This year’s gift guide will focus on the perfect product from the land where “palm trees sway” … actually, the coconut rhinoceros beetle has put quite a damper on those trees denuding their foliage. But in any case, here’s a list of products for your recipients so they can dream that they’re on a Hawaiian vacation.
Ono Hawaiian Seasoning
Keep That Belly Sated
Though Hawaii produces various sea salts, there is one product that I always stock; the original Ono (delicious) Hawaiian Seasoning which contains both sea and alae (red clay-tinged sea salt) salt plus black pepper, ginger and garlic. The large crystals can be used on roasted beef, pork or poultry though I usually grind it for all purpose use.
Various internet sites with prices ranging from $6 to $20 for an 8oz bottle
Island Olive Oil
Produced in Hawaii, Island Olive Oil creates a wide range of flavored olive oils, flavored vinegars, macadamia nut oil and also bottles premium olive oil from Spain and Italy. They also sell a wide range of pantry condiments. Prior to the pandemic, they had two brick-and-mortar locations but since then have converted to a pure mail order company. We usually always have a bottle of the Cilantro and Onion Olive Oil and their Traditional Style Dark Balsamic Condimento in our pantry. Prices usually range from $19.95 for a 6.8oz bottle up to $41.95 for a 25.4oz bottle.
https://www.islandoliveoil.com/
The Maui Cookie Lady
These cookies baked in Makawao, Maui were made famous by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Ludacris so of course, we had to place an order. The Peanut Butter Perfection is basically a cross between a peanut butter cookie and peanut butter brownie studded with peanut butter and chocolate chips. The Rock’s fave, Da Half Baked is a half-pound behemoth of a cookie with both Oreos and Snickers within. I’m glad that she’s based in Maui and doesn’t have an outlet on Oahu or my pre-diabetes would likely have crossed over into frank diabetes.
Cookie prices range from $5.75 to $8.50
https://themauicookielady.com/
Big Island Candies
Based on the Big Island in Hilo, Big Island Candies creates chocolates, brownies and biscotti though their most popular item are the Signature Shortbreads – rectangular shortbread diagonally dipped in chocolate or other glaze. My favorite is the Kona Mocha or Coffee Shortbread dipped in dark chocolate.
Individual flavors are available in 9.5oz boxes (roughly 17 cookies) ranging from $17.50 to $19. Or you can select mixed gift boxes ranging in price from $9.75 all the way up to $260!
https://www.bigislandcandies.com/
Kona Coffee
I’ll admit that I usually only drink blended Kona coffee which only contains 10% Kona coffee in the blend. Partly due to cost as 100% Kona coffee cost somewhere in the $30 range for a 7-ounce bag and partly due to my preference for the darker French or Vienna roasts. I feel that the subtle fruitier qualities of Kona coffee are best served by light to medium roasting levels. That’s the same reasons why I don’t purchase Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee (which cost even more than Kona coffee). But if you don’t mind spending $$ for that special someone who enjoys their daily cup of java, pure Kona coffee makes an excellent gift.
From the Heart
Spam Musubi Kit
How about creating a little gift basket to make that favorite Hawaii snack, Spam musubi? There are many Spam musubi molds sold on the internet – some even include mini shakushi or shamoji. All you need to add to the gift basket is a can of Spam, a package of nori sheets, a small bag of short grain rice and perhaps a bottle of Bachan’s sauce.
Sometimes the best gift is the gift that’s baked or cooked for you. Of course, that usually means a direct delivery as most cooked items don’t travel well in the mail. But it doesn’t get more personal than something that you toiled over in the kitchen. And you can find a plethora of Christmas themed food storage containers on the internet. If you are game with gifting a home cooked meal this season, try this version of shrimp curry reminiscent of Like Like Drive Inn’s shrimp curry (it shuttered after 67 years during the midst of the pandemic) – Hawaii style curry isn’t as bold as Indian curries nor is it as herbal as Southeast Asian curries. It’s in a category all its own.
Hawaii Style Shrimp Curry
2 pounds shelled shrimp
1/2 cup white wine
2 tbsp vegetable oil
2 tbsp curry powder
4 tbsp butter
3 cloves garlic, finely minced
3 tablespoons fresh ginger, grated
1 medium onion, chopped
1 tbsp light brown sugar
3 tbsp curry powder
4 tbsp flour
Salt and black pepper to taste
1 can (12 oz) coconut milk (light or regular)
Peel and devein shrimp.
Combine the white wine, oil, curry powder and shrimp in a zip-top bag and marinate for about 15 minutes
Melt the butter in a medium-sized saucepan. Add the garlic, ginger, and onion and cook until the onion is soft, but do not let it caramelize.
Add the sugar, curry powder, salt, black pepper and flour and mix until the flour is incorporated then slowly whisk in coconut milk to create a smooth sauce.
Continue cooking, stirring often for about 10 minutes on a low boil so the sauce gets thick. If the sauce gets too thick, you can add chicken broth or water to reach the desired consistency.
Add the shrimp to the sauce, stir and heat through just until the shrimp are cooked (opaque and curled).
Serve over hot rice with the garnishes of your choice.
Favorite Island Cookery
The Honpa Hongwanji Hawaii Betsuin first started publishing their Favorite Island Cookery cookbooks with Book I released in December 1973 with the final Book VI released in December 1995. We have the first four cookbooks and I’ve created many dishes from these four cookbooks – I actually took the cookbooks with me to San Francisco when I attended graduate school. Because the last cookbook was released almost 30 years ago, even the Honpa Hongwanji doesn’t have every cookbook in stock though you can find used versions on Amazon or eBay. This makes the perfect gift for a Hawaii expat who lost their copy years ago or simply someone who wants to recreate Hawaii-style dishes.
https://hawaiibetsuin.org/cookbooks/
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