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The (Non-Dairy) Cream of the Crop: #5 HONOLULU, HAWAII
Sand, Surf and Soy. Whether carving the monster waves at the North Shore gets you stoked or if boogie boarding the warm friendly waters of Waikiki is more your style, visitors of every ilk find a vibrant and growing vegetarian community in Honolulu, home to the nation's largest local vegetarian society.
"You're never far from a Down To Earth Natural Foods store" brags one vegetarian in paradise. These all-in-one completely veggie markets are loaded with organic fruits and vegetables and all have a deli, salad bar, hot food buffet, and fresh baked goods. Down To Earth is one of only a handful of U.S. "health food" stores that doesn't sell meat and it carries only cruelty-free personal care products.
Since Honolulu is closer to Tokyo than Chicago and with half its residents finding their roots in Asia, it's not surprising that the city's restaurants flourish with the exotic flavors of Thailand, Vietnam, China, Japan, and India. One of the best is the Legend Vegetarian Restaurant in Honolulu's Chinese Cultural Plaza. All vegan and all delicious, Legend's is well known for its extensive menu and delectable meat alternatives.
Need more time to work on your tan? Try fast food restaurant Mr. Goodburger's, where all the "burgers" are meat-free. Add fries and a tropical fruit smoothie for a great alternative to the more common fast food outlets. To top off your Hawaiian veggie tour, be sure to experience the scrumptious pineapple swirl at the Dole Plantation. Dude, it's awesome.
With more than 1200 members, the Vegetarian Society of Hawaii (VSH) is the largest local veggie groups in the U.S. and a valuable resource for residents and visitors alike. Monthly meetings feature the best and brightest such as recent guests Peter Singer, Howard Lyman, Michael Greger, and PETA's vegan outreach director Bruce Friedrich. Many long-time vegan proponents call Hawaii home including active VSH member MDs William Harris, Michael Klaper, and Terry Shintani, along with champion "ironman" triathlete Ruth Heidrich, PhD. Surf the society's website (VSH.org) for its lecture schedule and a list of veg-friendly restaurants and businesses.
LEGEND VEGETARIAN RESTAURANT
100 N. Beretania St., #109, Old Chinatown
Honolulu, HI
808-532-8218
Dole Plantation
64-1550 Kamehameha Highway
(Hwy 99, north of Wahiawa)
Wahiawa, HI 96786
GOVINDA'S
51 Coelho Way
Honolulu, HI
808-595-3947
MR. GOODBURGER'S
801 Alakea St. (at Queen St., Downtown),
Honolulu, HI
808-479-4790
DOWN TO EARTH
2525 S. King St.
Honolulu, HI
808-947-7678
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