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Cheap Eats: Haili's Hawaiian Foods

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with Lyle Galdeira and Russell Yamanoha

HONOLULU (KHNL) - For the better part of half a century Haili's Hawaiian Foods was a mainstay at the old Ala Moana Farmer's Market. A few months ago they closed up shop, but not really, it's more like they drove away.

 And this week on Cheap Eats Russ and Lyle found them. Haili's Hawaiian Foods lunchwagon is just down Auahi Street in the parking lot across from the Ward Theaters.

Haili's Lunchwagon has a working grill and stove and Russ went inside with Rachel Haili to make their grilled ahi wrap. The garlic ahi goes onto a tortilla piled high with vegetables and mango salsa. Then comes the hard part... wrapping it.

"Okay, fold the ends in first and then this end over and squeeze ‘em or you gotta push ‘em in little bit. Okay you doing good. Alright!" said Haili.

After it's wrapped it's cut in half and good to go served with more mango salsa and chips.

Plate lunches and wraps start at seven bucks.

"I saw the truck" said Kimo Kahoano.

He's been a Haili's customer for decades.

"And I saw the pulehu ribs, luau. So I thought okay I going try that. Then I saw lomi lomi, then had the fish, then had the chicken long rice, then had the poi, then got everything!"

"When you come down to the Haili's lunchwagon it's almost like you're out on a picnic. We're under a tent, nice shade..." said Russ.

Lyle and Russell tried out the ahi wrap, chicken papaya and a whole bunch of sides.

"Here's he fried opelu, swimming in the ocean just a few hours ago. Over here is the combination plate. This is a Hawaiian heart attack waiting to happen. You got lau lau, you got kalua pig, you got lomi salmon, chicken long rice, poke. What more could you ask for? Let's dig in at Haili's" said Lyle.

"This is the grilled ahi wrap. It looks like it's going to be hard to eat but if it's difficult that means it's good" said Russ.

 Haili's Hawaiian Foods Lunchwagon
On Auahi Street in the parking lot across from Ward Theaters
593-8019