There’s a love for food in Hawaii that is unique, probably because of the many ethnicities that our favorites originate from. So, this isn’t a poll, mind you. And it sure as heck ain’t about rankings, even if the rest of this page sort of is.

No, it’s about that late-afternoon, early-evening arrival at a high school athletic facility for a typical prep sports fan. Straight out of stifling traffic, typically on another frenetic Friday rush hour. The family is together, a son or daughter, nephew or niece, grandson or granddaughter is about to lace it up and compete.

It’s all fine and fun until everybody’s ono for dinner. Some folks stop for fast food. The rest of the hungry audience turns to the rock of high school sports: the concession stand.

Getting an experienced, talented and, most importantly, unselfish cook to give hours and hours of time, effort and yes, money, is no given. But it happens all the time. Coaches, friends, family volunteering to organize the concession-stand menu and raise much-need funds for a team or club on campus.

There are myriad tasty treats at just about every sporting event involving an audience. At just about every field or stadium, the aroma of teri-hamburger patties grilling wafts over the entire facility. Who can resist?

Here are some favorites, in no particular order.

Roast pork plate
Konawaena/Julian Yates Field

The Big Island, it turns out, is big time on fishing and hunting. When I first began covering prep sports there in 1990, a city boy who had never seen a ranch, it was an eye-opener. Even better, the concession stand at football games featured fresh roast pork.

"We got the pig yesterday," one of the cooks explained to me.

Fresh is better. That roast pork was exquisite.

Chili plate w/mayo
Kohala/Hisaoka gym

My first trek north to a Kohala Cowboys home game turned out to be educational.

"The mayo is right there," the snack bar lady said, pointing to a table of condiments. Mayonnaise on ice. I was confused until she explained that it goes on top of my chili. It was actually, bizarrely awesome. Kind of the same reason why I have mac salad on my Rainbow’s chili plate, even though I’m not a big mac salad fan.

Spicy pork bowl
Castle

This concoction was cooked up by former Knights track and field coach Martin Hee decades ago. It is (or was) only $3.50 and actually was a blend of sweet and spicy flavors; pulled pork over rice. I’ve yet to see this duplicated at any other site.

Hamburger curry/shoyu chicken/chili plate
Kaiser/Roosevelt

Rodney Iwasaki was an athletic director at Roosevelt, and he has been at Kaiser for several years now. His trail of treats can be tracked because both Ticky Vasconcellos Stadium (Roosevelt) and Kaiser Stadium offer the same entrees. My biggest challenge is picking one or two of the three I like best. Can’t have three choices on a mixed plate.

Korean chicken
Mililani/John Kauinana Stadium

They served this up a couple of weekends ago and it was spectacular. The Lady Trojans softball coaches, including Rose Antonio, and parents were serving the grinds up and told me the cafeteria cooks made the chicken. Fried, crispy, sweet and spicy. Just like a football fan sitting under the late afternoon sun in Central Oahu.

Shoyu ahi poke bowl
Moanalua

Poke bowls are all the rage these days, and at Moanalua, even with a massive menu, this stands out. They offer different kinds of poke bowls, but the one standard that separates their fish is this: one of the parents goes to the early-morning fish auction and gets the ahi fresh. I’ve hardly ever had a bowl of ahi poke that I didn’t like, but again, fresh is fresh.

Teri chicken, shave ice
Kapolei

They do theirs crispy style, which is great if you love chicken skin. The Waialua sweet corn was definitely impressive, almost as much as the crispy, tender chicken.

Fiji bread and hot cocoa
Kahuku

Football games at Carleton Weimer Field used to draw food booths galore, as many as 12 in recent years. Former player and coach Kingsley Ah You’s crew from Tita’s Grill operates the main stand now. They serve up a delicious beef stew plate and a big menu. But the hot cocoa and Fiji-style bread is equally popular. The bread is served up at the boys basketball team’s booth.

Shoyu chicken, chili plate (w/ tossed salad)
‘Iolani Classic

Fundraisers are less of a priority for most private-school athletic programs, but when they do their work, the results are outstanding. The dinner plate changes each night at the annual ‘Iolani Classic, and they offer tossed salad, to boot. Seeing the hordes of mainland travelers — players and families alike — try local food for the first time is always enjoyable.

Haole brownies
Kamehameha/Kunuiakea Stadium

This traditional baked good has been part of Kamehameha campus life for generations. It’s a tender, sweet alternative to the usual chocolate brownie. Just beware: At the stadium, they are served up four squares per bag, so be prepared to share.

Pickled li hing mango
Mid-Pacific

This little treat at Owls baseball games is a perfect snack on a hot afternoon. During mango season, of course. Can’t beat it for less than $2 per small Ziploc bag.

Kal bi plate
Radford

Athletic director Kelly Sur and his family have been cooking up a storm in the kitchen at James Alegre Gymnasium for years. The kal bi cannot be avoided, when available. The Hawaiian plate at the football games is another thumbs-up winner.

HAWAII PREP WORLD

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THE TOP 10

Voted on by coaches and media from around the state. First-place votes in parentheses. Ten points for first-place votes, nine for second, eight for third, etc.

FOOTBALL

Also receiving votes: Hilo 11, Nanakuli 7, Waianae 7, Maui 4, Kapaa 2, Kapolei 1.

VOLLEYBALL

Also receiving votes: King Kekaulike 11, Mid-Pacific 6, Punahou II 3, Kalaheo 3, Hilo 2.

ATHLETES OF THE WEEK

BOYS
Dean Rodan
Punahou air riflery

Tied the ILH sporter air riflery record on Saturday with a three-position score of 279 in a vctory over Kamehameha. He tied the mark set by two-time state champion Keanu Paikai in 2010. The league holds its championship on Saturday at Mid-Pacific Institute.

GIRLS
Lisa Tashiro
Kaiser cross country

Ran the 3-mile course at McKinley in 19 minutes, 32.95 seconds to claim the OIA East crown and lead the Cougars, who had the top four finishers, to the team title.