Lūʻau
 | This article includes a list of generalreferences,butit lacks sufficient correspondinginline citations.(March 2010) |
Alūʻau(Hawaiian:lūʻau,also anglicized as "luau" ) is a traditional Hawaiian party or feast that is usually accompanied by entertainment. It often featuresNative Hawaiian cuisinewith foods such aspoi,kāluapuaʻa(kālua pig),poke,lomi salmon,lomi oio,ʻopihi,andhaupia,and is often accompanied with beer and entertainment such as traditional Hawaiian music,kanikapila,andhula.Among people from Hawaiʻi, the concepts of "lūʻau" and "party" are often blended, resulting in graduation lūʻau, wedding lūʻau, baby lūʻau, and birthday lūʻau.
History[edit]
Inancient Hawaiʻi,men and women ate meals separately, according to the religiouskapu(taboo) system which governed the way of life ofNative Hawaiiansin every aspect. Commoners and women were not allowed to eat foods that were rarely eaten or foods that were only served during special occasions. However, in 1819, King Kamehameha II performed the act of eating with the women, thus ending thekapu,and entering the period called theʻAi Noa.Messengers were then sent over the islands announcing that eating was free and the kapu had fallen. This is when thelūʻauparties were first created, dinners or smaller gatherings calledpāʻinaor larger feasts calledʻahaʻaina.[1]
The modern name comes from a food often served at a lūʻau goes back at least to 1856, when so used by the Pacific Commercial Advertiser.[2]It referenced the wedding celebration of King Kamehameha IV and Queen Emma: “On the following day the palace grounds were thrown open to the native population, large numbers of whom visited the King and Queen, and partook of a luau (or native feast), prepared for them. A luau was also served up at the residence of Dr. Rooke.”[3]
Food[edit]
The modern name comes from a food often served at a lūʻau:lūʻau stew,a stew that is made withlūʻau(lit. youngtaroleaves) and usually consist of octopus ( "squid" ) or chicken, andcoconut milk.However, the highlight of many lūʻau is thekālua puaʻa,a whole pig that is slow-cooked in animu(earth oven). Another dish that is served ispoi,made from the roots oftaro.This feast was usually served on the floor, on the mats often decorated with large centerpieces typically made of tī leaves (Cordyline fruticosa). Utensils were never present during a lūʻau; everything was eaten by hand. The thickness ofpoiwas often identified by the number of fingers needed to eat it: "three-finger"poihas the thinness of applesauce; "two-finger", thickness ofpudding,or the thickest, "one-finger poi" often non-diluted and non-fermented freshly pounded taro calledpaʻiʻai.
A traditional lūʻau consists of food such as:
- Chicken long rice
- Haupia
- ʻUala
- Hawaiian rolls
- Kālua puaʻa(Hawaiian roast pig)
- Kōʻelepālau
- Kūlolo
- Laulau
- Lūʻau stew
- Lomi ʻōʻio
- Lomi salmon
- Pepeieʻe
- Piele
- Poi
- Poke
- Tropical fruits
Lūʻau-themed parties[edit]
Lūʻau-themed or Hawaiian-themed parties vary in their range of dedication to Hawaiian traditions. For example, some extravagant affairs go so far as to ship food from the islands, while others settle for artificiallei,maitais,and a poolside atmosphere.[4]
To have a lūʻau-themed party, it is essential to have an open area, such as a backyard, because lūʻau are celebrated under large tents in outdoor areas. Also aleiis a very common item in a lūʻau. Aleiis a necklace made of plant material such as flowers, ferns,ti leaves,orkukuinuts (polishedcandlenutshells). At lūʻau-themed parties, the guests can be invited to make their ownleito wear. Live music and entertainment are often enjoyed, such askanikapilastyle. The instruments used are typically theukulele,guitarand sometimes drums. There are also often hula dancers.[4]
Some creditDonn Beachwith the initial popularity and commercialization of lūʻaus within the continental United States.[5]ALifearticle from 1946 graphically displays one of his famous lūʻaus that he held in Encino, California.[6]In a 1986 interview Beach described his role in shaping private, home based lūʻaus into larger public affairs, where he included entertainment from singers such asAlfred Apaka.[7]
References[edit]
- ^"History of the Hawaiian Luau".hawaii-luaus.com.RetrievedJanuary 3,2017.
- ^"About the Hawaiian Luau".Hawaii.com.15 December 2004.
- ^"Lūʻau".Images of Old Hawaiʻi.18 October 2019.
- ^ab"Celebrating the Luau with Flower Leis".March 15, 2015.RetrievedMarch 18,2016.
- ^Bitner, Arnold (2001).Hawaiʻi Tropical Rum Drinks by Don the Beachcomber.Honolulu: Mutual Publishing.
- ^"Life magazine".No. Sept 23, 1946. 23 September 1946.Retrieved18 March2019.
- ^Sinesky, Alice (September 16, 1986)."Interview With Donn Beach"(PDF).The Watumull Foundation, Oral History Project.
Further reading[edit]
- Brennan, Jennifer (2000),Tradewinds and Coconuts: A Reminiscence and Recipes from the Pacific Islands,Periplus,ISBN962-593-819-2.
- Philpotts, Kaui (2004),Great Chefs of Hawaiʻi,Honolulu, Hawaii: Mutual Publishing,ISBN1-56647-595-3.
- Pukui, Mary Kawena; Samuel H. Elbert (1986),Hawaiian Dictionary,Honolulu: University of Hawaiʻi Press,ISBN0-8248-0703-0
External links[edit]
Media related toLuausat Wikimedia Commons- Hawaii Lūʻaus Official Website
