You Can’t Visit the Big Island of Hawaii without Going to A Traditional Luau

In traditional Hawaiian, the correct spelling for a luau is lūʻau, and for centuries it has been a traditional party or feast, usually accompanied by entertainment. The lūʻau can specifically be dated back to 1819 and is not, as many assume, a part of (very) ancient Polynesian culture.

You can thank King Kamehameha II for the Hawaiian lūʻau

Originally on Hawai’i, men and women were forbidden from eating together. Additionally, women and ‘ordinary people’ were forbidden from eating ‘uncommon foods’ that would usually be served on a special occasion. However, in 1819 King Kamehameha II sat down and ate with women as a symbolic act, putting an end to the religious laws that were dividing society, the taboo (kapu) system. It was after this that the lūʻau was created and, traditionally, pig was the principal form of meat, known as kālua puaʻa (kālua pig), and slow cooked in an imu (earth oven).

So, which is the best lūʻau in Hawai’i? Probably the Feast & Fire Lūʻau at the Outrigger Kona

There is one thing that is guaranteed, and that is the Feast and Fire lūʻau, at the Outrigger Kona Resort & Spa takes a lot of beating. For starters, the setting within the 22 acres of the Kona Resort with the stunning Pacific Ocean as a backdrop to the evening’s entertainment on the island’s west coast. Then add fabulous, authentic entertainment such as the thumping of Polynesian drums, Polynesian dancing, and fire. If you want a genuine spectacle, the fire element of the show is simply breath-taking.

A lūʻau wouldn’t be a lūʻau without a fabulous feast

When you first set your eyes on the evening’s ‘feast’, you’ll struggle to know what to do first, take a photo for your social media pages to make your friends jealous, or just get stuck in. Slow-cooked Kalua pork is something you will never forget once you have eaten it for the first time. Succulent, juicy and deliciously mouth-watering are just a few words you can use to describe the food, which also includes taro rolls with lilikoi butter. Then, as if that weren’t enough, you must leave room for desserts like pineapple upside-down cake, Kona coffee chocolate cake, and haupia, a traditional Hawaiian coconut pudding. Of course, there are plenty of options for vegans, vegetarians and pescatarians.

Oh, just in case you are prone to being thirsty, there is also a bar where you have a great choice of soft and non-alcoholic drinks, as well as beer, wine and, of course, a mai tai or two! We also promise that the food being prepared in the picture is not what you will have to eat!

Here at Lea Lea Tours we are always keen to ‘cherry pick’ the very best of tours available and to provide access to the best transport options on the beautiful Hawai’ian Islands. To find out more about the ny of the Waikiki Trolley Lines, the Diamond Head tour, to book your passes or to learn more about any of our other recommended tours, please feel free to get in touch with us at any time.