Hawaii is known for many wondrous things such as stark white or black sand beaches, beautifully colored foliage and incredible weather. The amazing series of islands are formed from the hardened lava of multiple volcanoes, some of which remain active, giving this exotic locale an unique landscape. The people of Polynesia have many tantalizing customs and traditions with Luaus, the traditional parties for bringing people together, being among the most well known.
In ancient times, Hawaiian men ate their meals together, dining on special dishes, while the women, children and servants dined separately, only allowed common foods. In the year 1819, King Kamehameha II abolished all religious taboos by not only decreeing everyone, including him, eat together as equals. He turned this occasion into a glorious feast and thus the tradition began.
To be authentic, the feasts should be held in an outdoor space surrounded by lively foliage, colorful decor and room for everyone. The guests would be seated on the ground upon mats and be served traditional foods to be eaten without utensils. Attendees are welcomed with fragrant leis, traditional music is played, dancers perform and entertaining thrills are provided.
When hosting a party based on the traditions of this festive Hawaiian celebration, there are a few things that need to be represented. How truly representative one wants the gathering to be is going to depend on their level of dedication to authenticity. Substitutions can be made on many aspects to suit what is readily available in the designated area.
The first things most people think of when they hear there's going to be a luau are leis. These are brightly colored necklaces traditionally made from fresh flowers, ferns, shells and kukui nuts but can be given a fun twist by using silk blooms, money or candy to make them. Passing these out to welcome all guests will not only create a festive atmosphere but also lends an air of authenticity to the gathering.
Food is yet another important aspect to throwing one of these tropical themed parties. By tradition, pit cook pork, poi, lomi-lomi salmon, squid, sea snails, and a gelatin like dessert called haupia, would be served along with beer and tropical fruits. However, as many non-Polynesians find these dishes difficult to handle, kebabs, ribs, barbecue chicken, teriyaki, salads, punch and Mai-tais make great substitutions.
Entertainment may be one of the more difficult aspects to authenticate, though it is not impossible as there are many groups who specialize in this type of performance. A live band consisting of 2-4 musicians playing drums and ukuleles, a few hula girls, tropical bird shows and even Elvis impersonators are always big hits. If one has the means and desire to create an all out extravaganza, acts that are sure to thrill the guests are fire poi twirlers, warrior dancers and flaming knife handlers.
As far as location goes, a big backyard with lots of open space, or parks with tables set up under large tents or shelters, are definitely acceptable substitutions. If a more formal venue is desired, there are other options available such as hotel conference rooms, boats, yachts, or even the beach. Decorations such as tiki torches, palm trees, tropical flowers, rattan, bamboo, coconuts and colorful bird cutouts provide a lot of ambiance.
In ancient times, Hawaiian men ate their meals together, dining on special dishes, while the women, children and servants dined separately, only allowed common foods. In the year 1819, King Kamehameha II abolished all religious taboos by not only decreeing everyone, including him, eat together as equals. He turned this occasion into a glorious feast and thus the tradition began.
To be authentic, the feasts should be held in an outdoor space surrounded by lively foliage, colorful decor and room for everyone. The guests would be seated on the ground upon mats and be served traditional foods to be eaten without utensils. Attendees are welcomed with fragrant leis, traditional music is played, dancers perform and entertaining thrills are provided.
When hosting a party based on the traditions of this festive Hawaiian celebration, there are a few things that need to be represented. How truly representative one wants the gathering to be is going to depend on their level of dedication to authenticity. Substitutions can be made on many aspects to suit what is readily available in the designated area.
The first things most people think of when they hear there's going to be a luau are leis. These are brightly colored necklaces traditionally made from fresh flowers, ferns, shells and kukui nuts but can be given a fun twist by using silk blooms, money or candy to make them. Passing these out to welcome all guests will not only create a festive atmosphere but also lends an air of authenticity to the gathering.
Food is yet another important aspect to throwing one of these tropical themed parties. By tradition, pit cook pork, poi, lomi-lomi salmon, squid, sea snails, and a gelatin like dessert called haupia, would be served along with beer and tropical fruits. However, as many non-Polynesians find these dishes difficult to handle, kebabs, ribs, barbecue chicken, teriyaki, salads, punch and Mai-tais make great substitutions.
Entertainment may be one of the more difficult aspects to authenticate, though it is not impossible as there are many groups who specialize in this type of performance. A live band consisting of 2-4 musicians playing drums and ukuleles, a few hula girls, tropical bird shows and even Elvis impersonators are always big hits. If one has the means and desire to create an all out extravaganza, acts that are sure to thrill the guests are fire poi twirlers, warrior dancers and flaming knife handlers.
As far as location goes, a big backyard with lots of open space, or parks with tables set up under large tents or shelters, are definitely acceptable substitutions. If a more formal venue is desired, there are other options available such as hotel conference rooms, boats, yachts, or even the beach. Decorations such as tiki torches, palm trees, tropical flowers, rattan, bamboo, coconuts and colorful bird cutouts provide a lot of ambiance.
About the Author:
Luaus is a traditional Hawaiian dance and celebration. To know more about this big tradition of Hawaii visit the following website at http://bigkahunaluau.com.
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