Beware frozen Groundhogs!!!

[DiLeon]

Back when, I was a member of the Boy Scout Order of the Arrow as an adult leader. Each year we would have a conclave where the different area lodges would get together and share stuff. One of the lodges, had as it's totem the rattlesnake. They would always bring a bunch of rattlesnake meat and cook it to share. I liked it. Since we were in San Diego County, we often camped in the winter out at the Anza-Borrego desert area. Usually while hiking, we'd spot a half dozen rattlers on the trail getting warm in the sun. Toss a couple of small rocks at them and they would usually move off the trail into the brush. Those that didn't were killed and sauteed up that evening as an appetizer. Cooked in butter with a bit of garlic powder thrown in and they were quite tasty.

Di: I'd try your opihi. Can't be too much different from raw clams, oysters, scallops, etc. For years, we have made ceviche from the raw bay scallops, and it's been great.

Claude

I love raw clams, oysters, ceviche I love it! But the Hawaiian eat it raw without spices and sauces ...it sort of like take a fish or shellfish and eat it raw right out there in the ocean. Most people can not eat it, that is why when people come here there are no real Hawaiian restaurants. I can eat raw seaweed but most people gag on it....Opihi is good if you can eat raw seafood without the sauces where you dig it out the shell ...and pop it in your mouth at times with sand and ocean saltwater taste. Very few people that I know that live here can eat this kind of food. There are few things around the world I do not like raw squid because it is like chewing on slimy rubber that takes forever to chew. I do not like some kinds of fish eggs raw. And the Japanese soup that looks like moss reminds me too much of my childhood catching crawfish out of moss in the streams....yuk. I never had monkeys, snakes, rats nor the extra large water bugs in Thailand although I might try them. And I never tried roadkill like Chuck...LOL

[Arthur C.]

When we visited Hawaii some forty years back, we were served "two finger poi" at a luau...I can't believe anyone eats that stuff unless to keep from starving to death. If I remember correctly, it's a grey paste made from taro root...called "two finger poi" because you use one finger to scoop it into your mouth and the second finger to scoop it out, lol!

On that same convention trip, we were served beautiful boiled shrimp at a reception. Being from Louisiana, we thought we were in for a familiar, well seasoned treat, but they were apparently boiled in plain water, resulting in no flavor at all. We regretfully left them uneaten. We were also served squid, which as Di mentioned, is virtually unchewable. I believe Di when she says there are no true Hawaiian restaurants for the tourists. I don't know what the locals eat (besides Spam), but it surely must be better than that! The Kona coffee was excellent, however!

[DiLeon]

When we visited Hawaii some forty years back, we were served "two finger poi" at a luau...I can't believe anyone eats that stuff unless to keep from starving to death. If I remember correctly, it's a grey paste made from taro root...called "two finger poi" because you use one finger to scoop it into your mouth and the second finger to scoop it out, lol!

On that same convention trip, we were served beautiful boiled shrimp at a reception. Being from Louisiana, we thought we were in for a familiar, well seasoned treat, but they were apparently boiled in plain water, resulting in no flavor at all. We regretfully left them uneaten. We were also served squid, which as Di mentioned, is virtually unchewable. I believe Di when she says there are no true Hawaiian restaurants for the tourists. I don't know what the locals eat (besides Spam), but it surely must be better than that! The Kona coffee was excellent, however!

Poi is a purple starch which is a little slimmy. It is not something you like but learn to like to eat. Today it is almost not affordable to buy. If it was grey it is old. and Shrimp the kind you got comes half way around the world. We have shrimp here but it is on sushi and in Chinese food. The real Hawaii and the one you see in the tourist areas is two different things. Tourist is entertainment major, Hawaii is living here.

We have so many cultures here ...it depends where you ethnic background is. I eat a lot of Thai food which is very popular here and food from India all vegan foods...favorite is middle eastern Greek and Egyptian. The normal local lunch is heavy foods like fried meats, poured with gravies, macaroni salads heavy on mayo, and rice. Hot dogs and spam in fried rice. Dinner would be various meats, chicken, steak and hot dogs on the plate together with seafood mac salad heavy on mayo and rice and fried rices. Breakfast is Starbucks coffee and pastry, fresh donuts are major here, or fast food. It is noted we have the highest kidney disease in the USA..it this high meat and grease foods with little to no veggies. There are tons of Asian restaurants. Thai, Chinese, Japanese are the most popular. Hot oven pizza kitchens...Pizza is very popular, and Mexican foods. The latest is the Japanese is the high tech robot order on the computer at your table places for sushi. No waiters or waitresses which will become a norm in the future. Your food comes to you on a conveyor belt and stops at your table.

People come here to see and eat Hawaiian. But the Hawaiians are not where the tourist are and they stay with their own. Most tourist and new people moved here never see a real Hawaiian person, mainly because they are not friendly to them. They say most people have zero respect for them and their culture, but that is changing right now. I learned one thing when I moved here, never ever beep your horn at a Hawaiian...they will get out of there car and beat the living poop out of you car with a baseball bat. I have seen this more then once. There is major pressure today...with all people living here to stop disrespect of the land and the people, if they come here they need to know the culture. No more poking our endanger species, no more throwing trash in people yards and parking in people yards to go to the beach or hiking, no more acting like people that live here are for tourist entertainment. It has gotten so bad, we have a major no more tourist, keep them out here movement. We had a governor get on the TV and radio about two years ago telling people to be nice to tourist, the people got mad and raised living Hell....and he did a turn around and super active in getting these issues finally turned around.

[leeoonaa]

Not a joke how to make your own ground hog sausage and sneak it into a church pot luck.

I can't talk, we eat some pretty gross things here also...like fresh raw opihi with salted fresh seaweed.

Had to google "Opihi" had no idea what that was..... raw huh? So it's like oysters? You can cook them but raw is also ok?

[DiLeon]

Had to google "Opihi" had no idea what that was..... raw huh? So it's like oysters? You can cook them but raw is also ok?

When it comes to fresh Hawaiian seafood, nothing spends less time in transit than the opihi plucked off the rocks and slurped right out of the shell, wriggling tentacles and all. They are typically eaten raw, with raw seaweed and a dash of sea salt fresh from the ocean. Oysters are mild and with horseradish.... this raw ocean favor in all ways.

[leeoonaa]

When it comes to fresh Hawaiian seafood, nothing spends less time in transit than the opihi plucked off the rocks and slurped right out of the shell, wriggling tentacles and all. They are typically eaten raw, with raw seaweed and a dash of sea salt fresh from the ocean. Oysters are mild and with horseradish.... this raw ocean favor in all ways.

Woah!!!! the way you described it.... it was superb......... you sold it to me so good that now I'm decided to try the out. I mean, it would be one of those things that I do without much thinking about it at the moment but sure I'll do it..... I'm one of those picky persons when it comes to food texture..... that's how good you sold it to me, I'd like to do it so I can repeat what you said but coming from my experience