Kitchen Essentials.
CurtisJ category picks
Kitchen Essentials from a Hawaii kitchen point of view.
16 RECIPES · UPDATED MARCH 2026
Start here
Start with the first story here, then keep going with the recipes and guides that make the whole section clearer.
“Li hing mui is the sweet-sour-salty plum powder Hawaii throws on fruit, candy, and shave ice when plain sweet is not enough.”
What Is Li Hing Mui? Hawaii’s Sweet-Sour-Salty Obsession Explained
Li hing mui is the sweet-sour-salty plum powder Hawaii throws on fruit, candy, and shave ice when plain sweet is not enough.
What Is Taro? Hawaii’s Most Sacred Ingredient Explained
Taro is the plant behind poi, lau lau leaves, and some of the deepest cultural meaning in Hawaii’s food story.
Best Hawaiian Seasonings, Spices, and Rubs for Island Cooking
The best Hawaiian seasonings are the ones that make local cooking taste clearer, not busier: good salt, shoyu, furikake, chili water, and a few smart extras.
The classics
The recipes from this chapter that come up over and over.
Best Hawaiian Cookbooks – Learn to Cook Island Style
The best Hawaiian cookbooks teach local food without sanding off the context, the pantry, or the way these dishes are actually eaten.
Best Bento Boxes for Hawaiian Plate Lunch and Meal Prep
The best bento boxes for Hawaiian plate lunch hold rice, proteins, and sides without crushing the food or turning lunch into cleanup work.
What Is Poi? Hawaii’s Ancient and Sacred Staple Food
Poi is the pounded taro staple at the center of Hawaiian food culture, with a taste and meaning that go far beyond tourist curiosity.
Best Hawaiian Snacks & Treats to Order Online (2026 Guide)
The best Hawaiian snacks to order online are the ones that still taste like a real local craving once they get to your door, not just a gift-box cliché.
New here
More from this chapter, in order of when CurtisJ filed it.
Best Soy Sauces & Asian Condiments for Hawaiian Cooking (2026 Guide)
The best soy sauces and Asian condiments for Hawaiian cooking are the ones that make marinades, noodles, rice, and dipping sauces taste sharper instead of muddier.
Best Kona Coffee Brands Worth Buying (2026 Guide)
The best Kona coffee brands taste like actual Kona, not marketing copy and blend percentages doing the heavy lifting.
Best Hawaiian Hot Sauces You Can Buy Online (2026 Guide)
The best Hawaiian hot sauces bring heat with personality, whether that means chili pepper water brightness or thicker sauces with real island-grown pepper flavor.
Best Spam Musubi Makers & Accessories (2026 Guide)
The best musubi makers and accessories are the ones that make shaping faster without turning a simple snack into a drawer full of gadgets.
Cutting Board Guide: Wood, Bamboo, or Plastic for Hawaiian Cooking
Wood, bamboo, or plastic — which cutting board is right for your Hawaiian kitchen? A practical guide to choosing and using the right boards for poke prep, vegetable cutti...
Essential Hawaiian Kitchen Utensils You Didn’t Know You Needed
From musubi molds to bamboo steamers, these are the essential (and often overlooked) kitchen utensils that make Hawaiian cooking easier, more authentic, and a whole lot m...
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