I took a little detour before finishing my Maui post, but have finally circled back. The best for last-down home local joints!  Though I didn’t hit as many joints as I would have liked, Southwest Airlines is launching flights to Hawaii with $ incentives….hmmm, a girl can dream.

Two days on Maui and I still hadn’t had any Poke.  There must be a law against that.  Luckily after our whale watching trip in Lahaina, I made a beeline to the local Foodland Supermarket just down the street.  Time to load up on the local flavors.  I headed to the seafood counter, where I found a dizzying array of poke.  I opted for the line caught ahi (off that morning’s boat) and a spicy tuna poke. ONOLICIOUS.

Mission accomplished, poke in hand I head to the SPAM aisle.  I know what you are thinking,”excuse me, SPAM aisle”?  The Spam section is ginormous.  SPAM comes in a ridiculous number of flavors, most of which are hard to find back home.  My favorite is Tocino, a Filipino sausage that is sweet and salty and delicious.  Hmmm, I really should get my obligatory “mom went to Hawaii and all I got was this can of SPAM” gifts to bring home.

I picked up the cutest recyclable grocery bags at the checkout counter.  Each bag is decorated with cartoon drawings of rice balls, sushi and local island foods plus I got 5% off on my purchase for buying the bags.  How cool is that?   I also picked up island cookies, crunchy shortbread-like cookies with macadamia nuts…I’m a sucker for shortbread. Poke, SPAM, cookies, and recyclable bags, I head out a happy camper.

The other Lahaina must stop is Ululani’s Hawaiian Shave Ice.  Never leave Hawaii without having Shave Ice, really. This is not your run of the mill grape, cherry, root beer on ice that will chip your teeth.  Its finely shaved ice, with amazing island flavors-Lilikoi, lychee, mango, passion fruit, with extras including ice cream, sweetened condensed milk (snow cap) and red beans (Azuki). The perfect dessert for an island paradise.

For breakfast head over to local joint 808 Grindz Cafe.  I confess I didn’ go to 808 on Maui, but their sister restaurant of the same name on the Big Island.  I had the pork belly fried rice that is  “make you wanna slap your mama” good. The Banana Mac Pancakes with their special Mac-nilla Sweet Cream Sauce were da bomb.  Down home island food doesn’t get any better.

For local food that’s gone upscale check out Aloha Mixed Plate, it faces the beach so try to go at Sunset.  Drinks while watching the sunset and the waves, a plate of pupus.  I could get used to island life.

On good authority other places to check out that sadly, I did not get to try personally…

Sam Sato’s for breakfast and lunch.  Get the Dry Mein.  Noodles sans soup. Local joint.

Da Kitchen Don’t take my word for it, President Obama’s choice.  Two words-SPAM MUSUBI Repeat it, commit it to memory.

Don’t forget Sheldon’s casual eateries that I covered in Maui post #2, Leoda’s Kitchen and Pie Shop and Tin Roof. Ono, ono, ono.

Aloha from Underneath The Banyan Tree!