Luau
/luˈaʊ/noun
A Hawaiian feast or social gathering, traditionally featuring music, dancing, and abundant food.
Did you know?The Hawaiian word luʻau originally referred to young taro leaves cooked with coconut milk and meat; the name later expanded to the entire ceremonial feast.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Polynesian
Proto-Polynesian
*lau
“Leaf or foliage; the ancestral root associated with Hawaiian lau.”
Pre-19th Century
Hawaiian
lau
“Leaf, especially a plant leaf such as a taro leaf.”
18th–19th Century
Hawaiian
luʻau
“A dish made with young taro leaves, often cooked with coconut milk and meat.”
19th Century
Hawaiian
luʻau
“A feast centered on this dish; the meaning broadened from food to gathering.”
19th Century–Present
English
luau
“A Hawaiian-style feast or festive social celebration.”