- Joined
- Jul 15, 2016
- Messages
- 2,737
I would appreciate it if you would stop denigrating my family traditions simply because they do not conform to your views on what passes for authentic.
I think a little aloha might go a long way here. No need to take offense just because someone feels a certain amount of affection/protectiveness for Hawaiian traditions. And no need to object to any parties that aren't officially luaus, either.
As for me*, I am sad to say that the only "luau" I ever went to was at the Polynesian Cultural Center on Oahu (long story short, we were forced to do it by visiting relatives we were humoring). It was just as cringe-worthy as you might expect.
I have yet to attend a real luau on the Big Island - as part-time residents who aren't really integrated into any permanent community there, we are fortunate to have gone to a few haolie-organized BBQs and birthday parties. They were not luaus and were not advertised as such, but they were gatherings of friends and families, and we were happy to take part. Plenty of aloha and friendship, luau or not. It's all good.
* A little explanation for casual readers who don't follow the real lives of long-term posters:
Me = part-time resident since 2000 on Hawaii island ("the Big Island"), planning to retire there within 5 years or less
Waarmstrong = has relatives living on the Big Island
Vanuatu = raised in the State of Hawaii, now spending time both there and in Jakarta, if I'm not mistaken