Malasadas, deep fried and sugar-coated, are the ideal comfort food any time you want something sweet and substantial. When searching for the Best Malasada in Hawaii, the claim of who serves the best is always debatable, but they remain a local favorite. Readers of HAWAI’i’s Magazine decided that title goes to Kauaʻi Bakery in Līhuʻe, therefore negating Leonard’s Bakery on Oʻahu for the first time.
A Legacy of Flavor at Kauaʻi Bakery
Since Harry Shigekane initially launched Kauaʻi Bakery as Kauaʻi Cinnamons in the middle of the 1980s, it has been a staple at Kukui Grove Center—albeit in multiple locations. It was particularly famous back then for its cinnamon rolls. Born on Kauaʻi, Gracie Galiza, the fourth owner of Kauaʻi Bakery, recalls the aroma of those original cinnamon rolls.
More Than Just Cakes
“What’s most nostalgic to me is that every single birthday cake that I had growing up and most of the cakes at special events were from this bakery,” she says, adding that the bakery’s top selling today is its cakes, which include local favorites like guava chiffon, lilikoʻi (passion fruit) chiffon, Chantilly, and dobash. However, for those seeking the Best Malasada in Hawaii, Kauaʻi Bakery is a must-visit.
A Foodie’s Dream
Galiza, a self-described foodie, purchased Kauaʻi Bakery in 2018 and has since renovated the area with banana leaf wallpaper, wood flooring, and wooden lights. She is a pediatrician at Wilcox Medical Center and Kauaʻi Medical Clinic. Apart from its cakes, it offers pies, manapua, pastries, coffee, and naturally, the Best Malasada in Hawaii.
Tradition Meets Innovation
Though the same recipe has been handed down from owner to owner, she is unsure of the length of time the bakery has been serving malasadas. “Having the malasadas taste the same or very similar was important to me,” she notes. “But we have made some minor changes in some of the techniques behind making the malasadas, which our consumers have noted has improved the taste and the consistency, so I think it’s got better and better over the years.”
A Temptation You Can’t Resist
For those searching for the Best Malasada in Hawaii, she says the malasadas from the bakery are light and fluffy, so they “fool you into eating a lot” of them. Along with other tastes loaded with custard cream, chocolate, ube cream, guava cream, and red bean, the bakery offers traditional sugar-coated malasadas. Fall pumpkin spice malasadas, strawberry cream malasadas around Mother’s Day, and malasada ice cream sandwiches during the summer will also be available, further cementing its reputation for the Best Malasada in Hawaii.
Experience the Sweetness of Kauaʻi
For anyone visiting Kauaʻi, experiencing the Best Malasada in Hawaii at Kauaʻi Bakery is a delightful treat. Whether you’re a local or a tourist, the sweet, fluffy goodness of these malasadas is an experience not to be missed. As more people discover Kauaʻi Bakery, the consensus is clear: it truly offers the Best Malasada in Hawaii.
The Unforgettable Taste of Malasadas
With so many variations and the rich history of malasadas at Kauaʻi Bakery, it’s no wonder why it continues to capture the hearts of many, being celebrated as the Best Malasada in Hawaii