Luau
/ˈluː.aʊ/noun
A Hawaiian feast or celebratory gathering featuring traditional food, music, and entertainment.
Did you know?The modern luau emerged after 1819, when King Kamehameha II abolished the Hawaiian kapu system and publicly ate with women, overturning a major ritual taboo.
Etymological Timeline
Pre-19th Century
Hawaiian
lūʻau
“A dish made from young taro leaves, often cooked with coconut milk and other ingredients.”
Early 19th Century
Hawaiian
lūʻau
“The taro-leaf dish served at a ceremonial or festive meal.”
1819
Hawaiian
ʻahaʻaina
“A traditional feast; the abandonment of kapu restrictions helped reshape public Hawaiian feasting.”
19th Century
Hawaiian-English
luau
“An English-associated spelling of Hawaiian lūʻau, increasingly used for a Hawaiian feast rather than only the dish.”
Modern English
English
luau
“A Hawaiian-style feast or celebration, often presented for visitors and special events.”