Cooking in an imu is an ancient Islands custom that requires much work and cooperation among family members. Preparations begin several day before Thanksgiving, when the family goes down to the beach or to the mouth of a stream to fill sacks with smooth, rounded lava stones. They choose the stones carefully for their shape and size and for the presence of holes that will prevent the rocks from exploding when they are heated.
Before a pig or turkey is place in the imu, chopped pieces of banana plant are spread over the hot rocks. The white, juicy lining of this plant makes a lot of stream, but it can also cause a bitter taste.
So ti leaves are layered over it. Finally, the pig or turkey is placed in the imu, along with sweet potatoes, pineapple, plantain, vegetable and even fresh fire all wrapped in ti leaves.