Manapua

/mah-nah-POO-ah/

The Hawaiian version of Chinese char siu bao. Steamed or baked bun filled with BBQ pork.

A Hawaii institution. Manapua is the local take on Chinese char siu bao. The name comes from Hawaiian "mea ʻono puaʻa" meaning "delicious pork thing." Found at 7-Eleven, mom-and-pop shops, and the classic manapua man who used to drive around neighborhoods selling them out of a truck.

Examples

  • Grab me a manapua from 7-Eleven.
  • Mana pua man! (Here comes the manapua truck!)

Origin

Mixed

Alternate spellings

Manapua buns, Mana pua

food

Related phrases

Broke da mouth

Incredibly delicious. So good it breaks your mouth.

Grinds

Food. A meal. To eat.

Kanak attack

The food coma after a big local meal.

Kau kau

Food. Eating. Lunch time.

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