In the 1940’s the only LDS chapel here in Laie caught fire and burned to the ground. At that time there was no church building program, so the members had to come up with the money to re-build. They were told it would cost $55,000. There was less than 1000 people living here then. They knew that they wouldn’t be able to raise that much money. One day, the bishop’s wife was driving home and saw a lot of tourists gathered around the beach watching them fish. The thought struck her to do a whole program around how they do the fishing and charge the tourists and raise money that way. So, they got the whole community involved. This was the beginning of the modern day Hukilau. Huki means to pull and lau is the fish. They got the tourist involved in pulling the nets in after they had fished. Then they watched a show put on by the little children, the young men , and the adult women to show them their Hawaiian culture. Then they had a luau dinner for which they also charged. By the time they were ready to build the new chapel it was paid for from the proceeds of the Hukilaus. Later that idea would be expanded to create the Polynesian cultural Center, and they would have people from six different islands show dancing and crafts and cultural things.
This Saturday a film crew was out at Hukilau beach doing a documentary on the origins of the shakka. (The hand sign where you hold up your thumb and little finger and the other 3 fingers ar tucked in.) they wanted to recreate the original Hukilau. Everyone that went had to sign a paper that they agreed to be filmed! It was amazing!
First, they got both land and underwater film crews around the boat loaded with the nets.
Then a man rows out, all the while letting the nets out and having people holding the edges.
He rows in a big curve and comes back to the shore about 1000 yds away from the original spot so that he has made a big semi circle. Then the people on that end hold long ropes tied with tea leaves and begin pulling and walking the nets back toward the original spot.
When they finally meet, there are a lot of people pulling the nets in from the water and taking the fish out that they have caught.
We got to pull too!
We figured there were about 500-700 there! It was amazing! Some of our sweet sisters missionaries got to come, but they are not allowed in the water or even on the sand.. and they were very obedient and stayed up on the grassy overlook!
Top: Srs: Blakesly, Suka, Dewaal, Petersen, Kofford, Reber, and Weaver.
Bottom: Srs. Petersen, Kofford and Reber.
We even met the Shiraki’s. They came up to us and said..”Are you the Mahaffeys? Your son is our Bishop!” They were. Isiting from Buena Vista! How fun!
Next we went to see all the crafts they were making… they were making poi, and weaving leis, and weaving headbands or bowls from coconut leaves
I am holding the bowl I bought for $5.00 next to the man who wove it!
Then we went and sat under a huge tent to wait for the luau to begin. They brought out the big rope with tea leaves again and wanted us to hold it.
We were waiting awhile for them to get the pig out of the ground. They dig a big pit, put the pig in to cook , cover it with tea leaves and then let it cook for 24 hours! Then they pull it out, shred it, and serve it with a big plate of goodies!
Upper left and around: rice and Kahlua pig, coconut cake with coconut poi behind, chicken and rice noodles, salmon bites with pineapple and peppers, and last…octopus!!! Ugh!
The tradition is that they begin the Luau with a Kapuna…or older, respected person to bite the head off the raw fish they just caught….so here he is….
Lots of little kids run around with fish heads in their mouths for fun! Whatever! Anyway, it was a very fun morning!
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