Lucky we live Hawai'i. When warm days make us crave a light, leafy meal, we're not held hostage to chicken Caesars or the already pass... greens with blue cheese and bacon.

Our melting-pot status brings all of Asia on a plate, topped with the freshest local seafood, greens and cheese. Our salad picks are non-chain entrees where greens reign supreme, at least by volume. If a salad wasn't captivating at first bite, if it didn't inspire mass e-mails telling everybody they had to try it, it didn't make the list.

Pictured here is the Thai-style rib-eye steak salad at Panya Bistro. It's rib-eye cooked your way, sliced thin and tossed with hearty romaine in a tangy, sweetened fish sauce that pops to life with chili bits.

Visit Metromix (www.honolulu.metromix.com) to see what other salads made our list.