Oakland Goes Native 1

The moon was mostly full for the luau at Crystal Lake Beach on Saturday night. There was enough ambiance with the food, decor, and Hawaiian shirts, but it certainly added another tropical element for the over 165 residents who came down for the fun. The event was sold out by Thursday night, and adults on a date, or families with kids, all had a good time recreating the spirit of aloha.

The term luau refers to a particular Hawaiian vegetable used in a variety of dishes at what was originally called `aha`aina. `Aha means gathering, and `aina means food. Like many ancient festivals around the world, these events would often serve a specific religious or social purpose in bringing people together. The religious connotations have gone to the wayside, but the spirit of community and celebration are still part of the tradition. Crystal Lake offered up that, as well as the traditional fare of roasted pig.

The American mainland first began to get a taste for Hawaiian dishes with the 1915 Pan Pacific Exposition in San Francisco. Although the exotic nature of Hawaii and her multi-national foods were known to Americans, it was not until the bombing of Pearl Harbor that Hawaii entered into the heart of American consciousness; and finally into statehood on August 21st, 1959. By this time, every suburban town was familiar with leis and luaus. On a side note, the Polynesian cocktail Mai Tai was actually invented in Oakland in 1944– but Oakland, California.

There’s still a lot of summer left, so if you are thinking of planning your own luau, you might want to check out Hawaii-Luaus.com for some party ideas and recipes. If you want a little music to get you in the Hawaiian mood, the video below features the music of Hawaiian musician Israel Kamakawiwo’ole. You might recognize his versions of two songs, Over The Rainbow and What a Wonderful World, which have been featured in films, TV shows, and commercials.

Be sure to check out the announcement for movie night at the beach on August 1st