Our friend, Debbie Misajon from the Coconut Traveler, recently published the following article about where you can not only eat well on your next trip to Hawaii, but also be kinder to the planet!
Reduce your Vacation Footprint with these Restaurants
Eating a locally sourced vegan diet is more than just a healthy choice – it’s sustainable and supports the local community and environment in Hawaii. Vegetarian and vegan diets require fewer natural resources like water, land, and energy to produce food making it an essential part of creating an eco-friendly world. Another reason why eating locally sourced food in Hawaii is a critical way to reduce our environmental impact is that it reduces the effects of importation; 85-90% of Hawaii’s food is imported which makes the islands particularly vulnerable to natural disasters that might disrupt the shipping and food supply.
By consuming food grown and raised here in the islands, we can drastically reduce the need to bring goods from elsewhere. This helps lower our carbon footprint by cutting back on emissions from transportation.
Supporting local farmers and businesses keeps money within the community adding jobs and financial stability. It’s a win-win for everyone.
Hawaii has a burgeoning vegan-friendly dining scene that provides tasty, nutritious meals that are sustainably sourced and environmentally friendly. Here are a few restaurants and eateries you can try on each island.
Oahu
Let’s talk about the Beet Box Cafe with two locations – Haleiwa and Kailua. This restaurant serves up plant-based dishes that not only taste great but are incredibly nutritious as well. The café is 100% vegetarian and offers a wide variety of vegan options, from breakfast bowls to smoothie bowls to burgers to salads. Plus, their ingredients are locally sourced from farms on the island.
Another fantastic vegan restaurant in Honolulu is Blondie’s Vegan Kitchen. This cozy spot serves inventive plant-based dishes like burgers, BBQ chicken, protein bowls, and tacos. Everything on their menu packs a ton of flavor while still being guilt-free.
A favorite on the Island of Oahu is the best vegan sushi in the islands – Tane Vegan Izakaya. This plant-based wonder serves up fully plant-based Japanese dishes. Chef Kin Lui applies classic Japanese culinary techniques to vegetables, fruit, mushrooms, and flowers to create incredible dishes and rolls. The dishes are also gluten-free.
Big Island
At HiCo Hawaiian Coffee on the Big Island, you’ll find the best vegan musubi – arguably one of the most iconic Hawaiian foods. It’s hard to find in a spam-less version, let alone vegan. But both of their Big Island shops carry their vegan musubi loaded with tofu, pickled carrots, and sprouts and topped with sesame seeds. They also support the Ocean Clean Up nonprofit and are committed to keeping the oceans plastic-free by contributing to cleanup efforts, holding events, donating, fundraising, and spreading awareness.
Kauai
Treat yourself to a breathtaking vegan experience, and be sure you put Nourish Hanalei on your itinerary when visiting the North Shore of Kauai. This one-of-a-kind, 100% plant-based food joint’s menu offers more than beautiful views. They offer something for everyone–delicious savory bowls, smoothie creations, and mouthwatering vegan sweets. There is no way not to love this place! And don’t worry if you’re traveling with mixed eaters; all will find their perfect dish at Nourish Hanalei.
Another one of our favorites on Kauai is Fresh Bite Food Truck. Each dish is made with organic produce that is full of flavor — all without busting the holiday cash flow. Options like tasty wraps and colorful Buddha bowls featuring vegan options paired with irresistible macadamia nut sauce will make your mouth water. And their sides, drinks, and sweets ensure everyone at the table can join in on this delicious island adventure.
Wander over to Kalalea Juice Hale in Hanalei Bay. This little health café serves up delicious drinks filled with immune-boosting superfoods like moringa powder and wheatgrass shots, plus energizing smoothies and acai bowls they call “Kauai Bowls.” Everything they serve is made using fresh fruit and vegetables picked straight from nearby farms.
Maui
If you’re in Maui, you’ll want to check out A’A Roots. This eatery specializes in raw vegan cuisine – perfect for those who prefer unprocessed food with minimal cooking involved. Their menu is a mix of acai bowls and smoothies, but even more. Try their Breakfast Burrito on a whole wheat wrap, tofu scramble, rice, black beans, cabbage, salsa, avocado crema, and chipotle crema, or the Pep In-Yo Step juice made with local pineapple, cucumber, cilantro, mint, and jalapeño.
If your plans are to visit Maui, don’t miss Sweet Paradise Maui Chocolatier. They have a variety of vegan flavors and use sustainably sourced local cacao beans in their artisanal chocolates. They also have chocolate filled with fresh, locally grown fruits like passionfruit, banana, coconut, and lychee.
No matter where you are in Hawaii, there are bound to be excellent vegetarian and vegan restaurants nearby serving deliciously sustainable food that supports your health and our island community simultaneously. Come see what all these outstanding restaurants have to offer. You won’t be disappointed.
For more information, email us info@journeysunparalleled.com.