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.