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

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

When Niki Rickard takes the microphone before those luau audiences, she doesn’t mention her own story.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 7, 2024

That location of the local chain serves up terrific pulled pork-topped fries, kimchi fried rice bowls and Hawaiian-inspired luau plates.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 21, 2023

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

From Slate • May 8, 2023

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