Warm, gingery, and full of chicken, green papaya, and leafy greens — can you guess what soup this is?
If you said tinola, you’re spot on! This Filipino favorite has officially made its way to Hawaii’s public school healthy lunch menu, making headlines and hearts warm across the Pacific.
The Hawaiʻi State Department of Education recently added tinola—listed as “Chicken Papaya Soup”—to its healthy school lunch program on Oʻahu, Kauaʻi, and the Big Island. The initiative is part of Hawaii’s Farm to School program, which promotes nutritious meals made with locally grown ingredients. Over 2,000 pounds of fresh bok choy were used in the first rollout alone!
Students have welcomed the new dish with enthusiasm. Some compared it to miso soup, while others said it reminded them of their family’s cooking. Simple, comforting, and flavorful—tinola fits right into Hawaii’s food culture, where Asian influences blend beautifully with local flavors.
This move also shines a light on the strong Filipino presence in Hawaii, where nearly a quarter of residents have Filipino heritage. Adding tinola to the menu isn’t just about nutrition—it’s a nod to tradition, diversity, and the shared comfort that food brings across cultures.
Top 5 Southeast Asian Soups to Try
If you love tinola, here are a few other iconic soups from around the region worth tasting:
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Tom Yum (Thailand) – Spicy, sour, and aromatic, this world-famous Thai soup combines lemongrass, lime, chili, and shrimp in a broth that’s both fiery and refreshing.
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Soto Ayam (Indonesia) – A turmeric-based chicken soup served with noodles or rice, hard-boiled eggs, and fried shallots. Bright yellow, rich, and deeply satisfying.
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Pho (Vietnam) – A fragrant noodle soup with beef or chicken, fresh herbs, bean sprouts, and lime. Balanced and comforting, pho is Vietnam’s national treasure.
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Mohinga (Myanmar) – Often eaten for breakfast, this flavorful fish noodle soup is infused with lemongrass, turmeric, and chickpea flour for a creamy texture.
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Bak Kut Teh (Malaysia & Singapore) – Translating to “meat bone tea,” this herbal pork rib soup is slow-cooked with garlic and Chinese herbs—a hearty favorite on rainy days.