Lūʻau
Scroll to Continue
Lūʻau of Hawaiʻi
One of the most festive experiences to be had on a visit to the Hawaiian Islands is a lūʻau – a Hawaiian feast featuring lively music and vibrant cultural performances from Hawaiʻi and greater Polynesia.
History of the Lūʻau
The first feast in Hawaiʻi resembling a modern-day lūʻau was probably held in 1819. Before then, the kapu system of restrictions, religion and resource management separated men and women at mealtimes, even in times of celebration. Other names for these feasts are ʻahaʻaina or pāʻina, but over the course of time, the nickname lūʻau – a reference to the taro leaves at the core of many popular dishes – stuck.
Two centuries later, lūʻau are still being celebrated. But it is important to note that despite the name and its Hawaiian roots, not all food or entertainment at a lūʻau today is Hawaiian. A contemporary lūʻau in Hawaiʻi reflects our multi-cultural society. Food at a family lūʻau is as diverse as the various branches of the family tree. Entertainment at a visitor lūʻau often includes dances and music from other Polynesian cultures.
Popular Lūʻau Dishes
- Poi: Pounded taro plant root; a starch meant to be eaten with everything.
- Kālua Pig: Pork prepared in an imu (underground oven) and shredded.
- Laulau: Meat wrapped in lūʻau (taro) leaves and steamed, traditionally prepared in an imu.
- Haupia: Coconut pudding.
- Poke: A term that literally means to cut into pieces, this newly global delicacy is traditionally prepared with raw fish, shoyu (soy sauce), green onions, kukui nut (candlenut), and limu (seaweed).
Find a Lūʻau to Attend
Where to Experience a Lūʻau
The Daughters of Hawai‘i was founded in 1903 by seven progressive women ahead of their time. Born in [...]
Trail information, Natural History Museum. Open every day. Visitor programs, volunteer opportunities, [...]
With sweeping ocean views, tucked beneath the stunning Ko‘olau Mountains, Aloha Kai Lū‘au offers [...]
Greenwell Farms legacy began in 1850 when Henry Nicholas Greenwell first set foot on the fertile soil of [...]
As the premier farm to cup coffee company in Hawai'i, we are focused on creating the ultimate experience [...]
Housed in a 1902 Plantation Manager's home, the Alexander & Baldwin Sugar Museum offer self guided tours [...]
Activities at Still & Moving Center are also available online! Still & Moving Center is a local and [...]
Every day at 2:20 pm, guests gather around Hawai'i's only water performance venue - the magnificent PCC [...]
Official PGA Tour golf tournament featuring champions only from the prior year. Features 60+ hours of [...]
Anna Leialoha Lindsey Perry-Fiske has been called the "First Lady of Ranching" in Hawaii. Anna competed [...]
No visit to Hawaii is complete without enjoying the experience of a traditional luau - and no luau is [...]
Visit our beautiful Kona Coffee Estate overlooking Kailua Bay and sample our "Crack-u-lated kona [...]