Lu'au

When in Hawaii you have to do a lu'au. I was thought it was going to be cheesy. A Disney stage version of a tradition that had long since died out. Some crappy renaissance fair re-enactment of days gone by. Guided by Maui Revealed we went to what was considered the most authentic lu'au on Maui. We both found it very intriguing.
___________________________________________________


Lets be honest, "most authentic," I guess, "authentic" probably not. Upon walking through the doors you and 3oo of your closest friends get ushered to your assigned seats and handed a watered down fruity drink. From there you are able to wander around the lu'au grounds observing people sitting, weaving baskets, and making other traditional crafts. Sort of like what you would expect to see hippies doing at a musical festival. Not too impressed at this point as I get vague memories of Williamsburg (or NH's lesser known Strawberry Banke, anyone speak colonial english?).

Our new place in Boston!

Next we were escorted to the imu, which is the pit where they roasted the pig. Of course I am intrigued. Any food that is buried to cook it has to be interesting. Mesquite wood provides heat, beach rocks (nothing porous) are placed over the burning wood, a layer of Ti leaves, then a butterflied pig wrapped in a sheet and buried. The result is a slow smoked and steamed pig that tastes delicious. In the pit they also add the Pork Lau Lau (see food entry).

Vegetarians might want to look away

One more drink as the pork is dished out into the buffet lines then we are lead to the grub. One oversized plate full of pork, poi, ahi poke, tako poke, lomi lomi, sweat potatoes, teriyaki beef, coconut mahimahi, huli-huli chicken, banana bread, and pork lau lau later and I was stuffed.

Ahhhh buffets at a lu'au...only in America

Damn that's a lot of yummy food

After dinner, the hula dancing began. Again, I thought it was going to be cheesy. But it actually was very fascinating, both men and women. The hula has been around for centuries and every movement, the placement of hands and feet is choreographed to portray a legend or story. The hula we saw was accompanied by rhythmic bongos and chanting. I can only speculate what was being chanted but for the hour that the dancers performed I was mesmerized. Its hard to describe and granted the dancing was done with full lighting effects, but I would definitely recommend this to anyone. Apparently the less traditional Lu'aus include fire juggling that originated in other Polynesian islands.

For the ladies

Chris enjoyed all of the fast hip movements and the coconut bras

Lu'au dancing

More lu'au dancing

___________________________________________________