The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-08-31
FEAST FOR A QUEEN.
What the 'Luau" for LIIiuoISaIani
VIII BE Like.


From the New York Mail and Fxnress.
Washington. Aug. 2s.-The plan of ex-
Prince David of Honolulu to celebrate
the birthday of his aunt, ex-Queen Lii
iuokalani by giving a native Hawaiian
feast known as a luau, at her ma1esty's
residence in this city has caused great
surprise and delight to the ex-Queen. The
plan to celebrate the birthday, the an
niversary of which is next Saturday. was
intended for a surprise by Prince David.
but the news came by wire from San
Francisco, and the ex-Queen is in high
expectation over the event.
Prince David is coming to the United
states for few months tour. and is due
at San Francisco on the steamer Doric
within day or so. He has shipped from
Honolulu boxes of the various native deli
cacles. such as fish, seaweed, fowls wa
termoss, candle nuts and all the materials
necessary to make the native dish called
poi.
These are to arrive in Washington Fri
day night or Saturday morning. SO as to
be ready for the grand feast on the latter
uay. Preparations will be made to cele-
brate the luau at the ex-Queen's resi-
dence' No. 14ls Fifteenth street, and it
VIII be served, as is the custom. al fresco
Ptlhce David has not only prepared the.
materials for the feast, but he is going
10 nave the entertainment conducted in
true Hawaiian style. and has engaged the
hauve Hula-Hula dancers. now at the ON
ana Exposition, to come to Washington
for the festivities of the day.
All OF the other Hawaiiaus at Omaha
and In Washington will be invited to at
tend the feast.
Inc luau resembles a barbecue. the food
being prepared and cooked in the INN or
natlVe oven, round hole two or three
feet deep dug in the ground
The native luau is one of the leadi,e,
characteristics of Hawaiia bosnitaIitv
ana requires great care and much labor in
IT'S preparation. Long tables, forming n
hollow square, will be erected, and around
these the guests will be seated. In the
center, or hollow square, a band Of native
HUI dancers and musicians will make
merry during the feast
No knives or forks are used accordi, q.
to etiquette, and good use must be made Of
the myers There are no plates. and the
guests help themselves from large bowls
which are place dalong the table.
Poi is made from the root of the taro
plant which grows in the water Great
care is taken in the growing of this the
staple food of the natives
To prepare poi the taro is cooked. scran-
ed and pounded. 1t is then allowed 10 fer
ment slightly and Is mixed with water
until proper consistency is reached. This
is poi. which in Hawaii is placed in a large
calabash under the shade Of a tree. The
visitor or family In former times sat about
1t and dipped first two fingers of the right
hand into the poi. BY a clever motion the
fingers were brought to the mouth and the
adhering poi was sucked off. Now the
food is eaten with forks.
II Is said to be very nutritious and fat
tening According to a foreigner. It tastes
not unlike soured bih-sticker's paste. The
poi dogs, or native dogs, formerly eaten at
the feasts were fattened on poi before
they were roasted. Newcomers take TO moi
most kindly when It is mixed with milk
and called poi cocktail
During the progress of the feast the
guests viii be adorned with wreaths of ma
tive flowers. called les. The former
Queen was a great lover Of the luau, and
presided over many Of these feasts while
In her native land.