A Store Product Review: Hawaiian Kettle Chips, Sweet Maui Onion

If the interpretations of an artist working (most likely under contract) for Pinnacle Foods Group, LLC, of Cherry Hill, New Jersey can be trusted as an accurate portrayal of the native, indigenous Polynesian people of the Hawaiian Islands . . .  Well, for the first time in my life I have a desire to visit Hawaii. Or maybe it's a side affect of the dextrose, hydrolyzed soy, maltodextrin, disodium inosinate and disodium guanylate (among other things) added to the delicious, deep-fried thinly sliced potatoes.

Hawaiian Kettle Chips is a brand of Tim's Cascade Snacks, based out of Algona, Washington, which is a subsidiary of Pinnacle. They taste pretty good. I tried the Sweet Maui Onion flavor; I was drawn to them by the attractive packaging. Sweet, salty, crispy and crunchy. . . I recommend they be accompanied by a fine, dark, robust beverage such as Root Beer. They also go well with hot dogs (depending on how long the hot dogs have been sitting on the roller grill in the back of the store) with a squirt or two of cheese from the nacho cheese dispenser machine.

Not all potato chip makers could pull it off, but some guys look good in malos, made of kapa (a barkcloth made from wauke, mamaki, oloa, `akala, or hau plant fibers). The red Mahiole helmets made of tightly-woven feathers add a rugged, yet refined touch. A fragrant flower lei can be sexy. The outrigger canoes are cool.

Anyway, I like them, and I recommend them. They also come in Original, Luau BBQ, Mango Habanaro and Cracked Pepper and Sea Salt flavors. Personally, I am not at all drawn to the Original or Mango Habanaro flavors.

A nice package isn't everything, but it sure helps.