Friday, 4 December 2015

Luau Waikiki For A Feast To Remember

By Evelyn Walls


Waikiki is the beachfront beach town in Honolulu, located on the third largest island, Oahu. Tourists are attracted to Waikiki for its beautiful white beaches, public parks, volcanoes and waterfalls. There are many luxury resorts and five star hotels. Pampered tourists can have spa treatments and enjoy high end shopping. The hotels are beautiful, but it would be a shame to miss the joy of meeting the people and experiencing some of their traditions. A luau Waikiki is the perfect way to learn about the cultures and traditions of this beautiful paradise.

Luaus tend to have a sequence of events, so here is what takes place at a typical luau. You can get round trip transportation so your ride to and from the luau will be worry free. As soon as guests arrive a beautiful lei is draped around their necks. Leis are often made of flowers, but they can also be made of shells and kukua nuts. The imu ceremony will be the next item on the agenda.

An imu is the underground oven used to cook the the pork for the feast. At the ceremony native Hawaiians dressed in traditional costume, prepare the cooked pork for shredding. There is not a lot of ceremony involved, but it does give the guests a chance to see the traditional way of preparing food. The shredded pork, poi, sweet potatoes, and fresh fish are some of the staples of the local diet and are likely to be on the menu.

Next up will be the hukailau, which is a way of fishing done by Hawaiians since ancient times. A big net is placed in the ocean and everyone gets together when it is time to pull the net out of the sea. The net will be filled with fresh fish for dinner. Many simple customs in Hawaii continue to be done much the same as Hawaiian ancestors did them in the past.

Typically the mai tai punch is complimentary, and cocktail mai tais can be purchased by the adult guests. The Hawaiian revue will entertain guests and educate them about more of the culture. There are many traditional dances which will be performed by men and women in full costume. There certainly will be some hulu dancing and guests may be invited to join in, but you will be amazed by the variety of dances and ceremonies.

Finally after all these fun events have taken place, there will be the luau buffet. This may be more food than you ever imagined. In almost all cultures the offering of food is a way of saying welcome and happy you are here. This is certainly true in the Hawaiian culture, and guests will reap the culinary benefits of this warm welcome.

The luau you purchase may be basic to deluxe. Typically three price ranges are offered. The deluxe package may include a traditional Hawaiian gift for you to remember the evening. If you are going all the way to Hawaii, you may as well get the deluxe package. The difference is price in still affordable.

As wonderful as the luau will be, it is only a small slice of Hawaiian culture. In 1959 Hawaii became a state when it officially joined the United States. The citizens of the Hawaiian islands continue to welcome people from the continental United States and from all over the world. Make the most of your visit to this island paradise that is part of our country.




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