Germaine’s Luau (Oahu, Hawaii)

Luau is term that is defines a taro top dish or a Hawaiian feast named for the taro top dish served in one. This term is quite new and was first used by the Pacific Commercial Advertiser during 1856 to define a feast or a large banquet which initially was called as Aha`aina. Traditional Aha`aina like I mentioned above means feast where family or tribe members gather to have fun, socialize and eat lots of food, it also has some religious context as during these feasts ancestral gods were usually prayed upon as thanksgiving and offered their share of the meals. Having said that if you partake into one of these Luau’s these traditions will be explained and practiced so you will feel the event in its most traditional sense.

Luau is term that is defines a taro top dish or a Hawaiian feast named for the taro top dish served in one. This term is quite new and was first used by the Pacific Commercial Advertiser during 1856 to define a feast or a large banquet which initially was called as Aha’aina. Traditional Aha’aina like I mentioned above means feast where family or tribe members gather to have fun, socialize and eat lots of food, it also has some religious context as during these feasts ancestral gods were usually prayed upon as thanksgiving and offered their share of the meals. Having said that if you partake into one of these Luau’s these traditions will be explained and practiced so you will feel the event in its most traditional sense.

Each Luau will start with you being picked up by a bus (this is a better experience than driving on your own) where your escort will explain important customs and traditions of the old Hawaii, this will give you the mood as well as the sense of belongingness during the whole activity. You will know a lot of people especially the ones beside you as a Luau is more of an Ohana (Family) gathering and your escort will make sure you are comfortable with the one beside you.

Most of the Luau’s are on the West side and far from Waikiki and when you reach the location it will be at sunset. You will then be presented with either a shell or a flower lei and usually it’s in a picturesque area in a beach nice photo opportunity as its sunset, at the beach with your lei.

Now the event starts, each Luau will start it differently but this is my experience with Germaine’s. It started all with a prayer sung in Hawaiian while holding the hands of the person beside you. Then it is followed by the unearthing of the Kalua pig from its pits. The food is then prepared and as the diners wait the entertainment starts where different dancers and singers depict the local dances, songs along with their colourful costumes from the different islands like Samoa, Tahiti, Tonga, New Zealand, and Hawaii.

Once the buffet table is ready everyone is then called to partake the feast and it’s a buffet.

In Germaine’s the following dishes are offered, it starts with some salads like Fresh Pineapples, Three Bean Salad, Tossed Green Salad, Potato Macaroni Salad and Pineapple Coleslaw.

Then next in line was the mains like the Kalua Pig (Roasted Pig), Lomilomi Salmon, Island Fish, Teriyaki Beef, Pulehu Chicken, Poi (Taro), Sweet Dinner Rolls, Chicken Long Rice and Steamed Rice

Finally the desserts like the Haupia (Coconut Pudding), Vanilla Coconut Cake, Chocolate Cake.

It does not stop there as Germaine’s offer alcoholic beverages and in they give you three stubs per entry, some of the choices are Mai Tai, Blue Hawaii, Pina Colada, Chi Chi, Domestic & Import Beers, Lava Flow, Wine, etc.

And if you don’t like alcohol there are also soft drinks, juices, coffee and tea

Overall everything was good, I especially liked the Teriyaki Beef and Pulehu Chicken which tasted amazing, the Kalua Pig was good as well though they said it was only made out of salt and meat there’s a unique flavour which I guess comes from the earth pit, its earthy and smoky at the same time. The fish was quite unexpected, I was hoping for something grilled but instead it was a breaded fried fish other than that food was great and the entertainment was phenomenal, it was very informative and sometimes comedic.

Germaine’s Luau
Address: 91-119 Olai St Kapolei, HI 96707 USA
Phone: +1 800 367 5655
Website: http://www.germainesluau.com/

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