Not Just Pupus, Poi and Pineapple – Hawaii Has Salts too!

Apr 9, 2014

3 min read

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Music – “Tiny Bubbles & Pearly Shells Medley” from Hawaii Experience by Don Ho. Released: 2010 Ah, Hawaii….miles of white sand, black sand, green sand, magnificent sunsets, fragrant leis, lush tropical plants, rainbows and enough Mai-Tai’s to sink a ship, not to mention the musical stylings of the late Don Ho‘s “Tiny Bubbles“. What’s not to like about Paradise?

Waikiki Beach, Honolulu, Hawaii, 1996 (Photo by Sue Jimenez)

Having family living in Hawaii is also a bonus, and I’ve been fortunate enough to visit the islands many times, each time greeted with loads of sweet plumeria and jasmine leis. Every tropical drink sports a fresh orchid and there are plenty of tropical drinks to choose from, including the legendary “Mai-Tai”.

Mai Tai (Photo Credit: www.en.wikipedia.org)

Mai Tai (Photo Credit: http://www.en.wikipedia.org)

Leeward Coast, Oahu, Hawaii, 1996 (Photo by Sue Jimenez)

You might also be adventurous and try a

Paddler’s Passion

Lava Flow

Hula Girl

Big Kahuna

Torch Lighter

or the

Missionary’s Downfall

(wonder how that one got its name!).

Like any other American city, you can feast on just about anything you desire in Honolulu, where my relatives live. Honolulu, Oahu is a pretty cosmopolitan city about a million miles from the rest of “civilization”, or as the natives say, “the mainland”, a slightly derogatory term for those of us poor “malihini” who don’t go out our front door in the morning to pick up the paper and a couple of papayas at the same time.

North Central Oahu, Hawaii, 1974 (Photo by Sue Jimenez)

In the 1960’s, Hawaiian parties were all the rage, and my folks staged more than one. They even converted one of our basement storage rooms into a “Hawaiian Room”, complete with a lava rock waterfall and a full wall mural featuring Diamond Head, painted by an artist neighbour of ours. Rattan was the theme, even to the bar with a thatched roof. Many a raucous group was hosted there over the years and my Dad was a master of the Mai Tai.

Sunset on the Kona Coast, “Big Island” (Hawaii), Hawaii, 1974 (Photo by Sue Jimenez)

Booklets published by the likes of

Dole Pineapple

at that time suggested the “typical” island menu, with Fruit Punch, Lomi Salmon, Chicken Luau and Fresh Pineapple. Pretty authentic, right?

Dole Pineapple Plantation, Oahu, Hawaii, 1974 (Photo by Sue Jimenez)

Of course, you had to have a few plastic leis for your guests, which you bought from Kresge’s Five and Dime, and a plastic tablecloth with palm trees painted on it. Then, you could be properly prepared for Hoolaulea (merry-making).

Haunauma Bay, Oahu, Hawaii, 1974 (Photo by Sue Jimenez)

Only in recent years have I become aware of the many different salts mined around the globe, and in experimenting with them, I located

four sea salts from Hawaii

White Silver Sea Salt

Black Lava Sea Salt

and

Red Gold Sea Salt

are products I found, from

Palm Island

and the

Alaea Sea Salt

I located was produced by

Grandfather’s Salt, Inc

Alaea Sea Salt

Alaea Sea Salt, White Silver Sea Salt, Black Lava Sea Salt, Red Gold Sea Salt

There may be other distributors for similar products, as well.

Na Pali Coast, Oahu, Hawaii, 1974 (Photo by Sue Jimenez)

Alaea salt is heavy in trace minerals, found in sea water. In addition, a small amount of ‘Alae’, a reddish coloured Hawaiian clay, enriches the salt with iron oxides. Alaea salt was traditionally used by Hawaiians in ceremonies, as well as healing rituals.