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THE AULANI LUAU (Ka Wa'a) -- A MUST-DO HAWAII EXPERIENCE! Okayyyy so we always have to do a luau every time we go to Hawaii... and this time we chose the Aulani Luau (Ka Wa'a) and OMG it was SO GOOD!! Honestly, I'd rank it #2 only to the Polynesian Cultural Center (because PCC is soooo iconic), but this one was incredibly convenient since we were already staying at Aulani -- literally a short walk to paradise . Location & Timing Offered most Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays (schedule can vary) Check-in: * Preferred seating: ~5:00 PM (earlier check-in) * General seating: ~5:10 PM (slightly later) In summer months, times shift just a bit later (about 5:30/5:40). Pricing (approx current ranges): Preferred Seating (closer to stage + early check-in & welcome perks) * Adults (ages 10+) -- about $219-$229 + tax * Keiki (ages 3-9) -- about $139-$149 + tax Under age 3 -- FREE Includes drinks (alcoholic & non-alcoholic), a lei, and great seating. General Seating * Adults (ages 10+) -- about $190-$200 + tax * Keiki (ages 3-9) -- about $119-$129 + tax Under age 3 -- FREE Includes drinks and a lei + buffet. What We Loved: So many photo opportunities before it even starts Kids activities included (so fun!): * Temporary tattoo art * Flower lei making * Name meaning activities and more (super family-friendly!) Food & Entertainment: Buffet dinner -- everything was delicious (plenty for kids too!) Luau show -- storytelling, Hawaiian music, dancing, and fire dancers! Seriously amazing performances that kept us glued the entire night. Customer Service & Vibes: Everyone was so kind, patient, and family-oriented. They were especially amazing with our kids -- made the whole experience feel warm and interactive . Tips: Come early if you're general seating -- the closer to the stage, the better! Take advantage of the pre-show -- so many fun pics and memories before dinner even begins! Unlimited drinks are included -- yay! Bottom line: This luau totally exceeded our expectations! It's a perfect blend of culture, food, family-fun, and entertainment -- especially if you're already staying at Aulani . Definitely would do again!!
This is the best luau on Oahu. It's better than every major luau in Waikiki, Honolulu, and everywhere else on the island. It truly feels special from start to finish with the operational excellence for large crowds that Disney resorts know how to do better than anyone. There's a reason why you need to make reservations around 5 months in advance. Unlike many mass produced luaus, the food at Ka Wa'a is actually good. Really good. The sweet potatoes, prime rib, kalua style pork (which I normally don't even like!), all the way to the desserts, all delicious. Far better than something like Paina Waikiki, which is not great and makes you wonder why you paid so much for some of the worst Hawaiian food you've ever had. You pay more for Ka Wa'a, and you probably drive further out of town than you planned to for a luau, but you will have no regrets. The nighttime show is perfectly timed. First hour is for check-in and activities, including temporary tattoos, ukeleles, grinding taro, and grabbing drinks. At 6:00 PM, the first tables are called for the buffet. Preferred seating eats first, but the lines move fast and there's time for seconds. At 7:00, the show starts, and that's where it all comes together in a beautiful raised stage setup where nearly every seat is a good one. The show features such talented performers that really make the night magical. They present memorable stories of Hawaii and all of the musicians are top notch. Pro tip: Mickey and Minnie only show up to do one dance on stage, and they don't stick around for photos (would be impossible with a crowd this size), so show up early, check the video boards for their character schedules, check in to the luau, leave, then find Mickey and Minnie from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM for a photo. After getting a very relaxed, enjoyable photo, head back into the luau with plenty of time to spare for activities and dinner. I've been to Oahu many times, and this is the only luau I've seen that I would recommend to anyone and describe as truly magical and 100% worth it.
The story telling, music, dancing, etc. are spectacular. I really really enjoyed this experience. The food was a sold B for me. I do love that they have different offerings for the kiddos. The drinks were also a solid B. Obviously I realize that a luau has nothing to do with Disney characters, but given that this is a luau that takes place on Disney property I was unpleasantly surprised that there were no Disney characters (other than a quick introduction to Mickey and Minnie) involved. A visit before or after the luau would be a plus.
Fantastic! We did not stay at Aulani, we stayed in Waikiki, but had to have at least a taste of the Aulani experience and this was perfection. First of all, the hotel is beautiful and I do hope we stay at some point - however I'm glad for our first trip we are more centrally located. We came early to check out the shoppes and the hotel, which are all just as you would expect from a Disney resort. Moreover, they have a couple vacation club models you can walk - with no pressing sales pitch (yes, one day we are doing that, so no sales pitch needed). Now for the Luau - I debated doing something at the cultural center or the hotel we are staying at, but after a ton of research, went for this one because of the reviews and of course, Disney magic. So to start with - Disney is a very very light touch, which was appropriate and tasteful IMO. We did preferred seating, so we got in early, got to enjoy some moseying around looking at the fun activities, and relaxing before dinner. We also had great seats. Temporary tattoos, a lei, and trying out a eukele was super fun - it was not a kiddy style experience, so no worries about partaking in things that were mainly intended for kids. This was definitely appropriate for all. Next - the food - it was fantastic. My husband thought so too. Highlights were the poke, the macadamia fish, and actually - the teriyaki chicken. Pork - fine but salty and not really remarkable. Prime rib was great and though noted by some as not traditional, I love a good prime rib and this was definitely a good one. Nice array of desserts, and unlimited drinks. A note - you have about an hour to eat before they shut everything down, so you can go back for seconds but if you want to have a salad plate and then a dinner plate or something like that - plan accordingly. Last - the show - we were blown away. Talent as expected for a Disney production. Amazing music, great singers, storytelling and dance. We have no point of reference as this was our first luau, but we did have a couple near us that's been to several, and their POV was that the food and production were better than they've experienced elsewhere, the only + at some others was there was more fire which some may enjoy more. Thought that was a good tidbit. All to say, if you want to experience Aulani but don't really want to stay there (or can't rationalize the $750+ a night room) this is a great way to experience the magic and have a great night!
The food was fantastic. What we saw of the entertainment was great! Unfortunately, we got rained out and didn't get to see most of it. You don't need "preferred seating". Great seats no matter where you are. Generous partial refund for the cancellation mid-show. Great experience. When in Hawaii, you need to go to a luau!
I want to give it a 5 but I just can't. Servers and performers are 5 stars. They're so kind and make it a great experience. Food is great too and all you can eat. Activities are ok, missing some of that Disney magic. I appreciate the story telling aspect during the show but we need more Disney. I get honoring the culture and traditions, but sprinkle in some more Mickey please. How is stitch or Moana not in the show? At least at the end, I know I'm being critical and the storytelling and dancing is great but please a little more Disney magic. And no crowd interaction during the show.
Aloha! What an experience! My very first luau experience and it did not disappoint. Everyone was given a beaded necklace at the front and then have photos taken. After you get your seats, you can walk around to do some activities before dinner starts. There are 2 open bar stations where you can get drinks but you may also order drinks directly from your server. Self serve food stations. They do it by groups so that the lines for the food station won't get too chaotic. Once everyone gets their share on the first round, you can go for seconds, thirds, etc. It's all you can eat by the way :). Everything was so good! One of the best meals I had while in Hawaii. The luau punch is non-alcoholic and was super good. Definitely give it a try if they offer it. The show was fun, entertaining and got to learn a bit about their history. After the show is over, you have the opportunities to take photos with the casts members. Mahalo!
I made a reservation for 9 adults online. The online reservation system is simple to use and I made sure to add comments about dietary restrictions/allergies for some adults in our party. The day has arrived for our reservation. We drove up and vallet helped park our car. The cool thing about Aulani, you can explore the resort, however some spots are restricted to only people that are staying at Aulani. The resort is beautiful! Loved that we were able to check out the gift shops. We started lining up abut 30 minutes early. When doors opened, we were greeted and were given, I believe were Kukui Nut Leis and were asked about how many people were in our party and also asked again about the dietary restrictions/allergies. We had one adult who was vegetarian and one who was allergic to garlic/onions. They were very accomodating and had separate plates for the two individuals. Food was buffet style. For the first round, they would call up table by table to start lining up and getting food. From there, you are welcomed to go back for seconds...thirds.. and so on. Food was good! There was a lot of varieties. On to the show. Show was good, but wished there were more Disney characters and more fire. Felt bad because someone in our group was waiting for the fire show, but when he went to the bathroom - that was when the fire show went on and he missed it all. Overall, this was a good first time luau experience.
This luau was hosted by Aulani and I was a bit skeptical about it. Ambiance Aulani is just beautiful. Customer Service Hawaiian people are just very kind and warm in general. Here at Aulani it is top shelf. Food and Cocktails We got the Preferred Package and this includes unlimited alcohol. Our server would take our drink orders and bring them to us. Food was excellent u get the pork and poi of course. Prime rib, chicken, fish, salmon poke, purple sweet potato mash. Salad and vegetables all good. The fish a bit dry but had good flavor. There was something for everyone. Fancy finger desserts tasty. Entertainment We had a good view of the main stage and seated next to small stage where warriors performed war dances and hula dancers performed. The fire performers were experts. This was the highlight of the luau. They were extremely talented the men fit and women beautiful, high level of precision and skill. They had a view activities like temporary tattoos, learning ukulele and pounding poi. You were also welcomed with a kukui nut necklace and given a lei bracelet that tied into the show. They don't do the ritual of pulling the pig out of the ground but don't really think it is an option of doing this on this beautiful property. I have been to maybe 4 luaus over the years and this by far was the best. A little pricy but well worth it.
Food was great. VIP experience is worth it. Endless cocktails amazing story. Mickey and Minnie make a BRIEF appearance and it doesn't impact the nature of the show, focusing on the location
This luau is performed on the Disney Aulani's Resort property. You do not have to be a guest to book a show. I booked the luau online about a few months in advance for the Friday show. We parked in guest parking which is a garage to the right of the front entrance and it cost us $40. I do think there was a way to validate it, we didn't get a chance look into it so we just paid it. To get to the general check in, we entered the front entrance of the lobby and made it a left until we saw a sign that said Ewa tower. You can either take the elevator or stairs next to it to go down to the ground level. Upon getting to the ground level, we went outside and followed the path to the left until we saw signs that pointed us to general check in. We saw the line of people and lined up around 5:10pm. They did check us in a bit slowly. We didn't get to enter the actual luau grounds until 5:40pm. We got kukui bead leis and took photos with the Polynesian performers upon entering. When you are assigned a seat and seated, an employee will come by to show you the photos and they are available for purchase for $45. We did purchase ours since it came with all the 4 digital photos they took and one printed photo of our choice. This is a great luau for kids of course. It's Disney! All the cast members are friendly and helpful. There was a temporary tattoo station, a ukulele station, lei bracelet station, and interactive activities with hula performers. The show is really really good! The singing, dancing, and storytelling is magical and easy to follow along. They make small references to Disney characters here and there, but the primary focus is Polynesian culture. The lead female and male singer also have such beautiful voices. The buffet was served table by table. I believe the sooner you got in line to enter the luau, the closer you'd be seated to the stage behind the preferred seating and sooner your table would get to go first. The food was pretty good and filling. My favorite was the prime rib roast with their au jus sauce and mac salad. The kalua pork was way too salty for me unfortunately although the meat was tender. They do have a kids bento box too available, I'm not too sure if that is ordered ahead. They do pack up the food without announcing a last call. I glanced behind me at 7:10pm and the food was already gone. I also enjoyed that your server can also take your drink order for the open bar so you don't have to get up. I only got to drink #2 since the alcohol was strong. There are bathrooms available but it is like a 2-3 minute walk outside of the luau grounds and back into the hotel and pool area. There are signs to point you in the right direction. Overall, I thought this luau was very enjoyable! I've been to the Old Lahaina Luau before so I feel like this one is worth the price point if you want to have a great experience in O'ahu.
We went to the luau (booked 6 months in advance). It was so convenient to walk over from our hotel room. There are 2 separate locations for check in if you are preferred vs general. The preferred is closer to the pana community hall room and you cut through the ewa tower to get the lawn and check in if you are preferred. General line over passed ama ama and auntys beach house. They let you in early if you are preferred. There are 4 activities- ukelele lessons, flower bracelets, Taro making and temporary tattoo. We hit up all of the activities in about 20 min. Photo is also right when you walk in. There are drinks prepared already- alcoholic and nonalcohol. Theres also a drink bar as well. And then you are shown to your tables. We shared with another family. I believe the table seats 16 total? Dinner is buffet style. You get called up by table. Around 6:30 is when it starts. Food was Pretty good. Show starts around 7:30 and is about an hour. It was a good show. It ended at 8:30.
The luau at the Aulani is fantastic but a bit pricey. For the preferred seating around $200 and basically you get a better view. Now people do lineup early just to get good tables so while the event check-in is at 5 PM people are lining up an hour prior to the luau. It includes cultural show, tattoo making (non-permanent), the pounding of poi, and the dinner food buffet. I actually came for the poke and Lomi Lomi Salmon. Now, drinks are included, and you can order at the bar, but you could also order from the waitress tending to your table. The Hulu show was very well done and the food was fabulous. This was an enjoyable experience and I got to meet folks from all over the country. Worth it!!
Reviews are largely positive. People praise the food quality and variety, drink offerings, and friendly, attentive service. The pre-show activities and entertainment are also well-liked.
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This was honestly the best Luau experience I have had! To start, the food was amazing. It was buffet style and was so tasty. The desserts were also very delicious! We also appreciated the kids meal box that came with food that kids love and desserts with moana on it. There was also welcome dranks and an open bar, thank youuuuu! Before the Luau started, they had different stations with educational activities. They had lei making, poi making, temporary tattoos, and ukulele lessons. All were super enjoyable for both kids and adults! The luau was so educational and personable. They shared history, customs, and heritage stories. I really enjoyed all of the education that went into it. I would rate this experience a 100/10. Food was great, service was great, activities were great, and the luau itself was great. Mickey and Minnie also joined the dancing portion of the luau which was so fun for the kiddos. Everything was so great and also magical outside. read more
What an absolutely breathtaking experience. From start to finish, I was beyond blown away. I was staying at Aulani to celebrate my 40th birthday. The luau is offered a few times a week and was luckily being offered on my actual birthday so of course we booked it for that day. Tickets go on sale about 5 months in advance of the dinner date, which may seem daunting to a casual planner but makes perfect sense to an avid Disney-er. Seating for the luau is available in standard seating and premium seating. We picked premium. It came at a higher price tag and, in my opinion, was not necessary. Standard seating was 199 a person and premium seating was 229 a person. All luau guests are treated to activities like lei making, (temporary) tattoos and ukulele lessons before heading over to enjoy the buffet and open bar dinner before the show. Premium diners got the luxury of an extra half hour to peruse the activities. Premium diners also got seating closer to the main stage. (After the show was over, I sat in standard seating to see the difference and it wasn't all that much). Premium diners also got a free digital download of the picture taken with the luau performers. For a larger party, it may have been less expensive to simply pay for the digital download. One big concern I had about the luau was that it would be overly Disney-fied. I love me some Mickey Mouse and Aulani as a resort has several Disney touches, but I wanted my luau experience to be as authentic as possible. My concerns were quickly quelled. Mickey and Minnie were present for about 15 minutes of the 2-hour show. The rest of the luau had beautiful vocals, graceful dancing, and fearless firebreathers. It is my absolute hope to get back to Aulani as quickly as humanly possible, but I think I would skip the luau. At 229 (or even 199) a person, there are much better ways to spend my Disney dollars. That being said, if Aulani is a once-in-a-lifetime experience for you, you should do it. read more
9 months ago
THE AULANI LUAU (Ka Wa'a) -- A MUST-DO HAWAII EXPERIENCE! Okayyyy so we always have to do a luau every time we go to Hawaii... and this time we chose the Aulani Luau (Ka Wa'a) and OMG it was SO GOOD!! Honestly, I'd rank it #2 only to the Polynesian Cultural Center (because PCC is soooo iconic), but this one was incredibly convenient since we were already staying at Aulani -- literally a short walk to paradise . Location & Timing Offered most Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays (schedule can vary) Check-in: * Preferred seating: ~5:00 PM (earlier check-in) * General seating: ~5:10 PM (slightly later) In summer months, times shift just a bit later (about 5:30/5:40). Pricing (approx current ranges): Preferred Seating (closer to stage + early check-in & welcome perks) * Adults (ages 10+) -- about $219-$229 + tax * Keiki (ages 3-9) -- about $139-$149 + tax Under age 3 -- FREE Includes drinks (alcoholic & non-alcoholic), a lei, and great seating. General Seating * Adults (ages 10+) -- about $190-$200 + tax * Keiki (ages 3-9) -- about $119-$129 + tax Under age 3 -- FREE Includes drinks and a lei + buffet. What We Loved: So many photo opportunities before it even starts Kids activities included (so fun!): * Temporary tattoo art * Flower lei making * Name meaning activities and more (super family-friendly!) Food & Entertainment: Buffet dinner -- everything was delicious (plenty for kids too!) Luau show -- storytelling, Hawaiian music, dancing, and fire dancers! Seriously amazing performances that kept us glued the entire night. Customer Service & Vibes: Everyone was so kind, patient, and family-oriented. They were especially amazing with our kids -- made the whole experience feel warm and interactive . Tips: Come early if you're general seating -- the closer to the stage, the better! Take advantage of the pre-show -- so many fun pics and memories before dinner even begins! Unlimited drinks are included -- yay! Bottom line: This luau totally exceeded our expectations! It's a perfect blend of culture, food, family-fun, and entertainment -- especially if you're already staying at Aulani . Definitely would do again!! read more
This is the best luau on Oahu. It's better than every major luau in Waikiki, Honolulu, and everywhere else on the island. It truly feels special from start to finish with the operational excellence for large crowds that Disney resorts know how to do better than anyone. There's a reason why you need to make reservations around 5 months in advance. Unlike many mass produced luaus, the food at Ka Wa'a is actually good. Really good. The sweet potatoes, prime rib, kalua style pork (which I normally don't even like!), all the way to the desserts, all delicious. Far better than something like Paina Waikiki, which is not great and makes you wonder why you paid so much for some of the worst Hawaiian food you've ever had. You pay more for Ka Wa'a, and you probably drive further out of town than you planned to for a luau, but you will have no regrets. The nighttime show is perfectly timed. First hour is for check-in and activities, including temporary tattoos, ukeleles, grinding taro, and grabbing drinks. At 6:00 PM, the first tables are called for the buffet. Preferred seating eats first, but the lines move fast and there's time for seconds. At 7:00, the show starts, and that's where it all comes together in a beautiful raised stage setup where nearly every seat is a good one. The show features such talented performers that really make the night magical. They present memorable stories of Hawaii and all of the musicians are top notch. Pro tip: Mickey and Minnie only show up to do one dance on stage, and they don't stick around for photos (would be impossible with a crowd this size), so show up early, check the video boards for their character schedules, check in to the luau, leave, then find Mickey and Minnie from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM for a photo. After getting a very relaxed, enjoyable photo, head back into the luau with plenty of time to spare for activities and dinner. I've been to Oahu many times, and this is the only luau I've seen that I would recommend to anyone and describe as truly magical and 100% worth it. read more
11 months ago
The story telling, music, dancing, etc. are spectacular. I really really enjoyed this experience. The food was a sold B for me. I do love that they have different offerings for the kiddos. The drinks were also a solid B. Obviously I realize that a luau has nothing to do with Disney characters, but given that this is a luau that takes place on Disney property I was unpleasantly surprised that there were no Disney characters (other than a quick introduction to Mickey and Minnie) involved. A visit before or after the luau would be a plus. read more
4 months ago
Fantastic! We did not stay at Aulani, we stayed in Waikiki, but had to have at least a taste of the Aulani experience and this was perfection. First of all, the hotel is beautiful and I do hope we stay at some point - however I'm glad for our first trip we are more centrally located. We came early to check out the shoppes and the hotel, which are all just as you would expect from a Disney resort. Moreover, they have a couple vacation club models you can walk - with no pressing sales pitch (yes, one day we are doing that, so no sales pitch needed). Now for the Luau - I debated doing something at the cultural center or the hotel we are staying at, but after a ton of research, went for this one because of the reviews and of course, Disney magic. So to start with - Disney is a very very light touch, which was appropriate and tasteful IMO. We did preferred seating, so we got in early, got to enjoy some moseying around looking at the fun activities, and relaxing before dinner. We also had great seats. Temporary tattoos, a lei, and trying out a eukele was super fun - it was not a kiddy style experience, so no worries about partaking in things that were mainly intended for kids. This was definitely appropriate for all. Next - the food - it was fantastic. My husband thought so too. Highlights were the poke, the macadamia fish, and actually - the teriyaki chicken. Pork - fine but salty and not really remarkable. Prime rib was great and though noted by some as not traditional, I love a good prime rib and this was definitely a good one. Nice array of desserts, and unlimited drinks. A note - you have about an hour to eat before they shut everything down, so you can go back for seconds but if you want to have a salad plate and then a dinner plate or something like that - plan accordingly. Last - the show - we were blown away. Talent as expected for a Disney production. Amazing music, great singers, storytelling and dance. We have no point of reference as this was our first luau, but we did have a couple near us that's been to several, and their POV was that the food and production were better than they've experienced elsewhere, the only + at some others was there was more fire which some may enjoy more. Thought that was a good tidbit. All to say, if you want to experience Aulani but don't really want to stay there (or can't rationalize the $750+ a night room) this is a great way to experience the magic and have a great night! read more
9 months ago
The food was fantastic. What we saw of the entertainment was great! Unfortunately, we got rained out and didn't get to see most of it. You don't need "preferred seating". Great seats no matter where you are. Generous partial refund for the cancellation mid-show. Great experience. When in Hawaii, you need to go to a luau! read more
I want to give it a 5 but I just can't. Servers and performers are 5 stars. They're so kind and make it a great experience. Food is great too and all you can eat. Activities are ok, missing some of that Disney magic. I appreciate the story telling aspect during the show but we need more Disney. I get honoring the culture and traditions, but sprinkle in some more Mickey please. How is stitch or Moana not in the show? At least at the end, I know I'm being critical and the storytelling and dancing is great but please a little more Disney magic. And no crowd interaction during the show. read more
Aloha! What an experience! My very first luau experience and it did not disappoint. Everyone was given a beaded necklace at the front and then have photos taken. After you get your seats, you can walk around to do some activities before dinner starts. There are 2 open bar stations where you can get drinks but you may also order drinks directly from your server. Self serve food stations. They do it by groups so that the lines for the food station won't get too chaotic. Once everyone gets their share on the first round, you can go for seconds, thirds, etc. It's all you can eat by the way :). Everything was so good! One of the best meals I had while in Hawaii. The luau punch is non-alcoholic and was super good. Definitely give it a try if they offer it. The show was fun, entertaining and got to learn a bit about their history. After the show is over, you have the opportunities to take photos with the casts members. Mahalo! read more
1 year ago
I made a reservation for 9 adults online. The online reservation system is simple to use and I made sure to add comments about dietary restrictions/allergies for some adults in our party. The day has arrived for our reservation. We drove up and vallet helped park our car. The cool thing about Aulani, you can explore the resort, however some spots are restricted to only people that are staying at Aulani. The resort is beautiful! Loved that we were able to check out the gift shops. We started lining up abut 30 minutes early. When doors opened, we were greeted and were given, I believe were Kukui Nut Leis and were asked about how many people were in our party and also asked again about the dietary restrictions/allergies. We had one adult who was vegetarian and one who was allergic to garlic/onions. They were very accomodating and had separate plates for the two individuals. Food was buffet style. For the first round, they would call up table by table to start lining up and getting food. From there, you are welcomed to go back for seconds...thirds.. and so on. Food was good! There was a lot of varieties. On to the show. Show was good, but wished there were more Disney characters and more fire. Felt bad because someone in our group was waiting for the fire show, but when he went to the bathroom - that was when the fire show went on and he missed it all. Overall, this was a good first time luau experience. read more
2 years ago
This luau was hosted by Aulani and I was a bit skeptical about it. Ambiance Aulani is just beautiful. Customer Service Hawaiian people are just very kind and warm in general. Here at Aulani it is top shelf. Food and Cocktails We got the Preferred Package and this includes unlimited alcohol. Our server would take our drink orders and bring them to us. Food was excellent u get the pork and poi of course. Prime rib, chicken, fish, salmon poke, purple sweet potato mash. Salad and vegetables all good. The fish a bit dry but had good flavor. There was something for everyone. Fancy finger desserts tasty. Entertainment We had a good view of the main stage and seated next to small stage where warriors performed war dances and hula dancers performed. The fire performers were experts. This was the highlight of the luau. They were extremely talented the men fit and women beautiful, high level of precision and skill. They had a view activities like temporary tattoos, learning ukulele and pounding poi. You were also welcomed with a kukui nut necklace and given a lei bracelet that tied into the show. They don't do the ritual of pulling the pig out of the ground but don't really think it is an option of doing this on this beautiful property. I have been to maybe 4 luaus over the years and this by far was the best. A little pricy but well worth it. read more
9 months ago
Food was great. VIP experience is worth it. Endless cocktails amazing story. Mickey and Minnie make a BRIEF appearance and it doesn't impact the nature of the show, focusing on the location read more
5 months ago
This luau is performed on the Disney Aulani's Resort property. You do not have to be a guest to book a show. I booked the luau online about a few months in advance for the Friday show. We parked in guest parking which is a garage to the right of the front entrance and it cost us $40. I do think there was a way to validate it, we didn't get a chance look into it so we just paid it. To get to the general check in, we entered the front entrance of the lobby and made it a left until we saw a sign that said Ewa tower. You can either take the elevator or stairs next to it to go down to the ground level. Upon getting to the ground level, we went outside and followed the path to the left until we saw signs that pointed us to general check in. We saw the line of people and lined up around 5:10pm. They did check us in a bit slowly. We didn't get to enter the actual luau grounds until 5:40pm. We got kukui bead leis and took photos with the Polynesian performers upon entering. When you are assigned a seat and seated, an employee will come by to show you the photos and they are available for purchase for $45. We did purchase ours since it came with all the 4 digital photos they took and one printed photo of our choice. This is a great luau for kids of course. It's Disney! All the cast members are friendly and helpful. There was a temporary tattoo station, a ukulele station, lei bracelet station, and interactive activities with hula performers. The show is really really good! The singing, dancing, and storytelling is magical and easy to follow along. They make small references to Disney characters here and there, but the primary focus is Polynesian culture. The lead female and male singer also have such beautiful voices. The buffet was served table by table. I believe the sooner you got in line to enter the luau, the closer you'd be seated to the stage behind the preferred seating and sooner your table would get to go first. The food was pretty good and filling. My favorite was the prime rib roast with their au jus sauce and mac salad. The kalua pork was way too salty for me unfortunately although the meat was tender. They do have a kids bento box too available, I'm not too sure if that is ordered ahead. They do pack up the food without announcing a last call. I glanced behind me at 7:10pm and the food was already gone. I also enjoyed that your server can also take your drink order for the open bar so you don't have to get up. I only got to drink #2 since the alcohol was strong. There are bathrooms available but it is like a 2-3 minute walk outside of the luau grounds and back into the hotel and pool area. There are signs to point you in the right direction. Overall, I thought this luau was very enjoyable! I've been to the Old Lahaina Luau before so I feel like this one is worth the price point if you want to have a great experience in O'ahu. read more
2 years ago
We went to the luau (booked 6 months in advance). It was so convenient to walk over from our hotel room. There are 2 separate locations for check in if you are preferred vs general. The preferred is closer to the pana community hall room and you cut through the ewa tower to get the lawn and check in if you are preferred. General line over passed ama ama and auntys beach house. They let you in early if you are preferred. There are 4 activities- ukelele lessons, flower bracelets, Taro making and temporary tattoo. We hit up all of the activities in about 20 min. Photo is also right when you walk in. There are drinks prepared already- alcoholic and nonalcohol. Theres also a drink bar as well. And then you are shown to your tables. We shared with another family. I believe the table seats 16 total? Dinner is buffet style. You get called up by table. Around 6:30 is when it starts. Food was Pretty good. Show starts around 7:30 and is about an hour. It was a good show. It ended at 8:30. read more
The luau at the Aulani is fantastic but a bit pricey. For the preferred seating around $200 and basically you get a better view. Now people do lineup early just to get good tables so while the event check-in is at 5 PM people are lining up an hour prior to the luau. It includes cultural show, tattoo making (non-permanent), the pounding of poi, and the dinner food buffet. I actually came for the poke and Lomi Lomi Salmon. Now, drinks are included, and you can order at the bar, but you could also order from the waitress tending to your table. The Hulu show was very well done and the food was fabulous. This was an enjoyable experience and I got to meet folks from all over the country. Worth it!! read more
Excellent luau! Highly recommend attending this one. I've been to other luaus on the island and his is by far the best. This luau doesn't all of the Polynesian islands. It only covers O'ahu and the surrounding area. Great storytelling about O'ahu. The food is delish and the entertainment is top notch!! This luau runs only 3 days a week, so reservations are necessary. read more
6 months ago
2 years ago
Spectacular storytelling of the first ancient explorers to the shores of Ko Alina. Easy to follow and beautifully told through music and dance. We reserved preferred seating 3 months in advance and had a great table that we shared with another family. Our server was exceptional very attentive and super friendly. We had a great meal and delicious desserts to follow. Drinks were amazing and the coffee was delicious. We had a magical evening from the start with the temporary tattoos and lei bracelets and the complementary photo. Parking was also validated from our server. We parked in the guest parking. Loved every minute of our family time at the KA WA' A, a Luau at Aulani. read more
2 years ago
Signed up for the preferred seating of the Luau at the Aulani Disney Resort. We were in the second row next to the aisle. We got to see everything really well. There were two center box stages for dancers to perform throughout the night. It was three hours of pure entertainment. We got to make lei's and at our table we each received a Kukui Nut lei as a souvenir. The Kukui Nut tree is a symbol of enlightenment, protection, guidance and peace! Loved how family oriented it was. Really well done !! Definitely recommend. !!! read more
5 years ago
[SHOW] Honestly I thought there would be more inclusion of Disney characters since it is Aulani. There is only one part with Mickey and Minnie and that's all. Would have liked to see Lilo & Stitch, which wouldn't be a stretch because they dance hula in the movie. [HANDICAP / RESTROOMS] Be prepared to walk a distance since the nearest ones are located next to Makahiki. Don't be surprised if you see a lot of lost fellow lūau guests wandering next to the elevator looking for the restrooms. [FOOD] All beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) are included. The whole dining experience felt really rushed. I had to be stern and say no I'm still eating when several of the workers asked if I was done. Food was mediocre, at these prices I would expect more. [OVERALL] Average experience, I'm glad I tried it. [PROS & CONS +/-] - There is only one activity. There is a box on the table with flowers and you can string your own bracelet. - There are no condiments on the the tables. Maybe grab some ahead of time at Ulu Cafe or bring your own if you like to have shoyu (soy sauce), salt & pepper, etc. read more
3 years ago
Definitely a step up from the starlit hui from years past. We got the vip seating and it was definitely worth it. We ended up in the front row for a great show with outstanding singing, dancing and food. It was a great 3 course meal of native foods including poi, Lomi salmon, Kalua pork, butter fish and a whole bunch of other food. Seriously stuffed afterwards. I was pretty surprised at how great the level of singing was from the hosts. It was everything we would have hoped for in a Disney luau. read more
2 years ago
Best luau we ever attended. Great performance with Disney influence. The food and ambiance was also top notch. read more
This luau deserves no less than 5 stars and I would give it 6 stars if I could. The food, service & entertainment was all incredible. We paid a little extra for the preferred seating and we are so glad that we did. We got there early to check in and were the 2nd family which gave us plenty of time to enjoy the pre-show activities as well as the delicious drinks (all you can drink). Also, the preferred seating got us an early release to the buffet which I always prefer when it is served buffet style. I highly recommend this luau to anyone going to Oahu. You do not need to stay at the Aulani in order to go to the luau! read more
1 year ago
We went in June 2022 and was pleasantly surprised that it seems to be back to pre-COVID protocols. Activities and buffet are back. Kids were still served pre-made bentos and desserts. Activities: There was lei making, poi pounding, temporary tattoo and ukulele lessons. Food: Food and drinks were good. My favorites were the prime rib, poke and mashed Okinawa potato (really ono!). Maybe for all the out of state visitors, better signs with description of each dish would help. Con: Being in Aulani, I was expecting more Disney magic incorporated into the luau. We took pictures with just hula dancers when we first arrived. If Mickey and/Minnie were in the picture, I would definitely purchase the photo. I waited all night for Mickey and Minnie to make their appearance, and maybe even Lilo, Stitch and Moana! I was disappointed that I missed Mickey and Minnie's brief hula show because I went to the bathroom at that time. Such a disappointment! Speaking of bathroom... that's also a con... was far away back at the Makahiki restaurant/elevators. The show, in a story line was good. I feel like the Tahitian dancers at Polynesian Cultural Center were more impressive though. Overall, I think there's a lot of room for more Disney magic, but I still feel it was a great luau experience, especially for visitors. read more
2 years ago
A most wonderful night to come. Thanks to our very generous daughter we were able to attend. Aside from being Valentine's Day, what a fabulous way to celebrate! We were gifted with VIP tickets at $179 per person. That allowed us to enter earlier than general admission, unlimited drinks even alcoholic ones and excellent preferred seating. We arrived about 35 minutes earlier and were first in line. Within minutes the line continued to grow. Once the conch shell was blown, we were leid upon entering the seating area. We were escorted to our table and told to explore the activities. Took photos of the kiddies but did get a hand flower bracelet and a pseudo tattoo. The food was plentiful and good. Way better than most luau food - just no chicken long rice and poi. Considering Asian tourists and mainland or Canadian attendees it was probably wise. The suckling pig aka kalua pig, lomi lomi salmon, and Haupia were good. So were the guava cake and bread pudding. The entertainment was top notch with traditional, Tahitian, fire dancers and modern day hula. The musicians were very good. The male storyteller Noah had the right voice for the job. This time we were hopefully Akamai and bought the e digital for our photos for $35. It was a most delightful and lovely way to spend the evening. Thankyou CA. read more
4 years ago
5 years ago
The VIP preferred seating went from $169 in 2019 to $189 2022, but the quality went down. The only benefit for VIP is a closer seating but other than that general and VIP is the same. Before prefer seating men got better quality kukui lei with real sea shells. Now everyone gets the same plain kukui nut lei, even ladies get kukui nut lei instead of all sea shell lei. Show 5/5 7:00-8:00 pm The performers and story telling during the show was great Activities 1/5 5:00-6:00 pm It was cool before being able to interact with the cast to do activities. I understand it's post covid, but having the host say here's the box of flowers to make your own lei at the table for activity wasn't really helpful. I think there should've been at least an instruction sheet because not everyone going to know what to do. Before as VIP you got early entry to do interactive activities. Now it's just here's a box of flowers to keep busy because it'll take an hour to seat everyone. Food 2/5 6:00-7:00 pm I was disappointed that it went from a buffet with roasted pig and prime rib to bento boxes. Most of the food items were the same or similar to the buffet, but they got rid of the 2 more expensive items to make which was roast pig and prime rib. It was nice having food brought to you instead of having to line up. Except it made it feel like the VIP was the same as general. Before VIP was first dibs to the buffet line, now everyone just equal which isn't a bad thing. It just feels like aside from the view there's not much else that's different. VIP is all drinks included and I'm not sure if general is still charge per drink, but general no longer has to line up at the pop up bar. First course: -Waipoli Lettuce, Cherry Tomatoes, Papaya Seed Dressing and Croutons - the dressing taste good & the veggies were fresh -Lomi Lomi tomatoes Salmon (F)- I didn't like it... it has tiny bits of salmon with tomatoes -'Ahi Poke (F/S)- better than I thought but I've never had ahi poke before -Taro Macaroni Salad (E/G/S)- it was ok -Seasonal & Tropical Fresh Fruit Medley- the pineapple is sweet, berries were sour, melons didn't taste ripe -Poi- taste like poi Second course: -Steamed Short Grain Rice- it was ok -Seasonal Stir-Fry Vegetables- it was pretty good -Puree Okinawan Potato (C/D)- this tasted amazing, but only if you like coconut taste -Braised Pork Imu Style with Shaved Maui Onions- a bit dry and bland -Oven Roasted Teriyaki Chicken (S)- honestly tasted like if I got chicken teriyaki from any chain place -Grilled Boneless Kalbi Ribs (S)- was more on the salty side and chewy -Hawaiian Local Catch with Crushed Macadamia Nut Sauce (D/E/G/N)- extremely dry and the sauce was just ok It's a decent portion to finish, so bring your own to go box to package because non will be provided. Third course: Macadamia Nut Brownie (D/E/G/S/N)- thick and fudgy Haupia (Coconut Pudding) (C/D/N)- more like coconut jello Guava Cake (D/E/G) - probably the best, light cake with really guava favor read more
We loved this luau. It was a complete voyage of storytelling and food. The dancers, singers and musicians were absolutely incredible. Even better than that was the chef staff especially Chef Adam who worked to creat and inclusive experience for my very allergic son to get the best out of the moment. I can't recommend this more highly-especially for anyone with food sensitivities who wants to be included. All of the food was outstanding and served bento box style. The Keiki menu was great for kids and the adults received two servings of bento boxes- cold and then hot. More food than you could possibly eat. read more
3 years ago
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