Honolulu kitchen notes
Real Hawaii food, the way it tastes here.
From spam musubi and loco moco to poke, POG, and island desserts, these are the recipes and food stories CurtisJ keeps coming back to in his own kitchen.
Recipes
What Is Manapua? Hawaii’s Steamed Pork Bun Tradition Explained
Manapua is the big steamed bun Hawaii adopted from char siu bao, then made fully local through bakeries, snack shops, and the manapua man.
Why cook with CurtisJ
You get the dish and the reason it tastes right.
Built on 20+ years in Hawaii food and beverage work, with the kind of kitchen experience that shows up in the details. Expect clearer judgment, steadier recipes, and more of the small details that make Hawaii food taste like itself.
Start here
Start with the dishes people ask about first.
If you are just getting into Hawaii food, begin with poke, loco moco, and breakfast plates that show you what people keep coming back to.
What Is Poke? Hawaii’s Famous Raw Fish Dish Explained
What poke actually is, where it comes from in Hawaii, and why the best versions stay simple once the fish hits the bowl.
02Hawaiian BreakfastHow to Make a Hawaiian Breakfast at Home (Even on the Mainland)
A practical Hawaiian breakfast game plan, from rice, Spam, and eggs to the timing and pantry staples that make the plate feel right at home.
Food that sounds like somebody actually makes it every week.
Recipes you can use, stories worth reading, and the kind of practical detail that helps you cook the dish instead of circling around it.
Built on 20+ years in Hawaii food and beverage work, with the kind of kitchen experience that shows up in the details.
Cook by craving
What sounds good right now?
Go salty, cold, sweet, comforting, or quick. Start with the craving instead of the category name.
Poke and Seafood
What poke actually is, where it comes from in Hawaii, and why the best versions stay simple once the fish hits the bowl.
What Is Poke? Hawaii’s Famous Raw Fish Dish ExplainedIsland Comfort
This saimin recipe is about broth, noodle texture, and topping balance, so the bowl tastes light, local, and worth making at home.
Saimin — Hawaii’s One-and-Only Noodle SoupTropical Treats
This lilikoi bars recipe is the shortbread-crust, tart-filling version, built for clean slices and enough passion fruit to stay sharp.
Lilikoi Bars – Hawaiian Passion Fruit Lemon BarsHawaiian Breakfast
A practical Hawaiian breakfast game plan, from rice, Spam, and eggs to the timing and pantry staples that make the plate feel right at home.
How to Make a Hawaiian Breakfast at Home (Even on the Mainland)From CurtisJ's table
Stay for the dishes. Linger for the kitchen opinions.
CurtisJ cooks with a strong point of view: what belongs on the table, what is worth the effort, and what gets overhyped fast.
What Is Saimin? Hawaii’s Plantation-Born Noodle Soup Explained
Saimin is Hawaii’s noodle soup: light broth, springy noodles, and a plantation history that no mainland ramen bowl can copy.
This lilikoi bars recipe is the shortbread-crust, tart-filling version, built for clean slices and enough passion fruit to stay sharp.
Hawaiian BreakfastHawaiian Breakfast vs Mainland Breakfast: Why the Islands Do It BetterHawaii breakfast wins on rice, salt, heft, and staying power. This guide explains why the plate feels so different from a mainland diner breakfast.
Quick & EasyAloha Friday: The Perfect Loco MocoThis Friday, we’re celebrating Hawaii’s ultimate comfort food—the legendary loco moco.
Worth opening
If one category gets you hungry, go there next.
Each section starts with one strong entry point, then gives you enough range to keep dinner interesting.
Ahi, shrimp, and cold things
Poke and Seafood
What poke actually is, where it comes from in Hawaii, and why the best versions stay simple once the fish hits the bowl.
Rice, gravy, and heavy hitters
Island Comfort
This saimin recipe is about broth, noodle texture, and topping balance, so the bowl tastes light, local, and worth making at home.
Butter, coconut, and sugar
Tropical Treats
This lilikoi bars recipe is the shortbread-crust, tart-filling version, built for clean slices and enough passion fruit to stay sharp.
Keep cooking
Here’s what to open next.
Go from one dish straight into the next thing worth making.