Luaus and Shows

There are many choices of entertainment and adventure when you go to Hawaii. It is not possible to do even one-third of them in a standard vacation so you have to pick and choose. One of the choices has to be a luau. The luau is quintessential Hawaii and it takes you into the culture and history in a way you cannot imagine.

A traditional luau begins early in the day when the luau gang digs a large pit in the sand. The bottom of the pit is lined with Kiawe logs which are covered with river rocks. The fire is lit and in couple of hours, the coals and rocks are hot enough for the next step which is to lay moist banana stalks are laid over the hot rocks and then banana leaves are spread over the stalks. The pig is placed in the imu, or pit, and covered with banana and ti leaves. Sometimes wet burlap bags are also laid over the leaves and the whole imu is then covered with sand and the food cooks for six to eight hours. As well as the pig, a luau also consists of rice, poi, lomi salmon, potatoes, laulau, haupia, salad, and fish.

There are of course variations. This is just the typical way luaus begin. In Hawaii there are numerous luaus and shows including at the following places: the Polynesian Cultural Center, Paradise Cove Luau at Ko Olina, Germaine’s Luau, Cirque Hawaii, or the Royal Hawaiian Luau in Waikiki.

The best thing is that this is something that has a genuine history and not a new creation to celebrate the magnificent food of Hawaii. In the old days, there were rules about food and what and how it was eaten. Men and women did not eat together and some foods were forbidden to commoners as well as to women. In 1819, King Kamehameha II got rid of these taboos and instituted the luau where the King ate with commoners and women.

The name comes from the leaves of the taro plant which were wrapped around chicken and cooked in coconut milk. The leaves, the actual luau, gave the name to the dish and then to the entire event. When you participate in a luau you are reliving the first feast where the King and others, including women, sat on the ground and ate together.

Hawaii Luau and Show Providers & Reviews

Big Island

• Island Breeze Luau-King Kamehameha
• Royal Kona Resort
• Island Breeze at the Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort
• Waikoloa Beach Marriott Luau
• Island Breeze-Fairmont Orchid

Maui

• Maui Sunset Luau
• Sheraton Maui Resort Luau
• The Grand Luau at Wailea
• Old Lahaina Luau
• Wailea’s Finest Luau
• Westin Wailele Luau
• Feast at Lele

Oahu

• Polynesian Cultural Center
• Germaine’s Luau
• Paradise Cove Luau
• The Royal Hawaiian Luau

Kauai

• Smith’s Tropical Paradise Luau
• Grand Hyatt Kauai Luau