Hawaii, known for it’s Kings and Queens, easily makes a vegan feel like royalty. Finding colorful meals and snacks on trees and tables around nearly every corner earns Hawaii it’s proper place on the planet for enlightened eaters.
From wild, fruit laden trees to homestead stands offering hand lettered signs to sell papayas, tomatoes and buttery avocados for a buck to Farmer’s Markets, it’s an exciting road trip. It seems that all one really needs in life to survive well in paradise is a cutting board and sharp knife in backseat. And, maybe, a tub of great dressing or dip for good measure?
Plant based people know that planning and prep is key, and even more so when traveling. Our itinerary canvassed all points of the island, much of it very rural. Since hikes to the bases of heavenly valleys lead to waterfalls, not chain restaurants, we planned picnics many days.
Strategy 1: Picnics in Paradise
Picnics are fun to plan and pack. Except when you’re staying in a hotel room. Planning and lists were key to our success. Vegan picnics are naturally more creative. No throwing slabs of deli meat in and calling it good. For this challenge, we stocked up at the local markets near where we were staying around the island. Our adventures and post hike lunches included sandwiches or wraps filled with hummus, veggies, olives, pickles, you name it. On the first day, the grocery list included a sharp knife, paper plates & flatware, plastic wrap, a cooler… And more. Yes, a bit of investment to outfit your “mobile” kitchen. Hotel rooms with mini kitchens certainly come in handy for this strategy. Or, a great grocery Deli counter. One had a vegan kale and Okinawan potato (purple, sweet potato) salad. Topped with balsamic dressing, BTW. It was outrageously good. I definitely took two ‘To Go’. The million dollar views while eating lunch or dinner over the pounding surf or the top of a volcano are always included with your meal. No waiting for your table. That deserved a nice tip for this chef and server.
Strategy 2: Winging It
With surprisingly decent data service on pockets of the island, it was fairly easy to find off-the-beaten-path places on the screen. There was also an amazing number of roadside fruit and veggie stands. We made some great discoveries. For example, on the east side of the island along a less traveled scenic drive, sits a happy yellow plantation smoothie stand. It has outdoor porch seating. It’s called What’s Shakin. Call it a tropical, vegetarian drive-in? Enjoy your ice cold cracked coconut under the palms (and east coast rain) and one of the island’s best smoothies. Pele Power, Green Goddess and Blue Hawaii live up to their names. Oh, and a very nice selection of excellent entrees, for both herbivores and stubborn omnivores. For another example, up north, out of Waimea’s cattle ranching district, we found an outdoor community market. (It was a random weekday, hooray for Hawaii!) We tried our luck at a vegan food truck (nice, right?!) and ended up with a fresh vegan tomato soup and a tarragon, macadamia nut grilled “cheese” sandwich. They call it Mac-Nut Cheese and it’s found around the Island. For another example in winging it, we ran out of luck and ended up having to be held over with our bag of almonds and a forgotten, overly ripe banana. Not ideal.
Strategy 3: Do Patronize the Plant Based Restaurants
Small business comprises the majority of the island’s economy and it’s heartening to see a new crop of passionate Plant-y’s pop up with their culinary talents. We tried them all (listed below) and loved the selections. If we’ve missed any let us know. Admittedly, there was a not-so perfect experience (employee issues). Reread the first sentence: Small Business. Another important tip is to make sure you inquire about vegan versus vegetarian items. A couple included cheese on an otherwise “vegan” entree.
In Kona, Herbivores, Journey Cafe and Barefoot Zone all had offerings that should make anyone completely forget meat and dairy ever existed. If gorgeously presented fruit bowls, savory falafel wraps, chickpea club sandwiches, plant based sushi or gourmet nachos with loads of “cheese” aren’t enough for your group, there’s always the McDonald’s across the street with their SPAM entrees. We’ll table that thought for now and stick with their McOatmeal.
Bonus points for all the inspiring factoids around Herbivores cafe about what vegans save on a daily or monthly basis. In Hilo, Vibe is making lots of friends (very busy) and achieving ‘best of’ awards. We went “traditional” here with tasty hand, held “burgers” and a huge Greek salad with amazing dressing. This is a safe place to convert or feed a carnivore with veganized
comfort foods. Up the street is Sweet Cane Cafe which promotes their cane juice and, perhaps a niche community? We noticed lots of sprouts, hugs and hand holding.
In the resort/golf community of Kamuela on the Northwest coast you’ll find Under the Bodhi Tree. Our Reuben featured thick slabs of tofu, good sauerkraut and vegan Thousand. A couple of obviously happy regulars were enjoying their spicy Mango Kale Pitas and housemade veggie burgers.
Strategy 4: Do a Meet and Eat with the Farmers At the Markets
Hawaii’s famous rainbows are more than logos and flashes in the sky, the rainbows may begin at Hawaiian Farmers Markets.
With over a dozen Farmer’s Markets on the big island, you could spend an entire vacation just scheduling them all. The juicy fruits, tropical flowers, treats and homemade wares invite you to linger and chat.
For a mainlander who thought they knew their edible plants, eyeing massive piles of unknown reds, yellows, greens and oranges raises many questions. What’s this? What’s that? Do you grow it on a tree? Is it a root? A fruit? It’s spiky! Vendors are happy to explain and cut a taste. Sour, sweet, bitter.
If the colors don’t engage your dimples, the prices will. I had to force myself to walk away after filling a bag in exchange for nearly nothing. I had change in the bottom of my purse and didn’t even break my five.
Strategy 5: Kona Coffee is Vegan
When deciding where to go, what to eat, you can always have a cup of coffee while doing your research. Make it a Kona. After an extended tour at a local coffee plantation in the Kona hills, we became Level One coffee experts. (A made up certification but it sounds good.) At Level One, you start to understand how superior Kona coffee is and why. You may even pick up a wee bit of snobbery. It could be in the misty breezes cooling the hills above the vast horizon. If so, the Aloha Spirit probably has a disclaimer and cuts some slack for snobbery in this case. The coffee beans that grow in the perfectly drained volcanic soil are very good. World Class. And, unfortunately, counterfeited. (Ask about the tragic history of the greedy coffee brokers.) For the pure product, who would even think about adding dairy to a brew like that?, he said. Good point.
