Our Story

When the first Polynesians arrived in the Hawaii Islands, they found nothing to eat. The Islands themselves, being very new geologically and very isolated, had little in the way of indigenous life. The Polynesians brought pigs, dogs, chickens, taro and sweet potatoes with them. After James Cook arrived in Hawaii, a steady stream of newcomers started arriving, bringing with them plants and animals from their native lands. Chief among these were Missionaries

from New England who brought cows, horses, sheep, and goats as well as a wide variety of new plants. This introduction of new foods and traditions changed the Hawaiian diet greatly. As American business began to move in and develop large plantations, new cash crops, like sugar cane and pineapples were introduced. To man the plantations, immigrants were brought to Hawaii as laborers from places like China, Japan, Okinawa, Korea, Puerto Rico and the Philippines. Each new wave of immigrants brought a new cooking tradition with them.