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
HI Cravings Co-Op opens in Kapolei
The acai bowl businesss’s new space is a co-op, designed to help support other small businesses, according to HI Cravings founder Jess Kamanaʻo. Customers can look forward to HI Cravings’ signature acai bowls, along with specialty options like the stuffed strawberry bowl.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaSeptember 04, 2026
Don Quijote Kāheka is featuring $9.99 chicken katsu plates this month
The brand’s Kāheka store is offering $9.99 mega-sized chicken katsu plates every Friday in September. The deal will be available starting at 3 p.m. until sold out. A limited number of plates will be made each Friday; limit is three plates per customer.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaSeptember 04, 2026
Save the date for Megabon 2026
The fourth annual Megabon — created by JCI Honolulu and Hawaiʻi Todaiji — is set for Sept. 12 at Leeward Community College. Here’s what you can look forward to during this year’s festival.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaSeptember 03, 2026
La Tour Cafe launches egg sandos for a limited time
The cafe’s egg sandos are a collaboration with Eggs Hawaiʻi. La Tour Cafe’s Kakaʻako location is launching the egg sando and truffle egg sando on Saturday, Sept. 5. The filling is made with local eggs between slices of La Tour Bakehouse’s shokupan bread.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaSeptember 03, 2026
Doraku Sushi is now open at Hilton Hawaiian Village
The sushi spot opened last month in Hilton Hawaiian Village. This is its second Waikīkī location; the restaurant is still located in Royal Hawaiian Center, but is moving from the third floor to the first floor.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaSeptember 02, 2026
This sourdough micro-bakery is on the ‘rise’
Blossom & Rhyze, a Wahiawā-based micro-bakery, stemmed from owner Christine Acohido’s love of sourdough. The business is known for its sourdough loaves, sourdough cookies and specialty coffees, which include kūlolo crunch latte.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaSeptember 02, 2026
Diner en Blanc is celebrating its 10th Anniversary Edition
The popular outdoor garden party returns Saturday, Sept. 12 at a brand-new, secret location. This year, the event’s curated meals will be catered by Memoirs Hawaiʻi.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaSeptember 01, 2026
Aliʻi Coffee Co. opens on Monsarrat Avenue
The coffee biz — which recently moved its Ward Centre store to Ala Moana Center — opened another location on Monsarrat Avenue. This location has a slightly different food menu — compared to the business’s other stores — and brought back dishes like the roast beef sandwich, brie and balsamic toast, and prosciutto pear flatbread.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaSeptember 01, 2026
Budget Bites: $9.99 plates at Marukai
This plate lunch special is available every Wednesday in September, starting from 3 p.m. Hamburger steak is the featured plate for September; each plate includes a 10-ounce hamburger patty, rice, veggies and a brown gravy/Japanese demi-glace sauce.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaSeptember 01, 2026
2026 Okinawan FEASTival is coming Sept. 7 to 21
Celebrate Okinawan-owned restaurants and businesses by enjoying specials from Sept. 7 to 21. This year, individuals can look forward to Oki-dog chimichangas, Okinawan sweet potato croquettes, pandan andagi and more.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaSeptember 01, 2026
7-Eleven Hawaiʻi launches new, Japanese-style egg salad sandwiches
The new sandwich — featuring a creamy egg salad filling between locally baked Shokupan bread — is available at 7-Eleven Hawaiʻi stores starting Sept. 1.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaAugust 31, 2026
44th annual Okinawan Festival is coming in September
This year’s festival features a modified format, due to renovations at the Hawaiʻi Convention Center. There will be no bon dance or early admission, but new this year is Prince Waikīkī’s House of Sakura pop-up that will include Okinawan-inspired dishes.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaAugust 28, 2026
Chick-fil-A has new chicken & waffles sandwiches for a limited time
The sweet-and-savory sandwich — which debuted on National Waffle Day — is available at Chick-fil-A locations nationwide until Nov. 14, while supplies last. Chick-fil-A also has two new s’mores-inspired desserts.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaAugust 28, 2026
New drink collaboration to make you say, Das' how
Comedian Tumua Tuinei talks about the coffee that kept him going when he started his career doing stand-up at Blue Note Hawaiʻi. Now, Honolulu Coffee Co. has created a drink inspired by his current national tour, “Dasʻ How,” which has stops on Maui and Kauaʻi next month.
Katie HellandAugust 28, 2026
Bar Leather Apron, BirdyGo! pop up at MĀZE
Both businesses — located in Topa Financial Center — have been closed for about one month, due to a water leak in the building. Bar Leather Apron is popping up at MĀZE on Mondays and Tuesdays; customers can enjoy a casual, standing bar cocktail experience. BirdyGo! will be offering grilled chicken bentos at MĀZE, available for pre-order and pick-up.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaAugust 27, 2026
Diamond Head Drip now has a new location
The business features specialty coffee and was designed to serve the Kāhala/Diamond Head community. The business recently found a permanent spot and pops up in the Lotus Honolulu parking lot.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaAugust 27, 2026
Shibu’s Kauaʻi is serving up fresh poke in Līhu‘e
The business — formerly known as Poipu Poke Shack — opened earlier this year within Tip Top Motel, Cafe & Bakery. Owned by Jana Oshita and Cody Shibukawa, Shibu’s Kauaʻi is known for its fresh poke and sushi, made with fresh ‘ahi.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaAugust 26, 2026
Himalayan Kitchen has a new spot in Windward Oʻahu
The eatery moved from its former location at 600 Kailua Road to the space vacated by Tokoname Sushi Bar & Restaurant. The eatery has been open for about two months. Himalayan Kitchen is known for its Nepali and Indian cuisine, and this location features a variety of lunch specials.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaAugust 26, 2026
Waikīkī late-night spot Sidequest revamped its food menu
The sports bar — located in the Waikīkī Monarch Hotel — offers shareable pūpū, plate lunch-style entrees and breakfast all day. Sidequest also recently launched a new happy hour menu that features discounted appetizers.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaAugust 26, 2026
Pū Kena is a new coffee trailer in ‘Aiea
The business — which opened earlier this month — is located along Kamehameha in ʻAiea. According to business owner Kawai Mielke, the biz was created to be a gathering place, and one of its goals is to support as many local businesses as possible.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaAugust 25, 2026
Waikīkī Market and ‘Olili are reopening this week
The market and restaurant — located on the second floor of Lilia Waikīkī on Kūhiō Avenue — are celebrating their grand reopening on Tuesday, Aug. 25. Waikīkī Market had closed for construction earlier this spring, and now offers new features like a customizable loco moco station. ‘Olili has a new happy hour menu and features a revamped dinner menu.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaAugust 24, 2026
Ethiopian Love is now in Kakaʻako
The restaurant — which closed its Chinatown location during the Covid-19 pandemic — now pops up in the space next to Bevy Bar at SALT At Our Kakaʻako. The eatery is known for its vegetarian- and vegan-friendly dishes, especially its sampler platters.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaAugust 24, 2026
Hopohni is a new neighborhood pizza spot in Honolulu
The pizza biz opened a few weeks ago in the former space of a gluten-free bakery. Customers can find thin-crust pizzas with unique toppings, including chimichurri, kalua pig, and chopped pickled red onions.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaAugust 21, 2026
Mugen offers an elevated breakfast in Waikīkī
The eatery — located in luxury boutique hotel ESPACIO, The Jewel of Waikīkī — is open to the public for breakfast and dinner. The new menu features an elevated twist on breakfast classics, including a wagyu short rib loco moco, smoked salmon avocado toast, Japanese breakfast and A-5 wagyu bacon.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaAugust 21, 2026