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Throwing a Hawaiian luau? The side dishes are just as important as the main event! These authentic Hawaiian side dish recipes bring the true flavors of the islands to your table, with fresh, tropical ingredients and simple preparations that everyone loves.

We've compiled the 20 best Hawaiian side dishes, now with full recipes included for each one. Whether you're new to Hawaiian cooking or a pro, these will help you create an amazing spread.

Why These Hawaiian Side Dishes Make the Perfect Luau Menu

Hawaiian luaus are about sharing abundance – "pupus" (appetizers) and sides that complement kalua pork or grilled meats. These recipes mix Native Hawaiian traditions with Asian and Polynesian influences for balanced, flavorful bites.

Ready to dive in? Here are the top 20, complete with ingredients and step-by-step instructions.

1. Traditional Hawaiian Poi

Poi is the heart of Hawaiian cuisine – a smooth, starchy paste made from taro root. It's mildly tangy and traditionally eaten with fingers.

Ingredients (serves 4):
- 1 lb taro root (or prepared poi if available)
- Water as needed

Instructions:
1. Peel and boil taro root until soft (about 1 hour).
2. Mash thoroughly, adding water gradually until smooth and pudding-like.
3. For authentic flavor, let ferment 1-2 days at room temperature (optional).
4. Serve fresh or slightly sour.

2. Pineapple Fried Rice

This sweet-savory fried rice with juicy pineapple is a luau favorite.

Ingredients (serves 6):
- 4 cups day-old rice
- 1 can Spam or ham, diced
- 2 cups fresh pineapple chunks
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 cup peas and carrots
- 3 eggs
- 3 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp sesame oil

Instructions:
1. Stir-fry Spam until crispy, add veggies.
2. Push to side, scramble eggs.
3. Add rice, soy sauce, sesame oil; fry until heated.
4. Stir in pineapple last.

3. Lomi Lomi Salmon

A refreshing salted salmon salad with tomatoes and onions – cool and tangy.

Ingredients (serves 8):
- 1 lb salted salmon
- 4 tomatoes, diced
- 1 onion, diced
- 4 green onions, sliced

Instructions:
1. Rinse and soak salted salmon 1 hour.
2. Dice salmon, mix with tomatoes, onions.
3. Chill 30 minutes or more.

4. Hawaiian Macaroni Salad

Creamy, tangy mac salad – a plate lunch essential.

Ingredients (serves 8):
- 1 lb elbow macaroni
- 2 cups mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup milk
- 2 carrots, grated
- 1/4 onion, grated
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- Salt and pepper

Instructions:
1. Cook macaroni al dente, rinse cold.
2. Mix mayo, milk, vinegar.
3. Fold in macaroni, carrots, onion.
4. Chill overnight for best flavor.

5. Ahi Poke

Fresh raw tuna marinated – light and addictive.

Ingredients (serves 4):
- 1 lb sushi-grade ahi tuna, cubed
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 2 tbsp sesame oil
- 1/4 cup green onions
- 1 tsp sesame seeds

Instructions:
1. Mix soy, oil, onions, seeds.
2. Gently toss with tuna.
3. Chill 30 minutes.

6. Haupia (Coconut Pudding)

Creamy coconut squares – a sweet luau treat.

Ingredients (serves 12):
- 2 cans coconut milk
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/2 cup cornstarch

Instructions:
1. Mix cornstarch with water.
2. Heat coconut milk and sugar.
3. Add cornstarch mix, stir until thick.
4. Pour into pan, chill and cut squares.

7. Grilled Pineapple Slices

Caramelized pineapple – simple and delicious.

Ingredients (serves 8):
- 1 fresh pineapple, sliced
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon

Instructions:
1. Mix sugar and cinnamon.
2. Coat pineapple slices.
3. Grill 3-4 minutes per side.

8. Taro Rolls

Soft purple rolls – slightly sweet and buttery.

Ingredients (makes 18):
- 1 cup poi or mashed taro
- 4 cups flour
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 packet yeast
- 1/2 cup butter
- 2 eggs

Instructions:
1. Mix warm water, yeast, sugar.
2. Add poi, eggs, butter, flour.
3. Knead, rise 1 hour.
4. Shape rolls, rise again, bake 350°F 20 min.

9. Chicken Long Rice

Clear noodle soup with chicken and ginger.

Ingredients (serves 6):
- 1 lb chicken thighs
- 4 oz bean thread noodles
- 6 cups chicken broth
- Ginger slices
- Green onions

Instructions:
1. Simmer chicken in broth with ginger 30 min.
2. Shred chicken, return to pot.
3. Add soaked noodles, cook 5 min.
4. Garnish with onions.

10. Fresh Tropical Fruit Platter

A colorful array of island fruits – refreshing and simple.

Ingredients:
- Pineapple, mango, papaya, coconut, kiwi
- Arrange attractively, perhaps in a hollowed pineapple.

Instructions:
1. Cut fruits into bite-sized pieces.
2. Arrange on platter or kabobs.
3. Serve chilled.

11. Hawaiian Potato Mac Salad

Combo of potato and mac salad – hearty and creamy.

Ingredients (serves 8):
- 4 potatoes, boiled and cubed
- 1 lb macaroni
- 2 cups mayo
- Carrots, onions, eggs

Instructions:
1. Boil potatoes and macaroni.
2. Mix with mayo, grated veggies, chopped eggs.
3. Chill well.

12. Cucumber Namasu

Sweet pickled cucumber salad – crisp palate cleanser.

Ingredients (serves 6):
- 3 cucumbers, thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup rice vinegar
- 1/4 cup sugar
- Salt

Instructions:
1. Salt cucumbers, drain 30 min.
2. Mix vinegar and sugar.
3. Toss with cucumbers, chill.

13. Kalua Pork with Cabbage

Smoky shredded pork braised with cabbage.

Ingredients (serves 8):
- 4 lb pork shoulder
- Hawaiian salt, liquid smoke
- 1 head cabbage, chopped

Instructions:
1. Rub pork with salt and smoke.
2. Slow cook or Instant Pot until shreddable.
3. Shred, add cabbage, cook until wilted.

14. Hawaiian Sweet Potato Casserole

Purple sweet potatoes with tropical toppings.

Ingredients (serves 10):
- 4 lb purple sweet potatoes
- 1 can crushed pineapple
- Coconut, brown sugar

Instructions:
1. Boil and mash potatoes.
2. Mix with pineapple, top with coconut.
3. Bake until golden.

15. Spam Musubi

Grilled Spam on rice, wrapped in nori.

Ingredients (makes 8):
- 1 can Spam
- 4 cups cooked rice
- Nori sheets
- Teriyaki sauce

Instructions:
1. Slice and fry Spam, glaze with sauce.
2. Mold rice, top with Spam.
3. Wrap in nori.

16. Pineapple Coleslaw

Creamy slaw with sweet pineapple chunks.

Ingredients (serves 8):
- 1 bag coleslaw mix
- 1 can pineapple tidbits
- 1 cup mayo
- Vinegar, sugar

Instructions:
1. Drain pineapple.
2. Mix mayo dressing.
3. Toss with slaw and pineapple.

17. Hawaiian Banana Bread

Moist bread with pineapple and coconut.

Ingredients (1 loaf):
- 3 ripe bananas
- 1 cup crushed pineapple
- 1/2 cup coconut
- 2 cups flour
- 3/4 cup sugar
- 2 eggs

Instructions:
1. Mash bananas, mix wet ingredients.
2. Fold in dry.
3. Bake 350°F 60 min.

18. Coconut Rice

Fluffy rice cooked in coconut milk.

Ingredients (serves 6):
- 2 cups jasmine rice
- 1 can coconut milk
- Water to make 3 cups liquid
- Pinch salt

Instructions:
1. Rinse rice.
2. Combine with coconut milk and water.
3. Boil, simmer covered 15 min.
4. Fluff and rest.

19. Mango Salsa

Fresh, zesty salsa with ripe mango.

Ingredients (serves 6):
- 2 ripe mangos, diced
- 1 red bell pepper
- 1/2 red onion
- Cilantro, lime, jalapeño

Instructions:
1. Dice all ingredients.
2. Mix with lime juice.
3. Chill before serving.

20. Bonus Luau Extras

Fill out your table with more fruits, desserts, and drinks for the full experience.

These recipes capture the aloha spirit perfectly!

Conclusion: Create Your Perfect Hawaiian Luau

With these 20 full Hawaiian side dish recipes, your luau will be a hit. Mix and match for variety – creamy salads, fresh fruits, savory rice, and sweet treats.

Focus on fresh ingredients, share with loved ones, and embrace the aloha vibe. Mahalo for reading – enjoy your feast!