The Essential Guide to Taro: 12 Local Dishes That Showcase the Versatility of Kalo

Get a taste of taro in everything from curry and chowder to doughnuts and pie.

December 14, 2017

Catherine Toth Fox,

Clockwise from top left: poi mochi doughnuts from Liliha Bakery; poi glazed doughnuts from Kamehameha Bakery; poi pancakes from Highway Inn.

Photos: Steve Czerniak

Poi Mochi Doughnuts

Liliha Bakery

These ring-shaped doughnuts, which debuted last summer, are giving the bakery’s signature Coco Puffs some stiff—or rather, chewy—competition. The poi is evident when you pull apart the segments to reveal the bright purple dough inside. Right now, the bakery makes more than 3,000 of these doughnuts a day for its two locations.

515 N. Kuakini St., (808) 531-1651; 580 N. Nimitz Highway, (808) 537-2488; lilihabakeryhawaii.com

Taro Falafel

‘Ai Love Nalo

This charming eatery in Waimānalo specializes in plant-based food using local ingredients, and the taro falafel in the restaurant’s popular Medi Bowl is a tasty innovation. Instead of chickpea, this fritter is made with taro, fried until crispy and packed with flavor. It can even be ordered as a burger, served on a locally baked whole-wheat vegan bun smeared with baba ghanoush and beet hummus.

41-1025 Kalaniana‘ole Highway, Waimānalo, (808) 888-9102, ailovenalo.com

Poi Glazed Doughnuts

Kamehameha Bakery

These chewy doughnuts glazed with a poi-flavored sugar are easily the bakery’s top seller. Soft and fluffy on the outside, warm and gooey on the inside, these doughnuts are best eaten fresh out of the oven. Go when the bakery opens at 3 a.m.—and don’t be surprised if there’s a line.

1284 Kalani St., (808) 845-5831, kamehamehabakeryhi.com

Da Hawaiian Acai Bowl with Pa‘i‘ai

Diamond Head Cove Health Bar

This shop smartly adds pa‘i‘ai to its popular acai bowl, loaded with bananas, strawberries, blueberries, local honey and bee pollen. Perfect post-surf pick-up.

3045 Monsarrat Ave., (808) 732-8744, diamondheadcove.com

Kalo Curry

‘Umeke Market

Earlier this year, ‘Umeke Market removed meat from the menu, replacing it with more plant-based choices, including kalo curry, one of its top sellers. Locally grown taro is simmered in coconut milk with carrots, potatoes and seasoned with organic ginger and local ‘ōlena (turmeric). It’s slightly spicy, slightly sweet and all delicious.

1001 Bishop St., #110, (808) 522-7377, umekemarket.com

Kūlolo Poi Mac Nut Pie

Hawaiian Pie Co.

For the entire month of December, Hawaiian Pie Co. is serving its kūlolo poi mac nut pie, so popular that “people coming running when we make it,” says co-owner Jan Hori. The kūlolo is made in an imu, which adds a little extra flavor.

508 Waiakamilo Road, (808) 988-7828, hawaiianpieco.com

Smoked Opah Corn Chowder with Kalo

Mahina & Sun’s

Chef Ed Kenney uses kalo in dishes at all four of his restaurants—the yaki pa‘i‘ai at Mud Hen Water is a cult favorite. At his Waikīkī locale, he pairs local kalo with smoked opah and watercress in a corn chowder that’s comforting and delicious. “It’s the staple of the Native Hawaiian diet,” he says. “How could we not serve it?”

412 Lewers St., (808) 924-5810, mahinaandsuns.com

Taro Chips

Hawaiian Chip Co.

From Monday through Saturday, taro chips are sliced and fried to order at the Kalihi shop. Add your own seasonings, from the popular zesty garlic to the spicy Kīlauea Fire. The taro used comes from local farms on O‘ahu and Hawai‘i Island.

1928 Republican St., (808) 845-9868, hawaiianchipcompany.com

Poi Biscuit and Gravy

Koko Head Café

This dish, which features a house-made poi biscuit topped with mushroom gravy and a soft-poached egg, has been on the menu since the brunch spot opened in 2013. Even the kalo flour in the biscuit is made in-house.

1145 12th Ave., (808) 732-8920, kokoheadcafe.com

Poi Pancakes

Highway Inn Kaka‘ako

The poi makes these pancakes moist and the house-made haupia sauce and local mac nuts are perfect complements. The restaurant also serves a kūlolo brownie à la mode.

680 Ala Moana Blvd., #105, (808) 954-4955, myhighwayinn.com

Sweet Lady of Waiāhole

Waiāhole Poi Factory

You can’t order this without thinking of the song by Bruddah Waltah that inspired it. The simple combination of warm, freshly made kūlolo and haupia ice cream is such a perfect combination, we wondered why we’ve never had it before. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, workers hand-pound poi right in front of the rustic poi factory.

48-140 Kamehameha Highway, Kāne‘ohe, (808) 239-2222, waiaholepoifactory.com

Lū‘au Stew

Helena’s Hawaiian Food

Opened in 1946, this cash-only old-school Kalihi eatery serves top-quality Hawaiian food four days a week so good it earned a James Beard Award in 2000. Founder Helen Chock’s grandson Craig Katsuyoshi adapts with the times and cooks a vegan lū‘au stew, so diners can order just like that or with chicken, squid or beef stirred in.

1240 N. School St., (808) 845-8044, helenashawaiianfood.com

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