A traditional Hawaiian feast or party, often held outdoors with traditional food, music, and dancing.
From Hawaiian 'lū'au,' which originally referred to taro tops (a leafy vegetable), a traditional food served at Hawaiian feasts. The word became associated with the entire celebration in English during the 20th century.
The original luau was a women-only Hawaiian feast, and it wasn't until the 1950s tourism boom that it became the mixed-gender beach party we imagine today! Each word we use about other cultures often tells the story of how we adapted or changed their traditions.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.