After King Kamehameha II abolished
certain religious tapu in 1819, the
Hawaiian Islands gave birth to the
luau, a lavish spread of delicacies
and feasting in a merry atmosphere,
often with accompanied dances and
singing. The luau proper was a
delicacy of taro leaves and chicken,
baked in coconut milk, but soon came
to represent the entire celebratory
feast. Luaus of the kings could reach
incredible sizes, with the famous
“Merry Monarch” Kalakaua inviting
so many guests that they had to be
fed in shifts of hundreds. Luau today
is synonymous with “party” in Hawaiian
culture, and indeed throughout many
cultures in the world.
Caption this Meme
