Throughout
the world, feasting has been and is a universal form of celebrating
happy and important events. However, the Polynesians, and
especially Hawaiians, have evolved this great pleasure into
a truly unique cultural experience.
Before contact
with the western world, Hawaiians called their important feasts
an 'aha 'aina. These feasts marked special occasions —
such as reaching a significant life milestone, the launching
of a new canoe or a great endeavor. A few survive in modern
forms, such as the luau for the one-year-old baby, a graduation
or wedding, that are common among Hawaiian and local families
who may not even realize the practice has ancient origins.
Historically,
the food and practices observed at an 'aha 'aina were rich
with symbolism and the entire event was designed to unite
the participants, similar to the way the old Hawaiians braided
strands of coconut husk fiber, or sennit, into thicker 'aha
cords and rope. For example, certain foods might represent
strength, while the names or attributes of other food items
might relate to virtues or goals the participants hoped to
achieve.
Starting about
150 years ago the term luau gradually replaced 'aha 'aina.
Luau, in Hawaiian and other Polynesian languages, is actually
the name of the taro leaf, which when young and small is cooked
like spinach and is often mixed with other foods, creating
Hawaiian favorites such as luau squid or luau chicken; but
today, luau is the commonly accepted name of a Hawaiian feast.
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