While we're certainly willing to provide an opinion as to our favorite lu‘aus on the various islands, we also think that it's worthwhile for visitors to learn a bit about the history of the lu‘au and something about the types of food and entertainment that they'll find at the various lu‘aus in Hawaii.
Origins of the Lu`au
In ancient times the Hawaiian people would gather together to celebrate auspicious occasions with a feast. These celebrations were held for many reasons, including to honor a great victory in war or noble warrior or to celebrate a bountiful harvest or the birth of a new child. The Hawaiians believed that it was important to honor their gods and to seek their fellowship, help or pardon. They believed that prosperity should be shared with family and friends. This celebration was called ‘aha‘aina meaning gathering (‘aha) for a meal (‘aina).
Referring to these celebrations as lu‘aus came much later in 1856 (Pukui-Elbert Hawaiian Dictionary, 1971). Lu‘au, in Hawaiian, means the young edible leaves of the taro plant. These leaves were traditionally used to wrap food that was placed in an imu (underground oven).
Lu‘au's Today
Today, Hawaiian families still gather together and hold lu‘aus to celebrate special occasions. These lu‘aus are most often private gatherings rarely attended by visitors to the islands.
Many hotels, resorts and a number of private companies have realized that lu‘aus are very popular with the tourist trade. On O‘ahu the two largest companies offering lu‘aus (Germaine's and Paradise Cove) pick up thousands of visitors each week and transport them away from Waikiki to their beachfront locations for an evening of food, drink and island entertainment. The island's most popular visitor attraction, the Polynesian Cultural Center in Laie on the North Shore, hosts their Ali‘i Lu‘au each evening (except Sunday).
All lu‘aus, however, are not the same. Some lu‘aus are geared more for those interested in having a big party with lots of drink and entertainment, where the guests get to participate in many parts of the show. Some lu‘aus, such as the Old Lahaina Luau on Maui are aimed more at presenting an authentic Hawaiian cultural experience.
Almost all lu‘aus include some form of pre-dinner entertainment. This entertainment can include elaborate pageantry portraying the royalty of the South Pacific or much more subtle demonstrations of Hawaiian arts and crafts.
Most lu‘aus in Hawaii include an after-dinner show with hula dancing. Many of these shows feature relatively little in the way of Hawaiian hula. They offer large doses of hula and music from other islands of Polynesia, including the very popular Tahitian hula and fire dancing. Other lu‘aus attempt to present a more authentic show of Hawaiian hula and music.
Prices also vary depending on several factors, including seating arrangements, whether transportation is included to and from the lu‘au, and whether all drinks are included in the admission price. It is, however, safe to assume that you will pay between $40 and $70 for each guest in attendance.
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