PASS THE POI

THE OLD LAHAINA LUAU

I had never been interested in going to a Luau. It was a destination for tourists after all, parodied by the likes of Fred Flintstone, who had a famous line in one episode where he was cast in a Hawaiian Island movie: “Pass the Poi,” he said, practicing it over and over. It is probably good advice to never hire a lawyer who can discuss individual episodes of the

Flintstones, although this quality is admirable with hack travel writers. But, I digress here.

Seriously though, I thought luaus were events where Hawaiian natives hula’ed the night away for the benefit of brash tourists wearing loud Aloha shirts as they gobbled down Kalua Pork and LauLau and got drunk on Mai-Tais as they lasciviously ogled the young native dancers in their grass skirts and coconut bras. I thought such “celebrations” held for us haoles were cheap and degrading to the Native Hawaiians. We had already stolen their kingdom, now we have them performing like trained pets.

Despite my observations Janet insisted on going to one and I’m not one to go against her wishes.

HOW COULD I SAY "NO"?

“Yes Dear,” are the two most essential words a man can ever utter. But, I digress here.

She did her research well and got us two tickets for the Old Lahaina Luau. It is a traditional hula and feast and very well attended. All the reviews were aglow about this particular luau, perhaps because it was not a bunch of “fire-eaters showing off.” We were on stand-by and fortunate to get seats. The Old Lahaina Luau is held nightly, but the waiting list stretched until mid-August. We went on our Tuesday in Maui and we traveled to this area of Lahaina called Moali’i, just north of the main tourist area. It’s on Front Street and across from the Lahaina Cannery Mall.

Joking aside, in the tradition of old Hawaii, travelers were always offered food as a show

POI IS UPPER RIGHT

of love and respect and the beginnings of the hula may have been as both a religious ritual while also providing entertainment for the rulers. Until a written language was created Hawaiian lore was passed to the next generation through stories and displays of the dances that we witnessed on our fortuitous night at the luau. Keeping such old Hawaiian traditions are very important to the Hawaiian people who take great pride in their history and the Old Lahaina Luau showed a progression of dance and music from ancient drum dances through to the missionary hulas, the modern hulas before finishing with a Tahitian fete celebration of dance that features solo dancers.

Most interestingly, Lahaina, Maui today is a tourist town. Shops, restaurants and bars catering to the tourist trade crowd Front Street. But, before it was a tourist destination, and before it was the center of the Pacific whaling industry and a plantation town, Lahaina was the capital of the kingdom of Hawaii and the residence of ancient kings who would come here for rest and play. So, it’s conceivable that a luau in Lahaina with its feast and hula is the real McCoy.

We were greeted at the Old Lahaina Luau with music and Lei’s and Mai-Tai’s and seated at a l

TOURIST CENTRAL

ong line of tables surrounding a large central stage and then invited to walk the grounds past several displays of Hawaiian crafts and take hula lessons and bask in a glorious sunset. It was crowded with haoles and yes there were a lot of crazy Aloha shirts on display, but the Aloha Spirit was strong here (aided by more Mai-Tai’s and Little Tita’s and Honey Girls and Blue Hawaiians, all with “extra-loving” poured by the shirtless bartenders in traditional garb...that's more rum kids). Then we were invited to surround the underground oven or Imu for the digging up of the Kalua Pig. Dinner was served buffet style and the traditional feast featured not only the pig, but the poke (both Ahi and He’e …octopus…) and yes Poi. We did not pass on the poi by the way.

The feast continued with steak and chicken and island prepared fish and several side dishes.

Front St. Lahaina

We ate and drank a lot and the show was informative and beautiful. When couples were invited to dance to a modern song played by the live band, Janet and I twirled happily in the warm Hawaiian night. Though it was all steeped in tradition it was a bit hokey, but wonderfully loveable and for one night I did not mind being a tourist.
OLD LAHAINA LUAU

Go…

Before we went to the luau we spent a full relaxing day in the sun at the resort lounging by the

BANYAN TREE LAHAINA

pool. We left a little earlier than necessary to stroll around Lahaina a bit, stopping by the old massive banyan tree that fills a city block and to poke our noses in some of the shops in the area.  It may all be just a tourist destination but this area of the world is beautiful. 

Mahalo for reading.

Here is a taste of what we enjoyed at the Old Lahaina Luau. We hope your travels lead you to such enchanting destinations.