The Luau

I have been planning a birthday celebration since June. I decided in May that I wanted to celebrate. Since in my present situation there is no anniversary to celebrate or no wedding to plan, I will, therefore, treat myself to a bash.

I love a good party. I love to plan a party. I love all the details of staging a theme. Planning and cooking the food. I love a Luau!

A luau (in Hawaiian, lū‘au) is a Hawaiian feast. It may feature food, such as poi, kalua pig, poke, lomi salmon, opihi, haupia, and beer; and entertainment, such as Hawaiian music and hula. Among people from Hawaii, the concepts of "luau" and "party" are often blended, resulting in graduation luaus, wedding luaus, and birthday luaus. The name comes from that of a food always served at a luau: young taro tops baked with coconut milk and chicken or octopus.

Okay I’m not serving ANY of the traditional Hawaiian Luau food listed above except for “beer”. Is there authentic Hawaiian beer? Beer is the world's oldest and most popular alcoholic beverage possibly dating back to the 7th millennium BC. James Cook didn’t get there until 1778 but I’m sure King Kamehameha had his own brew. Does Primo Beer still exist?

Here’s what I found out:
Primo died a slow death after the brewery and bottling operations were shipped to the mainland in 1979. 100 years in production, a run originated by Honolulu Brewing & Malting Co. Ltd. in 1898, Primo was brewed for the last time in November 1998.

I am not having a traditional Hawaiian Luau per se. The Luau is purely a connotation for “party” I am having a Luau/Fiesta. Fiesta or feast has a religious connotation, but scrap that too. It is a BASH! I will, however have a Roast Pig Filipino style, “lechon” and Pacific Rim influenced food. Close enough?

Lechón (Tagalog: Litson and Cebuano: Inasal) is the Spanish word for suckling pig. In the Philippines, it connotes a whole roasted pig, lechón baboy. The process of lechón involves the whole pig/piglet, chicken, or cattle/calf being slowly roasted over charcoal. This day-long and arduous method of roasting leaves a crispy skin and very moist meat inside.

Lechón is often cooked during national festivities (known as fiestas), the holiday season, and other special occasions such as weddings, graduations, birthdays and baptisms, or family get-togethers. The lechón is usually the highlight and the most popular dish of these events. It is usually served with a liver-based sauce. However, in some cases, it may be served Chinese style with steamed buns and a sweet plum sauce.

Oh and dancing, yes a DJ. I love to dance!