Experts say there’s nothing Hawaiian about Luau-Themed Chicks-Fil-a

• Truett’s Luau was my stop during a recent road trip in Atlanta, Georgia.
• The Hawaiian-themed fast-food outlet is being promoted as a tribute.
• Experts on Hawaiian food confirm that the decor and menu do not reflect the US state.

For over a year, Truett’s Luau — the Hawaii-themed Chick-fil-A location outside of Atlanta, Georgia — has been showing up on TikTok with videos raking in as many as 5.6 million views.

TikTokers documented Trips to Maine, Risked missing your flight home?, and seven-hour drivesIn an effort to enjoy what is being called “Hawaiian Chick-fil A.”

According to Chick-filA’s websiteS. Truett Cathy was the founder of the company. “bring Hawaii to Fayetteville, Georgia” After you have visited the islandsand opened the location in 2013. It was Cathy’s last concept location before he stepped down as CEO.

So I set out on a road trip through Atlanta to see what all the fuss was about. But I — a born and raised New Yorker who has never visited Hawaii — knew I couldn’t do it without help from people who know the cuisine best.

Although the food was delicious, experts said it wasn’t Hawaiian.

It is clear that the chain has become a national success story. Created a productIt tastes good and is liked by consumers. According to a Statista reportChick-fil A earned $12.8 billion in US sales in 2020.

I didn’t expect the food to be bland in flavor. I was more interested in the authenticity of the food.

With Menu itemsTropical Nuggets are a classic Chik-fil-A nugget that’s tossed in with chicken. “sweet tropical sauce”I also tried a Luau Burger (a bacon cheeseburger with pineapple disk) and asked chefs and cultural experts if the ingredients were appropriate for Hawaiian food or traditional luau foods.

“It’s about as Hawaiian as Elvis Presley holding an ukulele singing in ‘Blue Hawaii’,”Sheldon Simeon is the owner of Tin RoofMaui, told him.

Kainoa Horcajo, a cultural advisor at The Mo’olelo Group, said, “I didn’t read anything in the menu that is Hawaiian.”Mark Noguchi is a chef and co-founder at Pili GroupAnd ChefHui, agreed.

The experts that I spoke to did not consider pineapple to be a Hawaiian ingredient or food. Truett’s Luau made it clear to me that not all of the items were Hawaiian. “island”Oder “luau”It was also incorporated with the tangy fruits.

Kyle Kawakami, Chef of the Maui Fresh StreateryAccording to food truck, it is important to know which foods are native to the land and which ones were brought in by different groups of settlers to help understand what many Hawaiians consider to be part of their culture. However, teriyaki and pineapple are two examples of non-Hawaiian foods that are now associated with the island.

Kawakami said that if he had been served a Hawaiian Huli Huli chicken dish with a roasted or marinated bird, it would have reminded him of the foods he is more familiar with at home.

I wondered whether the décor was true to the luau theme — experts said no

Staff were dressed in tropical shirts, had surf boards hanging on the walls, fake grass hanging from faux ceiling roofs, and displayed instruments near the front doors.

Chef Noguchi said that the décor was more reminiscent of a tiki bar, which Horcajo said is “completely made up”And “has no basis in Hawaiian culture.”

“There is a ton of cultural appropriation out there, and a younger me would probably be more angry about it,” Horcajo said. His self, however, believes that today. “it can’t be cultural appropriation because there’s literally nothing Hawaiian about it.”

Kawakami stated that a luau, in its simplest form, is a gathering that includes music, performances and almost always food. “If you look at this in the most basic way, I guess you could call it a luau,”He said. “But really, it’s not. There’s nothing traditional about it.”

The idea that a large company tried to transmit the spirit of Hawaii might be a positive.

Chef Kawakami stated that he recommends people all over the country for their efforts. “have honesty behind what they’re trying to do”It was a daunting task to open a Hawaiian-themed eatery. He was disappointed that Chick-fil A’s location in Hawaii didn’t meet his expectations.

Horcajo stated, “In the sense that you feel angry about cultural appropriation,” “I’d be angry if it wasn’t so laughable.”

He explained that it was a good thing, and Chick-fil A’s founder decided to pay tribute to Hawaii to close his personal business expansion.

“It speaks to the power of Hawaii and Hawaiian culture that got into his heart, into his soul,”He said. “The manifestation of that is something that is not Hawaiian at all. But speaking to the power of what Hawaii is, I think is really cool.”

“Aloha is what the world needs right now,” Horcajo said. “It’s mutual understanding, mutual love, mutual respect.”

“This restaurant isn’t Hawaiian,”He continued, “but if it can plant a seed that makes somebody learn more about Hawaiian culture, then that’s a pretty cool thing.”