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Hawaii Luaus And Shows

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The Hawaii Luau is the original Hawaii activity.

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Luaus And Shows

The "Hawaii Luau", the Most Hawaiian Activity of All.

The Hawaii Luau, of all the various activities available in Hawaii, is certainly the most Hawaiian activity of all! The luau 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.

This festivity is steeped in the traditions of old Hawaii and no other single cultural event distinguishes itself so clearly in the minds of visitors. From the delicious 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.

Origin of the Hawaii Luau

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 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 Hawaii Luau Menu

Certain features of all Hawaii luaus are traditional and will always be the same. The food will undoubtedly always include the 'Kalua Pork' which is of course the pig which is cooked in an underground oven called an 'imu' which has been heated with hot stones. 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 dessert) and some form of fish entree will always be included on the menu as well.

Luau Entertainment

Song, dance and chanting are likewise always going to play a prominent role in any luau in Hawaii. The modern day Hawaii luau is most always meticulously crafted with well planned choreography and dynamic on stage lighting. This uniquely Hawaiian entertainment, which has evolved from the most essential of core elements in the old days, is played out in the contemporary programs 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 performers. In this way the essence of the meaning of the original Hawaii luau is still carried forward and is dovetailed quite genuinely with an often 'high tech' presentation found in many of the shows in Hawaii.

Hawaii 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 one in Hawaii is unique to itself and the differences can be quite defined. Many of these are found at the large hotels on each island and are customarily located in the grassy areas overlooking the ocean and facing the sunset. Others 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 like those that are found on Oahu will provide a merry feast for hundreds and even thousands of people. Others will routinely carry much, much less in the number of people. Many Hawaii luaus have played a predominant role as a favorite and have performed to literally generations of island visitors.