Thomas Grove said he went to the Hawaii Club’s luau for the food and the girls.

“Hawaiian food has a unique flavor you don’t get at restaurants around here and at SAGA,” said Grove, a Speech junior. “I figured that since I can’t go to Hawaii, I would go to the luau.”

Unlike Grove, not everyone came for the “girls in pretty Hawaiian outfits,” although the majority of students did come for the food.

More than 150 students, dressed in flowered shirts, sundresses and sandals, attended the 15th annual luau Sunday at Parkes Hall. Participants received leis upon entering the room, which was decorated with paper palm trees and leaves.

Tammy Uyetake, co-president of the Hawaii Club, described the club as a support group for students from Hawaii. She said the event was successful and brought Hawaiian natives together as a community.

“The feeling at the end is great, knowing that it’s over with and that everyone had a good time,” said Uyetake, a Speech junior.

The event’s menu included kalua pig, chicken long rice, coconut gelatin, Hawaiian punch, and potato, macaroni and fruit salads.

“It’s definitely all about the food,” said Mike Vea, an Education junior. “This rice reminds me of home because it’s well-cooked and sticky. The rice in SAGA just doesn’t do it.”

Fresh pineapples and chocolate-covered macadamia nuts lay on the tables, which were also decorated with coconuts, tea leaves, candles and orchids.

Uyetake said she hand-picked the coconuts in Hawaii over Spring Break. The pineapples and the tea leaves were shipped from Hawaii, she said.

Weinberg senior Joseph Liu said he enjoyed the atmosphere of the event.

“Everyone here is so laid back,” Liu said. “It’s a nice change from the everyday monotony of studying. And the food is not as overpowering as the American food I am so used to eating.”

Entertainment at the event included live bands, hula dances, and modern and traditional Hawaiian music.

“Growing up in Hawaii, I never even learned how to hula dance,” Uyetake said. “It was nice for people to be able to learn.”

The emcees gave participants a simple lesson in Pidgin English, such as “Hello,” “I want to eat” and “I like to dance.”

Weinberg freshman Cathy Spathis said she learned a lot from the luau.

“I like how the emcees incorporated us all into the program and got us to learn parts of the language,” Spathis said.

The Hawaii Club raffled off door prizes, including T-shirts, macadamia nuts, cookies, brownies and shell necklaces. The prizes were donated by parents of club members.