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
No trip to Hawaii is complete without witnessing Kauai’s sacred Napali Coast. This stunning stretch of [...]
Providing deluxe helicopter tours from the Lihue Airport for over 40 years, Island Helicopters is the [...]
Enchanting Nāpali Coast Boat Tours No visit to Kauai is complete without an adventure on the Nāpali [...]
Makana Charters is the only Na Pali tour company offering personalized or private morning and afternoon [...]
Let the light from the flickering tiki torches and the warm tropical breeze set your o’hana spirit [...]
Tasting Kauai offers three food tours that explore the North Shore, South Shore and East Side. All tours [...]
Our goal at The Fresh Shave is to serve the best all–natural and delicious shave ice. We offer a [...]
Prince Kuhio Condos offers vacation rental condominiums of 3 sizes and is located on the sunny south [...]
Come away to the Cliffs at Princeville, where tropical mountains meet crystal blue waters. Located on [...]
Waipouli Beach Resort & Spa Kauai by Outrigger rivals the best Kauai hotels for luxury accommodations [...]
Common Ground is a creative campus on the North Shore of Kauai. We strive to find common ground through [...]
Kauai Island Brewing Company, Kauai’s oldest Brewery has been serving great, local, hand-crafted brews [...]