Maui, Lahaina Town- Here's a brief little lesson about Maui and its people, what are we about, and how we roll. First of all, Maui is a very unique island with a little bit of the past, and a little future, but the beauty of Maui is well, the people here want it mellow, we don't want Maui to be another Honolulu, we don't.
So if you come here for the first time, know this. That Maui is a melting pot of people and cultures, New York claims that, San Francisco claims that, no doubt look at those two cities, it is two port cities and we all know very well where there's a port, people will flock. Hawaii and my island Maui is just that a melting pot of people from all over the world. But there's one thing that you ought to know, we like all people, if they're cool and respect the island and the culture. If not? Get the fuck outta here!
So as far as what to expect, for people and food, here's a run down on what different people like to eat.
The Hawaiians... to be more specific Kanaka Maoli, the native the people are seafood lovers, as well as pork, beef, poultry, and plant lovers. The ancients were fishermen and farmers, and they are very self sufficient. The foods?
-Lau Lau, a meal wrapped in taro and ti leaves. Usually there's pork, beef, and butter fish inside, and seasoned with Hawaiian salt. It is steamed in an imu or underground oven, or modern day chefs will utilize a regular oven or use a stove top steamer.
-Kalua Pork, is a whole pig dressed, with Hawaiian salt rubbed inside of the cavity of the pig and outside, and roasted in an imu, or modern day chefs will use a regular oven or a steamer on the stove.
-Huli Huli Chicken, is usually whole chickens cut in half, and seasoned with a soy sauce, marinade (all chefs have different concoctions), and then put on a revolving grill over an open flame made with kiawe wood, the chicken takes some time to cook, this an out door event, and our version of grilling.
-Grilled opihi, or limpets, are clam like, these creatures hang on to beach rock, hunters scoop them off of the rocks, clean them out, and grill them over a hot kiawe charcoal grill. The eaters pour soy sauce, or chili pepper water over it.
The Japanese:
Teriyaki Beef or Chicken, one of the most famous dishes that the Japanese shared with the rest of the world.
Sukiyaki, is like teriyaki almost, but is grilled at the table, and usually dipped in a raw egg mixture.
Sushi, before the Cal roll or Caterpillar roll came into fruition, cone sushi and maki sushi was eaten almost everyday.
Musubi is another one, at first it was a ball of white rice that was cooked of course, with a salted plum in the middle, or ume (oo may). Wrapped with nori a seaweed wrap.
Nishime (Nee shee may), somewhat like a Japanese braise. Some chefs will use pork, chicken, ginger, garlic, mirin, soy sauce, rice noodles, bamboo shoots, seaweed (kombu), and dried tofu or aburage (ah boo rah gay).
Oyakodon (Oh yah koh don), is Japanese for Rice Bowl, and in an Oyakodon, anything can be added inside, chicken, beef, pork, fish, seafood, veggies, and seasoned however the chef wants it.
Well this is just a little information for you. Other types of food be on the look out for is foods from China, Honolulu has the finest restaurants in Hawaii for Chinese, though there's a few on Maui. Fu Lin on Front Street Lahaina, and Dragon Dragon in the Maui Mall in Kahului is good. For Hawaiian food, Aloha Mixed Plate, No Ka Oi Deli in Lahaina is good, or any hotel luau will suffice.
For Japanese, my favorite place is Zushi located in the Lahaina Square Shopping Center in Lahaina. Run by a one woman crew, a very simple menu, her tempuras are awesome. Also Tokyo Tei in the Puuone Towers, ground leven in Wailuku town. Okay now you got to go and goole where these places are at.
Phone numbers when on Maui
Aloha Mixed Plate 808-6613322
No Ka Oi Deli 808-667-2244
Fu Lin Chinese 808-661-7071
Zushi Japanese 808-667-5142 (the deep fried chicken teri is the best!)
Dragon Dragon Chinese 808-893-1628
Hope you'll catch a flight soon!
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