Thursday, May 16, 2013

Party In The Hawaiian Luau Way

By Antoinette Quinn


There may be times when you're looking for something different to do for a party or celebration of some type. Oftentimes people will come up with a theme for the gathering in order to make it a bit more interesting for those who attend. There is a nearly unlimited number of themes that one could come up with, but one tried and true example that always seems to be a hit, especially in the summer time, is a Hawaiian luau.

This kind of celebration is certainly widely known and practiced today. When one thinks of a luau, it's likely that images of flowery shirts, skirts, ukulele music, hula dancing, flower necklaces known as leis and beaches spring to mind. While it is certainly popular nowadays, it's a tradition that dates back to older times in Hawaii.

The first luau is attributed to King Kamehameha II of Hawaii in 1819. Prior to then, men and women in Hawaii society were not permitted to eat together. Furthermore, there were restrictions on what types of food that common people were allowed to eat. This all came to an end when King Kamehameha hosting a large gathering of common folks and women, giving rise to the modern-day luau.

The word luau is actually the name of a commonly served dish and became the name of the party itself. To make this, chicken is baked in coconut milk along with taro plant leaves. Guests would eat this dish and the other foods that were served while sitting on simple mats on the floor. At times huge gatherings were held with upwards of a thousand people taking part in the celebrations.

Luaus started to gain widespread popularity once tourism in the islands began to increase. As early as the 1930's people in the mainland United States started to become aware of Hawaiian ways of life, either from direct experience from a trip there or by exposure via television or movies. The allure of this lifestyle and this type of celebration in particular quickly caught on and has been well-liked ever since.

It would be hard to beat an true Hawaiian luau in the islands themselves, but this obviously requires time and money that many don't have. Plus, it would be difficult to do this with many friends and family members. But, one doesn't have to go there to get the experience, it's actually rather easy to hold one yourself wherever you may live.

The overall atmosphere of the celebration, entertainment, food and drinks are all important components. Any types of Hawaiian-based decorations can help to set the scene as can giving everyone who attends a lei to wear. Live or recorded Hawaiian music is a must and hula dancing certainly couldn't hurt. Some foods that are normally served are salmon, poi and tropical fruits. Mai tais are a popular drink to serve as well, but of course all of this depends upon the host and the guests.

A Hawaiian luau is almost certain to be a hit for nearly any celebration. Tropical music, food and styles are sure to please the vast majority of hosts and guests alike.




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