A trip to Hawaii isn’t complete without taking part in an authentic Hawaiian luau. A luau is a Hawaiian party where people gather together and celebrate a variety of occasions by eating, drinking and watching live entertainment. Once called a “paina” or “ahaaina,” the name “luau” originates from the Pacific Commercial Advertiser, a weekly newspaper that was circulated in Honolulu in 1856. Today the name comes from the food that is always served at a luau, the young leaves of the taro plant.

Depending what interests you, there are many types of luaus to choose from on every major Hawaiian island. Some Hawaiian luaus that are more traditional, some are more party oriented, and some have more guest participation. At every luau though, you will find the same Hawaiian customs including pre-dinner entertainment, the imu ceremony, and an after-dinner hula dancing show.

• Pre-dinner entertainment can include pageantry portraying the royalty of the South Pacific, demonstrations of Hawaiian arts and crafts, storytelling, or games. Lei making is a popular activity, especially because they look beautiful and smell great!
• The imu ceremony is normally held at the beginning of the Hawaiian luau and consists of removing the layers of cloth and banana leaves from the imu (an underground oven that uses hot coals, stones, and layers of banana leaves and cloth to steam food) to expose the cooked pork. The kalua pork is then removed from the imu and taken to be shredded. Other traditional food at a Hawaiian luau includes poi, poke, chicken long rice, lomilomi salmon, haupia, chicken luau, sweet potato, and kulolo.
• Hula dancing has become a regular spectacle for after-dinner entertainment. In ancient times hula was a religious tribute to the gods, accompanied by chanting, drums and other traditional percussion instruments, but has evolved into a modern form that is famous for its grace and the sounds of ukuleles and steel guitars. Today both women and men dance the hula, although in ancient times hula was exclusively for men. Traditional men wore a loincloth, necklaces, bracelets, anklets and a lei, while women wore a wrapped skirt and were topless. Nowadays, men may wear long or short pants, skirts, or a malo and women may wear less revealing skirts or dresses.

Authentic Hawaiian luaus capture the spirit of Aloha at its best. They are so much fun and include delicious food and allows you to meet so many new and interesting people. A Hawaii vacation would be incomplete without attending at least one luau during your visit.