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Kauai Dining Guide
Dining out on Kaua`i is a culinary adventure. The island has lots of choices, ranging from first-class fine dining restaurants at the better resorts to the local-style budget plate lunch shops in the towns and villages around the island. And like the rest of Hawai`i, the attraction here is the diversity and blend of Asian/Pacific cuisines, which reflect Hawai`i's multi-cultural community. The restaurant price ranges, as in the other sections of this book are based on the average dinner meal, exclusive of tax, alcoholic beverages and desserts.
Dining Price Scale
$ under $10 per person
$$ $10-25 per person
$$$ $25 and up per person
The Luau & Its History
The Hawaiian luau dates from the early days of Hawaii's communal lifestyle. It was common practice for a large extended village family and clan to join together in a harvest of the land and sea's abundance and to celebrate by sharing a large festive meal. Luaus were also held on special holidays and to mark special ceremonies and events. It's not much different in today's Hawaii. Luaus are held to mark holidays, ceremonies, and celebrations such as weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, graduations and so on.
Over the years, Hawaii's ethnic groups have left their own culinary influences on the luau. But an authentic Hawaiian luau usually consists of the following foods:
- Poi, a thick gray paste-like substance much like mashed potatoes and made from cooked taro root, a luau staple;
- Baked sweet potatoes;
- Kalua pig, a whole roast pig cooked in a traditional underground imu oven;
- Poke, any raw fish that has been marinated and spiced with local flavors such as chili pepper or soy sauce;
- Lau lau, chunks of kalua pig, chicken or fish flavored with coconut milk and wrapped in taro leaves, which is then wrapped in ti leaves and steamed in the imu oven;
- Lomilomi salmon, diced salted salmon with tomatoes and green onions, sort of a Hawaiian salsa;
- Opihi, small salt water limpets (shellfish) which are considered a luau delicacy and eaten raw;
- A`ama crab, also a delicacy and eaten steamed;
- Luau chicken, which is chicken cooked with luau (taro) leaves;
- Kulolo, a steamed pudding made from grated cooked taro root and coconut milk;
- Haupia, a sweet custard made from coconut milk.
Poi, a thick gray paste-like substance much like mashed potatoes and made from cooked taro root, a luau staple;
Baked sweet potatoes;
Kalua pig, a whole roast pig cooked in a traditional underground imu oven;
Poke, any raw fish that has been marinated and spiced with local flavors such as chili pepper or soy sauce;
Lau lau, chunks of kalua pig, chicken or fish flavored with coconut milk and wrapped in taro leaves, which is then wrapped in ti leaves and steamed in the imu oven;
Lomilomi salmon, diced salted salmon with tomatoes and green onions, sort of a Hawaiian salsa;
Opihi, small salt water limpets (shellfish) which are considered a luau delicacy and eaten raw;
A`ama crab, also a delicacy and eaten steamed;
Luau chicken, which is chicken cooked with luau (taro) leaves;
Kulolo, a steamed pudding made from grated cooked taro root and coconut milk;
Haupia, a sweet custard made from coconut milk.
Luaus are noted for huge amounts of food and usually include Hawaiian music, song and hula dance performances.
Reflections of Paradise, Kilohana Carriage House, Kaumuali`i Highway 50, one mile west of Lihue, % 808/245-9595. This luau show includes a full Polynesian Review of dance and music of Hawai`i, Tahiti, Samoa and New Zealand, plus an all-you-can-eat buffet of Hawaiian foods like kalua pig, mahimahi, teriyaki beef, pineapple chicken, sweet potatoes, rice and more. Call for times. $$$
Kaua`i Coconut Beach Resort, 808/822-3455, presents a nightly "All Hawaiian Luau Show," including all-you-can-eat buffet of roast kalua pig, Polynesian chicken, mahimahi, teri beef, lomi salmon, veggies and fruit salad, haupia coconut pudding and more. Enjoy a torch lighting ceremony, lei greeting and a full program of song and dance capturing the legend and lore of the "Garden Island." $$$
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