The Winner of the Fan Favorite Vote at Frolic’s 2026 Poke Fest Is …
Can you say kaffir? Plus a surprise new runner-up: Check out the results below.
Photo: Andrea Lee
Frolic’s 9th Annual Poke Fest is a wrap, thanks to thousands of hungry poke fans, vendors, volunteers and sponsors. And it was ‘ono! You came, pushed through 20 minutes of rain, came back out and made Hawai‘i’s biggest poke celebration a success.
When all the tents had been taken down and everybody went home, we started counting. Voting for this year’s fan favorite King of Poke Fest title was fierce. The top vote getters included perennial favorites, but this year there was—drum roll, please—a surprise runner-up. And a brand new King of Poke Fest!
SEE ALSO: Parade of Poke: All the New Poke Coming to Frolic’s May 16 Poke Fest
Mad respect for all 15 vendors who put their best poke creations forward for this contest. Your imagination helps evolve our beloved local staple, often to new heights. Poke fans, vendors frequently add their Poke Fest entries to their daily poke rotations, so check with individual shops about your new favorites.
Finally, let us take a moment to pay respects to Tamashiro Market. The Kalihi legend closed in April after 85 years as one of the Islands’ best fresh fish and poke markets, but before staffing shortages shortened market hours in 2022 and pulled the plug on Poke Fest participation, Tamashiro was King of Poke Fest for three years running.
SEE ALSO: In Their Words: Cyrus and Guy Tamashiro on the End of Tamashiro Market
Here are the results of the Poke Fest fan favorite vote:
Honorable mention: Guaiqueri Hawai‘i
Margarita Poke Bomba, Guaiqueri Hawai‘i. Photo: Andrea Lee
Margarita Poke Bomba—Golden-fried empanada, cracked open and loaded with Margarita Island-style shoyu poke. Served with black truffle cream sauce and sweet ají dulce relish
3rd place: Local Poke Bowl
Ginger shoyu ‘ahi poke, Local Poke Bowl. Photo: Andrea Lee
Ginger Soy ‘Ahi Poke—Tossed with miso garlic chili oil, namasu & fried wonton
2nd place: HanaPa‘a Market
Caesar ‘ahi poke, HanaPa‘a Market. Photo: Andrea Lee
Caesar ‘Ahi Poke—With ‘Ewa tomato jam, He‘eia pohole parmesan toast
1st place: Ali‘i Fish Market
Chile kaffir ‘ahi poke with lemongrass shoyu, Ali‘i Fish Market. Photo: Andrea Lee
Chile Kaffir ‘Ahi Poke with Lemongrass Shoyu—Fresh local ‘ahi, Aloun Farms sweet onion, local kaffir lime and herbs, Hawaiian & Thai chiles, uCook Hawai‘i lemongrass sauce, crispy rice noodles
Chef Robin Abad mixing Ali‘i Fish Market’s chile kaffir ‘ahi poke with lemongrass shoyu. Photo: Andrea Lee
Congratulations to all! And ho‘omaika‘i to Ali‘i Fish Market, no longer in second or third place, but the official 2026 King of Poke Fest!
Mahalo to Our Sponsors:
