Food & Dining
Hawai‘i Cuisine: Food, Flavors, and Local Favorites
Exploring all your favorite Island dining, from cheap eats to high-end. Craving omakase? We’ve got you covered. Shave ice? Sure thing! Loco moco? Like we’d forget! We’ve got heaping bowls of poke, and acai. You’ll find pau hana deals, foodie cocktails and delicious mocktails. Of course, none of that would be possible without the chefs, bakers, and mixologists you’ll meet here. We also take you to the Hawai‘i farms that fuel our farm-to-table movement.
News

Hawaiʻi Food and Wine Festival announces line-up
The festival features renowned chefs across three Islands this year. Learn about the 11 events the festival announced on Oʻahu, Hawaiʻi Island and Maui.
Katie HellandMay 27, 2026

Everest Grill offers Indian and Nepali cuisine in Windward Oʻahu
The eatery, located in the former space of Kogi Aina in Kāneʻohe, opened earlier this year. Customers can enjoy a variety of popular Indian dishes, ranging from chicken momo and vegetable samosas to biryani and tandoor specialties.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaMay 27, 2026

The Sweet Stand is a new bake stand in Kapolei
Business owner Ivy-Ann Fernandez, who originally opened home café Midori Matcha last year, decided to pivot and start a walk-up bake stand. Customers can enjoy a rotating selection of baked goods — ranging from cinnamon rolls and banana bread loaves to focaccia bread — and look forward to matcha and coffee bottled lattes in the future.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaMay 27, 2026

Luna’s Tex-Mex Cantina is open in Ward Village
The restaurant opened about a week ago and is still in its soft opening phase. Customers can expect dishes like ceviche, housemade tortilla chips and guac, elotes, steak and chicken fajitas, and Baja fish tacos. The eatery is planning to extend its hours to include lunch service.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaMay 27, 2026

Laughs, science and more: What to do on Oʻahu this weekend
Already dreaming of the weekend after three days off? Aloha State Daily can help you make plans for Friday, May 29, through Sunday, May 31. From a women in rap party in Waikīkī to stand-up comedy in Kapolei, there are lots of events happening this weekend on Oʻahu.
Katie HellandMay 27, 2026

Chart House Waikīkī has a new late-night menu
The eatery’s new late-night menu is served nightly from 9 to 10:30 p.m. at the bar for dine-in only. Customers can enjoy plate lunch-style entrees like Hawaiian chopped steak and boneless prime barbecue short ribs.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaMay 26, 2026

The Surfing Pig has a hidden speakeasy
The Kaimukī eatery is also home to an “if you know, you know” speakeasy, which opened last fall. Customers must call the restaurant to make reservations for the speakeasy.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaMay 26, 2026

L&L Hawaiian Barbecue continues Mainland expansion
The Hawai‘i-based restaurant chain has recently opened new locations in Washington and California.
Stephanie SalmonsMay 25, 2026

KCC’s summer culinary cohorts to get cooking
Kapiʻolani Community College’s Culinary Institute of the Pacific, in partnership with Culinary Institute of America, is offering two culinary training programs at no cost for high school students and culinary professionals in June. The deadline to apply is through Friday, May 29.
Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosMay 23, 2026

This Italian eatery has a new ‘land and sea’ themed menu
Botanico Waikīkī, which opened last fall, recently launched a new dinner menu. It highlights premium ingredients from the earth and ocean. Customers can enjoy dishes ranging from an anchovy and mentaiko potato salad and crab cream linguine to a crispy swordfish cutlet.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaMay 22, 2026

Budget Bites: $13 poke bowls at Noods Ramen Bar Hawaiʻi Kai
These poke bowls are only available at the ramen business’s East Oʻahu store. Choose from spicy ‘ahi, hurricane, ginger scallion and spicy garlic crunch.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaMay 22, 2026

Vintage Books Hawaiʻi relaunches brunch service with new chef
Chef Keith Endo, whose culinary background includes leading the kitchens at Vino and Ki Club, is now the executive chef at this Kaimukī speakeasy. Vintage Books Hawaiʻi re-launched its weekend brunch with a new menu in mid-April.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaMay 21, 2026