Germaine's Luau

Oh where to begin. I had no idea what you did at Luau's until i went to Hawaii. The night we went there, everyone dressed up the best we could, and got on a bus and drove down to Germaine's beach. The bus ride there was a gong show because everyone going there was already drunk and really loud. The bus driver was really funny and he never stopped talking. He would ask us questions, give us facts, and make us sing the whole way there. After about an hour bus ride we finally got to the Luau. When we got to the beach we were greeted with traditional Hawaiian welcome of a shell lei and a friendly aloha kiss (kinda freaked me out.) After we found our seat that was reserved for us, there was lots of dancing on the stage of girls in grass skirts and even guys. We watched that and then we got kind of introduced to how everything works, then we all walked over to watch them prepare the Kalua pig. It was pretty nasty not going to lie, but guess what?! We ate it, yup awesome. It wasn't as gross as it looked. We ate so much food there i thought i wasn't going to be able to get up and walk out of there. After eating they called anybody who wanted to come up onto stage and learn how to do the hula called the Hukilau. It was actually really fun but with that many people watching you, and us being front row, it was kind of embarrassing since I can't dance to save my life. The luau taught me a lot about Hawaiian culture and how everyone just seems to be family who lives there.

Outside Article:
The Hawaiian Luau (from my booklet)

The traditional Hawaiian feast called the luau has always meant a medley of great food and refreshing beverages served in an atmosphere filled with the colorful music and dance of the islands and set against a backdrop of splendid Pacific sunsets. In ancient days, these gatherings were semi-religious in nature since they gave the people an opportunity to thank the gods for good fortune and to ask for a prosperous future. Indeed, the early Hawaiians celebrated most major events in the life of the village with a communal feast which was originally called an aha'aina, and which we now know as a luau. Even today, local families in Hawaii commonly celebrate weddings,anniversaries, the building of a new home, the launching of a new business, or the birth of a child with a luau.

Customarily, luau's are arranged around the ceremony of preparing and cooking Kalua pig, thought by the ancient Hawaiians to be the favorite food of the gods. Today, as always, a fresh pig is baked in a traditional imu to produce the tender, succulent Kalua pig, a genuine delicacy always served with Poi, the Hawaiian staff of life. And, as in the days of the old Hawaiians, Kalua pig, poi, lomi lomi, and all the other delicious foods found at a luau are eaten with the fingers, washed down with a variety of beverages, and accompanied by the colorful and graceful hula performed to the tropical sounds of the ukulele. Most importantly, the aloha spirit of the luau-festivity, companionship, relaxation and fun-remains at the center of a luau celebration. This is an experience too good to miss.


The History of Germaine's Luau
The story of Germaine's Luau began when Marcia Germaine, visiting from Chicago, was invited to a traditional Hawaiian family celebration, known as a luau. The uniquely flavorful food, traditional songs, rhythmic dances and abiding sense of Aloha wooed her to stay. She proptly sold all of her belongings and moved to Oahu to start her own "luau". In the early 1970s, the luau was held first at Sea Life Park, a popular aquatic animal park, overlooking scenic Makapuu Point and later at the Hale Koa Hotel in Waikiki. In 1976, Germaine's moved to a sunny stretch of beach front property near Barber's Point Lighthouse, Where it remains today. During the early years, under the visionary guidance of Germaine's first master of ceremonies, acclaimed hula master John Piilani Watkins, the show developed into a visual extravaganza that majestically celebrated the customs and traditions of the Pacific.