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The Best Hawaiian Foods to Try With Olala Cannabis Soda

While we love drinking our Olala sodas alone, eating the right Hawaiian food with the right drink (Olala of course) elevates the entire dining experience.
 
With the essence of the culture and lifestyle of the Hawaiian islands infused in our drinks, we can’t help but appreciate the food that comes from the same exotic place. We think it goes without saying that not only do we love the island flavor in our drinks, but there are some Hawaiian dishes we can’t pass up either! Here are some of our favorite local kine grind that broke da mouth when paired with Olala sodas.

Loco Moco

Call it Hawaiian comfort food, Loco Moco is so much more than meat and rice. At its heart, Loco Moco is meant to be simple food with simple ingredients. It starts with a bed of sticky white rice and is topped with a hamburger patty, brown gravy, and a sunny-side-up egg.
 
Created in the 1940s by some boys on a budget looking to satiate their appetite at a diner, Loco Moco has become a Hawaiian staple and tradition.
 
Many variations have come about including those with bacon, ham, Spam, tofu, kalua pork. Even established Island chefs have paid homage to the humble dish, but the most traditional version is strictly rice, beef, and lots of the filling caramelized onion brown gravy.
 
People in Hawaii enjoy it for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or any time in between. Due to its heartiness and simplicity, we recommend pairing it with one of our lighter flavors like Olala Guava Soda to refresh the palate.

Poke

Before it became popular on Instagram, the rainbow bowls we know as “poke” go back far in history when ancient Hawaiians feasted on freshly caught fish massaged with sea salt, seaweed, and crushed inamona or kukui nuts.
 
As changes in taste evolved and Westerners traveled back to North America, poke invaded our restaurants and taste buds in masses.
 
Poke means “to slice or cut” in Hawaiian and refers to chunks of raw, marinated fish — usually tuna — which is then tossed over rice and topped with vegetables and umami-packed sauces.
 
While traditional poke bowls don’t include mango, we can’t help but add that bit of fruity freshness to our pairing with the Olala Mango Soda. This adds some zest to the Poke and reinforces the tropical vibe of the dish.

Kalua Pork

No, kalua does not mean “delicious” though it should. It actually is a traditional Hawaiian cooking method that utilizes an imu, a type of underground oven. It can also be used to describe the food cooked in this manner, such as kālua pork, which is commonly served at luau feasts.
 
Making traditional kalua pork takes hours, but if you are patient and willing, you’ll be able to embrace tender, fall-apart pork in your mouth.
 
Kalua pork is often served with pineapple, but for a similar acidic and fruity pairing, grab a bottle of Olala Orange Cream to wash down your pork to elevate the meal.

Spam Musabi

If you don’t know what spam exactly is, all you need to know is that it is delicious and iconic to a classic Hawaiian food; spam musabi. Based on musubi (A.K.A. onigiri), the Japanese snack of rice balls wrapped in seaweed and stuffed with powerfully flavored ingredients but instead of fish, it’s stuffed with a slab of grilled Spam.
 
During and in the aftermath of World War II, spam musabi remained in Hawaiian culture and location as it was incorporated into local cuisines wherever American troops were stationed. As the military stockade of Spam became overabundant during and after the war, Spam was made available to civilians and grew in popularity due to its consistency and versatility.
 
Portable and easy to carry around, spam musabi became the ultimate on-the-go snack from being stocked in supermarkets, gas stations, 7-11s, and so much more.
 
As you’re running on the go for your summer plans, pair your spam musabi with our Olala Blue Raspberry Soda to drink and enjoy wherever you go.