If you're staying in Waikīkī and want to try traditional Hawaiian food during your visit, you don't have to limit your meals to restaurants around your hotel. A trip to Windward Oʻahu gives you another opportunity to experience dishes such as Kalua Pig, Laulau, poi, and Chicken Long Rice.

At Waiāhole Poi Factory, we welcome visitors who want to include a Hawaiian meal in their time exploring Oʻahu. Our original restaurant is located in Waiāhole Valley along Kamehameha Highway, and we also serve Hawaiian food at Windward Mall in Kāneʻohe.

Neither location is in Waikīkī, so visiting us requires some planning. This guide will help you decide which location fits your day, what you can order, and what to check before making the trip.

Why Include Traditional Hawaiian Food in Your Oʻahu Visit?

Hawaiʻi has a diverse food culture, and you'll encounter different kinds of meals throughout your stay.

One familiar option is the local-style plate lunch, often served with white rice, macaroni salad, and a main dish such as chicken katsu or teriyaki beef. That style of meal reflects the many cultures that have shaped food in Hawaiʻi.

Traditional Hawaiian food has its own dishes and preparation methods. Kalo, or taro, plays an important role, particularly in poi and foods prepared using taro leaves. Other familiar Hawaiian dishes include Kalua Pig, Laulau, and Lomi Salmon.

Our menu is inspired by foods served at a traditional Hawaiian lūʻau. Rather than following the standard rice-and-macaroni-salad format, our Hawaiian plates bring together traditional entrées with a choice of rice or poi, alongside Lomi Salmon and Haupia.

If you're new to these foods, visiting us gives you an opportunity to try several dishes during one meal.

What Can You Order at Waiāhole Poi Factory?

You don't need to know every Hawaiian dish before arriving. Our plate options make it possible to start with one entrée or try a combination.

Our Hawaiian food menu includes four main meal options.

If it's your first visit, our Combo Plate offers a way to experience two different preparations without ordering separate full plates.

For example, you might choose Kalua Pig and Chicken Long Rice. Our Kalua Pig is slow-cooked and smoked for twelve hours, then shredded and seasoned with Hawaiian sea salt. Chicken Long Rice combines chicken and rice noodles in a ginger and chicken broth.

If you prefer something wrapped and steamed, consider Laulau. Ours contains pork with a touch of butterfish, wrapped in taro leaves.

Choosing poi instead of rice on an eligible plate is another way to become familiar with a traditional Hawaiian staple.

Choosing Between Our Waiāhole Valley and Windward Mall Locations

Before leaving Waikīkī, consider whether you're planning a longer outing along the Windward coast or simply want to stop for Hawaiian food while visiting Kāneʻohe.

Visit Our Original Waiāhole Valley Location

Our original restaurant is at 48-140 Kamehameha Highway, Kāneʻohe, HI 96744.

The building was constructed as a poi factory in 1905. The Hoe family took over the building in 1971, and our full-time Hawaiian food restaurant opened in 2009.

This location connects our present-day food service with the history of the building and our family's work in Waiāhole.

It's also where we offer our hand-pounded poi and Pa'i'ai, prepared using the traditional board and stone.

If you're traveling along Kamehameha Highway and want to include Hawaiian food in your Windward Oʻahu outing, our Waiāhole location is a natural place to plan a meal.

Original location hours:

• Wednesday through Monday: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
• Tuesday: Closed

Visit Our Windward Mall Location

You can also find us inside the lower-level food court at Windward Mall, 46-056 Kamehameha Highway, Kāneʻohe, HI 96744.

This location may suit your plans if you're already spending time in Kāneʻohe or prefer a food court setting.

Unlike our original location, our Windward Mall counter is open on Tuesdays and offers later evening hours on certain days.

Windward Mall 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

The two locations have menu differences. In particular, hand-pounded poi and Pa'i'ai are available at our original Waiāhole location, not at Windward Mall.

You can review our locations and current business hours before deciding where to visit.

Want to Try Hand-Pounded Poi? Plan Around Availability

If one of your reasons for leaving Waikīkī is to experience hand-pounded poi, you'll want to plan more carefully.

At our original Waiāhole location, we prepare Hand Pounded Poi and Pa'i'ai using a traditional board and stone. This is separate from the regular poi option offered with our Hawaiian plates.

Our scheduled hand-pounding days are Wednesdays and Sundays.

However, production depends on the kalo harvest, weather, and staffing. Batches are limited, and hand-pounded poi may not be available every scheduled day.

Call our Waiāhole location at (808) 239-2222 before making a special trip for hand-pounded poi or Pa'i'ai. Our team can confirm the schedule and help you reserve an order.

If you're simply coming for a Hawaiian meal, you can still explore our regular plate and side options without planning your entire outing around a pounding day.

Make Room for a Hawaiian Dessert

After your meal, you may want to try our Sweet Lady of Waiahole.

It's our signature dessert, made with warm, house-made Kulolo topped with Haupia-flavored ice cream.

Kulolo is a traditional Hawaiian dessert prepared from taro, coconut milk, and sugar. We steam ours for twenty-four hours, giving it a distinctive texture.

The Sweet Lady brings the warm Kulolo together with cold ice cream, offering a different way to enjoy kalo after a savory meal.

You can find our Sweet Lady of Waiahole and other desserts on our full menu.

How to Plan Your Meal Before Leaving Waikīkī

A little preparation can make it easier to include our restaurant in your Oʻahu plans.

Choose your location first. If you're exploring the Windward coast and want to visit our historic Waiāhole restaurant, plan around its Wednesday-through-Monday schedule. If you're heading into Kāneʻohe, our Windward Mall location may be a more convenient stop.

Look over the menu before you travel. Knowing whether you want a Single Plate, Combo Plate, or Kanaka Nui can help you decide what to order when you arrive.

Check hand-pounded poi availability separately. If that's the main purpose of your trip, call ahead rather than assuming a batch will be available.

Use our online ordering option when appropriate. We offer pickup ordering through Toast, with separate ordering options for our Waiāhole and Windward Mall locations. Select the correct location when placing your order.

You can find the ordering options through our official website.

Enjoy Traditional Hawaiian Food During Your Oʻahu Stay

Whether you're staying in Waikīkī for a few days or spending longer exploring Oʻahu, traditional Hawaiian food can be a meaningful part of your visit.

At Waiāhole Poi Factory, our goal is to share Hawaiian food traditions through the dishes we prepare and the history behind them.

If your plans bring you to Windward Oʻahu, we'd be happy to welcome you at our original Waiāhole Valley restaurant or our Windward Mall counter.

Before you head out, explore our menu and choose the location that works for your visit.

Mahalo for your support.

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