Germaines Luau describes a Hawaiian feast named for the taro tops always served at one, but goes back to at least 1856, when so used by the Pacific Commercial Advertiser; formerly a feast was referred to as a pa`ina or `aha`aina. The pa`ina describes a small dinner party as compared to the `aha`aina which refers to a large banquet type gathering.

`Aha`aina – means feast – Traditionally feasts were held for human comfort and social enjoyment or to communicate with and seek the help of or to appease the Gods. In its supernatural context – we are referring to Hawaii’s pre-Christian deities and rituals. The term `aha`aina is derived from the root words `aha which means a meeting; gathering; or assembly and `aina which refers to eating or a meal.

In pre-missionary Hawai`i, both special religious occasions and human milestones were observed with feasting. Food in early Hawai`i was very often scarce and precious. What food they had, they shared with each other and with the gods. For feasts and even ordinary meals were important ways of communicating with the gods and one’s fellow man. During the feast or meal, the ancestral gods were usually brought out and they were also given their share of the meal – beyond a ritual offering of the spiritual essence or (aka) of the food.

In old Hawai’i , the `aha`aina feast was both a religious experience and an important part of the early ohana (family) way of life. The food prepared for the feast was precious to the early Hawaiian, for it provided vital source of life’s nourishment from the gods.

Today, the observance of the religious significance of the aha aina has all but disappeared and a feast, as it is hosted and celebrated in contemporary times, has become essentially, a purely social affair.

While today’s menu is similar to the food that was served at a traditional `Aha`aina, much of the religious significance and symbolism of the foods are usually forgotten.

Come and take a musical journey with us as we bring the islands of Samoa, Tahiti, New Zealand, and Hawaii to life in our exciting Polynesian Review.

From sunny shores of Papaeete, are the graceful and dazzling Tahitian dancers with their colorful costumes and gravity defying headdresses. Tahitian dance is known for its swift and steady rhythmic hip movements. Incredible stamina and dance expertise are required to perform this high-energy rendition.

The highlight of the show is the Samoan Fire-knife dance, known as the "Tooth of Death". In the original interpretation, this dance was performed with a dangerously sharp blade.

The story behind the dance is of a Samoan chief making a movie for Hollywood many years ago. He decided to include the flaming torch in his part to make the dance more spectacular.

The show also includes the energetic Samoan Slap Dance, a traditional display of male prowess. True to the name, the dancers slap their chests, arms and legs repeatedly throughout this segment. For Samoan men, this was an opportunity to demonstrate their bravery and courage.

No luau would be complete without the swaying hips and graceful hand motions of the Hula. The dancers tell beautiful and expressive stories of love and life in old Hawaii using elegantly simple implements such as the ipu (polished hollowed-out gourd) and uli uli (brightly colored feather topped gourds).

How we began:

The founding of our luau began in the early 1970′s at Sea Life Park, the popular aquatic family venue overlooking picturesque Makapu’u Point on East Oahu. After a time, we relocated to the sunny west side of our island to a beachfront property near the Barber’s Point lighthouse where it remains today.

The area was the former seaside residence of Rosalei and William Stephenson & their family. The Stephensons were renowned for their hospitality and enjoyed hosting Hawaiian lu’aus as a regular family tradition.

Prior to the development of the present Campbell Industrial Park, the area was lush with vegetation and surrounded with sugar cane fields waving in the gentle breeze. The waters along the shoreline of the estate teemed with fish and other treasures of the sea.

To ensure that the family would be forever united and always remain Keiki o ka ‘aina (children of the land), individual coconut trees were planted for each member of the Stephenson family throughout the property. The heights of the various coconut trees today represent the different generations of family who celebrated aloha in their Hawaiian way of life and enjoyed happy times together. The lone Norfolk pine tree on the estate served as the family Christmas tree and the family members decorated it each year as they celebrated the joys of the Christmas holiday season.

In keeping with the Stephenson family traditions, we have taken special measures to insure that the “family of coconut trees” remain in the areas they were originally planted and are properly maintained.

Our lu’au has evolved over the years but the true spirit of Aloha remains as the defining element of the Germaine’s Luau experience.