Hula performances, seashell necklaces and imported pineapples attracted about 200 guests to the 20th annual Hawaii Club Luau on Saturday.

The luau, a two-hour celebration of Hawaiian culture held at Patten Gym, featured ethnic food, entertainment and activities.

Guests were greeted at the door with gifts of seashell necklaces and seated at tables with centerpieces of chocolate treats and fresh, imported pineapples. The centerpieces were quickly devoured — by the end of the night, only the empty pineapple boats remained.

A traditional Hawaiian meal cooked by club members was served for dinner. Kalua pig, roasted pork rubbed down with salt, made a savory main course before a dessert of coconut gelatin, known as laupia, and fruit salad. Lomi lomi salmon — without the salmon — provided a vegetarian option. The dish consisted of chopped tomatoes and onions with rice.

Weinberg freshman Michael Breidenbach complimented the food and the club’s hard work.

“My roommate is in (Hawaii Club) and he was cooking until 1 a.m,” he said.

Hawaii Club planned several performances as dinner entertainment. The Na Kupuna ‘Ukulele Club, a group of retirees from Hawaii who performed at the opening of Millennium Park, played folk songs and danced two hulas. Hawaii Club students followed the act with their own traditional dances, captivating the audience with the music’s cheerful beat and the dancers’ fluid swaying.

Traditional Hawaiian instruments accompanied two of the dances. The ipu, or gourd, kept a steady rhythm and the red and yellow uli ulis, ancient rattle-like instruments, quickened the pace of the music.

“The dances were very accomplished and cute,” Breidenbach said. “I’m sure they practiced a lot and put a lot of dedication into it.”

Later, some guests participated in a trivia contest about Hawaii. as well as a hula dance lesson and competition. Hawaii Club members also gave a short lesson in Pidgin, the colloquial language used by many Hawaiian locals.

Mostly students attended the event, but some representatives from the University of Hawaii Alumni Association’s Midwest chapter, which offers financial support to Northwestern’s Hawaii Club, also came. Hawaii Club does not receive Associated Student Government funding. Pilialoha Richardson, founding president of the Greater Midwest Chapter, said University of Hawaii Alumni Association members attend as many luaus as they can.

“It’s always nice for us to come,” she said. “They always do such a great job.”

The luau’s organizers, a group of about 20 Hawaiian students, started putting the event together in the fall.

“It’s our annual thing,” said McCormick sophomore Eric Yim, a Hawaii Club member. “It’s the thing we take the most pride in.”

Nikki Ann Guevarra, a McCormick junior and the club’s co-president, said the luau allows club members to enjoy Hawaiian culture away from home and also educate attendees.

“It’s just a way for us to bring culture to the community,” she said.

Reach Diana Xin at [email protected].