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
Join us for a meal but stay for a pint! Located in the Outrigger Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel, our [...]
At Lappert's Hawaii, we make everything by hand from scratch using only the finest ingredients. From our [...]
Movers and Shakas is a non-profit that runs place-based, community orientation programs designed to [...]
Extravagant or reasonable, our catering staff takes care of every detail, from a garden wedding to an [...]
American Solutions for Business is a leading distributor of print, promotional products, office [...]
Hawaii.com is committed to being the Internet's all-inclusive Web site for travel to, from and around [...]
Hawaii's Best Travel exists to share Hawaii’s unmatched beauty, stories, and experiences with the [...]
Waikiki’s only oceanfront dinner show is a culinary and sensory celebration, commemorating Hawaiian [...]
Enjoy the freshest flavors from the North Shore of Oahu. Home of the first ever Hawaii-grown Acai bowl, [...]
Paradise Bay Resort offers panoramic views of the Ko'olau Mountains laced with magnificent waterfalls [...]
Aloha from Maui, the most dreamed of spot on Earth! There is no place in the world that can compare to [...]
With its secluded waterfront location and gorgeously appointed rooms, The Kahala Hotel & Resort is an [...]