Finally: the day of the Luau. Still, there was a lot of work to be done. The last minute decorations were completed; the food was prepared into individual servings of lomi lomi salmon, poi, and poki. The haupia and cake were cooked and cut up. Potatoes, squid luau, and chicken long rice awaited servers for the evening luau. The morning started early and work continued through the night, after the guests had left. The food prep crew worked in the cafeteria, and all the volunteers feasted on an early supper luau before the main event.
Meanwhile, back at the imu, it was time to dig up the cooked pork. Dozens of volunteers were needed to debone and shred the still hot meat before adding hot brine to salt it. As a backdrop to all this work, the next generation was sliding down the hills of Upper Field on carboard boxes, unfazed by the activity.
Late in the afternoon, the guests began arriving. First, just a trickle, but then it seemed like a flood of alumni and family had taken over Dillingham Hall and Lower Field. Friends, spouses, and family that I have not seen in years - some for a quarter of a century. There were stories and tall tales to tell and years to catch up on. Plus the word on those that couldn't make it; there were many '81 and '82 alums I had hoped to see who were not able to attend. After the luau came clean up; I volunteered to help the wine & beer booth finish off the open wine. Then it was off to the post-luau parties: '81 between Cooke Library and Alexander Hall, and '82 & friends up by the imu. By midnight, I was exhausted.
