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Lu'au's in Hawaii are really fun. The food is tasty and plentiful and the entertainment is great. It is like a huge picnic, where everything is taken care of for you and all you have to do is enjoy the tropical climate and breezes, eat until your tired, and sit back and enjoy the show.
This is a photo description of a lu'au we went to in Kona on the Big Island. This lu'au is in front of the King Kamehameha hotel and hosted by Island Breeze productions. We really enjoyed it, the food and the entertainment. We have been to other lu'aus in Maui and Oahu and enjoyed them too. Each production differs a little, but the food is usually great and the environment is usually beautiful. Tthis will give you and idea of what a lu'au in Hawaii is about.
We arrived early to get a good place in line. The line got long quickly.
We were greeted by a Hawaiian comedian that encouraged us to buy leis and enjoy the show.
We were seated with a great view of Kona bay. The sun was low in the sky, so it wasn't hot at all. The weather was perfect for sitting outside.
After being seated we were told Mai Tai's and fruit punch were available on the lawn. The Mai Tais were low on alcohol, but beer and wine was available at a bar and the bartender was happy to add rum to the Mai Tais. There was also entertainment on the lawn.
First we went for the Mai Tais.
Then we wandered around the lawn to check out the entertainment. We got a close view of the pit the lu'au pig was cooked in. Pork is a big part of the Lu'au feast and it is always cooked in a special pit in a traditional Hawaiian manner as part of the lu'au.
The Lu'au staff led a session in weaving with leaves and drew temporary tatoos on the kids. The activities were very engaging for the kids and families.
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After the fun on the lawn came to an end, everyone was urged to return to the dining area. The food had been set out in preparation for everyone to help themselves, cafeteria style.
Lu'aus are feasts, so there are always lots of dishes heaped with food. The purple stuff in the bowl below is Poi - a paste made from pounding Taro root. Poi is always served at a Lu'au. Some folks like it and others don't, but it is fun to try all the special local food. Lomi Lomi salmon - made with cold diced salmon, tomatoes and onion (in the bowl at the bottom) is also a local favorite.
In addition to green lettuce salad, there are usually tropical fruit mixes, pineapple, potato-mac salad, jello, corn salad, and more.
The traditional lu'au entree - Kalua Pig, (shredded pork at the bottom) is accompanied by other meats like beef, chicken, fish, and Lau Lau (meat stuffed in Ti or Taro leaves).
Below is a closeup of the Pork Lau Lau, Teriaki Beef, and Kalua Pig.
There are usually multiple lines so everyone can get food as soon as possible. Hawaiians understand being hungry.
Banana bread and purple sweet potatoes below are a Big Island specialty.
There is no shortage of deserts!! Pineapple cake, coconut cake, banana breads, and traditional Hawaiian coconut pudding (Haupia) are served.
The next phase of the Lu'au is loading up your plate with as much food as you can. At most Lu'aus you can eat all you want, 2nds and 3rds, until the food is gone. We always run out of stomach space before we want to stop eating.
We were instructed to go up to the serving lines, table by table, so there was no crush of people. While everyone is filling up their plates, or waiting to fill their plates, the hula show begins.
And while eating, the entertainment continues.
And as the evening progresses, it gets darker and darker. Entertainment at our Lu'au included a married couples dance, finding the oldest person in the crowd, and other light hearted fun. Lu'aus often have a Christian orientation and meles, as the Hawaiians are predominately Christian.
The highlight of the lu'au entertainment is the fire dance.
You can see the net in front of the dancer to protect the crowd from getting burned.
Then it was over. A wonderful, and very filling, evening for everyone.
Some Tips:
Many Lu'aus offer a special seating package which includes a lei, a smaller line that is let in first, closer seating to the stage, and first in line for food. For $15 or $20, it might be worth avoiding the wait in a long line.
If you don't want to pay for special seating, getting in line early will ensure a better seat. We were early and very happy with our close up seating.
We were able to get better prices by watching a timeshare presentation. If anyone in the group is willing to spend a hour or so doing that, it saves a lot of money for a large group.
Take a hat to avoid the sun being in your eyes during sun set.
Cameras are ok to take, though at our Luau they asked us not to video tape the dancers, only pictures were allowed of the hula and fire dances.
Copyright 2008, 2009 |
