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
Aloha from Maui's Happy little wedding company! We are small by choice and different by design. Our [...]
Waikiki’s only oceanfront dinner show is a culinary and sensory celebration, commemorating Hawaiian [...]
Loko Ea is indeed an ancestral place of importance, a significant Wahi Pana, or celebrated place, to the [...]
The background sound of the ocean surf against a soulful steel guitar. A welcome lei and Mai Tai. Tables [...]
Join us for a Waikiki Sunset Cocktail Cruise! See spectacular sunset and city lights views aboard [...]
Pacific Whale Foundation is a nonprofit organization founded in 1980 to protect a declining humpback [...]
Trail information, Natural History Museum. Open every day. Visitor programs, volunteer opportunities, [...]
Kilauea Point Natural History Association dba Friends of Kauai Wildlife Refuges is the non-profit [...]
Paniolo [ pah-nee-oh-loh ] A person who herds cattle; cowboy. Pāʻina [ pāh'ee-nah ] Meal, dinner, [...]
Come early and stroll the Plantation's tropical grounds as you enjoy the late afternoon sun or walk [...]
As the sun sets on the legendary shores of Kailua Bay, the excitement of the Royal Kona Luau, Voyagers [...]
Located on Wamiea Valley Road, across from Waimea Bay, this beautiful treasure is rich in Hawaiian [...]