<<Disclaimer: Verify this information before applying it to your situation.>>

Dear listmates, While recuperating at my in-laws house in Oahu, Hawaii,
after my doctor directed 3rd gluten challenge, I discovered that the
vacation was not at the worse timing.  I realized that many Hawaiian foods
such as Lau Lau, Kalua pork, and poi are gluten-free.  Lau Lau is pork or
chicken and butterfish in taro leaves (like spinach but tastes a lot
better);  Because of my damage, I couldn't digest the taro leaves but they
didn't cause me any severe symptoms.  Kalua pork is only salted like Lau Lau
with the additon of liquid smoke.  Poi is mashed taro with the consistency
of a milk shake and it is fed to babies who can't take mother's milk.  It
has calcium and iron.  Because I was having difficulty digesting foods
especially raw or green vegetables and fat, I ate very lean and well cooked
vegetables.  Both the poi and fresh Hawaiian papaya helped me tremendously
since poi is very soothing and papaya has many natural digestive enzymes.
Every time I had pain with eating solid foods, I ate papaya and the pain
went away.  Also, I found the aloha spirit to be very accommodating in 2
restaurants who allowed me to bring my own food.  Because of my weakness, I
stayed home at my in-laws house mostly but I was so grateful for those two
restaurants who didn't make a fuss but even gave me a smile when I told them
my diet was restrictive.  Finally, my severe joint pain was minimized by the
warm weather in Hawaii.  I even bathed myself in sun to get my vitamin D
which I know I'm lacking due to my malabsorption and because of the winter
season and lack of sun where I live.  So, GO to Hawaii where you can
actually eat out and have HI food!  Laura