16. Old Lahaina Luau

Our night at the Old Lahaina Luau was Thursday night. We met at the appointed time, and were given a flower lei, and escorted to our table, which was a super location very near the stage. While it was still daylight, we strolled along the waterfront, which provided the backdrop for the arena-like stage and dinner complex. Here, several crafters were demonstrating their crafts of wood carving, jewelry making, and other island specialties. Photo opportunities were plentiful as everyone wanted a picture under the palm trees by the water, especially as the sun fell behind the horizon. Following an announcement, everyone crowded around the Imu Pit, where the Kalua Pig had been roasting since early morning. The animal is covered in banana leaves, placed over hot lava rocks, and covered with burlap, before being covered with sand to roast during the day. Two young men, in a ceremony obviously familiar to them, began to dig up the pig with great fanfare in front of all the guests. After the meat is taken to the two buffet stations, we were called by table to fill our plates with a great variety of Polynesian dishes, including the obligatory bowl of poi, at the end of the line. Poi is a tasteless substance, somewhat like mashed potatoes, that was a staple of the ancient Hawaiian diet. It could be mixed with any number of other foods, and flavors, to extend the quantity of whatever was being served, although it is not very appetizing by itself. While we have tasted poi on earlier luaus, most of our group just passed on this occasion. During the meal, accompanied by a group of Hawaiian singers on the bandstand, an occasional solo hula dancer gracefully moved about the stage. After the meal, the stage was filled with a colorful company of male and female dancers who provided an evening of entertainment. They demonstrated the many different styles of hula dancing which have come from many of the islands and cultures of the South Pacific. The event is truly a feast in every sense of the word.