On Thursday July 19, 2007, we, the haumāna Hawai`i, hosted a lū`au for our fellow Wampanoags and friends we`ve made thus far on our trip. This included the professors, the program administrators, our friends from BYOP, `Anakē Noe, `Anakala Chad, Hi`ia, `Anakē Lehua, and others from Hawai`i who now reside in Boston. We dressed up in aloha attire, which made the environment feel as if we were back at home! The table held a
mouth-watering array of Hawaiian food: laulau (your choice of pork OR chicken), poi, rice, lomi salmon, chicken long rice, kalua pig and cabbage, and pineapple. We prepared most of the food ourselves; we made the laulau on Kaua`i, pounded the poi in Waipā, and assisted in preparing the other dishes here in our dorm`s kitchen. The function was held in Harkness Commons, a hall next to our dorm with a large lounge/study area downstairs, and a cafeteria upstairs. After introductions and pule, we each partnered up with someone who had not eaten Hawaiian food before, and explained the process and significance of each food. Everyone enjoyed the food and went back fo
r seconds, even thirds! I remember some of our Wampanoag friends saying that the food was so much better than they thought it would be.Following the feast, we had a short performance for the visitors. We danced Kāwika, chanted E Hō Mai and Nā `Aumakua, and sang songs such as Hawai`i Pono`ī, Maika`i Kaua`i, `Ekolu Mea Nui, and He Hawai`i Au. After our guests left, we had a short wala`au session with `Anakē Noe, `Anakala Chad, `Anakē Lehua, Kaipo, Kaia, and Kara. They were all born and raised in Hawai`i, but have moved to Boston to pursue their career dreams and aspirations in one way or another. They each s
hared their backgrond and gave us words of inspiration, to not be shameful or doubtful about moving away for schooling and living. They are living examples of people who have moved away from home yet continue to succeed in life.This concluded our night. It was full of fellowship, laughter, dance, song, and... `ONO GRINDS! I hope that everyone who attended had as good of a time as I did.
7 comments:
That night brought back sweet memories of home, with the Hawaiian food and Aloha print everywhere. I appreciate everybody who made an effort to be down there with us and I hope that they all had fun. I surely did! It was hilarious to watch the Wampanoags and Aquinnahs try our food. I give major kudos to Ashley, because she tried everything set out on the table and actually enjoyed most of it. Tracy seemed to develop a liking to lomi salmon with poi as well. I had a lot of fun showing everybody else where we come from and what Hawai'i is like.
OMG LOVED iT!!....That day I couldn't wait to eat LAULAU and POI!!!....The food was great. The people were great. It became to be such a great night. It was interesting to see people's reactions to Hawaiian food. I had a lot of fun!
I was excited that after two weeks in Massachusetts we were able to have some Hawaiian food. I'm sure that many of us were glad to have a taste of home. My favorite was the lomi salmon and the kalua pig and cabbage. It was indeed very interesting to watch the Wampanoags try our food for the first time.
I couldn't wait to eat Hawaiian food. I've been waiting all trip long ever since Kaua'i. When the luau came I wasn't jst satisfied, I was divinely in love with food--I stuffed my face until I was officially FULL! I enjoyed that night very much so.
After eating at Uno's, Bertucci's, IHOP, and Chinese foods, it was only a matter of time Hawaiian food had to come out. At the Wampanoag gathering I tried oysters for the first time. Didn't like it. Since I tried there food, that HAD to try Poi. Ofcourse they didn't like it at first. One of the girls, Chelsie, found a weird combination that aloud her to eat the poi without gagging. Pineapples, and poi! She seriously dipped the pineapple into the poi and swallowed it like nothing. I'm fine with Kalua pig and poi. This was the best dinner, and reminded me why Hawaiians are the best!
Sharing the Hawaiian food with others was FUNNY. Some people didn't like the look of the poi.At least everyone tried the laulau. Oh and the pinapples didn't last.
I was looking forward to the night of the lu'au for a very long time. My favorite part of thi lu'au was finally having the opportunity to eat Hawaiian food, especially poi.
*Kahea
Post a Comment