Luau History
 

Hi! I'm throwing a luau at my home, but haven't been to one in years. I want to make it as authentic as possible. So far, i've come up with some good resources. The most accurate is http://mauihawaiiluau.com/luauhistory.html but i'd like to find recipes, as well as more examples for flower arrangements, etc... Basically, I want to host a large luau that even King Kamehameha III would be proud of! Thanks for your help!

Also, any supply stores that I can order from the web would be appreciated. Thanks

www.alohafriends.com

www.alohafriendshawaii.com

Both are from the same people. They have recipes & ideas to have your own luau.

They also have an online store (which is too expensive). You can get an idea of what you want & then try:

www.abcstores.com

I would make my leis. You could order lei needles from Ben Franklin here in Hawaii CHEAP, look them up I am sure they would send if you called. All you do is thread a large lei needle and pierce it threw your flower of choice and repeat. Pick a flower that could sustain a piercing. You could make them with local flowers. You could also order leis from Cindy's leis in Chinatown in HNL

Do you have a nice back yard where people will feel comfortable sitting and eating on the ground? ...big sheet or table cloth where food will sit? When I have gone to traditional luas this is how it is served.

Your staples in terms of food are Kailua Pork, Lau Lau (I would serve chicken lau lua but pork again is the classic). You can order powdered poi and make on the spot or you can order Hanalei poi, another poi place online if you want to order whole.

Kava is a way out there idea and not sure how you would get this from the mainland. I suspect where there is a will there is a way. Actually you can buy online.I have never had but it has been introduced at one lua I went to. Back in the day this would have been at most luas I suspect. http://www.nakamalathome.com/Kava/Hi...story_of_Kava/

You can look up Haupia recipes online. Very Very simple dessert you can make from scratch.

Something not authentic to a lua but might be nice for your guests as they arive is to have the "Merri Monarch festival" video going in a meeting area with chairs. Sister's friend did this, guests were charmed and very happy to get a real look at hula. www.mele.com for this video. Get long before your lua it would set you in the right mood for authentic. You can also order other Hawaiian music that will give your lua a local flare.

Do you know anyone that can come by and play ukelele or slack key? I think any instrument playing by your guests would suit this need.

In terms of party supply stores. Where do you think King Kamehameha went? Think simple if you want authentic. Most items you would find in a party supply store are going to trivialize hula, Hawaiian culture etc...

Looking online for old lua photo I have (copy) of Queen Lilioukilani,King Kalakaua, Queen Victoria and others. They are all sitting around a sheet or table cloth with family style bowls of food resting on fabric. Not a coconut bra or celiphane grass skirt in site LOL.

Just shooting off ideas here but what about putting up old photos of Hawaiian Monarchy, hula etc...You could surely get this online, will be nicer than tiki torches etc..

Here are some examples I found.

http://www.janeresture.com/hawaii_po...R%20HAWAII.jpg

http://the.honoluluadvertiser.com/da...10/op05a_b.jpg

Just google image search, you can come up with scads


Let us know what else you find out.

http://www.hisurf.com/ is a good resource.

If you are in the LA area, a few of the vendors at the LA Flower Mart sell leis year-round.

IT'S KAUKAU TIME!

VARIETY OF FOOD - VERY VERY IMPORTANT

ENTERTAINMENT MUST BE LIVE, HAVE A KANE DANCER TOO! mmmmmMMMMMMM

FLOWERS MUST BE REAL

INVITE ME!!!

Hi Again Amy,

I am sorry for the L-O-N-G response up above, I am procrastinating on something else, CAN YOU TELL???LOL

Best Taro chips on the island are from
http://onoonofoods.com/products.asp

There laulau is good too but a bit on the salty side if you are conscious of that sort of thing. I would definately order their taro chips. Not a lua item but good for drinks while watching that video.

lomi salmon I would make too.

psst sarah!!! "lua" is the bathroom. "luau" is a feast.

OMG.....LOL
where did I get lua from????

Thanks Melissa LOL

Lua is also a Hawaiian martial art. I have no idea why they both have the same name. Any Hawaiian experts out there happen to know why?

lua pronounced loo-ah

lua'u prounounced loo-ah-oo or loo-ow (as in cow)

doesn't sound the same to me :)

I think curious was wondering about lua- the martial art and lua- the toilet sounding alike.

oh, i thought with only 12 letters, everyone already knew one word had 20k meanings

hawaiian language speaks in riddles afterall

That's okay!

oh and BTW, there are 18 letters in teh alphabet....

Yes - a hawaiian language class. i have

a, e, i, o, u, h, k, l, m, n, p, w

what are the other six letters and when were they added?

amychar123:

What geographical area are you in? I ask because there are lots of "island style" vendors on the mainland now -- especially in the SF Bay area, LA, and Vegas. They can supply you with everything you'd want/need for your lu`au.

The five vowels with a kahako are considered separate letters from the vowels without one.

and the okino

what about the uina?