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Meat, two scoops of rice, and macaroni salad. Those are the three essential elements of the plate lunch. Sold on every street corner in Hawai’i, it represents the melding of cultures, and the meat comes in many varieties, from teriyaki beef to pork and variously prepared chicken.

These bright green, crunchy, and delicious ferns grow in East Maui and are often served with tomatoes.

The staple of the Hawaiian diet, poi is made by pounding to a paste the corm of the taro or kalo plant – a task that is strictly a male preserve. Traditional Hawaiians believe their culture to be descended from a kalo plant, signifying the symbolic importance of this food.

High up in the cool mist of the Kula Forest Reserve on the western slope of Haleakalā is this serene area. Best known for its redwood forest, a network of trails winds through the tall trees at Polipoli.

All things Mexican – including big, frothy margaritas – are served at this down-home favorite. Be sure to try the cashew garlic salad dressing and tasty salsa.

Scholars believe that Marquesan voyagers first came to Hawai’i as early as the 4th century, with Tahitians arriving later, in the 13th. It was these two great waves of migration by skilled Polynesian seafarers that first populated the Hawaiian islands.

Fresh from the oven and slathered with creamy butter is the best way to enjoy this wonderful bread, brought by Hawai’i’s Portuguese immigrants. Originally baked in outdoor brick ovens, it is now available at markets throughout the islands. Every family in Hawai’i, whether of Portuguese heritage or not, has its own Portuguese bean soup recipe. Brimming with beans, meat, and vegetables, it can be a hearty meal unto itself, especially when accompanied by a thick slice of sweet bread.

A series of low-rise apartments within walking distance of Lahaina but seemingly far from the hustle and bustle of town. There’s a children’s playground, a clubhouse for reading, relaxing, and table tennis, and a good beach. Minimum stay of five nights.

The only course in Upcountry Maui, the 6,962-yd, par 72 was opened in 1978 and provides a cooler experience than Maui’s other courses. Set 1200 ft up the slopes of Mt. Haleakalā, the course winds through a lovely residential community. Golfers here can see the isthmus between East and West Maui, the ’Īao Needle, and both the north and south shores.