Grand Living at Lakewood Ranch hosts a luau

Usually, when the Royale Polynesian Revue performs, it's all smiles.

On Aug. 17, though, before the group entertained residents of Grand Living at Lakewood Ranch, revue leader Pesi Mauga talked about the wildfires that ripped through Lahaina on Maui, Hawaii.

“I spent some time there, and it’s so sad to see what’s happening,” Mauga said of the devastation. “Lahaina is a beautiful town. It breaks my heart to talk about it, but God will take care of it.”

Then, the luau and show went on, with an extra number, “Lahaina Luna.”

Mauga told the audience they were about to embark on an “imaginary journey to some of the beautiful islands of the Polynesian people."

He played his ukelele and sang renditions of the Hawaiian Wedding Song, Tiny Bubbles and Blue Hawaii. Maya Taeoalii danced around the stage, shaking feathered rattles and banging on a gourd drum called an uli uli. 

Before the show, Taeoalii gave a lesson in hula dancing to any ladies who wanted to learn, and Mauga told the audience during the show that hula is good exercise for the hips. 

Guests were greeted with leis and offered lilikoi juice, which comes from passion fruit and is a popular flavor in Hawaii. But if looking for more of a kick, mai tais and electric blue lemonades were also being served. 

“Keep drinking, it’ll make me look good,” Mauga joked.