Luau facts for kids
A luau (pronounced loo-OW) is a special Hawaiian party or feast. It usually includes lots of delicious food and fun entertainment. At a luau, you might find traditional Hawaiian dishes like poi, Kalua pig, poke, lomi salmon, opihi, and haupia. The entertainment often features traditional Hawaiian music and hula dancing. In Hawaiʻi, people often use the word "luau" to describe any big party, like a graduation luau, a wedding luau, or a birthday luau.
History of Luaus
Long ago in ancient Hawaiʻi, men and women ate their meals separately. Also, women and other people were not allowed to eat certain foods, especially those served only on special occasions. This was part of their religious laws.
However, in 1819, King Kamehameha II changed everything. He removed these old religious laws. King Kamehameha II showed this change by eating a meal with the women. This important act ended the old Hawaiian religious rules. This is how the first lūʻau parties began!
Delicious Luau Food
In the past, these feasts were called pāʻina or ʻahaʻaina. The name "luau" came from a dish often served at these parties. This dish is called squid or chicken lūʻau. It is made with meat, lūʻau (or taro) leaves, and coconut milk.
The most famous dish at a luau is Kālua pig. This pig is cooked slowly in an imu, which is a special underground oven. Another common food is poi, made from the roots of the taro plant.
Traditionally, luau meals were served on the floor on mats. There were often big decorations in the middle of the mats, usually made from tī leaves. People did not use forks or spoons at a luau; everyone ate with their hands. For example, poi got its name from how many fingers you needed to eat it: "three-finger, two-finger, or the thickest, one-finger poi."
Here are some traditional foods you might find at a luau:
- Chicken long rice
- Haupia (a coconut pudding)
- Hawaiian sweet potato
- Kalua pig (slow-cooked pork)
- Kulolo (a taro and coconut dessert)
- Laulau (meat and fish wrapped in taro leaves)
- Lomilomi salmon (massaged salmon salad)
- Poi (pounded taro root)
- Poke (diced raw fish salad)
- Squid or chicken lūʻau (meat with taro leaves and coconut milk)
- Tropical fruits
Having a Luau-Themed Party
Many people enjoy having luau-themed or Hawaiian-themed parties. These parties can be very fancy, sometimes even flying in food from Hawaiʻi. Others might be simpler, with fake lei necklaces, maitai drinks, and a swimming pool.
To have a luau-themed party, it's best to have an open outdoor space, like a backyard. This is because traditional luaus are often held under large tents outside. A lei is a very important part of a luau. A lei is a necklace made of flowers, ferns, or kukui nuts that both men and women wear. At these parties, guests can sometimes make their own leis or buy them.
Entertainment is a must at these parties! The music often features instruments like the ukulele and drums. You will also usually find dancers performing.
Images for kids
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Robert Louis Stevenson at a royal lūʻau in 1889.
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Food at a lūʻau on Oʻahu in 1996.
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See also
In Spanish: Fiesta luau para niños
