Lomi salmon is a side dish in Hawaiian cuisine. It is a fresh tomato and salmon salad, and was introduced to Hawaiians by early Western sailors. It is typically prepared by mixing salted, shredded salmon with tomatoes, sweet Maui onions, and occasionally scallions, and sometimes crushed ice if it is not refrigerated. It is always served cold.
The name lomi-lomi salmon is taken from the method of preparation. The shredding (dicing) and mixing of the salmon is done by massaging the salted fish with other ingredients by hand (lomi-lomi is Hawaiian for "to massage").
Lomi-lomi salmon is a traditional side dish served at Hawaiian [luau|lū‘aus]. It is said to complement traditional Hawaiian food consisting of raw diced ahi tuna, poke, kalua pig, laulau, and poi. Lomi-lomi salmon is a classic and integral part of most Hawaiian parties and gatherings, such as traditional luaus, and can be considered a Hawaiian ethnic food.