The Hukilau
A hukilau is a centuries-old Hawaiian fishing event (other Polynesians had similar customs) where a group of people — perhaps a large family or even an entire village — worked together to net a school of fish. The catch would be distributed among all who helped.
After seeing a large enough school of fish close to shore, a fisherman left one end of a long rope on the beach with half the group. The other end was tied to one end of a net piled into a boat. The fisherman rowed the boat far enough out to lay the net on the makai (oceanward) side of the school of fish, and then brought a similar rope tied to the other end of the net back to the other half of the group on the shore. Long leaves (lau) attached to the ropes would sway with the movement of the ocean, scaring the fish into the net.
As directed, the two groups on the beach, would huki or start “pulling” the ropes with attached lau — i.e., hukilau — ideally forcing the fish onto the beach. Of. course, the fish would try to escape and sometimes only a few were caught, but other times the participants divided up hundreds of fish.
The Hukilau’s connections to the Polynesian Cultural Center
In 1940 the wooden chapel the people of Laie worshipped in for over 50 years accidentally burned down. What with World War II and other logistical constraints in Hawaii, it wasn’t until the late 1940s the predominantly Hawaiian and Samoan residents of this special place began considering how to raise funds to build a replacement chapel. The committee decided to stage a hukilau, “down in old Laie Bay,” just like The Hukilau Song says.
The people of Laie accepted various assignments: Some demonstrated crafts, some helped cook the food, others served it, and almost everybody performed after the luau; and on January 31, 1948, a sell-out crowd showed up to experience the very first Laie Hukilau. The monthly (and occasionally more frequent event) included visitors helping pull in the nets, purchase handicrafts, watch demonstrations, eat a delicious luau, and enjoy authentic Polynesian entertainment, all here on what is now called Hukilau Beach.
From that beginning, the Hukilau was a big success. Even after the people finished building their new chapel in 1951, they ran the Hukilau until 1971. Perhaps more importantly, by then, many of the residents (or their children) were working at the new Polynesian Cultural Center. The Hukilau had helped prove visitors would travel “all the way” to Laie to participate in a fantastic Polynesian experience.
