Waiahole Poi Factory

Not bad for Hawaiian food if you're out in the boonies of kualoa ranch. Kalua pork was a bit too salty, lau lau was mediocre and the portion of poi was stingy. However, the total amount of food was more than filling and you will leave sated. Pricing is a tad high for what you get but this place is definitely worth a try if you're already up here. No need to make a special trip out this way just for the food, though.

As I'm driving to Waiahole, The Proclaimers' "500 miles" comes to mind.

"But I would walk 500 miles.
And I would walk 500 more.
Just to be the man who walked a thousand miles
To fall down at your door."

Well, maybe not a thousand miles, and I certainly wouldn't walk it, but this intrepid voyager is willing to drive considerably out of his way for some fresh poi and good Hawaiian food.  Twenty point seven (20.7) miles to be exact.  That's "considerably" on Oahu.

Had the laulau/kalua pig combo plate.  Comes with rice or poi, lomi salmon, and haupia for $10.50 +  tax.  Opted for poi.

-Fair sized laulau with fair proportion of pork/pork fat/butter fish to luau leaves.
-Fair portion of kalua pig but it was a bit dry.
-Poi thick, sweet, and fresh.  But too little of it.  Maybe 4 oz. served in a small plastic Dixie cup.

-Lomi salmon more a relish of tomatoes and green and white onions with just a few and small bits of salmon.

-Small block of haupia sweet end note to a mostly satisfying meal.

Not much different than what you get at the other places.

Ahh.  But the luau leaves.  Different.  Natural sweet, and fresh taste.  Really good.  I would drive 21 miles to taste that again, and buy extra laulau's ($5 per) to bring home.  I imagine the luau leaves direct from the backyard of the place.  

Just as the main ingredients in the chicken long rice walking around unsuspectingly.  Talk about locally-sourced, farm-to-fork food.  Nice.

This little shack is the perfect example of "hidden in plain site." We passed this place on our way to Kauloa Ranch without even noticing it. It wasn't until we Yelped it that we found that there is food close by.

Try the poi; it is an acquired taste and it is sour. Still worth a try! Try it with any of the Lua'us!

Place is on the highway so lots of cars pass by, but there is a good view of the sacred mountains and Kualoa Park/Chinaman's Hat Beach.