We Tried It: Our Must-Try Short List of 24 Hawai‘i-Made Beef Jerky Flavors

Thin, crispy Hawai‘i-made beef jerky is officially a thing.

July 25, 2019

Robbie Dingeman, Photos by Aaron K. Yoshino,

Beef jerky cut so thin it crackles when you bite it can be found in more flavors and places than ever. Here are our crunch-time favorites:

All in Beef Jerky

One of the crispy O‘ahu jerky old-timers, All in Beef Jerky was established in 2012. Our tasters liked the spicy jerky: a little kick, a satisfying crunch, not too salty. Available online, at Hula Dog Kūhiō in Waikīkī and ‘Ohana Hale Marketplace. The company even delivers.

$12, (808) 232-4912, allinbeefjerky.com.

Aloha Edibles

Its jerky, founded in 2013, is branded as Paniolo and packaged in a foil-lined pouch to keep the beef crispy for at least six months. The company has gone through the stringent inspections required to win USDA approval. Paniolo started with our tasters’ pick, traditional, original and pepper, with new flavors expected soon.

$11–$13, 94-334 Uke‘e St., Waipahu, (808) 732-2292, alohaedibles.com.

De.Hi

Shorthand for dehydrate in Hawai‘i, De.Hi jerky is sold at Beer Lab HI as well as at its shop on Sand Island. Even in the office, without any beer, we couldn’t stop eating the thin, crunchy Chiyaki, which combines chipotle and teriyaki to make you want to keep munching. Other flavors include spicy, garlic and black pepper. De.Hi is USDA approved and includes nutrition info.

$9.99 for 2.5 ounce bag, $4.99 for 1.25 ounce bag, 111 Sand Island Access Road, (808) 425-4941, dehifoods.com.

Jerky Labs

Puna Kaneakua’s business card lists his title as Mad Scientist to reflect the small company’s approach to whipping up a long list of fun, creative flavors of thin crispy jerky based on customer suggestions. They include: garlic Parmesan, maple Sriracha and our favorite, lemongrass.

$11, (808) 551-5427, jerkylabshawaii.com.

Snack Addicted

We heard “oxtail soup jerky” and had to track down owner Davin Fukumoto. The soup flavor won praise from our top jerky expert for balance and actual oxtail seasoning. Two other crowd favorites: Buffalo ranch and spicy green dragon, both made with no added sugar, a request from a bodybuilder friend.

$12, 1234 Kona St., Second Floor, snackaddictedhi.com.

Tasty Jerky

Adobo flavor with that telltale pop of vinegar edged ahead of sweet, red chewy char siu and Korean style, but we still want to try guava. This company gets extra points for using grass-fed Big Island beef.

$12, 95-020 Waihau St., Mililani, (808) 784-0390, tastyjerkyhawaii.com.