A lūʻau is a traditional Hawaiian feast or beach party,
often featuring live music, hula dancing, and Hawaiian
cuisine. It's a celebration, whether for a special
occasion like a wedding or birthday, or simply to enjoy
a gathering and food. Lūʻaus are also a great way for
non-natives to experience Hawaiian culture and
hospitality, wear flower leis, and sample delicious
foods, which often include dishes like poi, kalua pig
(cooked in an underground oven), poké, and lomi
salmon.
The cuisine of Hawaii is a fusion of many elements
brought by immigrants to the Hawaiian Islands,
including the earliest Polynesians and Native
Hawaiian cuisine, and American, Chinese, Filipino,
Japanese, Korean, Polynesian, Puerto Rican, and
Portuguese origins. Plant and animal food sources are
imported from around the world for agricultural use
in Hawai’i. Poi, a starch made by pounding taro, is one
of the staple foods of the islands.
Hula is a traditional dance from Hawai’i, characterized
by fluid body movements, often paired with chants
(oli) or songs (mele). It's a form of storytelling, with
physical gestures that convey a variety of emotions.
The ukulele, guitar, steel guitar (in modern hula), along
with traditional Hawaiian instruments accompany the
dance. Hula evolved into both traditional and
contemporary forms, and is now a living expression of
Hawaiian culture, deeply connected to religion and
storytelling, often used to recount history, genealogy,
and myths.
Hawai’i remains a major agricultural exporter
due to its fertile soil and uniquely tropical
climate in the U.S. Historically dominated by a
plantation economy, especially sugarcane and
pineapple, its economy has gradually
diversified since the mid-20th century, with
tourism and military defense becoming the two
largest sectors. The state attracts visitors,
surfers, and scientists with its diverse natural
scenery and luxurious vegetation, majestic
volcanoes, pristine beaches, enchanting bays,
oceanic surroundings, rainbows, and clear skies
on the world-famous Big Island.
The downside is that the tourism industry's
ongoing expansion and its impact on the
ecosystem, flora and fauna, and pressure on
cultural traditions, as well as on
infrastructure, is creating a conflict between
economic and environmental health. Due to
the COVID-19 pandemic, tourism in Hawaiʻi
came to a halt, which allowed the land, water,
and animals to begin to heal. Fish like the
baby akule and big ulua have returned after
years of not being around the bay. The coral
reefs, fish, water growth, and limu (algae)
growth were able to flourish without the
heavy toll of tourism.
Every year, the Hawai’i islands' natural beauty
and local customs consistently draw millions
of tourists. Dance, music, and song taught
from one generation to the next keep
traditions alive in a lush environment and
exotic atmosphere surrounded by ancient
history. All these speak to a richly diverse
heritage that is welcoming and fascinating.