A Luau : Oh Wow!

What Hawaii vacation would be complete with out a Luau? In all the pre vacation research I did, I found that the Grand Wielia hosted a Luau several nights a week so I booked our reservations even before we left! Very convenient!
Earlier in the day I had notices that they were setting up for a wedding and as we were walking to the Luau it was in progress.
Well you can call me miss nosy puss because I had to snap off a picture.

It was a gorgeous night for an out door dinner. The breeze was blowing and the evening was just perfect! 

This lovely woman was our host and she lead us through the evening. She was a wonderful hostess and explained all the Hawaiian customs and narrated all of the entertainment. 

We got both Hawaiian Tattoo's, temporary and mine came off in the shower before bedtime, the hubs lasted a bit longer.

This is the pit for the Kaula Pig. It had been slow cooking since 5:00 AM over a bed of hot coals lines with rock and then wrapped up and covered in sand. Here are the guys digging it out!

It is wrapped in canvas…
 
it has a wire cage over it and the cage is covered in banana leaves…

now it’s ready to be lifted out of the pit….
 

It was really good y’all!

The food was plentiful, it was an open bar…can y’all say Mai Tai! And all of it was very Hawaiian!
This was the spread we had set before us, it went on and on and on….
APPETIZERS & SALADS
Ahi Poke, Lomi-Lomi Salmon, Fresh Poi, Green Papaya Salad, Potato Mac Salad,
Maui Grown Lettuce Salad, Cucumber Namasu, Maui Gold Pineapple and Kula Strawberries
Sweet Bread Rolls with Macadamia Nut Butter
ENTREES
Kalua Pig
Shoyu Chicken
Maui Cattle Grilled Top Sirloin Steaks Glazed with teriyaki sauce
Baked Molokai Sweet Potatoes glazed with Guava syrup & mac nut butter
Fried Macadamia Nut Crusted Mahi-Mahi with a Light coconut & lime flavored sauce
Stir Fried Vegetables Wok fried and seasoned with soy sauce ginger and garlic
Island Style Fried Rice Lup Chong and Vegetables enhanced with oyster sauce and sesame oil
Maui Chow Fun Vegetables and pork char siu
ISLAND STYLE DESSERTS
Chocolate Brownie topped with Macadamia Nuts
Coconut Cake
Pineapple Upside Down Cake    
Traditional Hawaiian Haupia
Guava Mousse
I think my favorites were the Kalua Pig, the Ahi Poke and the Lomi-Lomi Salmon. I tried the Poi. I was all set not to like given the bad rap it get from most who try it. I was pleasantly surprised. It was really not what I expected at all. I really had very little flavor and it was more about the texture, which I am sure can be off putting for some. I found it to be very soft and smooth, very similar to a loose pudding or puree. The color was a bit unappetizing as it was a cross between a gray and light purple. I have heard that aside from the texture it is very good for you but that is strictly word of mouth. I have not done any research to find out the exact nutritional details.
The Ahi Poke is like sushi, it’s raw tuna marinated in spices and sesame oil and soy sauce. Very much like ceviche, but if you don't like sushi then you probably would not care for it. I loved it. It was very flavorful, light and just right! The Lomi-Lomi Salmon was good too. I did not like it as much as the Ahi Poke but it was good. It is a combination of diced tomatoes and salmon and other spices. I liked the cucumber namasu too, but that was just a dressed up cucumber salad and it was very good.
Everything was locally grown and the pineapple and the strawberries were to die for. If you ever get the chance to taste the Maui Gold Pineapple then grab one. Phenomenal is all I can say! I have yet to see on in the stores here, but then you might have better luck if you live on the west coast. Most of the Pineapple we get here are from Costa Rica!
After dinner came the show and boy was it a show. Here are some of the highlights. It’s a bit lengthy (about ten minutes) but it defiantly gives you a good idea of exactly what a Luau is all about. It was a fun evening and one that I am very glad we did not miss!
I know I need not point this out, but please do not fail to notice the very extremely goods work the Lord did with the fine young gentleman who participated in the show.

As we walked back to our room we enjoyed one of God’s fines creations. Is there anything better than a sunset over the ocean accompanied by an island breeze through palm trees?
 
 

I am missing my island sunset’s y’all!
Blessings & Mahalo
R