After resting our first night out, we decided to go to a luau.  I guess that's one of the generic things that every tourist does when they visit this place.  Not knowing what to expect, we went to Germaine's Luau, which many of our friends have recommended as one of the better luaus in Hawaii.  We met a bunch of people from SPEAR, the Samahang Pilipino Education And Retention project from UCLA, who were spending their final days of summer before heading back to classes.  It was good to meet other Pilipino tourists there -- they were the only ones we met there, unless you count Noel's Tita Elvie and Uncle Fred.  The bus picks you up in Waikiki and takes you to the beachside luau, and our guide Michelle was pretty funny and kept me from falling asleep.

We were not disappointed, as the food was fabulous and the entertainment was excellent.  A big pit is dug at the beach, and they make a fire and toss rocks inside.  Then they take the pig, shove a few of the hot rocks up its ass, and bury the pig in the pit to cook under the sand.  I think it's called an emu, but don't quote me.  When it finally comes out, the pig meat just falls apart.  I didn't taste the poi, because everybody said not to try it.  Still, it's a buffet, but I could barely finish my first plate!  I learned from our tour guide at the rainforest that when it's that good, you should say, "Hokus!  The bugga so ono, broke the mouth!"

The entertainment is great!  Beautiful women dance on stage (no dollar bills allowed, guys, so don't bother trying).  Here's a small clip of their dancing.  It surprised me to learn that originally the hula was performed by men, and only later by women.  At Germaine's (and maybe the other ones, I dunno), they teach the brave souls willing to try how to dance.  None of us got up to try -- I guess our attention was elsewhere...

I think at least one of us (not me, of course, because I'm a good boy!) was hoping that it was not as family-oriented.  We went club hopping almost every night we were there, and I guess I...um, I mean, Noel and his cousins -- would have preferred more dancing and getting to know the people around us.