On our last day on the Big Island of Hawaii, we were headed for the airport when it occurred to us that we wouldn’t be getting to Maui until 9:00, and that we should probably eat something before getting onto the plane. A quick search on Yelp led us to Super J’s Authentic Hawaiian Food–a hole in the wall on the side of a relatively deserted road near Kealakekua Bay. Another google search told us that none other than Miss Sunny Anderson of Food Network fame had highlighted this place on an episode of The Best Thing I Ever Ate, and that their claim to fame was their “lau lau.”
So we weren’t all that clear on what lau lau was, but when we pulled up to Super J’s and saw their “Ran out of Lau Lau” sign, we were irrationally disappointed. No Lau Lau? We didn’t really know what it was, but we wanted some. Alas! The tragedy of it all.
We went in anyway and ordered some of their Kalua Pork w/ Cabbage. The place was empty. Apparently everyone else knew to get there before 6, lest they be subjected to the disappointment of a lau lau shortage. But it was great getting to chat with the ladies who own the place, which is pretty much run out of their home. Their hospitality was unmatched by anyone we met in Hawaii, and they really make you feel at home.
We talked about their TV spotlight, family photos, and past vacations while they assembled more lau lau for later in the week. (If I haven’t mentioned it already, lau lau is a traditional Polynesian/Hawaiian dish of pork wrapped in taro leaves and then steamed). We took a couple pictures outside, and the owner Janice called us in for dinner when it was ready. She placed a plate of Kalua Pork and Cabbage on the table.
And then, she went all ninja and pulled out a plate of lau lau from nowhere, flashing us a mischievous grin.
Score.
It was really good.
Can you tell?
Anon says
Speaking of Hawaiian food….did you all get to try haupia? And the local fave of Leonard’s malasadas? So ono! ( Yums in hwn)
Sarah says
We tried malasadas, but not haupia. Uh…what is it?
Hope says
Haupia is coconut pudding – it’s amazing! McDonald’s even has haupia pies but it seems to be a seasonal thing.
Anon says
Hi Sarah, lmk when you come to town again and i can show you some awesome lau lau joints! The one you went to was obscure , except for the out of the blue sunny visit…talk about random!
Lau lau isn’t hard to make, it’s just steaming stew sized pcs of pork shoulder with a lot of fat, and if available salted salmon , which you,can salt yourselves. You can also use chicken but pork is número uno for lau laus. The harder to get ingredient are the lau lau leaves…which are taro. You can use spinach , I am going to email you all with better instructions! Aloha!
Sarah says
Hi Anon, Thanks so much for your email! We definitely want to eat Lau Lau with you if we head back to Hawaii at some point! : )
Anon says
Aloha from honolulu! I just found your blog while searching for recipes, I have become an instant fan! You are a natural blogger, your pictures are so great. What a small world that you were in the islands. I am Chinese American and hawaii born and raised.I make my own lau laus too!
R u all headed back here soon?
Your hawaii fan!
Sarah says
Hey Anon, thank you so much for commenting! I just read your comment out loud to the peanut gallery, and we’re all majorly jealous that you know how to make Lau Lau (any chance of getting a recipe? haha!) We LOVED hawaii so much when we went there and will definitely head back there the next chance we get. : )