Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Ka Moana Luau

    4.4 (495 reviews)
    Closed 5:30 pm - 8:00 PM

    Ka Moana Luau Photos

    KA MOANA LUAU ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Good for groups
    Outdoor seating
    Good for kids

    You might also consider

    Recommended Reviews - Ka Moana Luau

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos - Ka Moana Luau

    Beautiful shipping vessel serenades the Luau
    Jonathan M.

    If I could give this place 5 stars for being the worst Luau in probably all of Hawaii, I would If you want to spend $300+ dollars for two tickets that include "four drink tickets" (9 oz cups that barely had any alcohol) and pay extra to get a real drink, this is the Luau for you! The view was truly extraordinary, as shipping vessels bathed the beautiful background of concrete and fence The food was to die for! Enjoy cold, hard, chicken with a side of dirty lettuce I won't say anything bad about the show, those are hard working people trying to make an honest living, but seriously DO NOT go here

    Denise M.

    Is this touristy? Yes!! Are we tourists?? Also, yes!! We had a great time at this luau. We got the higher of the mid package, Splash premium. The classic package includes a shell lei and one cocktail and seating along the edge. Our package gets a fresh flower lei, 2 cocktails and better seating. There is a celebrity package with has a separate check-in line, 2 cocktails and servers bring you your food, while everyone else goes through the buffet line. We were lucky and were seated in the celebrity package seating. We had a great view of the dancers. After you've checked in, they place a lei around your neck--fresh flower lei or shell lei, depending on your package. Then they take a picture of your party with people in traditional Hawaiian costume. You can purchase the picture later if you would like. You are given your drink tickets to use at the bar. There are activities this do before the show starts--lei making, passion friend crown making, and dancing lesson. There was a Polynesian band playing in stage the entire time. The tickets get you either a basic cocktail --i got two mai tais decorated with flowers--or you can upgrade for premium cocktails. We went through the buffet, which was really good. There was salad and kalua pork, Huli Huli chicken, mahi mahi, poy, rice, chow mein noodles, great pineapple, veggies, rolls, and dessert if chocolate cake and coconut gelatin. While we were eating, a man climbed up the coconut tree, which was fun to watch. As we finished dinner, the traditional dancers performed with traditional drummers. It was all great, especially the fire dancers. It's really was a fun night. Who cares if it is touristy?

    i moved closer under the bar to watch because it started raining
    Cynthia W.

    We got the celebrity package which states "front row". But really it was not. lol. I had to turn my chair to see the stage. We are maybe the second row of tables. It is originally $200 a person, but we got a discount for half off if we listened to some travel sales pitch thing. I just don't think it is worth $200 a person before taxes and fees. We get a welcome Mai Tai and two drink tickets. Also it is nice that we did not need to get up to get our food. They served us. I liked the little activities before it started. We got there early so we had plenty of time to make a head band, practice the fire stick, etc. The overall show was great. The MC / host was wonderful. He was very engaging and entertaining. The dances were really well thought out. The fire show is my favorite! I always wonder how they don't burn themselves or catch something on fire. The food was okayyy. Wished it was better, but i think Luau's are usually for the entertainment and not the food.

    Martina M.

    We really enjoyed the luau! We did celebrity check-in and purchased tickets through Groupon for a party of nine. The food was generous and tasty and the drinks were great as well. Kids enjoyed the pineapple drinks. The show was amazing, everyone had a great time. Our group included kids ranging from 8 to 20 years old and all of them enjoyed it. The staff was friendly and very helpful. We also loved the extra touches, getting tattoos, making bracelets and receiving real flower leis. Overall, a wonderful experience and highly recommended!

    Jessamyn D.

    Pre activities were fun to do from the luau, depending on which package you get you can get drink coupons. My friend group and I did the lowest package and received drink coupon, shell necklace upon entering and found our seated. The dinner is buffet style and had good options from rice to chicken, pork and fish, noodles, taro dinner rolls and dessert as well. The show was fun to watch and see the different styles of dancing.

    There are performers on the stage right now. See them? Neither could I! I held my phone high to take this.
    A. C.

    I paid for premium "Splash" seating, and was sitting on the very fringes viewing the stage from an angle. I could only see the performers from the knees up, and I was so far away the only way I could tell who was a man or woman was only by the way they dressed. Plus, a huge tree blocked my view of the musicians. Oh, and the food. If you think eating lukewarm chicken, fish, and shredded pork out of styrofoam boxes is worth the hundreds of dollars you pay, then you're welcome to it. The environment is terrible, you can't see the sunset, and what little you CAN see is blocked by some tall metal rig in the ocean. It feels like some dystopian industrial location that just happens to have some Hawaiian cosplayers dancing in it. I paid $336 for my wife and I to have a premium experience, and I feel completely ripped off.

    Andrew A.

    One of those things you do once for the experience. The Luau itself was a good show. The performers were great, the dances engaging, and the MC made sure you learned something before every dance. The food was decent but nothing write home about, the activities pre-show were fun! Lei making, fire dance (with practice sticks) trick lessons, headband weaving with coconut leaves, and picture areas. The location at the Aloha Tower made it for a very picturesque evening for sure. Onto the negatives: the event is really expensive for what it is. One could easily drop $400+ for 2 people, plus any drinks outside of your drink tickets (included on the Celebrity upgrade). You have to pay $30 for one picture or $50 for 2, of the pictures they take of you at the beginning... which seems outrageous considering how much one spends to attend. We did not have to pay to attend as we got it for free for attending the "sales pitch" from Hilton Club... but I want to be honest about the value you get for your money regardless. If you're staying at a resort that can get you a good deal for it, it's totally worth it, but paying full price may be a different story.

    Before the show
    Lisa P.

    Many of the resort hotels have groups of hula dancers on hand that provide luau experiences complete with the traditional dinner for a fee. I was looking for a bit more and spoke with my hotel's concierge service provider. After watching a brief video and a thorough explanation of what was included I booked. A big, beautiful bus complete with good air and a bathroom picked up patrons from a few hotels. Upon arrival while waiting in line to go inside the luau area, we were teased with some of the hula dancing. I think that was a pretty cool way to check the crowd's energy. As we entered we were presented with leis; flowers for the ladies and shells for the men which both are symbols of love, respect and hospitality. Then gently nudged over to the photo wall. I ordered VIP which included a free gift, an extra drink ticket, table service and a seat at table #1, right in front of the stage. My eyes are over forty so I appreciate being able to see EVERYTHING up close. The traditional live music was enjoyable, the hula dancing was engaging but the history was amazing. In between the dances the host would share Polynesian stories about the kingdom of Hawaii. There was also a coconut demonstration where I learned things about its many parts that I never knew. Complete with a tree climbing. Luau means to celebrate with food and there was so much on our plates. Huli huli chicken, kalua pork, cubed fish and the purple taro dinner rolls were truly a treat. I noticed many of the marinades were brown sugar, soy sauce and pineapple based and I enjoyed those flavors. After experiencing this beautiful outdoor luau, I highly recommend that you venture away from your hotel and try something with a lot more variety.

    Amy L.

    After check in, we were greeted with lei's. Once we got seated, there were several activities like making flower bracelets and learning an instrument. Plus some alcohol and beverages were included depending on the package that you've purchased. The show was great! The performers were interactive with the guests and put on a good show. However, I gotta knock down points for the buffet that they offered. Food was not good at all. Everything tasted like it's seasoned with salt only. Pork and fish were dry and overcooked. Some of the rice was hard. And the little dessert ran out pretty quickly. It wasn't enough for everyone for sure. A good luau includes good food and a good show, and the food was just disappointing. I would go somewhere else.

    Tish P.

    You know I would give this place three stars, but I can't do it. I attended in June on my actual birthday. The food wasn't that great; it's a buffet, but getting it again is not feasible with the amount of people and the fact they close the food area down pretty early. Also, you're so close to the tables and the other people there's no space. But my biggest irk, is the ridiculous amount of time that I spent in line to use my drink tickets. Just know that if you pay for the non-basic ticket, (I don't remember the difference in the names) but only one of them comes with separate drink line. It was two slow bartenders for everyone that had the basic ticket and the next level up. They can't control the weather and it's rain or shine, but we were literally standing in light rain trying to get drinks for easy 35/40 minutes, if not more. Leaving little time to get my food. I had to rush to the food area before the show started. I made conversation with one of the guys serving the line so he was friendly. The other, not so much. And there are two serving lines. The low cost (meaning from business perspective) offerings like salad and desserts were do it yourself, but they served the meat and veggies. It wasn't very good either. Really disappointed in my meal. The show was ok, I've never been to a Luau but my thoughts of what I know, this was mid experience. A family on one of my tours had gone as well and they had the same impression as we were discussing it. I will say I enjoyed getting lei'd when I first got there! But honey I called an uber early and got out of there so quick when I felt the show was nearly ending.

    Hula dancing
    Tresa R.

    Best luau ever! Beautiful costumes. Very knowledgeable. The history was a big plus! The singing, dancing, fire dancing, hula, food, ambiance, all exceptional!! Loved this experience.

    They made a fire right there on stage.
    Ruth G.

    We were fortunate enough to win an upgraded seat and we were front and center for the show. We were welcomed with a complimentary beverage and leis. The ocean in the background gave us a beautiful sunset. The food was delicious and plentiful, and although we're big eaters we couldn't finish what we were brought. The show was so much fun. Ten dollars to park was well worth it and the traffic wasn't too bad leaving. Highly recommend.

    Food on the menu !
    Rachel P.

    We had the best time! the food was great, we learned how to build leis and twirl the stick. the luau dancers were so friendly, their was a lot of history and we even watched a man climb a coconut tree. the best part had to be the fire dancers at the end. they were fantastic. we were seated toward the front which was nice with 10 other people at our table and and the whole show was so captivating.

    See all

    1 month ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 days ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    29 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    4 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 2
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    2 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    12 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    8 months ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 3
    Love this 7
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    11 months ago

    Helpful 12
    Thanks 2
    Love this 6
    Oh no 5

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    9 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    2 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Paul V.
    375
    862
    1818

    1 year ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 2
    Love this 2
    Oh no 1

    13 days ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Michael M.
    398
    15
    28

    11 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    6 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    5 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Angelina I.
    33
    390
    857

    8 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 2
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 6
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 1

    6 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    Page 1 of 13

    Ka Moana Luau Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Ka Moana Luau

    Outside food allowed? My daughter has multiple food allergies and a picky eater.

    View All 2 Questions

    Review Highlights - Ka Moana Luau

    The celebrity package is the best as you get to go in earlier, get more drinks, your food is brought to you.

    Mentioned in 20 reviews

    Read more highlights

    You might also consider

    Verify this business for free

    People searched for Performing Arts 3,475 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

    Verify this business

    Hawaii Theatre Center

    Hawaii Theatre Center

    4.3
    (260 reviews)
    0.4 mi
    $$
    100 years in business
    Not-for-profit

    I was blessed enough to experience various shows at the Hawaii Theatre Center, the most recent…read morebeing a showing of Nosferatu (2024) for Halloween, which was a special experience with some friends who are also into horror flicks. The theater supports both movies as well as live shows, which makes it a unique cultural space. You're not supposed to eat in the theater itself, and if you want to drink you would need to buy a sippy cup-like container from the bar. I suppose it is meant to protect the theater from decay, all these protective measures. The bartender who served us wine was friendly enough. I loved seeing the art around the theater.

    Walking into the Hawai'i Theatre, you're instantly transported into another era. An era of soft…read moreelegance and timeless artistry. From the moment you pass through the doors, you're surrounded by a blend of old-world elegance and Hawaiian warmth. Built in 1922, the theatre has hosted everything from silent films and Broadway plays to concerts and Hula performances. Today it seats about 1,400 guests, offering an intimate experience where every seat feels close to the stage. The acoustics are excellent, the seats are comfortable, and the staff and volunteers are friendly, welcoming, and genuinely helpful. There's also a small bar and lounge with high-tops, perfect for enjoying a drink and conversation before the show. Inside the theater, you see tall, fluted Corinthian-style columns that are richly detailed. The curved arch overhead is decorated with mosaic-style tiles in warm tones,and I absolutely LOVE the lush deep red velvet curtains that frame the stage. They add so much warmth and elegance. Having attended many shows throughout the years, I've always been mesmerized by the mural above the stage and decided to do some Googling while waiting for the show to begin. I learned it's Lionel Walden's Glorification of the Drama. The painting depicts a grand procession of mythic figures -- a golden-robed muse in her chariot, attendants, musicians, a lion handler -- all celebrating the power of theater. The central figure, often interpreted as the Personification of Drama, leads the way. Knowing that part of the mural was once lost to water damage and later painstakingly restored makes it even more meaningful. Parking is easy at the municipal garage on Bethel Street, just a block away. The short walk is now well-lit, a welcome improvement from years past when it was dark and sketchy. Entertaining audiences for over 100 years, the Hawaii Theater is a recognized as a National Historic Landmark. Attending a show here, you're not just watching a performance, you're also living and breathing a beautiful piece of Hawaii's historic culture.

    Photos
    How's my sippy cup!
    How's my sippy cup!
    Kung Hei Fat Choy!
    Kung Hei Fat Choy!
    Look how beautiful this theatre is!!

    See all

    Look how beautiful this theatre is!!
    Honolulu Night Market

    Honolulu Night Market

    4.0
    (165 reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$

    A night in Kaka'ako is always a fun place to explore, and just be entertained!…read more The Honolulu Night Market at Our Kaka'ako is indeed a fabulous adventure into the biggest street/block party filled to the brim with all things local...food, retail and culture. I've been to so many and each and every one is very unique where you can find either fashion runway stage, live street art, or even a dance night in the barn. I just love the vibe SALT and surrounding Our Kaka'ako brings with the vibrant art we're so blessed to have and this particular night (November 19th) there was actually much more shopping just perfect for the holidays and the party went further down to Ya-ya's. Tonight I was fortunate to have gone after work so I kept it short but found some awesome treats. Some straw toppers to add to my holiday gift giving and some cheesecake cups (OG, Strawberry and Cookie Butter) of course I got one of each to share...ate the Strawberry which of course omg was yummy!! Not too sweet as the Strawberries was just perfect as I tried to get an even scoop of it all in every bite. Walked further down and honestly wasn't in the mood to wait too long for anything found something that would just exactly work for me. Ya-Ya's Chophouse & Seafood and tonight they had two items - Steak Kebabs - Fat Fried Rice with TAB (aka Thick Ass Bacon lol!) I seriously wanted the fried rice but thought that the Steak Kebabs was more sensible for me personally and it came with two kebabs each fully loaded with steak, mushrooms, peppers and onions with a huge scoop of rice! So many options I really was considering including Henna from Henna Happens, Birria Tacos from Dolce Vita, Corn from Corn Onoz Hawaii but though there's always a next time yes!?! I remember pre-pandemic Yelp had a booth here and hoping as things return to normalcy that we'll see it back again one day (hint hint!) Absolutely love this Honolulu Night Market as it offers so many cultural coolness that you can't find anywhere else! Thank you!

    There were only about 4-5 food trucks when I visited, and it felt small. Around 6 PM, the area had…read morevery few people. There was some live music, but it seemed more like a quick stop for tourists rather than a real night market. I didn't try any food because the atmosphere wasn't appealing, so I left quickly.

    Photos
    6-3-23 My Credit Union!
    6-3-23 My Credit Union!
    Honolulu Night Market
    Tables

    See all

    Tables
    Manoa Valley Theatre

    Manoa Valley Theatre

    4.5
    (152 reviews)
    3.5 mi

    Enjoyed the performance of Shrek The Musical at Kaimuki Theater Saturday June 27. It's OUTSTANDING…read more Hard to choose who was the standout actor. Every character delivered...and MORE! Casting is excellent, costumes fantastic. Scenery fantastic. Donkey and Lord Farquaad deliver over the top performances. Great singing voices (though often volume is too loud and distorts voices). GO see it before the run ends July 12!

    What a performance…read more.. Thank you to Terry K for taking me on this journey to something that I've never tried personally is to see a play and Manoa Valley Theatre offers us some amazing performances that I've been lucky to see a play though it's never been at Manoa Valley venue itself and what a difference it is. The vibe here is full of energy as many start arriving and you need to check in and verify your seating which the staff does and also informed us that the air conditioning wasn't fully operational and provided us with a bottle water is a nice gesture though was slightly warm the cool Manoa air kept us decently cool. As we get to chill prior by getting a drink and/or snack is nice and there are great options available including some alcohol. Kim's Convenience is the play and from what we were told is once a series on Netflix which I don't have but I like that I have no idea as I can enjoy the play just as they visualize which was great and fun since it was a comedy, if anything the seating leaves no room for anyone to pass in front of you so I had leave the row and wait in the aisle for others to take their seat but in all comfortable and easy to view the play without being blocked from the previous row. Bravo to this creative and wonderful evening with a great friend as doing something unique like this was so much fun and a memorable experience. Thank you!

    Photos
    Kim's Convenience play
    Kim's Convenience play
    Manoa Valley Theatre
    Manoa Valley Theatre

    See all

    Nightmares Live

    Nightmares Live

    4.0
    (36 reviews)
    0.5 mi

    My first time in going to a "haunted" house. Luckily we went as a group through this haunted maze…read more Before entering, I spoke with the crew members outside. They told us that the actors were not allowed to touch us. Nor can we touch them. Which is good since you hear the people screaming! During our walk, the whole venue looked like a creepy museum. I noticed from the corner of my eye, the first part, a Victorian zombie started to follow us. You can see the neck collar dress and the crazy curly wig. The silhouette does not make it easier. Then on the second half, in the clown section, a large court jester followed us. It makes it more creepier since we cannot see his face. Near the end, a murder in black with a chain saw chased us out! I loved seeing other people run quickly away from the spot! The props were very well made. My compliments to the artists involved in this project! I enjoyed coming here for Halloween. Come with a group of friends!

    we went to mcdonald's drive through and bought pancakes and they didn't give us any butter knife or…read morefork of syrup either absolutely nothing, how dare they do that to us when we go go there almost everyday to buy food from them and they leave out the essentials like that, omg!!! i want to report them to the better business bureau too now for doing this to us this isn't the first time they've done this to us before either too, omg!!!

    Photos
    Finished Evil Tiki!  Not only does he talk but his eyes also light up!!!
    Finished Evil Tiki! Not only does he talk but his eyes also light up!!!
    Wait a minute...  There's only supposed to be two Primo Popcorn workers!
    Wait a minute... There's only supposed to be two Primo Popcorn workers!
    What some of us turned into.

    See all

    What some of us turned into.

    Ka Moana Luau - theater - Updated July 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...