FRESH TAKE

Hoku's

Perfect for any special occasion, Hoku's at The Kahala has long been renowned for utilizing the top level of local ingredients to create a worldly menu of fine-dining treasures. In keeping with this tradition, Hoku's is partnering with Kamehameha Schools' Mana Up initiative, which supports the growth of Hawaiian businesses, to offer Steak Cut of the Day featuring locally raised beef from Kunoa Cattle Co. And that's just skimming the surface of Hoku's islandinspired bites — don't miss executive chef Eric Oto's Kona Kampachi Carpaccio for starters. hokuskahala.com

Makana Ranch House

The culinary mission at Makana Ranch House is to celebrate the bounty of the Islands, which means using locally grown ingredients, some of which the Kaimuki restaurant grows itself in Manoa, to complement a homestyle lunch menu of stews, burgers and tacos. Best of all, Moloka‘i venison, fresh ‘ahi and other savory proteins on the menu are sourced from Hawai‘i's ranches, farms and sparkling waters. makanaranchhouse.com

Nico's Pier 38

It truly doesn't get fresher than the seafood served up at Nico's Pier 38, seeing as the restaurant and platelunch spot is located just footsteps from Honolulu Fish Auction, the only fresh tuna auction in the U.S. Stop by Nico's Fish Market to pick up an array of poke and sashimi to go, or dine-in during lunch and dinner for a gourmet take on island-style seafood. Don't miss Nico's signature Furikake Pan Seared Ahi at both the original Nimitz Highway location, and the Kailua branch. nicospier38.com

The local-food movement is alive and well in the Islands, where chefs are turning to islandsourced meat, seafood and produce to cook up a whole new world of hearty bites.

Burgers on Bishop

Burger fanatics know that Burgers on Bishop is the only place on O‘ahu to find your all-time classic meal dressed up with five-star condiments and, of course, a taste of the Islands. The menu features local-beef patties and fresh island greens and tomato toppings to round out its juicy selections, which have gained quite a following among the Downtown Honolulu lunch crowd. burgersonbishop.com

Butcher & Bird

Until recently, it wasn't every day that local foodies could chow down on a hoagie filled with handcrafted sausage prepared from locally sourced meat. Thankfully, that's the new norm at Butcher & Bird, the Kaka‘ako eatery where the menu changes regularly based on fresh deli creations—housemade knockwurst, anyone? butcherandbirdhi.com