“Laulau Day” would become an annual celebration of Hawaiian culture, under companion bills introduced in the House and Senate.
Laulau Day would recognize and celebrate local farmers, chefs and communities that keep the tradition of the Hawaiian food staple alive, according to House Bill 957 and its Senate companion, Senate Bill 1101.
The bills were introduced to raise awareness of laulau’s cultural significance across the islands.
“When you think about the practice of food, it’s a modern- day resilience,” said Rep. Darius Kila (D, Nanakuli-Maili), who introduced HB 957. “At one point Native Hawaiians were almost wiped out from existence. Any modern-day practice such as hula, olelo Hawaii and even the foods we use are almost the resistance and reminder that things have transcended time — and the culture still lives.”
Taro, also known by its Hawaiian name, kalo, officially became Hawaii’s state plant Jan. 1.
“We just recognized kalo as the state plant,” Kila said. “Laulau is a byproduct of kalo, when you really think about using the taro leaf.”
Laulau, a traditional and beloved Hawaiian dish, typically consists of pork or chicken wrapped and then steamed in kalo and ti leaves.
Kila, who’s part Native Hawaiian, grew up eating laulau. His first childhood memory of laulau is eating it at a keiki luau in the backyard of a house on the West side.
Later, laulau played a significant role in his future at Lane College in Jackson, Tenn.
“When I was short on funding for going to college, it was a last-minute laulau fundraiser, where all my family chipped in to create almost 700 laulau in three days,” Kila said. “The money we generated from that was able to cover my first- quarter balance when I went to college. … Laulau for some folks is the earliest set of economic development, whether it’s a fundraiser for your sports team or even a fundraiser to go to college.”
State Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz (D, Mililani-Wahiawa- Whitmore Village) introduced SB 1101 and said that the day was “worth a conversation” but referred the Honolulu Star- Advertiser to Kila for comment because of Kila’s passion for Laulau Day.
The state already celebrates other days to honor ethnic cultures, including Buddha Day on April 8 and Sakada Day on Dec. 20, which acknowledges Filipino contract workers who immigrated to Hawaii between 1906 and 1946 to work on Hawaii’s sugar and pineapple plantations.
In 2024 the Legislature designated Kimchi Day, to be recognized on Nov. 22, to celebrate Korean American culture in Hawaii.
If the Legislature passes Laulau Day into law, like it did Kimchi Day, neither would join the list of the 13 officially “observed” state holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalaniana‘ole Day, King Kamehameha I Day and Statehood Day.