You can bet that any Hawaiian lū’au or party will always have the best Hawaiian appetizers or pūpūs. Everything from sweet to savory, traditional Hawaiian food to local favorites. Hawaiian pūpūs can’t be beat.
Food and family are mainstays of Hawaiian culture. I was raised to never show up empty handed to a party. You always come bearing your favorite foods. Whether it be a pūpū, main dish, or dessert, you have something in hand to share potluck style.
Pūpū is the Hawaiian word for appetizer. These include traditional Hawaiian foods like Hawaiian style poke, lomi ‘ō’io, and pohole salad. Or local favorites like smoked meat, boiled peanuts, or wontons.
Hawai’i’s diverse blend of cultures have created the most delicious cuisine around. Check out this list of easy Hawaiian appetizers that will be sure to please a crowd.
30 'Ono Hawaiian Appetizers
You can bet that any Hawaiian lū’au or party will always have the best Hawaiian appetizers or pūpūs. Everything from sweet to savory, traditional Hawaiian food to local favorites. Hawaiian pūpūs can’t be beat.
Ahi poke may reign as THE ULTIMATE Hawaiian pupu. Cubed up pieces of raw fish tossed in an umami packed marinade sauce. Perfect with any Hawaiian plate, in a poke bowl, or served on its own. Definitely one recipe you won’t want to miss.
Hawaiian style smoked meat is a must try. Delicious bite sized pieces of marinated pork smoked to perfection and pan fried with sliced onions and guava jelly make for the perfect appetizer, plate lunch, or dinner.
Instant Pot boiled peanuts make the perfect salty snack. What would normally take hours can be made in half the time in the comfort of your own home.
Crispy golden brown packages filled with a juicy meat meat filling deep fried to perfection. This wonton recipe is quick and easy. Bet you can’t eat just one.
Edamame is the perfect appetizer or snack for any meal. This simple, but flavorful recipe packs in garlic, shoyu, sugar, mirin, and sesame oil. Bet you can’t have just one.
Lomi ‘ō’io or bonefish is a classic Hawaiian dish made of spoon scraped fish mixed with aromatics and other delicious flavors. A true Hawaiian delicacy that makes a great appetizer.
Spicy ‘ahi poke made with cubed pieces of raw tuna, tossed in a creamy spicy sauce, and served chilled is the perfect appetizer or side dish. Less than 15 minutes and you’ve got yourself a twist on a traditional Hawaiian recipe.
These onigiri or Japanese rice balls are the perfect finger food snack packed with umami. With various filling options you can be sure to find something for everyone.
Super-easy and super-tasty, let your air fryer do all the hard work with this easy-to-make and delicious Air Fryer Steak Bites recipe. With just the right amount of garlic, these beef bites are buttery, tender, and cook up in hardly any time!
Air fryer crispy tofu is a quick and easy recipe that is perfect for a snack or meal prep. Crispy outside, chewy inside, and packed with flavor.
Step aside french fries, SPAM fries are here. Sliced pieces of SPAM battered and fried to golden brown perfection. Grab your favorite dipping sauce and make this delicious finger food treat.
Making fried wonton strips from scratch is easy and only calls for a few ingredients. Crunchy, fried strips of thin cut dough perfect for topping a salad or snacking on its own.
Spicy tuna crispy rice is the perfect bite sized appetizer. Crispy rice sushi pieces topped with tangy, spicy ahi cubes, and drizzled with umami packed unagi sauce make this a recipe you have to try.
Crunchy, crispy pork belly whipped up in the air fryer make for the perfect bite sized pieces of goodness. What normally takes hours can now be made in a fraction of the time. You’ve got to give this a try.
Fresh ahi cut into bite sized cubes, marinated with classic Hawaiian flavors make this Hawaiian poke recipe one you don’t want to miss.
Seared ahi salad is refreshing and packed with flavor. Tuna steaks crusted and seared atop a bed of fresh veggies with crispy wonton strips and vibrant edamame. Perfect way to up your salad game.
Air fryer coconut shrimp are crispy, crunchy, and an easy appetizer to make at home. Ditch the deep fry and make this healthier option you’re sure to be pleased.
Crispy noodles is a classic Chinese dish. Pan fried noodles, topped with a shrimp and vegetable stir fry covered with a thick, delicious sauce.
Pork hash is Hawai’i’s take on a classic Chinese steamed dumpling or shumai. So delicious and simple to make in the comforts of your own home
Sweet yet tangy pickled mango is a delicious treat that’ll be sure to make your mouth water and have you coming back for more.
This easy sushi bake recipe is a twist on your classic California roll deconstructed and baked into a casserole. A quick and easy way to make a large batch of yummy sushi. Perfect for sharing with your family and friends.
Sakura boshi or teriyaki flavored dried ahi jerky is perfect for a snack, pupu, or appetizer. Beautiful yellowfin tuna marinated in a sweet and salty brine then dried to make this amazing dish that you won’t want to put down.
Mochi crunch shrimp made with Japanese rice crackers crushed and blended with panko crusting deliciously tender shrimp fried to golden brown perfection. Try this for your next seafood meal and be sure to please.
Healthy crispy air fryer sweet potato fries are perfectly seasoned and super easy to make. Don’t let the air fryer scare you away. You won’t miss all the greasiness that you get with traditional frying, trust me.
Pohole salad is the perfect pupu (appetizer) or side dish for any occasion. Vibrant green fiddlehead fern shoots, tomatoes, sweet onions, dried ika (cuttlefish) and shrimp tossed in a sauce that’s to die for.
Creamy with a hint of crunch, kamaboko dip makes for the perfect dip to pair with your favorite cracker or chip. The perfect pupu to bring to your next get together.
Fried slices of Goteborg sausage topped with sticky, white rice, and sprinkled with furikake. Kaua’i’s popular Goteborg sausage musubi is an open faced twist on the classic spam musubi.
Sheet pan kalua pig nachos: a little bit Hawaiian, a little bit Mexican, and a whole lotta GOOD! This easy recipe takes nachos to another level. Customize it to your liking, bake it, and share with a crowd.
Tried this recipe? Tag me on social. I’d love to see and share it. Instagram
Facebook
Pinterest
Tried and love this recipe? Please give it a rating.
Pin for later.
My wife is 1/2 Japanese 1/2 American, and while her Dad was stationed in Pearl, she was a middle schooler at the time and was accepted well in Hawai’i. So now I try to recreate the true flavors that she loved as the Family was stationed with the Pacific Fleet. She was born in Sasebo, Japan and then to Italy and Spain and then to Hawai’i where she discovered that there were Porteguese in her fathers background etc… I made Huli chicken, Hawaiian macaroni salad, white rice with nouri seasoning. Delishousness Personified excellent.
Aloha Cameron. So Awesome to hear. Thank you so much for sharing. Have a great day.