What is luau?
Visiting luau is a must for any Hawaiian vacationer. But what is luau? For locals, luau is a pleasant way to celebrate various events (birthday, big harvest, battle won, graduation, etc.). Luau is a celebration of life, which can be organized for thousands of reasons. Usually, a feast is held at someone’s home or in a park, where guests gather, who are entertained with delicious food and games. If you are on vacation in Hawaii and did not take a huge family (ohana) with you, then you can visit any of the luau held for both visiting guests and locals.
The traditional feast is always accompanied by music, dancing and delicious food. During luau, you can not only relax, but also learn a lot about Hawaii and Polynesia and their traditions: about the imu ceremony, hula dance, lei garland making lessons, Hawaiian beliefs, royal court procession ceremonies, hukilau on the beach and much more.
Despite the fact that all luau differ slightly from each other, during any feast, the imu ceremony is always held – cooking kalua boar in an underground oven in accordance with old traditions. This is followed by the rituals of the ancient Hawaiians. When the boar is ready, you can enjoy its meat.
Luau is held on the main islands of Hawaii: Oahu, Maui, Kauai and the Big Island. During any luau, you can expect a lei donation ceremony, a feast itself and cocktails (in the Polynesian Cultural Center – only soft drinks).