By the 1950s, the plate lunch had grown in popularity and was popping up at roadside stands all throughout the island. Today, the classic plate lunch consists of meat, two scoops of white rice and one scoop of macaroni salad.
Our story begins with the flavors of Hawaii.
Our story begins with the flavors of Hawaii.
The beauty and wonder of Hawaii simply cannot be revealed in images and words alone. Because it is more than a destination. It’s a feeling, a way of life, a culture like none other—full of sights, sounds, scents and tastes found nowhere else in the world.
From their first taste of Hawaii’s local cuisine, founders of Hawaiian Bros, Cameron and Tyler McNie along with their wives Taryn and Megan knew they wanted to share the flavors of Hawaii with the mainland. They also knew the food alone wouldn’t deliver the purest Hawaii experience, so they centered their business around the value of ohana (Hawaiian for “family”)—knowing the blending of community, connection and food would be the best way to honor the Hawaiian way of life.
With reverence and commitment, Cameron and Tyler learned everything they could and were personally taught local recipes and cooking techniques used by islanders for generations. Only after they achieved food worthy of representing Hawaii’s local culture did they open the first Hawaiian Bros Island Grill in 2018. They began by offering Hawaii’s comfort food staple: the humble and savory plate lunch, an island favorite with a fascinating history.
In the 1880s as Hawaii’s pineapple and sugar plantations grew, so too did their workforce. Most of these laborers came from Asian nations with diverse culinary traditions. The workers’ lunches usually consisted of leftover meat from the night before alongside rice.
By the 1950s, the plate lunch had grown in popularity and was popping up at roadside stands all throughout the island. Today, the classic plate lunch consists of meat, two scoops of white rice and one scoop of macaroni salad.
Today, the plate lunch remains an essential part of Hawaii’s homegrown culture. It’s the beloved comfort food you eat with your ohana. Young and old, rich and poor all come together to enjoy in this island staple.
