A lūʻau is a traditional Hawaiian celebration that brings people together through food, music, and dance. This guide covers the history of the lūʻau, what to expect at one today, and where to experience an authentic lūʻau across the Hawaiian Islands.
What Is a Lūʻau?
A lūʻau is a traditional Hawaiian social gathering where people come together to enjoy a party or feast. It's a celebration of culture, featuring classic dishes, music, chanting (mele), and hula dancing.
The History Behind Lūʻau
In 1819, King Kamehameha II hosted the first official lūʻau, famously breaking the traditional kapu (rules) system that forbade men and women from eating together. This historic feast transformed lūʻau into a celebration of unity and inclusion. Nineteenth-century monarchs later expanded these feasts into elaborate, large-scale events, but the heart of the lūʻau remained the same: bringing people together through food, culture, and community. Over time, it has evolved into more of a spectacle—part feast, part performance.
What to Expect
Today's lūʻau typically begins with guests receiving a traditional lei greeting before enjoying an all-you-can-eat buffet of authentic Hawaiian dishes.
A central feature is kālua pig—tender, shredded pork slow-cooked in an underground stone oven called an imu. Many lūʻau host a live imu ceremony, letting guests watch the pig being unearthed and prepared for the feast. Other classic staples include:
- Lau lau – pork or fish wrapped in taro leaves and steamed
- Chicken long rice – chicken and rice noodles in broth
- Poke – seasoned raw fish
- Poi – pounded taro root
The spread is typically rounded out with an array of fresh tropical fruits, especially local pineapple.
After piling their plates with ono (delicious) food, guests enjoy a performance featuring multiple styles of dance:
- Hula Kahiko – the ancient style of hula, performed with chanting (mele) and traditional instruments such as gourds (ipu), wooden sticks (pūʻili), and the pahu drum
- Hula ʻAuana – a modernized style of hula featuring Western instruments like the ukulele and guitar, with more melodic vocals
- Fire knife dancing – the grand finale, originating in Samoa, in which dancers twirl and catch staffs dipped in oil and lit on fire at both ends, creating a stunning nighttime spectacle
Where to Go
Rock-A-Hula (Oʻahu)
Combining a traditional Hawaiian lūʻau with Western entertainment, Rock-A-Hula is a heavily modernized spectacle that takes guests on a journey through Hawaiʻi's history from the 1920s to today. Alongside local cuisine, the performance features classic hula, Tahitian dance, and fire knife dancing, along with a pop-inspired tribute to Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson, highlighting their ties to Hawaiʻi.
Kaʻula Lūʻau (Oʻahu)
Kaʻula Lūʻau weaves a journey of a granddaughter and her grandmother discovering their shared geneology through Hawaiian, Tahitian, and Samoan dance and music. It also offers interactive cultural activities, all-you-can-eat Hawaiian food, and friendly competition for guests to enjoy as the sun sets in the background.
Smith Family Lūʻau (Kauaʻi)
Smith Family Lūʻau is located in Wailua Valley. This family business has been performing and hosting lūʻau for 50 years across four generations. The evening features a traditional Hawaiian feast alongside Hawaiian hula, Tahitian drum dances, and Samoan fire knife dances, with a focus on music and spreading the rhythm of aloha.
Old Lahaina Lūʻau (Maui)
The Old Lahaina Lʻūau tells the story of Hawaiʻi through song and dance—beginning with the first Polynesian settlers, moving through the arrival of missionaries and the reign of King Kalākaua, and ending with a celebration of Hawaiʻi as the melting pot it has become today. An array of local food is served four-course style at your table for cleanliness, and the evening features poi pounding and an imu ceremony.
Voyagers of the Pacific Lūʻau
The Voyagers of the Pacific Lūʻau is an interactive show that features authentic Polynesian dances, including Hawaiian hula and Samoan fire knife dance. It includes an imu ceremony and an all-you-can-eat buffet of Hawaiian classics, with songs and dances that tell the story of ancient Polynesian culture through ritual.
Kalo: The Taro Root Behind the Feast
Kalo (taro) is a versatile Polynesian starch used in many dishes you'll enjoy at a lūʻau, including poi, squid lūʻau, lau lau, and kulolo.
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