New style. The old Sushi Lin place has been overhauled and a new cuisine on the scene has opened up here since October, Hawaiian style BBQ. With as pleasant as staff can be, Mauna Loa Hawaiian Barbeque serves typical Hawaiian dishes, even Spam musubi.

There is really nothing for the vegetarian here, so I ordered a Seafood Combo plate of Teriyaki Salmon and Coconut Shrimp. The salmon was good, the teriyaki sauce was added on afterwards rather than marinated which can be a disappointment for some. The coconut shrimp were meaty and tasty served with a "Mauna Loa" sweet red dipping sauce. Most dishes come with a choice of macaroni salad or an Asian cole slaw and white rice. If you are expecting Hawaiian fast food, in a very casual setting (everything is served on paper plates), with happy Hawaiian mood music, you won't be disappointed.

Hawaiian spirit at the Hukilau. My friend Sachiko knows all the interesting places. Last night we tried dinner at da Hukilau.

Cheerfully we were told that they were out of ahi, so instead of the Poke Salad would we be interested in the delicious tofu salad with avocado. We agreed this sounded good as well! And with its Maui Onion dressing on the side, it was fabulous and fresh.

We shared the salad and entree family style as it was a lot of food, just as we thought. We had the Sunday Laulau special. The Laulau is the ti-leaf wrapped packet on the right of the plate, filled with kalua pork and butterfish - it melted in our mouths! And the inner part had tender taro leaves which were edible with the fillings. The dish that looks like salsa, is actually Lomilomi, a kind of Hawaiin ceviche. Tomatoes, onions, and sea salted salmon, it was delightful. In the middle was Kalua Pig, a kind of tender pulled pork. You can see the rice, and requisite macaroni salad. The desert was Haupia, the white solid coconut pudding. It was cool, smooth and delicious. All-in-all a fun escape into the island breezes of flavor!