Local Hawaiian Thanksgiving Tradition: Imu Your Turkey!

This year, I am going to the mainland for Thanksgiving and will not be here, in Kailua, Oahu, for the holiday.  As a result, I am going to have to miss one of my favorite local Hawaiian traditions, which is to cook a Thanksgiving turkey in an Imu.

Beautiful Hawaiian-Style Turkey - Photo Courtesy of Whole Foods Kailua Facebook PageA Hawaiian Imu is basically an in-ground oven that is used to cook meats and other food overnight.  An Imu produces a delicious, fall-off the bone tender, turkey or other meat.  An Imu is used, also, to cook delicious Kalua Pork, which you may have tried at a luau or any other party.  Most restaurants on Oahu and other places in Hawaii serve some sort of Kalua Pork on their menus, as it is pretty much a staple, here on Oahu.  This is not always cooked in an Imu and often, liquid smoke flavor is used instead.

To build an Imu, one must dig a large hole in the ground away from anything combustible. Usually, it is filled with kiawe wood (similar to mesquite wood) and large lava rocks are placed on top.  The rocks are heated by starting the kiawe wood fire. Once the rocks are very hot and the fire is glowing embers, the rocks are flattened and covered with banana stump and ti leaves.

Then, the foil wrapped food is placed into the oven and covered with more ti leaves and banana stump. Next, it is all covered with burlap, and sometimes plastic, and dirt is put on top. The food is left overnight to cook, and steam, and smoke. It is a lot of work — to build the Imu, to uncover everything again, and clean up — but the result is a lovely smoked flavor and perfectly-cooked, tender, and juicy meat.

One of our local elementary schools in Kailua, Oahu, Enchanted Lake Elementary School, has a fundraiser where you can bring your Thanksgiving turkey to be cooked in an Imu.  Many people bring their turkeys over to a neighbor’s house. There is usually someone around who is doing an Imu for Thanksgiving. We have friends that build an Imu large enough for about 20 turkeys. I like to serve an Imu turkey at Thanksgiving, along with a regular one.  However, the Imu turkey is usually the first to be devoured.

Below is a photo of our friends’ Imu in Kailua Estates, Kailua from last year. 

~Aloha and Happy Thanksgiving to You and Yours!~ 

Hawaiian Imu in Kailua Estates KailuaKalua Turkey Roasting in a Kailua Imu