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Native Foodways and Continuity - Native Hawaiian Communities and Asian-Portuguese Immigrant Cooks in Hawaii
Kalua pork is a Hawaiian dish featuring whole pork shoulder or butt slow-cooked with liquid smoke or in an imu (underground oven) until tender and smoky. It blends indigenous Hawaiian cooking methods with influences from Asian and Portuguese immigrants, becoming a centerpiece of Hawaiian luaus and celebrations.
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Difficulty
Medium
Prep time
15 minutes
Cook time
8 hours (slow cooker)
Total time
8 hours 15 minutes
Servings
8
Region
Hawaii
Era introduced
Native Foodways and Continuity
Introduced by
Native Hawaiian Communities and Asian-Portuguese Immigrant Cooks in Hawaii
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Kalua pork represents the melding of Hawaiian indigenous cooking-traditionally using an imu underground oven-with Asian and Portuguese immigrant techniques introduced during the late 19th and 20th centuries. This dish is central to Hawaiian communal feasts and celebrations, embodying the islands' rich cultural diversity and culinary heritage.
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