This tasty Chinese treat transformed into a Hawaiʻi favorite

HONOLULU (KHON2) — Bao, sometimes called “baozi,” is a type of steamed bun that was invented in China a long time ago.

The exact history of bao is not well-documented, but many believe it was first created over 1,000 years ago during the Three Kingdoms period in China.

A famous military leader, Zhuge Liang, is often credited with inventing it. The story goes that he created these buns to calm the spirits of a river, offering them as a sacrifice, but over time, bao became a beloved food.

Bao is made from a soft, fluffy dough filled with a variety of ingredients like pork, chicken, vegetables, or even sweet fillings like red bean paste. Once filled, the dough is sealed and steamed until it’s soft and slightly chewy.

As people from China traveled and moved to different parts of the world, they brought their food traditions with them.

This is how bao made its way to Hawaiʻi. In the late 1800s, many Chinese immigrants came to Hawaiʻi to work on sugar plantations. They brought with them their food, including bao, which they shared with other local communities.

In Hawaiʻi, bao became very popular. The local people loved how easy it was to eat and how delicious it tasted.

Over time, Hawaiʻi chefs started adding their own twist to bao, sometimes using local ingredients or flavors to make it even more special. Eventually, this led to the creation of a unique Hawaiʻi version of bao called manapua.

Manapua is inspired by the traditional Chinese bao but has its own Hawaiʻi flair. The word “manapua” comes from the Hawaiʻi phrase “mea ʻono puaʻa,” which means “delicious pork thing.”

The classic manapua is usually filled with char siu, a sweet and savory Chinese-style barbecued pork, but there are also many other variations, including chicken, vegetables, and sweet fillings.

Manapua quickly became a staple in Hawaiʻi, especially as a popular snack or meal on the go. You can find them in many places across the islands, from local bakeries to food trucks.

The popularity of manapua is a great example of how food can evolve and adapt when it moves to new places.

From ancient China to the islands of Hawaiʻi, bao has truly become a global food treasure. So, KHON2.com looked to your Yelp rating to find the best on Oʻahu.

1. Sing Cheong Yuan Bakery.
2. Chun Wah Kam.
3. Royal Kitchen.
4. Honolulu Kitchen.
5. Chun Wah Kam Noodle Factory.
6. Island Manapua Factory.
7. New Lin Fong.

So, on National Bao Day, we celebrate not only the history of bao but also its journey across the world and its transformation into the beloved manapua in Hawaiʻi.