differ from the great selection of fresh seafood that you’ll find in Hawaii. While you’re on the islands, take the chance to try fresh bigeye tuna, swordfish, mahimahi, deepwater bottomfish, and other local varieties of fish.

4. Enjoy a Healthy Meal

Seafood is high in beneficial fats, protein, and vitamin D, which can make it a preferable alternative to meat. Vitamin D is especially important; it helps your body process calcium, and more than 40% of Americans are deficient in the vitamin. The omega-3 fatty acids found in many fish can also help fight depression and protect the brain from cognitive decline.

Enjoy the best fresh seafood during your Hawaii vacation by visiting Tante’s Fishmarket Restaurant & Bar. Based in Wailuku, HI, they offer a full lunch and dinner menu with seafood options such as sushi, catch of the day fish, crab, lobster, and mussels. Not in the mood for seafood? Enjoy their delicious steak, ribs, or pasta. To make a reservation, call (808) 868-2148. Visit their website to browse their menu.