Before you read
Choose books that sound like a kitchen, not a brochure.
A good Hawaiian cookbook should help you cook, but it should also help you understand why the dish looks the way it does. CurtisJ's standard is clarity, local context, and recipes that feel tested by real use instead of padded for nostalgia.
Hawaiian cooking is an oral tradition as much as a written one — recipes passed down through families, adjusted by feel, and taught at the stove rather than from a page. But when you’re learning from the mainland, a good Hawaiian cookbook bridges the gap between “I’ve never heard of this ingredient” and “I just made the best kalua pig of my life.”
These are the cookbooks worth owning, organized by what you’re trying to learn. Whether you want traditional Hawaiian recipes, modern island cuisine, or the multicultural fusion that defines local food, there’s a book here for you.
For Traditional Hawaiian Cooking
The Food of Paradise by Rachel Laudan
The definitive history of Hawaiian food, from ancient Polynesian cooking through the plantation era to modern times. This isn’t just a cookbook — it’s the story of how plate lunch, poke, and every other Hawaiian dish came to be. Beautifully written and thoroughly researched. If you read one book about Hawaiian food, make it this one.
Best for: Understanding the cultural context behind the food. Read this alongside the recipes on this site and everything will make more sense.
Hawaiian Heritage Cookbook by Ann Kondo Corum
Simple, home-style Hawaiian recipes from a local perspective. This is the cookbook that reads like an auntie wrote it — practical, unfussy, and focused on the dishes that local families actually cook at home. Great sections on luau food, plate lunch staples, and traditional preparations like laulau and poi.
Best for: Home cooks who want authentic, everyday local recipes without restaurant-level complexity.
The Hawaiian Plate by Iwalani Else
Focused specifically on local-style comfort food — the kind of cooking that happens in Hawaiian homes every day. Shoyu chicken, beef stew, and all the dishes that make up the plate lunch canon.
Best for: Learning the plate lunch essentials from a local voice.
For Modern Island Cuisine
Aloha Kitchen by Alana Kysar
Gorgeous photography and modern takes on Hawaiian classics. Alana Kysar grew up in Maui and brings a contemporary perspective while respecting traditional flavors. Her recipes are well-tested and clearly written. Includes both everyday dishes and celebration food.
Best for: Cooks who want beautiful, Instagram-worthy Hawaiian food that still tastes authentic.
Eat the Aloha by Lanai Tabura
From the winner of Guy’s Grocery Games, a collection of recipes rooted in Hawaiian local food culture. Energetic, fun, and packed with the kind of recipes you’d find at a backyard party in Kailua.
Best for: Entertaining, party food, and cooking with aloha spirit.
Cook Real Hawai’i by Sheldon Simeon
The most acclaimed Hawaiian cookbook of recent years, from Top Chef fan favorite Sheldon Simeon. His approach is deeply rooted in local food culture while incorporating the techniques he’s learned in professional kitchens. The recipes range from simple (eggs and rice) to ambitious (his famous Hilo-style chili), all written with the same down-to-earth voice.
Best for: Serious cooks who want to understand Hawaiian food at a deeper level.
For Specific Topics
The Poke Cookbook by Martha Cheng
Everything you need to know about poke — history, technique, and dozens of recipes covering every style from traditional Hawaiian to modern mainland poke bowls. A great companion to our Complete Poke Guide.
Spam-A-Lot by George Geary
Yes, a whole cookbook dedicated to Spam. From spam musubi to Spam fried rice to creative preparations you’d never think of. Hawaii takes Spam seriously, and this book does too.
The Blue Zones Kitchen by Dan Buettner
Not exclusively Hawaiian, but includes extensive coverage of traditional Hawaiian eating patterns and how taro, sweet potato, and other Hawaiian staples contribute to longevity. A fascinating look at the health side of traditional Hawaiian food.
Building Your Hawaiian Cooking Library
If you’re starting from scratch, here’s the order I’d recommend:
- Cook Real Hawai’i — the best all-around Hawaiian cookbook available right now
- The Food of Paradise — for context and history
- Aloha Kitchen — for beautiful, modern interpretations
Pair any of these with the recipes on CurtisJCooks and you’ll have everything you need to cook Hawaiian at home.
Beyond Books
Cookbooks give you the recipes, but the ingredients and tools matter too:
- Essential Hawaiian Pantry Ingredients — Stock your kitchen for any recipe
- Best Soy Sauces and Condiments — The marinades and sauces behind the food
- Best Rice Cookers — Your most important tool
- Hawaiian Ingredients Guide — Deep dive into every ingredient
- The Plate Lunch Guide — The recipes and traditions behind Hawaii’s favorite meal
