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.
The ancient ways had Hawaiian men eating their meals of specially prepared dishes together while the women, servants and children were fed separately and only common foods. King Kamehameha II changed that in 1819 when he declared everyone, he included, eat as equals in the same place, doing away with religious taboos. He made this occasion a grand celebration and glorious feast, beginning the tradition.
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.
To host a party that is truly based on Hawaiian celebration traditions, some of the key aspects have to be represented. The authenticity is going to depend on how dedicated one is to being as realistic as possible. Some substitutions may be necessary in order to accommodate what items are easily available locally.
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.
The food choices are another key aspect of throwing a party with an authentic island theme. Traditionally they would serve pork cooked in an underground oven, poi, sea snails, squid, lomi-lomi salmon, haupia, fresh local fruits and beer. Realistically, most people who have not acquired a taste for these dishes would probably appreciate substitutions such as barbecue chicken, ribs, kebabs, teriyaki, salads, Mai-tais and punch.
One of the biggest challenges might be to provide authentic entertainment, though this is not an impossible feat as there are groups who specialize in this. Some things that usually go over well are musicians playing island drums and ukuleles, tropical birds, Elvis impersonators and especially hula girls in grass skirts. If the idea is to throw an extravaganza and the means are available, warrior dancers, flaming knife twirlers and fire poi spinners are always sure to thrill the crowd.
When thinking of location, typically a large backyard that has open spaces, parks and beaches that have shelters or tents can be very suitable choices. When looking for something a bit more formal, possible options include boats, yachts, and conference rooms in hotels. Adding decorations like palm trees, potted tropical plants, tiki torches, bamboo, rattan, coconuts and colorful streamers or parrot cutouts can boost the ambiance.
The ancient ways had Hawaiian men eating their meals of specially prepared dishes together while the women, servants and children were fed separately and only common foods. King Kamehameha II changed that in 1819 when he declared everyone, he included, eat as equals in the same place, doing away with religious taboos. He made this occasion a grand celebration and glorious feast, beginning the tradition.
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.
To host a party that is truly based on Hawaiian celebration traditions, some of the key aspects have to be represented. The authenticity is going to depend on how dedicated one is to being as realistic as possible. Some substitutions may be necessary in order to accommodate what items are easily available locally.
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.
The food choices are another key aspect of throwing a party with an authentic island theme. Traditionally they would serve pork cooked in an underground oven, poi, sea snails, squid, lomi-lomi salmon, haupia, fresh local fruits and beer. Realistically, most people who have not acquired a taste for these dishes would probably appreciate substitutions such as barbecue chicken, ribs, kebabs, teriyaki, salads, Mai-tais and punch.
One of the biggest challenges might be to provide authentic entertainment, though this is not an impossible feat as there are groups who specialize in this. Some things that usually go over well are musicians playing island drums and ukuleles, tropical birds, Elvis impersonators and especially hula girls in grass skirts. If the idea is to throw an extravaganza and the means are available, warrior dancers, flaming knife twirlers and fire poi spinners are always sure to thrill the crowd.
When thinking of location, typically a large backyard that has open spaces, parks and beaches that have shelters or tents can be very suitable choices. When looking for something a bit more formal, possible options include boats, yachts, and conference rooms in hotels. Adding decorations like palm trees, potted tropical plants, tiki torches, bamboo, rattan, coconuts and colorful streamers or parrot cutouts can boost the ambiance.
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