Poke, Spam Musubi, and Loco Moco: A Backpacker's Guide to Hawaii Local Food
Here is a little secret the glossy travel ads leave out. The best meal you eat in Hawaii probably will not come with a view of the ocean, a cocktail umbrella, or a server in an aloha shirt. It will come in a plastic container from a corner store, wrapped in foil from a gas station warmer, or scooped onto a paper plate at a family diner that has been open longer than your grandparents have been alive. And it will cost a fraction of what the resort restaurants charge.
Hawaii local food is one of the most delicious, comforting, and wallet-friendly parts of backpacking Hawaii. It is a mash-up of Native Hawaiian traditions and the flavors brought by Japanese, Chinese, Filipino, Portuguese, Korean, and Puerto Rican families who came to work the plantations, all mixed together over generations into something you can only really find here. So grab a fork (or chopsticks, or just your hands), because this is your guide to the Hawaii food to try, what it costs, and where to find it near our hostels in Wailuku and Hilo.
Poke: The Fresh Fish Bowl That Started It All
Before poke bowls showed up in every mainland strip mall, poke was simply what local families picked up at the market for a party, a beach day, or a quick dinner. The word poke (say it "poh-keh") means to slice or cut into pieces in Hawaiian, and that is exactly what it is. Chunks of raw fish, usually ahi tuna, tossed with simple seasonings and eaten fresh.
The classic styles are where it is at. Shoyu poke is marinated in soy sauce with sweet onion and green onion. Hawaiian style keeps it old school with sea salt, limu (seaweed), and inamona, a roasted and crushed kukui nut that adds a nutty crunch. From there, you will find spicy mayo, wasabi, kimchi, and whatever creative mix the fish counter is feeling that day.
Here is the local move. Skip the build-your-own bowl shops and head to a grocery store or fish market with a poke case. Order your fish by the pound, or grab it over rice as a bowl, ask for a sample if you cannot decide, and take it to the nearest park or beach. It is fresher, it is more authentic, and it is usually a better deal too.
Spam Musubi: The Ultimate Backpacker Snack
If there is one food that sums up Hawaii's love for a good, cheap snack, it is Spam musubi. Picture a block of rice topped with a slice of grilled Spam glazed in a sweet soy sauce, all wrapped together with a strip of nori. It looks a little like oversized sushi, tastes like salty, sweet, savory comfort, and fits perfectly in your day pack.
Spam has a real history here. It arrived in big numbers with American troops during and after World War II, when fresh meat was hard to come by, and island families worked it into their cooking instead of leaving it behind. Today Hawaii is famous for loving Spam more than just about anywhere else in the country. Nobody agrees on exactly who invented the musubi, though cooks on Oʻahu and Kauaʻi both get credit, and the handy rectangular mold that gives it that perfect shape is part of the story.
The best part for budget travelers? You can find Spam musubi almost everywhere, from convenience stores and gas stations to local delis and bakeries, usually for just a few dollars. Grab two before a hike, a long drive, or an early morning flight, and you are set. Keep an eye out for fun variations too, like musubi with egg, furikake, or teriyaki chicken.
What Is Loco Moco? Meet Hilo's Gift to the World
Okay, so what is loco moco? Imagine a bed of white rice, topped with a hamburger patty, a fried egg, and a generous pour of brown gravy over everything. It is hearty, messy, a little ridiculous, and absolutely perfect after a long day of exploring or a long night of hostel hangs.
Here is where it gets fun for anyone staying with us on the Big Island. Loco moco was born right here in Hilo. The story goes that back in 1949, a group of local teenagers from a sports club asked the owners of the Lincoln Grill for something cheap, filling, and different from a sandwich. Rice in a bowl, a burger patty on top, gravy over it all. One of the kids was nicknamed "crazy"; a friend studying Spanish suggested "loco," and "moco" got tacked on simply because it rhymed. A Hawaii legend was born.
You cannot visit Hilo without paying your respects at Cafe 100, a family-run local institution that has been serving the town since 1946. The restaurant is named in honor of the founder's service with the 100th Infantry Battalion, the famed Japanese American unit from World War II, and it is known for serving dozens of loco moco variations, from the classic to versions with Spam, teriyaki, fish, and more. Order at the window, grab a picnic table, and dig in where the dish grew up.
More Local Favorites to Add to Your List
Once you have checked off the big three, keep going. The plate lunch is the everyday heart of Hawaii local food, a main dish like teriyaki beef, chicken katsu, kalua pork, or garlic shrimp served with two scoops of rice and a scoop of macaroni salad. Portions are big, so plenty of travelers stretch one plate into two meals.
Saimin, a noodle soup with Japanese, Chinese, and Filipino roots, is Hawaii's original comfort bowl and makes a perfect rainy day lunch. Manapua, the local take on a Chinese steamed bun, is stuffed with sweet char siu pork and great for snacking on the go. For dessert, line up for shave ice piled with tropical syrups, sink your teeth into a warm sugar-coated malasada from the Portuguese tradition, or grab a square of chewy butter mochi.
And if you want a taste of where it all began, try Native Hawaiian dishes like kalua pig, laulau (pork wrapped and steamed in taro leaves), and poi, the pounded taro staple that has fed the islands for centuries. Poi tastes mild and a little tangy, and locals love it alongside salty, savory dishes. Give it a fair try.
Eating Local in Wailuku, Maui
Howzit Hostels Maui sits in historic Wailuku, which is a huge win for hungry travelers. While the resort areas lean pricey, Wailuku is where Maui residents actually eat, and the food is more local, more affordable, and full of character.
Start with Sam Sato's, a family-owned spot that has been feeding Maui since 1933. Their famous dry mein, wavy saimin noodles with char siu and bean sprouts served with a side of broth for dipping, is a must, and their homemade manju (a sweet-filled pastry) makes a great snack for later. It is a breakfast and lunch kind of place, so plan your visit earlier in the day. It is just a short drive from the hostel and pairs perfectly with a morning in Iao Valley.
For poke, follow the locals to Kaohu Store, a small neighborhood market tucked into the Wailuku hills that many Maui residents swear has some of the best poke on the island. It is simple, no frills, and exactly the kind of place you would never find without someone pointing you to it. Wander around town, and you will spot plenty of other local diners, bakeries, and plate lunch counters too. And if your trip lines up with First Friday, Market Street turns into a street party full of food vendors, live music, and good vibes, just steps from your bunk.
Cheap Eats Hilo: Where the Big Island Eats
If you are on the hunt for cheap eats, Hilo might just be the best food town in Hawaii for backpackers. It is local through and through, prices tend to be friendlier than the resort side of the island, and our downtown Hilo hostel puts you within easy reach of the good stuff.
Cafe 100 is your loco moco pilgrimage, of course. For poke, head to Suisan Fish Market near the bayfront, where the selection is huge, and the fish is about as fresh as it gets. Grab a bowl and carry it over to nearby Liliʻuokalani Gardens for a picnic with views of Hilo Bay and, on a clear day, Mauna Kea in the distance.
Then there is the Hilo Farmers Market, where on the big Wednesday and Saturday market days you can find plate lunches, poke, local baked goods, and tropical fruit for an easy, affordable breakfast or lunch. Add in the town's many okazuya (local Japanese delis where you build a plate piece by piece), plate lunch counters, and family diners, and you could eat something new every day of your stay. Hilo's rain has a way of making a bowl of saimin or a plate of loco moco taste even better, too.
Two Islands, Twice the Flavor
One of the best things about staying with Howzit Hostels is that you can taste both sides of Hawaii's food scene. Maui gives you sunshine, beach days, and Wailuku's old-school diners and poke counters. Hilo gives you the rainforest, the farmers market, and the birthplace of the loco moco. A short interisland flight connects the two, and comparing poke spots between islands is a delicious way to spend a trip. Just do not ask locals to pick a winner; everyone has their favorite.
Tips for Eating Local on a Budget
A little know-how goes a long way when it comes to Hawaii local food. Here are a few simple tips:
Shop the grocery stores and fish markets. Poke by the pound and grab-and-go musubi from local markets often beat restaurant prices.
Bring some cash. Plenty of small family spots, food trucks, and market vendors are cash-only or prefer it.
Check hours before you go. Many beloved local spots are breakfast and lunch only, and some close early or on certain days.
Split or save half. Plate lunch portions are generous, so share with a hostel friend or save the rest for dinner.
Use the hostel kitchen. Pick up rice, fruit, and poke and build your own meals to stretch your budget even further.
Follow the locals. A line of work trucks in the parking lot is the best restaurant review in Hawaii.
Say "shaka" to new foods. Try the thing you cannot pronounce. That is usually where the best memories are.
Come Hungry, Leave Happy
Hawaii local food is more than just cheap eats. Every bite tells a story about the families, cultures, and traditions that shaped these islands, from the Native Hawaiian poi bowl to the Spam musubi in a gas station warmer to the loco moco invented by a bunch of hungry Hilo teenagers. It is humble, generous, and packed with aloha, just like the people who make it.
So skip the overpriced resort buffet, follow your nose to the nearest plate lunch counter, and eat your way across the islands like a local. Your taste buds (and your travel budget) will thank you.
Book Your Stay at Howzit Hostels
Ready to taste the real Hawaii? Book your stay at Howzit Hostels in Hilo or Maui and set up base camp just minutes from the poke counters, plate lunch spots, and local diners that make island food so unforgettable. Swap restaurant tips with travelers from around the world, cook up your market finds in our shared kitchen, and see where the next meal takes you. Then follow us on Instagram and TikTok for the latest travel tips, local food finds, and hostel events. Grab your chopsticks, bring your appetite, and we will see you in the islands.
