Fresh Fusion: Tracing the Islands’ Cuisine from Farm to Menu

A farm tour is the perfect hands-on way to learn how Hawaiʻi’s favorite foods are produced. A walk through the cloud forest farm of Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation – the largest organic coffee farm in Hawaiʻi – shows how Kona coffee is transformed from seed to cup. Stroll the lush coffee fields of Greenwell Farms, at the 440-meter elevation Hualālai volcano, and tour its production facilities to see coffee in every stage of production. Craving some chocolate to go with that world-class coffee? Head to the Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory and learn how cacao beans are manufactured into chocolate. The factory is known for its single-origin chocolate bars made with Hawaiʻi-grown criollo cacao beans.

Hawaiʻi's farmers' markets are unmatched in their beauty and abundance. Shoppers are regularly rewarded with fresh-picked island flowers, seasonal produce, local coffee and other Hawaiʻi-made products for sale, and opportunities to chat with farmers and food producers. On Oʻahu, head to the Kapiʻolani Community College Farmers' Market for local seafood, baked goods, produce and more. Maui is home to a number of farm-fresh markets as well, including the Maui Mall Farmers' Market and Craft Fair, Makawao Farmers' Market, Lipoa Street Farmers' Market and Ono Organic Farms Farmers' Market. Don’t miss samples of breadfruit and passion fruit butter or the opportunity to take home a ready-to-eat coconut. 

The farm-to-table dining movement has transformed Hawaiʻi’s restaurant scene. Skilled chefs combine locally grown ingredients and traditional Asian and Pacific island flavors with modern ingenuity to craft bold new dishes. Among the leaders of this restaurant renaissance are the Oʻahu eateries of Hawaiʻi chef Alan Wong (Alan Wong’s Honolulu and The Pineapple Room), known for their meticulously prepared takes on Hawaiʻi regional cuisine. At Roy’s restaurants, locally focused dishes include a variety of fresh fish, seafood and Hawaiʻi-raised beef. Chef Peter Merriman’s Hawaiʻi restaurants are applauded for each location’s commitment to area farmers and a dedication to innovative dishes. 

The annual Hawaiʻi Food & Wine Festival, happening in October, offers a great reason to visit Hawaiʻi. With events set for Maui, Hawaiʻi Island and Oʻahu, the festival brings together more than 100 well-known chefs and is headed by James Beard Award-winning chefs Alan Wong and Roy Yamaguchi. The festival celebrates locally grown and raised produce, seafood and meats with a schedule full of tastings and demonstrations. 

Honolulu International Airport (HNL) is the main gateway to Oʻahu and all of Hawaiʻi, but airports are available at each island for you to easily explore the entire state. Fly into Hilo (ITO) or Kona (KOA) international airports on Hawaiʻi Island, Kahului Airport (OGG) on Maui, Lānaʻi Airport (LNY) on Lānaʻi, Molokaʻi Airport (MKK) on Molokaʻi and Līhuʻe Airport (LIH) on Kauaʻi.