Title: Free Luau Instruction Pt3
Categories: Info Hawaii
Yield: 1 Servings

INTO THE IMU

Okay so the imu is ready to be fired up, get out the charcoal lighter fluid and pour the 1 quart bottle down the pipe and remove the pipe. Carefully drop a lit match into the hole where the pipe came from. Charcoal lighter fluid lights easily and doesn't explode so it is pretty safe, I wouldn't use anything else.

Now would be a good time to have all your tools and items ready sorted out and organized close to the imu. Cut the banana tree trunks cut into 2' lengths. Cut those pieces in quarters lengthwise. Use your sledge hammer to flatten them a bit. Neatly stack them near the imu. Wash off the banana leaves with water and stack them near the flattened stumps. The burlap sacks should be clean. Soak them in a tub and have them near the imu also. The following tasks should be done fairly quickly so too much of the heat from the imu is not lost. It should take about a half hour by time the imu is sealed.

After 2 hours the rocks should have fallen lower in to the imu. Using a post hole digger or a shovel, even out the hot rocks so to form a bed that your poaa will eventually be situated on.

Put the poaa that is already in the chicken wire on your work table next to the imu. Open up the cavity and season generously with rock salt. Place about four hot rocks into the cavity of the pig. Close up the basket with a couple of pieces of bailing wire.

Put a layer of the crushed banana tree trunks on the hot rocks followed by a layer of banana leaves. Place the wrapped poaa on top of the banana leaves. Cover the poaa with more banana leaves. Now lay out the soaking burlap sacks on top of the banana leaves. Cover the whole imu with the canvas tarp.

Starting around the edges of the tarp, cover with the dirt. Then cover the rest of the tarp evenly. Try not to put too much dirt on the middle of the tarp so you won't have a hard time taking it off.

The hose will be needed to spray the imu with water after it is covered to create a good seal, and also to check for any smoke that could be escaping from the imu. If any smoke is detected then you must cover it with more dirt. If smoke is not covered, a fire may start in your imu and you will lose your kalua pig (baked pig), and all your hard work will be for nothing.

Once you have covered any leaks, then shoot it down once again with water.

Now you have 8 hours to prepare the rest of your menu.

OUT FROM THE IMU

You should have a large tray to receive the basket of kalua poaa. There will be a lot of grease from the poaa so be prepared to drain it somewhere. Have a bucket of water handy to dip your hands in occasionally to cool your hands while handling the hot rocks, basket etc. You will also need some large forks to shred the meat and remove the bones. Have your pans that you will be serving the kalua poaa from handy so you can transfer it into after the bones are removed and the meat is shredded.

The time has come to remove the kalua poaa from the imu. Remove the dirt from the tarp, taking care not to puncture the tarp. Roll back the tarp towards the back of the imu. Remove the burlap sacks. Remove the layer of banana leaves. Carefully remove the basket and place it on your receiving tray on top of your work table. Open the basket and remove the rocks that are inside the basket. Turn out the kalua poaa from the basket into the tray.

Using the forks, shred all the meat and remove all the bones. Season with salt (I use Hawaiian rock salt).Transfer the meat into your serving pans. It is ready to go to your buffet! Now go and enjoy the fruits of your labor. As the Hawaiians say “suck em up!”

The buffet should be set up by this time, all there is left to do is to bring the kalua poaa to the buffet. After setting up the buffet decorate with leather ferns, palm froms etc.

The buffet line should be set far enough away from the stage so if the buffet line should have to be broken down prior to the end of the show, no one will be disturbed. From: Sam Lefkowitz Date: 17 Jan 97 Home Cooking Ä

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