Ono Hawaiian Food

For months during my daily commute I drove past this little hole-in-the-wall restaurant on Kapahulu Street called Ono Hawaiian Food. I was mildly curious, but I figured that I'd get around to checking it out soon because (a) it was within easy walking distance from my apartment, and (b) I make it a practice to try something new every couple of nights for dinner. I had only a couple of months left in Hawai'i when I finally went in for the first time -- and I went back three or four times in the time I had left. Darn, I wish that I had discovered it for myself earlier! I loved the first thing I ordered so much that that was all I ordered upon subsequent visits (so much for trying new things). I had the chicken lau lau combination plate, to go. They give you a piping hot lau lau, pipikaula (spicy beef or pork jerky), poi or rice, lomi lomi salmon, haupia (a firm coconut pudding), some raw onions, a little container of hot sauce, and a little kosher salt twisted in wax paper.


What is lau lau? The filling can be anything, usually pork but it can be chicken, fish, vegetables or a combination of several, which is steamed in an inner layer of taro leaves and an outer layer of ti leaves. The taro leaves become soft like spinach, and, although I was initially unsure if it was part of the meal, I tried some of it and found that it went well with the salty chicken inside. This is also part of the purpose of the poi; it is bland by itself, so it combines perfectly with spicy or salty food like the lau lau or pipikaula. I really fell in love with poi after eating it with these combination plates from Ono Hawaiian Food. I added the bit of salt to the poi and even the onions, and it made a great side dish. When you put in your order, they might ask you if you want fresh or day-old poi. GET THE DAY-OLD. It has a slightly tangy-fizzy flavor from a day of fermentation, barely noticeable but I think that it adds tremendously to the experience. The lomi lomi salmon is essentially bits of chopped, raw, salted salmon mixed with chopped onions, tomatoes and some red pepper flakes. It's pretty good, but the highlight is definitely the lau lau and poi. It's a great, unique, healthy Hawaiian meal.