Flavor of Maui

For as long history can remember, feasting has been and is a universal form of celebrating important or special events. The Polynesians, and especially Hawaiians, have evolved this great pleasure into a unique cultural experience.
Before contact with the new world, Hawaiians called their important feasts an ‘aha ‘aina. These celebtations marked special occasions such as reaching a life milestone, the launching of a new outrigger or a great endeavor. A few survive in modern forms, such as the luau for the one-year-old baby, a graduation or wedding, that are common among Hawaiian and local families who may not even realize the practice has ancient origins.
Historically, the food and practices observed at an ‘aha ‘aina were rich with symbolism and the entire event was designed to unite the participants, similar to the way the old Hawaiians braided strands of coconut husk fiber, or sennit, into thicker ‘aha cords and rope. For example, certain foods might represent strength, while the names or attributes of other food items might relate to virtues or goals the participants hoped to achieve.
Starting about 150 years ago the term luau gradually replaced ‘aha ‘aina. Luau, in Hawaiian and other Polynesian languages, is actually the name of the taro leaf, which when young and small is cooked like spinach and is often mixed with other foods, creating Hawaiian favorites such as luau squid or luau chicken; but today, luau is the commonly accepted name of a Hawaiian feast.