PLATE LUNCHES WITH MUCH ALOHA

Plate Lunch to die for

Potato and Taco Salads

The plate lunch is a quintessential Hawaiian meal, roughly analogous to a Southern US meat-and-threes. However, the pan-Asian influence on Hawaiian cuisine and root in the Japanese bento makes the plate lunch unique to Hawaii.

Standard plate lunches consist of two scoops of white rice, macaroni salad, and an entree. A plate lunch with more than one entree is often called a mixed plate.

Although the exact origin of the Hawaiian plate lunch is disputed, according to Professor Jon Okamura of the University of Hawaii the plate lunch likely grew out of the Japanese bento, as they "were take away kinds of eating and certainly the plate lunch continues that tradition". Its appearance in Hawaii in recognizable form goes back to the 1880s when plantation workers were in high demand by the fruit and sugar companies. Laborers were brought from around the world, including from China, Japan, Portugal, and the Philippines, who would eat "leftover rice and a lot of things like canned meat or teriyaki or cold meat or maybe scrambled eggs or pickles, and almost no salad or vegetable," according to The Honolulu Advertiser's former food editor, Ms. Kaui Philpotts. Mayonnaise, macaroni, and gravy for the meat were added later.

As the days of the plantations came to an end, plate lunches began to be served on-site by lunch wagons to construction workers and day laborers. Later, local holes in the wall and other stand-alone plate lunch restaurants began popping up, then plate lunch franchises. Eventually these made their way to the U.S. mainland, beginning with the L&L Drive-Inn chain in California in 1999. At that time L&L founder Eddie Flores re branded it "L&L Hawaiian Barbecue", explaining that "When we went to the mainland, the name 'Hawaiian' is a draw, because everyone just fantasized, everyone wants to come to Hawaii".

Robert with his plate lunch

Dressing with care, like wearing a Hawaiian Shirt is a stretch, the old geezer was ready to go and feel the love at the BBQ.  My Pacific Islander friends had chatted up the day for weeks and would have been very sad if I did not attend.  It was all I could do to make my way to the apartment complex and feel "Hawaii"...

Paul is gobsmacked at large plate

My good friend, Paul, does not get out much, and was wondering what he had let himself in for.  I could tell that he was most interested in meeting more of my friends and having an experience.

Paul does not get out much but this day made up for many lonely days.  He was beside himself taking in all of the activity.  One can safely say that Paul had a grand time.

Anna and Robert -  Friend and Organizer

What is there to say about Anna.  I know, Ana likes to see her name spelled with one N, but I rather think to two N's add a little class to her.  As if Anna needed any more class.  She has buckets of it.  Anna is originally from Samoa, but like most Pacific Islanders, made her way to Hawaii.  You will have to forgive me for thinking of Anna as my Hawaiian friend, but she is so full of ALOHA, she defines best what I like best about the people who live in Hawaii.

Anna loves to add little touches to her daily costume, like hand made flowers in her hair.  AND, very colourful glasses.

Val- One of the cooks and my friend

 Val is another Samoan met through Anna.  Another member of a very colourful and loving family.  Val has a smile that could light up a room and a laugh that is so full of life.

Sadly, Penny was at church and not available to hang with.  Anna's sister Sal was there.  Sal was in charge of the cash box and making sure that orders kept flowing.  Sal is a very lovely lady, a bit camera shy, hence the lack of a snap to share.

Pacific Islanders are big on OHANA, and the members of the family were all there keeping the conversation flowing and the fires burning.  There were sons slaving on the BBQ pit, smaller children helping out with the plate lunches and enjoying the hustle and bustle of the day.  I was nice to see so many members of one family all pulling together.

During my stay at the BBQ, there was a call from relatives living in UK.  See, even at a plate lunch gathering, the UK pops in.  Asked the lovely lady ringing where in the UK she was.  "In the south", she says.  That is a pretty big place so I pressed for a specific location.  "Dorset" she says.  Lovely, I know it well.

Musubi anyone????

Stacked up next to the cash box were Musubi.  A massive box.  With each arrival, the pile went down and down.  I was gobsmacked when Paul asked if he could purchase one.  Funny, never gave Paul credit for being daring.  Truth be told, Spam,rice and seaweed is not something most folks are 'au fait' with.  Personally, I adore SPAM and remember fondly each and every Musubi ever ate.  Paul loved the Musubi.

The crush of folks craving a good plate lunch was so great that all of the lunches were long sold out before the even came to an end.  Needless to say, the box containing the Musubi was as empty as box of donuts at a policeman's convention...

Aloha in the Hawaiian language means affection, peace, compassion and mercy. Since the middle of the 19th century, it also has come to be used as an English greeting to say goodbye and hello. "Aloha" is also included in the state nickname of Hawaii, the "Aloha State".

In Hawaiʻi someone can be said to have or show aloha in the way they treat others; whether family, friend, neighbor or stranger.

When I meet folks who tell that they never meet interesting people, and it is oft, I remind them that it all starts with the word, HELLO.  Yesterday I shared my Pacific Islander friends with another friend and kept the circle growing.  Is that not what life is all about?