A Hawaiian plate lunch brings together dishes that have been part of island gatherings for generations. From tender Kalua Pig and steamed Laulau to poi, Lomi Salmon, and Haupia, each part of the meal has its own place in Hawaiʻi's food traditions.

At Waiāhole Poi Factory, our menu is inspired by the foods served at a traditional Hawaiian lūʻau. Whether you grew up eating these dishes or you're trying Hawaiian food for the first time, we welcome you to enjoy a plate prepared with care.

Our story is rooted in Waiāhole Valley, where our original building dates back to 1905. Today, we continue sharing Hawaiian food at our historic Waiāhole location and our second location at Windward Mall.

Want to see what's on the menu? Explore our Hawaiian plate lunches and traditional dishes.

What Is a Traditional Hawaiian Plate Lunch?

A Hawaiian plate lunch is a complete meal featuring traditional Hawaiian dishes, usually with a starch such as rice or poi and accompanying sides.

It's helpful to understand the difference between traditional Hawaiian food and the broader local plate lunch culture.

The local plate lunch developed through Hawaiʻi's multicultural food history, including its plantation-era communities. Familiar versions might include teriyaki beef, chicken katsu, rice, and macaroni salad.

Traditional Hawaiian plates focus on a different collection of foods. Kalua Pig, Laulau, poi, and dishes prepared with lūʻau leaves are closely associated with Hawaiian cooking.

Neither meal needs to be compared as better than the other. They represent different parts of Hawaiʻi's food culture.

At our restaurant, you can build your plate around traditional Hawaiian entrées and choose rice or poi. Our Single Plate, Combo Plate, and Kanaka Nui also include Lomi Salmon and Haupia

Traditional Hawaiian Dishes You'll Find on Our Menu

One of the joys of a Hawaiian plate lunch is discovering how the dishes complement one another. Some have rich, savory flavors, while others provide a milder contrast.

Here's what goes into some of the dishes we serve.

Kalua Pig

Our Kalua Pig starts with pork butt that we slow-cook and smoke for twelve hours. We then shred the pork and season it with Hawaiian sea salt.

The result is tender, smoky pork that pairs naturally with either rice or poi.

If you're unfamiliar with Hawaiian food, Kalua Pig is a good place to begin because its flavors are straightforward and familiar.

Laulau

Laulau is a traditional Hawaiian dish made by wrapping meat in taro leaves and steaming it until tender.

Our Laulau contains pork and a touch of butterfish, wrapped and steamed in taro leaves.

The leaves contribute a distinctive flavor to the dish, while the steaming process brings the ingredients together.

Laulau is a good choice when you want to experience a preparation that is closely connected with traditional Hawaiian cooking.

Chicken Long Rice

Our Chicken Long Rice combines chicken and rice noodles in a ginger and chicken broth.

Despite the name, the noodles are not the same as a serving of white rice. They have a soft texture and absorb the savory broth.

Chicken Long Rice offers a different experience from our pork and beef dishes, making it a useful choice when putting together a combination plate.

Beef Lu'au

Our Beef Lu'au is made with braised beef chuck, onions, ginger, and taro leaves cooked until tender.

The taro leaves become part of the stew, bringing their own flavor and texture to the beef.

If you enjoy slow-cooked dishes, Beef Lu'au is worth considering alongside Kalua Pig or Chicken Long Rice.

Squid Lu'au

Our Squid Lu'au is another traditional Hawaiian favorite.

Our menu describes this dish as thinly sliced octopus cooked until tender with taro leaves, coconut milk, and Hawaiian sea salt.

The coconut milk gives the dish a creamy consistency, while the lūʻau leaves contribute an earthy character.

If you're trying a Hawaiian plate with multiple entrées, Squid Lu'au provides a different texture and flavor from the meat-based selections.

Poi

Poi is made from kalo, or taro, a plant with deep cultural importance in Hawaiʻi.

The taro is cooked, then milled or pounded and mixed with water until it reaches a smooth consistency.

Poi is traditionally enjoyed alongside other Hawaiian foods rather than treated as a dessert. Its mild, earthy flavor pairs especially well with savory dishes like Kalua Pig and Laulau.

At Waiāhole Poi Factory, poi is an important part of our food and our history.

We also offer a separate hand-pounded poi specialty at our original Waiāhole location on Wednesdays and Sundays, depending on the kalo harvest, weather, and staffing. We use the traditional board and stone for this preparation.

Hand-pounded poi is different from the standard poi option included with our plates. If you're visiting specifically to purchase Hand Pounded Poi or Pa'i'ai, please call our Waiāhole location at (808) 239-2222 to confirm availability and arrange a reservation.

Lomi Salmon and Haupia

Our Hawaiian plates also include two familiar accompaniments.

Lomi Salmon combines salt-cured salmon with diced tomatoes, onion, and green onion. Its salty flavor and vegetables provide a contrast to the richer entrées.

Haupia is a traditional coconut dessert with a soft, custard-like consistency. It's a simple way to finish a meal featuring savory Hawaiian dishes.

These sides are included with our Single Plate, Combo Plate, and Kanaka Nui.

How to Choose Your Hawaiian Plate Lunch

We offer several ways to enjoy our traditional Hawaiian dishes, whether you'd like one entrée or a plate with multiple favorites.

The key is choosing how many dishes you want to try.

Our bowls are offered with Beef Luau, Chicken Long Rice, Kalua Pig, or Squid Luau. Bowls come with rice, not poi, and Laulau is not a bowl option.

You can review the current selections and prices on our full menu.

Trying Hawaiian Food for the First Time?

If you're unsure where to begin, consider a Combo Plate.

You could pair Kalua Pig with Laulau to try two pork dishes prepared in different ways. Or choose Kalua Pig and Chicken Long Rice for a combination of smoky meat and ginger broth.

If you'd like to explore more of our menu in one meal, the Kanaka Nui brings together several traditional Hawaiian favorites.

We call it "The Works!"

There's no special rule for enjoying your plate. Taste each dish on its own, try poi alongside the savory entrées, and find the combinations you enjoy.

Poi or Rice: Which Should You Choose?

Both rice and poi work well with a Hawaiian plate, but they offer different eating experiences.

Choose Poi for a Traditional Hawaiian Staple

Poi has a smooth consistency and a mild, earthy taste. It complements Kalua Pig, Laulau, and other richly flavored dishes without overpowering them.

Choose Rice for a Familiar Starch

Rice has a more neutral flavor and a different texture. It's a familiar accompaniment for customers who prefer their Hawaiian entrées with white rice.

If it's your first experience with poi, trying it with Kalua Pig is one way to become familiar with its flavor.

Poi isn't meant to compete with the other dishes on the plate. It's part of how a traditional Hawaiian meal comes together.

Our Waiāhole Poi Factory Story

Our connection to Hawaiian food goes beyond the dishes on our menu.

Our original Waiāhole building was constructed in 1905 and operated as a poi factory until 1971.

That year, Calvin and Charlene Hoe took over the building and helped give it a new purpose as an art gallery.

During the 1980s, our family worked with members of the Waiāhole Valley community to restore the kitchen and bring poi production back to the property. The space later served as an incubator kitchen where local families could explore food-processing ideas.

In 2009, we returned to the building's culinary roots by opening our full-time Hawaiian food and hand-pounded poi restaurant.

Our purpose has been to create a place where Hawaiian food traditions can continue to be shared with the community and visitors.

Our motto remains:

Hānai i ka ʻai, hānai i ke aloha.

To nourish with food, to nourish with love.

For us, sharing a Hawaiian plate is part of carrying that purpose forward.

You can read more about our family's journey on our history page.

Where to Get Hawaiian Plate Lunch on Oʻahu

You can enjoy our Hawaiian food at two locations on the Windward side of Oʻahu.

Original Waiāhole Valley Location

Address: 48-140 Kamehameha Hwy, Kāneʻohe, HI 96744

Our original restaurant is located in the historic Waiāhole poi factory building.

This is the location to visit if you'd like to connect your meal with the place where our family's food traditions continue.

It's also where we offer our specialty Hand Pounded Poi and Pa'i'ai on Wednesdays and Sundays, subject to availability.

Hours: Wednesday through Monday, 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM. Closed Tuesdays.

Phone: (808) 239-2222

Order pickup from our Waiāhole Valley location.

Windward Mall Food Court

Address: 46-056 Kamehameha Hwy, Kāneʻohe, HI 96744

Our Windward Mall location offers another way to enjoy our Hawaiian dishes, with convenient food court access and extended operating hours.

It's an option for customers looking for Hawaiian food while shopping or picking up a meal in Kāneʻohe.

Hours:

• Monday through Thursday: 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM
• Friday and Saturday: 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM
• Sunday: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM

Phone: (808) 235-7685

Hand Pounded Poi and Pa'i'ai are not sold at our mall location.

Order pickup from our Windward Mall location.

Bringing Traditional Hawaiian Food to Your Next Gathering

Hawaiian dishes are also an important part of family celebrations and shared meals.

If you're planning a gathering, our Hawaiian food catering menu includes traditional favorites such as Kalua Pig, Chicken Long Rice, Beef Luau, Squid Luau, Lomi Salmon, Laulau, and poi.

We cater occasions ranging from small company lunches of 10 people to large family gatherings of more than 100 guests.

Our catering menu offers several pan sizes and individual selections, making it possible to plan around your guest count and the dishes you'd like to serve.

Please allow a minimum of 48 hours' notice for catering orders. For gatherings with more than 40 people, we require at least one week's notice.

To discuss your catering order, contact us at (808) 239-2222 or waiaholepoi@gmail.com.

Finish Your Meal With the Sweet Lady of Waiahole

If you'd like to try a Hawaiian dessert after your plate lunch, we invite you to explore our signature Sweet Lady of Waiahole.

We prepare it with warm, house-made Kulolo topped with Haupia-flavored ice cream.

Kulolo is made from taro, coconut milk, and sugar, then steamed for twenty-four hours. Paired with the creamy ice cream, it offers another way to experience taro beyond poi and savory Hawaiian dishes.

Our menu also includes Haupia Ice Cream, Kulolo, and the Tahitian Sweet Lady, made with warm Banana Po'e and Haupia Ice Cream.

Ready for a Hawaiian Plate Lunch? Order From Waiāhole Poi Factory

Whether you're craving Kalua Pig and Laulau, looking forward to a plate of Chicken Long Rice, or ready to try poi for the first time, we'd love to share our food with you.

Choose a Single Plate with your favorite entrée, build a Combo Plate with two Hawaiian dishes, or order our Kanaka Nui if you want to enjoy a wider selection.

Ready to enjoy traditional Hawaiian food? Choose your location and place your pickup order today.

• Order Online: Waiāhole Valley
• Order Online: Windward Mall
• View Our Full Hawaiian Food Menu
• Explore Hawaiian Food Catering

Hānai i ka ʻai, hānai i ke aloha. To nourish with food, to nourish with love.

Come share a Hawaiian plate with us. We look forward to serving you. Mahalo for your support!

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