Thursday, December 3, 2015

Key Factors To Hosting Luaus

By Marci Nielsen


Hawaii is known for many wondrous things such as stark white or black sand beaches, beautifully colored foliage and incredible weather. The amazing series of islands are formed from the hardened lava of multiple volcanoes, some of which remain active, giving this exotic locale an unique landscape. The people of Polynesia have many tantalizing customs and traditions with Luaus, the traditional parties for bringing people together, being among the most well known.

The ancient ways had Hawaiian men eating their meals of specially prepared dishes together while the women, servants and children were fed separately and only common foods. King Kamehameha II changed that in 1819 when he declared everyone, he included, eat as equals in the same place, doing away with religious taboos. He made this occasion a grand celebration and glorious feast, beginning the tradition.

According to authentic standards, these feasts are typically conducted outdoors with plenty of room for all, surrounded by bright foliage and colorful decorations. Guests are seated on mats on the ground and traditional foods are served without utensils. Fragrant leis are distributed as a welcome to all in attendance, music is played, dances are performed and thrilling entertainment is provided.

To host a party that is truly based on Hawaiian celebration traditions, some of the key aspects have to be represented. The authenticity is going to depend on how dedicated one is to being as realistic as possible. Some substitutions may be necessary in order to accommodate what items are easily available locally.

Leis are probably one of the most popular icons of these celebrations. They are necklaces that are traditionally made using shells, kukui nuts, ferns but most commonly, brightly colored fresh blossoms, though substituting purchased ones or making them using silken flowers, money or candy can be a fun twist. Placing them around the neck of each guest as they arrive boosts the festive feeling of the event.

The food choices are another key aspect of throwing a party with an authentic island theme. Traditionally they would serve pork cooked in an underground oven, poi, sea snails, squid, lomi-lomi salmon, haupia, fresh local fruits and beer. Realistically, most people who have not acquired a taste for these dishes would probably appreciate substitutions such as barbecue chicken, ribs, kebabs, teriyaki, salads, Mai-tais and punch.

One of the biggest challenges might be to provide authentic entertainment, though this is not an impossible feat as there are groups who specialize in this. Some things that usually go over well are musicians playing island drums and ukuleles, tropical birds, Elvis impersonators and especially hula girls in grass skirts. If the idea is to throw an extravaganza and the means are available, warrior dancers, flaming knife twirlers and fire poi spinners are always sure to thrill the crowd.

Backyards with plenty of open space, park shelters or beach tents are great locations for these parties. If something more on the formal side is needed, one may consider booking a hotel conference room, or renting a boat or yacht for the occasion. To give the selected area a more festive and tropical ambiance, decorations like colorful streamers, parrots, coconuts, bamboo, rattan, potted hibiscus, palm trees and tiki torches can be very effective.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment