The Hawaiian Luau is the most Hawaiian activity of all and there are fantastic luaus on all the islands. View your options here! Tom Barefoot’s Tours.
The "Hawaiian Luau" the Most Hawaiian Activity of All
The Hawaiian Luau, of all the various activities available in Hawaii, is certainly the most Hawaiian activity of all! The luau in Hawaii can truly only be found in Hawaii and this is the reason the Hawaii luau party has established itself in the hearts of the visitors who come to Hawaii as the quintessential Hawaiian event. The luau is steeped in the traditions of old Hawaii and no other single cultural event distinguishes itself so clearly in the minds of visitors than the luaus in Hawaii. From the delicious luau food to the exotic and hypnotic hula dancing, to the Hawaiian chanting and the sharing of the aloha spirit, the luau is at the top of everyone's 'to do list' of activities to be enjoyed when visiting the islands.
The origins of the Hawaiian luau of course were brought to the islands by those cultures who first discovered and populated Hawaii beginning about the 4th century AD. These included the Polynesian peoples south of the equator in the Pacific such as those from the Marquesas Islands, Tahiti, Samoa, New Zealand and Fiji. In most luaus of today homage is paid to all these related cultures with a tribute to their cultural contributions. Whether it be the fire-knife dancing of Tahiti, the threatening war dance of the peoples of New Zealand, the frenzied sounds of the Tahitian drums or the complex 'Meke Dance' of Fiji, all are included in a tribute to the ancestry of the Hawaiian peoples in most present day luau feasts. Some of the luau celebrations found in the islands do however present a more traditional focus and deal exclusively with the culture and traditions of 'Old Hawaii'.
The Luau Menu is Unique to the Hawaiian Islands
Certain features of all Hawaii luaus will however always be the same. The luau food will undoubtedly always include the 'Kalua Pork' which is of course the pig that that is cooked for the feast in the underground oven heated with hot stones called an 'Imu'. The tart pudding like substance 'Poi' which is derived from the pounding of the taro root and which is all too often referred to by visitors not familiar with its nutritious qualities as "wallpaper paste", is certain to be included on the table of any traditional luau. Chicken long rice, lomi lomi salmon, haupia (coconut desert) and some form of fish entre will always be included on the menu of an island luau.
Song, dance and chanting are likewise always going to play a prominent role in any luau in Hawaii. Modern day Hawaii luaus are most always meticulously crafted with well planned choreography and dynamic on stage lighting. The Hawaiian luau, which has evolved from the most essential of core elements in the old days, is played out in the contemporary luaus in Hawaii today as a spectacle worthy in many cases of a Las Vegas show. No matter how contemporary the entertainment however, the heart and soul of the luau with its 'aloha spirit' is always acknowledged at points in the show with a humble prayer or a few moments of heartfelt gratitude which is expressed by the luau performers. In this way the essence of the meaning of the original Hawaiian luau is still carried forward and is dovetailed quite genuinely with an often 'high tech' presentation found in many of the luaus in Hawaii.
Hawaiian Luaus are found on Oahu, Maui, Kauai and the Big Island
There are many different Hawaii luaus found throughout each island in the chain. Each luau in Hawaii is unique to itself and the differences can be quite defined. Many of the luaus are found at the large hotels on each island. These luaus are customarily located in the grassy areas overlooking the ocean and facing the sunset. Other luaus are not located at hotels at all but are found in special locations that are dedicated precisely for the use of these luaus alone. Some luaus like some that are found on Oahu will provide a merry feast for hundreds and even thousands of people. Some luaus will routinely carry much, much less in the number of people. Many of the lesser luaus that have seen their day in Hawaii have come and gone like a 'flash in the pan' and others have played a predominant role as a favorite and have performed to literally generations of island visitors. One such luau that fits into this mold is without a doubt the unchallenged best luau on the island of Kauai. For those of you have known Tom Barefoot's Tours as a company over the years you know that in almost all cases we like to present many options to clients regarding their activities. In the case of the luaus on Kauai however the fact that no other Kauai luau even 'holds a candle' to the Smith's Luau has compelled us to limit our luau options on Kauai to just them. Located on a beautiful botanical garden setting along the Wailua River they are an example of a Hawaii luau that has performed to the generations of Hawaii visitors we made mention to above. All the other islands provide ample quantities of fantastic luaus and the Hawaiian luau is the one activity that you should set time aside to enjoy for one special evening on your Hawaii vacation.
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