WASHINGTON — President Obama brought some Island flavor to Washington yesterday.

The White House turned the annual picnic for members of Congress and their families into a Hawaiian lu'au, in celebration of the president's home state. Tents were set up on the South Lawn, tiki torches lined the perimeter and potted palm trees were brought in.

"I hope everybody's got their Hawaiian shirts and their mu'umu'us for our lu'au tonight," Obama told lawmakers gathered at the White House yesterday for a meeting on immigration.

On the menu were lu'au foods such as kalua pig and lomi lomi salmon prepared by famed Hawai'i chef Alan Wong. In addition to lu'au fare, he was flavoring the menu with some picnic favorites — but with a twist, like wasabi potato salad.

"To do a lu'au in Hawai'i is a special occasion," Wong said. "You throw a lu'au for your child's first birthday, or you throw a lu'au for a wedding."

Traditional island entertainment was being offered, including a performance by Tihati Productions, a group featuring members from each of the Hawaiian Islands.