The History of Luau

Many years ago, Hawaiian men and woman ate their meals apart. In ancient Hawaiian religion, Commoners and women of all ranks were also forbidden to eat certain delicacies.

In 1819,King Kamehameha abolished the traditional religious practices. A feast where the King ate with women was the symbolic act which ended the Hawaiian religious tabus, and the luau was born.

The favorite dish at these feasts is what gave the luau its name. Young and tender leaves of the taro plant were combined with chicken, baked in coconut milk and called luau.

The traditional luau feast was eaten on the floor. Bowls were filled with poi, a Hawaiian dish made from pounded taro root, and platters of meat were served. Dry foods like sweet potatoes, salt, dried fish or meat covered in leaves were laid directly on clean ti leaves. All the food at the Luau was eaten using fingers, no utensils. Infact Poi, which comes in various consistencies got it's name from the number of fingers needed to eat it!

Luaus today are not as big as those hosted by Hawaiian royalty in the 1800s, but they are a lot of fun and feature the same traditional foods… and utensils are allowed.

Hawaiian Luau Party Themes