Hard Koa is Hawaii's newest clothing brand. Hawaiian T-shirts, Hawaiian Tank Tops, Hard Koa caps, decals & more. Aloooha! Welcome to the website of Polynesia. Based in Hawaii, many of our products and services are authentically Polynesian. Such as our Hawaiian Flowers page. Grow your own flowers, fruits and vegetables of Hawaii with our seeds, cuttings and shoots. Also, preserve your past with our Koa Picture Frames. Try our home grown Mamaki Tea that will warm your soul as if you were sitting on Waikiki Beach. Experience the taste of Hawaii with our Hawaiian Jams and Jellies. Check out our Hard Koa T-shirts and soon to come caps and decals. You will love our Hawaiian Crochet Lei's which are made, (with loving care) in Hawaii, by a Polynesian. These lei's will definitely supply you with a life time of Aloha. Come away with us as we share legends and myths for you and your keiki (children) to enjoy. Learn about Hawaii's Landmarks and then, browse through our "Art gallery" and escape into the world of Polynesian Art; created by our local artist. Learn about the Real Tiki and view Tiki Art. Do you like "Kalua Pig" then checkout our Imu; underground oven page, and learn to Kalua your own pig. What ever you decide just " kick-back with us and cruz."

THIS PAGE IS STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION.

The most common method of cooking in old Hawaii was the Imu or Earth Oven. The cooking process was a combination of roasting and steaming called Kalua....Ka, meaning the, and lua, meaning hole, or ground pit.

A whole pua`a (pig), i`a (fish), `ulu (breadfruit), taro/kalo (staff food of the Hawaiians), taro tops (lu`au leaves) and many other kinds of foods were cooked in the imu.

To create an imu a hole was dug in the earth. The depth and circumference of the imu was determined by the amount of food to be cooked. Special wood and stones were placed on the bottom of the imu ...the wood was lit and the fire from the wood heated the stones until they were red hot then banana leaves and special grass were placed on the hot stones to prevent scourching of the food that was placed on the hot rocks then covered with banana leaves and ti leaves. Old lauhala mats and old tapa were placed on the ti leaves and banana leaves.... extending beyond the diameter of the imu to retain heat and to keep the loose dirt, the final pit covering, from falling into the imu.

When the kalua process was completed coverings were removed, very carefully, and the food was placed on a plaited coconut leaf, basket-like, container.

Polynesian Lava, P.O. Box 2810 , Ewa Beach 96706

email: admin@polynesianlava.com