What a week it’s been for HanaPa’a Market. The biz recently won the “fan favorite” title at Frolic Hawaiʻi’s Poke Fest, and it’s celebrating the grand opening of its new Kapahulu location tomorrow. You can find the business, called HanaPa’a 2, inside Hawaiʻi’s Favorite Kitchens.
HanaPa’a Market originally opened in Hawai‘i Kai about three years ago, and it’s been open for three weeks in its new Kapahulu store, according to business owner Michael Leslie. The biz is known for its poke, which features your choice of protein — ‘ahi, salmon, shrimp, tako or tofu — and style (Hawaiian, sweet ginger shoyu, spicy ‘ahi, miso or oyster ginger scallion).
“Our recipes are unique; we mix it (our poke) to order,” he says. “We don’t mix anything ahead of time.”
Poke bowls come with your choice of poke and white, brown or sushi rice; customers can also opt for half salad and half rice for $1 more. The spicy mayo is the most popular poke style, according to Leslie.
“At the store in Hawai‘i Kai, we do about eight gallons of spicy mayo a week,” he says. “Everybody eats spicy mayo. Our Hawaiian style is probably right (up there) next to that. Garlic shoyu is something that we do well; that’s pretty popular. If you like spicy, garlic chili crunch is the way to go. It all depends on what your preference is.”
All poke bowls come with cucumber wakame salad and pickled takuan that’s made in house. You can take your poke bowl to the next level with toppings like tempura puffs and bubu arare ($1 more).
The menu at the Kapahulu store is mostly the same as the one at the business’s Hawai‘i Kai location, according to Leslie.
“In Hawai‘i Kai, we were (selling) 95% poke bowls, but then we started adding the plate lunches,” he says.
The Kapahulu location features more daily specials, along with bentos.
“Hawai‘i Kai is really set in the menu; it’s not changing,” Leslie says. “Here, there might be a heavier influence of local food like pastele stew, beef luau and lau lau. There’s only one bento there; we have three here.”
The business’s ‘ahi fever plate ($22) is one of the most popular options, according to Leslie.
The plate includes spicy mayo poke, seared furikake ‘ahi, a kimchi ‘ahi patty, rice, greens, mac salad and pickled vegetables. The spicy ‘ahi poke is flavorful — the right amount of kick, and not too strong on the mayo — and the creamy texture is a nice contrast to the seared ‘ahi and cooked patty.
It’s easy to be overwhelmed by the selection of bentos and plates — just because all the combos sound delicious. Bentos include popular selections like the Kanak ($18) — kalua pork, Hawaiian-style ‘ahi poke, poi, lomi tomato, and chili pepper water — and the Shacho ($18). The latter is a customer favorite, and is a mix of misoyaki salmon, shoyu pork belly, shrimp tempura and yuzu tartar sauce.
“I named it (the Shacho) after our landlord,” Leslie says. “It’s a long story; I’ve known him for years.”
Meanwhile, the plate lunch selection includes options like garlic parmesan crusted ‘ahi ($22), shoyu braised pork belly ($20).
HanaPa’a is celebrating the grand opening of the Kapahulu store tomorrow, May 24 from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Customers can look forward to giveaways and prizes, according to Leslie.
CONTACT
HanaPa’a 2
3111 Castle St., Honolulu
808-260-1875
hanapaamarket.com
Instagram: @hanapaa_2_kapahulu
Open 10:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursdays-Mondays, closed Tuesdays and Wednesdays
Kelli Shiroma Braiotta can be reached at kelli@alohastatedaily.com.
