Huli, Huli Peeg at 4:00 a.m. Really?

It is about 6:00 a.m. and we are getting the pigs ready for the huli-huli machine. Wally is helping Chico tie the pig's feet so they won't drag or pull the pig's weight down.

Enoka is pushing the spit rod through the pig and then the cooks will stuff it with Hawaiian salt, and lemon grass and then they will sew it closed and put skewers down through the pig and through the rod and wire the pig to the rods. All of the wiring helps hold the pig to the spit as it turns and cooks so the pig won't pull away from the spit and fall off into the fire.

Here is the pig being made ready for all the preparations to cook it. The fires were started around 4:00 a.m. so the woods could get hot and burn down to coals. Then the work started on the pigs and we finally put them on the fire about 6:00 a.m. The pigs weigh about 260 lbs each and will take all day to cook. I think they are planning to start taking them off the fires about 5:00 this afternoon. Shane will be here all day keeping watch over the coals and keeping the heat at the right temperature making sure their is enough to cook the meat but not burn it. There is really a science to all of this. We are learning so many things here. Did I mention that huli means turn?

Here he is our huli-huli pig. He has been cooking most of the day now. Jerry is going to cut a piece off to give us a taste while it is hot right from the fire. I am going to eat some pork rind too. Only if it is crispy though. Auntie Ulu is going to take the pigs feet home. She loves pigs feet and these especially because they are fresh and cooked right here. She told me pigs feet are mostly gelatin and it is so good. I told her that's ok. She can have mine! We will eat after the light parade tonight. The Kapuna's (wise ones) who don't want to stay out late will have their dinner early so they don't have to miss out on the luau. The rest of the parade goers will come back and eat around 8:00 or so. I imagine the festivities will go on into the night.