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
Our goal at The Fresh Shave is to serve the best all–natural and delicious shave ice. We offer a [...]
Encounter the golden beaches of Ko‘a Kea Hotel & Resort, an upscale boutique oceanfront property in [...]
Nestled on a quarter mile of white sand beach. Provides an irresistible combination of Hawaiian [...]
Located oceanfront on a white sandy beach, nestled in a tropical forest, Kaha Lani Resort is the perfect [...]
Located on the lush shores of Kauai's Royal Coconut Coast with white sandy beaches, Kauai Coast Resort [...]
Aston Islander on the Beach's plantation-style architecture and direct proximity to the beach offers an [...]
ALOHA! And welcome aboard any one, or all three, of our Conductor Narrated Authentic Train Tours of [...]
Providing deluxe helicopter tours from the Lihue Airport for over 40 years, Island Helicopters is the [...]
Plantation Hale Suites invites you to experience an unforgettable Kauai vacation. Located in the heart [...]
Find out for yourself why we are recommended by Conde' Nast Traveler, The Essential Guide to Kauai, [...]
Sunshine Helicopters, offering Helicopter Tours of Maui, Kauai and Big Island. Experience the Adventure [...]
Hawaiian has led all U.S. carriers in on-time performance for each of the past 10 years (2004-2013) as [...]