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
Chee Hoo Patisserie features festive Halloween treats
The bakery/cafe, located in the main lobby of the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikīkī Beach Resort, has transformed into “Chee Boo Patisserie” for spooky season. Customers can enjoy limited-time desserts, ranging from decorated croissants with fillings to Jack-O-donuts and pumpkin "crookies," along with the bakery’s trompe-l’oeil pastries, which are available all year long.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaOctober 23, 2026
Danjah Dog serves up hot dogs, hamburgers with unique sauces
The business name comes from its signature Danjah sauce, made with different peppers and spices. Danjah Dog’s menu features “the kind of food we grew up eating in Hawaiʻi,” according to owner Turk Cazimero, who says Danjah sauce has been part of his family’s story for years. Customers can find the Danjah Dog truck in the parking lot of Lowe’s Home Improvement in the Iwilei neighborhood.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaOctober 22, 2026
Yakiniku Haretoke is opening in Honolulu
The Japanese yakiniku restaurant’s original location is in Kawagoe, Japan. Yakiniku Haretoke — expected to open this winter in the Renaissance Honolulu Hotel & Spa — will be the only restaurant in Hawaiʻi to serve Joshu wagyu, which is raised exclusively in Japan’s Gunma prefecture. Aloha State Daily got a preview of what’s to come for the Honolulu restaurant by visiting the Kawagoe location.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaOctober 21, 2026
Stripsteak, A Michael Mina Restaurant, launches new bar-exclusive experiences
The restaurant, located in International Market Place, recently launched its Mina Meals — adult “happy meals” with a steakhouse twist — and wagyu and whiskey pairing menu. The steakhouse also revamped its happy hour menu with new dishes like bone marrow prime beef burger and fries, and fish and chips.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaOctober 21, 2026
Movies, music and more: your guide to the weekend on Oʻahu
Ready to plan the weekend? From the start of the Hawaiʻi International Film Festival to Spooky Season highlights, here are some of the events happening on Oʻahu on Friday, Oct. 23, Saturday, Oct. 24, and Sunday, Oct. 25.
Katie HellandOctober 21, 2026
Matcha Pop is Hawaiʻi’s first luxury mobile matcha bar
The business, which started in July, is known for its to-go, nitro matcha latte cans. The business features a first harvest Uji matcha Okumidori blend, sourced directly from Kyoto, Japan. Matcha Pop focuses on private events, ranging from weddings to corporate gatherings, but also participates in wellness pop-ups around Oʻahu.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaOctober 20, 2026
Liliha Bakery's new happy hour includes prime rib
The restaurant’s newest store at Waikīkī Beach Walk launched a happy hour menu that’s exclusive to this eatery. Enjoy discounts on dishes like prime rib and lobster tail, and New York steak and shrimp, along with 50% off select beers and cocktails.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaOctober 20, 2026
Where to get Halloween treats on Oʻahu
These seasonal treats are perfect for spooky season. Limited-time offerings range from decorated croissants and cakes to themed cocktails.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaOctober 19, 2026
Hinahina on the Beach brings buffets back to Sheraton Waikīkī Beach Resort
The resort’s new all-day oceanfront restaurant is located in the former space of Kai Market. Hinahina on the Beach features a menu of coastally inspired cuisine, and has brought back the resort’s popular breakfast buffet after more than six years. Dinner service will be starting soon, along with the resort’s popular seafood buffet.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaOctober 16, 2026
Isolana is the new signature restaurant at Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa
The restaurant, which opened in August, celebrates coastal Italian cuisine while highlighting locally sourced ingredients. The menu features dishes like hamachi crudo, cacio e pepe, umami crusted ‘ahi and Kurobuta pork chop.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaOctober 16, 2026
Frida’s Hawaiʻi is now open in Honolulu
The Mexican restaurant, whose original location is in ‘Ewa Beach, recently opened in Puck’s Alley, close to the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. The restaurant — open for dine-in and takeout — features an extensive menu; signature dishes include supreme nachos, super burritos and birria tacos.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaOctober 15, 2026
Wahiawā Brewed is a new coffee shop with a drive-thru
The business is celebrating its grand opening this Saturday, Oct. 17. Husband-and-wife owners Randy and Rachael Raquino, who grew up in Wahiawā, wanted to open something with their community in mind and support local vendors. The coffee shop is open for walk-in orders; customers can also pre-order online and pick up their beverages at the drive-thru.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaOctober 14, 2026
Slice by HB Baking’s mobile pop-up features ice cream pies
The business, which was located in Kilohana Square, closed its shop when its lease ended in June. Slice by HB Baking now does pop-ups with its pink Slice Cream truck in Moanalua Valley. The biz offers ice cream pies and cakes using fresh, homemade ice cream.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaOctober 13, 2026
Seven4Two Bakery offers a variety of sourdough pastries
The husband-and-wife owned bakery, located in Pauoa Valley, is usually open for pre-orders online and pick-ups on Saturdays. Customers can choose from sourdough English muffins, breads, croissants, scones and cookies.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaOctober 12, 2026
Jamba Hawaiʻi just launched a new food truck
Jamba Hawaiʻi kicked off the soft launch of its new Jamba food truck with its first-ever Free Smoothie Friday on Oct. 9. The truck will be traveling around Oʻahu. Its goal is to host community pop-ups a few times each month and give individuals the chance to enjoy free smoothies.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaOctober 09, 2026
Ahonui specializes in real fruit ice cream
The pink food truck, located in Kahului, blends frozen fruit with locally sourced ice cream to create its desserts. Signature swirls include Hana banana — real fruit banana ice cream with dulce de leche sauce and praline pecans — and raspberry blackout. The biz also offers coffee and matcha lattes with housemade sauces.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaOctober 09, 2026
Iconic Eats: Highway Inn
Seiichi Toguchi opened Highway Inn’s original location in September 1947 on Farrington Highway. Aloha State Daily caught up with third generation Highway Inn president/owner Monica Toguchi Ryan, who shares more about the business’s early days and some of her favorite memories of her grandfather.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaOctober 09, 2026
Black Orchid Lounge in Chinatown has a new happy hour
The new lounge — located in the former space of Obake — celebrated its grand opening in early September. It recently launched a new happy hour menu, complete with caviar frites, mini martinis and oyster shooters. For owner Tuda Sarian, it was important to create a space that was upscale, yet approachable.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaOctober 08, 2026
Macho Grill offers sizzling steak skillets
The eatery, located on Piʻikoi Street, specializes in sizzling steak skillets. Choose from popular options like beef steak, pork chop, rib-eye and pork combos and more.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaOctober 07, 2026
Pīkake Cafe offers local-style comfort food in downtown Honolulu
The sister business of Guieb Cafe is located in the cafeteria space of the Prince Kūhiō Federal Building in downtown Honolulu. The cafeteria is open to the public — customers have to go through a security checkpoint — from Mondays to Fridays. Diners can expect some of the most popular dishes from Guieb Café, including ube mascarpone pancakes, pork adobo omelets and hamburger steak.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaOctober 07, 2026
This Honolulu eatery has a BOGO 50% off lunchtime pizza deal
Located in Waikīkī, Appetito Craft Pizza & Wine Bar launched a new buy-one-get-one half-off pizza deal during lunch only. Customers must show their server that they’re following the biz on Instagram to take advantage of this promotion.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaOctober 06, 2026
Little Pickle is a new specialty hot dog shop in Kailua
Located next to Please Come Again Ice Cream, Little Pickle celebrated its grand opening this past Saturday. The biz specializes in all-beef, pasture-raised hot dogs made with no hormones, nitrates or antibiotics. Choose from a rotating selection of flavors, ranging from the Chicago dog and chili cheese dog to the Japanese-inspired nori dog.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaOctober 06, 2026
Stop by and say ‘aloha’ to Aloha State Daily at OnoFest & Fall Expo
Experience new food, shop with emerging brands and participate in family-friendly activities at the OnoFest & Fall Expo, slated for Oct. 17 to 18 at the Blaisdell Exhibition Hall. Plus, we are giving away free tickets to our newsletter subscribers ahead of the event.
Kady PascualOctober 06, 2026
Yours Truly to launch a limited-time Halloween speakeasy
The downtown Honolulu’s “Dead Letter Office” Halloween speakeasy will run starting this week from Oct. 8 to 31. The speakeasy features specialty Halloween cocktails and themed dishes for the first time.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaOctober 06, 2026