Have You Been ‘Poke’d Yet?

The first of its kind in the Whitsundays, the new Lokahi Poke Bar has just opened its doors in Cannonvale and has a mission to provide the local community with healthy, balanced meals that are also delicious to eat.

For those that are yet to try this tasty treat, a Poke Bowl is a dish originating from Hawaii and inspired by the large population of Japanese residents on the island.

Bringing together a fusion of Asian and Hawaiian cultures, the Poke Bowl has a noodle, rice or salad base, a choice of protein – from meat to tofu, salmon and tuna – and a colourful array of complementary salad items on top.  

Purple cabbage, bright green cucumber and Edamame beans, yellow corn, orange carrot and pink radish – a rainbow of vibrantly coloured goodness makes you feel great inside and out.

Lokahi Poke Bar has been created by Erina Miyake, who is originally from Japan but has lived in the Whitsundays for the past five years, bringing up her two children in the area with her husband Leo.

Having visited cities like Brisbane and Sydney, Erina noticed Poke Bars were very popular and thought that, with our local healthy lifestyle, they would work perfectly here.

Available in gluten free, vegetarian and adaptable for most dietary requirements, everything is made fresh to order and the delicious dressing is also home-made.

Lokahi also serves Acai Bowls, both classic and chocolate flavoured, yoghurt cups in mixed berry and mandarin mango, and dairy free chia pudding.

Located at Whitsunday Shopping Centre in Cannonvale, look for the bright green shopfront and choose from the menu or design your own bowl.

Made fresh to order, they will be ready before you can say ‘Get Poked!’

Staff member Boyeon Cha and Lokahi Poke Bowl owner Erina Miyake. Photo: Rachael Smith

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