You don’t need help deciding whether or not you want to eat chocolate haupia cream pie. But you may never have heard of the dessert, let alone know where to find it.
Haupia is a traditional Hawaiian dessert made from coconut milk. The texture is like thick pudding. Almost flan-like. Gelatinous, but sturdy enough to hold in your hand and bite into. The flavor is ridiculous in the best possible way.
The dessert predates Western contact. Traditional haupia was made by mixing coconut cream extracted from fresh coconut meat with pia (Polynesian arrowroot) and cooking it until it set. Modern recipes swap in cornstarch for the arrowroot, but the coconut base is the same. Haupia is still served at every luau in the state and appears at virtually every Hawaiian celebration — birthdays, graduations, funerals. It is comfort food in the deepest sense.
The chocolate haupia pie — the version that most visitors encounter — is a newer creation. Ted’s Bakery on Oahu’s North Shore is widely credited with popularizing it. Two layers: a dark chocolate custard on the bottom, a thick slab of coconut haupia on top, whipped cream over everything, all in a flaky pie crust. The combination works because the chocolate grounds the coconut sweetness. One layer without the other is good. Together they are absurd.
What separates a great haupia pie from a forgettable one? Three things. The haupia layer needs to be thick and firm — not watery or loose. The chocolate layer should taste like actual chocolate, not cocoa-flavored pudding mix. And the crust matters more than people think. A soggy crust ruins the texture contrast that makes the pie work.
Temperature matters too. Haupia pie is served chilled. The coconut layer should be cold and set, not room-temperature and sliding. The best bakeries keep their pies refrigerated until the moment they hand it to you. If you see a haupia pie sitting in a warm display case, keep walking.
Expect to pay $5-$8 per slice at most bakeries, or $25-$40 for a whole pie. Ted’s Bakery on Oahu’s North Shore — where the chocolate haupia pie arguably became famous — sells whole pies that locals buy for parties and holidays. Liliha Bakery in Honolulu is another institution. On neighbor islands, the best haupia pies often come from small family bakeries that don’t have websites. Ask locals. They know.
The chocolate-haupia combination is the most popular, but it’s not the only version. Some bakeries do a haupia-macadamia nut pie. Others layer haupia with lilikoi (passion fruit) or ube (purple yam). The traditional plain haupia — just coconut, no chocolate — is worth trying at least once. It’s the purest expression of what the dessert is supposed to taste like.
So let’s figure out where to get a slice (or three) on whichever island you’re visiting.
Best Places to Get Haupia Pie per Island
Each Hawaiian island has its own haupia pie scene. Some spots are well-known local institutions. Others are hidden bakeries you’d never find without a tip. We’ve broken it down island by island so you can zero in on the best options wherever you happen to be.
Top Haupia Pie Spots on Kauai — Kauai’s haupia pie game combines rich chocolate layers with smooth coconut haupia pudding, all in a flaky crust. Whether you’re a first-timer or a local with a craving, this guide covers the best places on Kauai.
Top Haupia Pie Spots on Oahu — Oahu has the deepest bench of haupia pie options in the state. Silky coconut pudding layered over chocolate or macadamia nut bases, traditional slices and creative twists. Here’s where to find the best on Oahu.
Top Haupia Pie Spots on Maui — Maui’s haupia pie options range from classic slices with chocolate layers to macadamia nut variations. Our guide to the best haupia pie on Maui covers the top spots across the island.
Top Haupia Pie Spots on Big Island — The Big Island has its own take on this coconut-based treat, with bakeries and restaurants offering everything from traditional recipes to creative spins. Find the best haupia pie on the Big Island here.
Explore Haupia Pie Guides by Island
A Real Hawaiian Original
This isn’t the kind of food that’s hard to sell visitors on. The appeal is obvious. But don’t write it off as just a guilty pleasure. Haupia is a real-deal traditional Hawaiian dessert. You can’t find it outside the islands (not the good stuff, anyway), and the best versions come straight from the source.
You can also make haupia pie at home if you’re staying somewhere with a decent kitchen. It only takes a few readily available ingredients and basic baking skills. It won’t taste like Ted’s or Liliha’s, but with coconut milk and chocolate as your base ingredients, it’s hard to go wrong.
Updated 03-25-2026 by John C. Derrick.
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