


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 Holiday Inn Express Waikiki is located at the gateway of Waikiki in Honolulu. This 44-storey hotel [...]
This untraditional yet unforgettable hotel offers a slice of authentic Waikiki through expertly designed [...]
The all-suite condominium hotel Aston at the Waikiki Banyan has been a favorite among locals and return [...]
Charming and bright with a tropical garden and water features, Aqua Oasis is a Waikiki boutique hotel [...]
Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort is Waikiki’s only true resort destination, offering [...]
THE MODERN HONOLULU introduces cosmopolitan chic for leisure and business pursuits in Hawaii. We deftly [...]
The Royal Hawaiian, known for its brightly-colored exterior, has welcomed celebrities, heads of state [...]
Just about everything on Waikiki Beach has been discovered, except maybe Shoreline Waikiki Hotel. In the [...]
Kanu Hawaii is a movement of everyday people, launched in 2006, working to protect and promote the [...]
Along the beautiful shores of Oahu is Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, Ko Olina, Hawai`i: a stunning [...]
Of all Waikiki Beach hotels, one towers above the rest... the Sheraton Waikiki is a modern monument to [...]
Gunstock Ranch, home of Oahu's first Hawaiian Legacy Forest, is an almost 50-year old family-owned horse [...]