Closed Sun, Wed, Thanksgiving & Christmas
What does the word luau mean in Hawaiian?
In Hawaiian, lūʻau literally refers to young taro (kalo) leaves, which are cooked with coconut milk and chicken or seafood into a signature feast dish. Because that dish appeared at nearly every celebration feast, the word came to name the feast itself during the 1800s. The older Hawaiian terms for such gatherings are ʻahaʻaina (a feast for a significant occasion) and pāʻina (a smaller dinner gathering).
Taro is the foundation of the traditional Hawaiian diet, and in Hawaiian thought the kalo plant is an ancestor of the Hawaiian people — which gives a feast named after taro leaves more weight than a simple menu reference. The dish called lūʻau, tender young taro tops baked or simmered with coconut milk and chicken or heʻe (octopus), was a fixture of celebration tables, and over time residents and visitors alike began calling the whole event by the dish everyone remembered.
The shift in language does not change what the gathering is: an occasion where food, family, and performance mark something important. Knowing the word's origin is a useful lens for choosing a visitor lūʻau on Oʻahu — the experiences most worth your evening are the ones that still treat the food as culturally meaningful. At the Polynesian Cultural Center's Aliʻi Lūʻau, Hawaiian dishes are presented with their context, including the imu ceremony that brings the kalua pig to the table.
How to tell when a lūʻau takes its Hawaiian roots seriously
-
Taro is on the table: Poi, and often the lūʻau leaf dish itself, appear on the menu rather than being replaced entirely by mainland fare.
-
Names are used and explained: Dishes are labeled with their Hawaiian names and hosts can tell you what they are and why they matter.
-
Language is treated with care: Hawaiian words — lūʻau, aloha, mahalo, hoʻokipa — are pronounced and used correctly by hosts and emcees.
-
The feast has protocol: A welcome, a blessing or oli (chant), and the imu presentation connect the meal to the tradition it comes from.
-
Culture extends beyond the plate: The evening teaches something — through storytelling, demonstrations, or performers who share what their dances mean.
Taste the tradition at the Aliʻi Lūʻau
The Polynesian Cultural Center's Aliʻi Lūʻau serves Hawaiian dishes with their stories attached — from the imu ceremony to poi on the buffet — on Oʻahu's North Shore in Lāʻie.
What to expect from Hawaiian food words at a lūʻau
Menus and emcees at a good lūʻau use Hawaiian names freely: kalua (imu-roasted), poi (pounded taro), laulau (pork wrapped in lūʻau leaves), lomi lomi salmon, and haupia (coconut pudding). Expect short explanations as dishes are introduced — and feel free to ask hosts about anything unfamiliar.
Frequently Asked Questions
-
What is the lūʻau dish made of?
Young taro leaves cooked until tender, traditionally with coconut milk and chicken or octopus — you may see it on menus as chicken lūʻau or squid lūʻau.
-
What did Hawaiians call feasts before the word lūʻau?
ʻAhaʻaina named a feast held for a significant occasion, and pāʻina referred to a smaller dinner party. Lūʻau became the everyday term during the 19th century.
-
Why is taro so important in Hawaiian culture?
In Hawaiian tradition, the kalo plant is genealogically linked to the Hawaiian people, so cultivating and eating taro carries ancestral meaning well beyond nutrition.
-
Is poi the same as the lūʻau dish?
No. Poi is made from the taro corm (the root), pounded and thinned with water, while the lūʻau dish uses the plant's young leaves.
-
Will I hear Hawaiian language at a visitor lūʻau?
At culturally grounded lūʻau, yes — greetings, chants, song lyrics, and dish names. The Polynesian Cultural Center makes Hawaiian and other Polynesian languages part of the experience.