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The conference banquet will be held at the historic Royal Hawaiian Hotel. The hotel, which is also known as the Pink Palace of the Pacific due to its distinctive color, is listed in the National Registry of Historic Places. It is one of the first hotels built in Waikīkī, having opened in 1927. The first officially registered guest in the hotel was Princess Abigail Kawananakoa, heir to the throne of the Kingdom of Hawai‘i. The hotel also served as the Western White House during the administration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt.
Buses to the Royal Hawaiian Luau will be boarding as soon as the technical sessions end at 17:30. Please proceed to the Ground Floor Main Lobby to board the buses in the front driveway of the Hawaii Convention Center.
Entertainment will include Hawai‘ian music and Polynesian dance (Hula, and much, much more). There will be fun for all ages, so bring the family!
When you arrive at the Royal Hawaiian you will escorted to the Coconut Groove where the Polynesian Cultural Center will show us arts and crafts from Samoa, Aotearoa, Fiji, Hawaii, Marquesas, Tahiti, and Tonga. This is your opportunity to learn about the islands and enjoy being together.
At sundown, all paths lead to the Lu’au. People arrive smiling from a day of sessions. Now they are ready to settle in for an evening with the host culture, and enjoy Hawai’i’s famous feast.
The Polynesian Cultural Center’s own Ambassador of Aloha master of ceremonies explains the cultural significance of the luau and hosts the program.
The entertainment begins with the blowing of the conch shell horn and the arrival of the Royal Court by ceremonial procession.
At the sound of the Conch Shell, we will make our way to the Royal Hawaiian Diamond Head lawn for the traditional luau banquet including a wide variety of foods including the traditional Hawai‘ian cuisine. If you have never tried poi, now is your chance! All foods will be labeled, with enough variety for everyone.
Along with the wonderful food, we will enjoy the serenade of musicians from the Polynesian Cultural Center.
The king is resplendent in traditional scarlet and gold feather cape and helmet, the queen gowned in kapa designs. Attendants carry Kahili, the feather standards of royalty. They are followed by dancers of the hula kahiko, the ancient form of hula. The hula auana or more modern hula is represented by songs praising the beauty of Oahu, especially the North Shore.
The program continues with dances from our various Island Nations of Polynesia, using our dance motions and songs to interpret legends and stories, including the ancient legend of the chiefess Kelea. On stage, our PCC Performers will present the most unique and exotic themes. The atmosphere will be rich with music and the dancing will be the perfect scene coordinating with the backdrop of Waikiki Beach.
The flawless ending to your reception includes the popular and exciting fire knife dancers that add dramatic accents to an unforgettable evening. Finally, we bring it all down with the beloved Island farewell song written by Queen Liliuokalani, “Aloha Oe.”
The banquet will feature traditional Hawai‘ian cuisine. If you have never tried poi*, now is your chance! Entertainment will include Hawai‘ian music and Polynesian dance (Hula, and much, much more). There will be fun for all ages, so bring the family!
*One of the staple foods of the Hawaiian diet, poi is a thick, purple-colored paste made by pounding taro. Poi can be bought fresh or "day-old," which allows a sour flavor to develop. Poi is labeled "one-finger," "two-finger" or "three-finger" to describe its consistency--the thicker the poi, the fewer fingers needed to scoop it up. Today, is it used in many Hawaiian recipes or served as a side dish.