State Plate Recipe: Hawaii's Haupia (2024)

FAQs

What does haupia mean in Hawaiian? ›

Haupia- 'Hau' meaning 'cool' and 'Pia' meaning 'arrowroot' in Hawaiian, this famous delicacy has been around since the 1940s. It can be described as a type of coconut pudding but with a more jellied and firm texture.

Unfortunately, that often means it was not cooked down long enough to create that firm texture. You could totally use this as a topping to other desserts, like cakes or bars, or eat in a bowl like pudding. If you are looking for firm set haupia it may be best to start back from scratch.

If you go to a traditional Hawaiian luau, chances are you'll sample the sweet coconut custard dessert called haupia, usually served cubed on a plate lined with ti leaves.

Humuhumunukunukuāpuaʻa. Just looking at this word will cause your eyes to glaze over, and visitors have a tough time wrapping their tongues around this intricate Hawaiian word, which is actually the name of Hawaii's state fish.

WAI-NAO. s. Wai and nao, dirty.

Traditional haupia is vegan and does not contain gelatin, eggs, or dairy. These coconut puddings that were made by the Polynesians were noted by early European explorers to have a resemblance in appearance and taste to the European dessert blancmange.

If you have not fully dissolved the cornstarch in the milk, you may end up with lumps of cornstarch, resulting in lumpy haupia. Make sure that when you mix the cornstarch with milk, that the cornstarch is completely dissolved, and there are no lumps. To ensure a smooth haupia without lumps, be sure to use a whisk.

Haupia is really delicious poured into a prepared crust, topped with fresh fruit, or used as a lighter alternative to the high-fat options that normally frost a cake. With hot weather around the corner this recipe would also be delicious to make and freeze for a simple popsicle flavor!

HONOLULU (KHON2) — A survey reveals that Hawaii residents voted shave ice as the official state sweet snack.

Hawaiian poi is a purple pudding like dish that you'll find everywhere from our grocery stores to food trucks. Poi falls in to one of three categories; “one-finger”, “two-finger”, or three-finger, which refers to its consistency and how many fingers you'll need to scoop and eat it.

What is the most famous dessert in Hawaii? ›

Malassadas are essentially Hawai'i's version of doughnuts, but better. Imagine brioche, but softer, deep-fried, and rolled in sugar, then filled with ingredients like dobash (chocolate pudding), haupia, or vanilla custard. The origins may be Portuguese, but malassadas are one of Hawai'i's most iconic desserts.

For the year's end, Hawaiians wore the lei of hala. It is said by the elders that if a lei hala is worn the misfortune of that year passes away. Therefore, the lei hala is a symbol and a protection against evil and misfortune of the past and a good way to start the new year.

The Hawaiian word kapu is usually translated to English as "forbidden", though it also carries the meanings of "keep out", "no trespassing", "sacred", "consecrated", or "holy".

Coconut (Hawaiian name: Niu.

Polynesia

Haupia / Place of origin