THE WILD TRAVELER | STORIES FROM ABROAD
Hawaiʻi has always been a special part of The Wild Traveler. Beyond the beaches, surfing, and underwater adventures, there’s another side of island life worth discovering: the food.
It’s where I started running our teen adventure programs, introducing young people to SCUBA diving, surfing, hiking, and exploring some of the most incredible landscapes in the Pacific.
But the experience of traveling somewhere goes well beyond the activities.
There’s the everyday side of a place, the people you meet, the communities you visit, and, of course, the food.
One Hawaiian dessert worth knowing is haupia.
It’s simple, refreshing, and easy to make at home.
More Than Beaches and Beautiful Scenery
When people think about Hawaiʻi, the first images that usually come to mind are beaches, palm trees, waterfalls, and turquoise water.
And those things are certainly part of what makes the islands special.
But one of the things I want our Wild Traveler participants to discover is that a destination is more than its scenery.
During our Hawaiʻi adventures, we spend time on different islands, explore the natural environment, learn new skills, and experience the rhythms of traveling together.
We also have opportunities to experience local foods and learn a little more about Hawaiian culture.
Haupia is one of those foods that offers a simple introduction.
What Is Haupia?
Haupia is a traditional Hawaiian coconut dessert, often served at celebrations, gatherings, and lūʻau.
It’s made with coconut milk, sugar, and a thickening ingredient such as cornstarch.
The result is a smooth, creamy dessert that’s usually chilled and cut into squares.
It’s sweet, but not overly rich, and the coconut flavor is what makes it special.
It’s also one of those recipes that doesn’t require a long list of ingredients or complicated preparation.
Sometimes the simplest foods are the ones that bring back memories of a place.
If you’re looking to bring a little taste of Hawaiʻi into your kitchen, this is a good place to start.
Hawaiian Haupia Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 can (13.5 oz / approximately 400 ml) full-fat coconut milk
- 1 cup water
- 5 tablespoons sugar
- 5 tablespoons cornstarch
Instructions
- Pour the water into a bowl and whisk in the cornstarch until completely dissolved.
- Add the coconut milk and sugar to a saucepan over medium heat.
- Stir gently until the sugar dissolves and the coconut milk is warm.
- Slowly pour in the cornstarch mixture while whisking continuously.
- Continue stirring over medium heat until the mixture becomes thick and smooth, approximately 10–15 minutes.
- Pour into a small square baking dish and spread evenly.
- Allow the mixture to cool, then refrigerate for at least two hours until firm.
- Cut into squares and serve chilled.
That’s it! A few ingredients, a little time on the stove, and you have a traditional Hawaiian-style coconut dessert.
A Taste of Hawaiʻi at Home
One of my favorite things about travel is how ordinary experiences can become part of what we remember about a destination.
It might be a new food, a conversation, an unfamiliar place, or an activity you never imagined trying.
Those moments help us connect with the places we’re visiting.
For The Wild Traveler, Hawaiʻi has always offered an extraordinary combination of outdoor adventure, island culture, and shared experiences.
Our teenagers may arrive excited to learn how to SCUBA dive, surf in Hanalei Bay, or snorkel with manta rays off the Kona coast.
They leave having experienced a lot more than the activities themselves.
And sometimes a simple taste of somewhere new is the easiest way to bring a little piece of that experience home.