[1] In 1954, Ernest Morgado, a naval intelligence officer during World War II, and Mike Asagi, a chicken farmer, founded the Pacific Poultry Company in ʻEwa, Hawaii.

Millions of dollars have been raised over the years for charities by selling huli-huli chicken, according to Morgado's stepson.

[6] As the dish was originally made on a grill with a makeshift spit, onlookers shouted "huli" when the chickens were to be rotated, cooking and basting the other side.

He served on the Hawaii Board of Agriculture,[10] was appointed honorary vice consul of Portugal,[11] and was awarded the Honolulu Portuguese Chamber of Commerce's "Council's Cup" in 1981.

[16] Some recipes call for brining the chicken in a solution with kosher salt, sugar, bay leaves, garlic,[15] sesame oil, or thyme,[17] before marinating it in the sauce.