A malasada is a Hawaiian-Portuguese doughnut made from sweet yeast dough and formed without a hole.
Malasadas originated in Portugal and became strongly associated with Hawaii through Portuguese immigrants, especially workers who arrived from the Madeira and Azores islands. The dough is fried and usually coated in granulated sugar. Modern versions may be filled with custard, coconut cream, chocolate, or fruit preserves.
Hawaii’s malasada tradition is particularly visible on Shrove Tuesday, known locally as Malasada Day. Bakeries and community groups often sell large quantities of the pastries for the occasion.
Malasadas are sometimes confused with Portuguese doughnuts associated specifically with Madeira or the Azores. Those regional traditions overlap historically, but “malasada” is the name most closely associated with the Hawaiian style. Unlike ring doughnuts, malasadas are generally solid, irregularly rounded pieces of fried dough.