luau

American  

[loo-ou, loo-ou] / luˈaʊ, ˈlu aʊ /

noun

1. a feast of Hawaiian food, usually held outdoors and usually accompanied by Hawaiian entertainment.

2. a cooked dish of taro leaves, usually prepared with coconut cream and octopus or chicken.

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luau British  

/ luːˈaʊ, ˈluːaʊ /

noun

1. a feast of Hawaiian food

2. a dish of taro leaves usually prepared with coconut cream and octopus or chicken

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Etymology

Origin of luau

First recorded in 1835–45, luau is from the Hawaiian word lū'au

Explanation

A luau is a Hawaiian party, often with music and dancing. If you wear a grass skirt and lei, you will most likely fit in at a luau. The very first luau was thrown by King Kamehameha II in 1819, as a way to celebrate the end of the Hawaiian cultural taboo against men and women eating together. The word luau means "young taro tops" in Hawaiian, and this is one of the traditional foods served at a luau, usually with squid or chicken cooked in coconut milk.

Example Sentences

On the final evening, they attended an outdoor banquet lit by tiki torches that featured a whole roasted luau pig.

From Salon • Oct. 31, 2025

The fire left her without her main job as a luau host and traditional Hawaiian dancer in Lahaina, though the condo she shares with her husband was far from the burn zone.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 29, 2023

And then they all start wearing Hawaiian shirts because it represents luau.

From Slate • May 8, 2023

The outdoor light restrictions effectively prohibit nighttime hula dances and luau performances — local cultural signatures.

From Washington Post • Nov. 3, 2022

I was hot, tired, and hungry, and when this lady mentioned a luau, my stomach sat up on its hind legs and begged like a dog.

From "The Sea of Monsters" by Rick Riordan