Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-08-28
ALUAU FOR QUEEN LII.

A Hawaiian luau, tho real thing will,
be held in Washington on Saturday
next and the people OF the city will be
treated to revival of an aucient GUS
tom which was in vogue long before
Gaten discovered the Island of Oahu,
more than three centuries ago. The
royal lueu will be given by Prince
David Kawananaloa, of Hawaii, in
honor of former Queen Lilioukalani,
and will be held on ner birthday, S, p.
tember 2, at her residence, 141S Fif-
teenth street northwest. 1t is expected
that the guests will include many
prominent Americans and nearly every
resident Hawaiian now in the Uui ed
States.
the dainties for the great feast will
arrive at San Francisco on board the
steamship Doric, within few days,
and will be shipped to Washington by
express. The Doric also bears Prince
David, who is paying for the entertain
ment and who will see to it that the
lnau is the genuine native article. Tae
various de'icscies have been frozen for
the jorney and will arrive in good shape.
This will be the first royal luau ev
given outside OF Hawaii. The box-s
for the feast are said to contain over
l 200 pounds of native delicacies.
1t is probable that the luau will ne
held in the open air at the rear of for.
mer Queen Lilioukalani's residence in
Fift enth street. No prepaia ations hav
been made as yet, and the arrangement,
are in the hands of Prince David. The
boxes will not be opened until the
morning of September 2. The former
Queen is at present away from the ci V,
but will return to preside at the luau
The native luau is one OF the leading
characteristics OF Hawaiian hospitslit
and requires great care aud much labor
in its preparation. Long tables form
ing hollow square will be erected and
around this the guests will he seated.
In the centre, or hollow square. band
of native hula dancers and musicisns
will make merry during the feast. The
dancers will be brought on from Omar
for the occasion. No knives or forks
are used, according to etiquette, d
good use must he made of the fingers
There are no plates, and the guests help
themselves from large bowls, which are
placed along the table.
The contents of the bowls can only be
appreciated by native Hawaiian and
consist of poi, which is mushy paste;
raw fisb, live shrimps, live squid, lowl,
and pig, salted seaweed, aud fruits.
The poi is cooked by means of hot
stones, and peculiar flavor is given
the dishes by the native cooks. Each
guest is expected to place his fingers
into the bowls and extract as much as
he can place in his mouth. A Gala
bash filled with raw fish is ever present
during a luau and these are hauled out
with the fingers and eaten with great
gusto. The slimy squids, which smell
very strangely, are considered great
delicacy, and 40 feast IS complete with
out them.
During the progress of the feast the
guests will be adorned with wreaths OF
oetive flowers, called leis. The former
Queen was q great lover of the luau,
and presided over many of these feasts
while in her native land.
Prince David will spend several
months in this country and will visit
all of the prominent cities and points OF
interest. He will announce his arrival
through the sensation which the luau is
certain to cause.