Is this touristy? Yes!! Are we tourists?? Also, yes!!…read more 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?

My wife and I were excited to attend and experience a Luau. Everyone was saying "you have to go to…read moreone on your first trip!" Or "the food is so good!" Or even "the performances alone are worth it"... So we let my brother find and book one for the three of us since he had already visited Hawaii multiple times and took my mom to one a few years back. What a let down, you guys. First of all, expensive for what it really was. Location wasn't all that. We didn't get the traditional pig roasting experience either. When we got there it was disorganized. We noticed there was a very long line and then a shorter one which we soon found out was for the ones who paid even more! As we entered the venue it just looked cheap - the way the tables were set up, the stage - I don't know, I guess I was expecting something more. Moving on to the food now; It was also not the best. Buffet style with flys flying around landing on it. It just didn't look appetizing. And like others have said on here, it was cold and mushy/soggy. The performances later were fine but I sadly agree with a yelper who had said it felt like a cheesy "high school play." The sound would go in and out too at times, whenever they'd start talking to the audience. We did get photos taken but damn, even that they charged us as well. Like we already spent a lot on tickets alone just to attend... Overall, this was definitely NOT the highlight of our Hawaiian trip, but it's okay because everything else we did was amazing.

The family went to the annual dance recital at Leeward Community College last night and was blown…read moreaway at the talented dances of ALL AGES and ALL STYLES of dance! Prior to attending I thought $35 per adult was a little much until we got to experience it. It was worth every penny and then some! I'm already looking forward to next year! It's about 3 hours long in total and it goes by fast! You don't need to have a dancer in the program to enjoy a wonderful night of dancing, music, singing and fun! Way to go DESTINATION DANCE HAWAII for a job well done!! It was a sensational evening! We appreciated all the effort your teams put forward and it showed!

Destination Dance Hawaii has been such a blessing. We have been with the studio for three years…read morenow and started out in musical theater and they saw in my child a voice that needed just a little fine tuning and nurtured her, and her confidence has grown and grown. Hands down the best place for our Ohana!!

Highly Recommend Hawaii MusicWorks!…read more When I first inquired about beginner keyboard lessons for my son, I spoke with Aunty Dale. She is incredibly sweet and sets such a positive tone--it's clear from the start how wonderful this place is! My son looks forward to his weekly group keyboard lessons with Mr. Mark. Learning alongside friends makes the sessions fun! He really enjoys getting to choose the songs he learns to play. In my son's words, Mr. Mark is "patient, caring, and nice." It's evident that he truly cares about his students. When my son felt stressed over a school assignment he didn't understand, Mr. Mark actually went out of his way to help him. He was so happy to tell me about it. Happy kid, happy mom--Hawaii Music Works has been a fantastic experience for us!

After 10 years of keyboard lessons for both of my sons, I can confidently say that Mr. Mark, Ms…read more Kira and Aunty Dale have provided far more than just music education--they have helped shape the young men my sons are becoming. From the very beginning, the lessons were a place where my boys could not only grow musically but also build confidence, express themselves freely (often with a bit of silliness!), and connect with positive adult role models who genuinely care about their well-being. Mr. Mark and Ms. Kira have consistently gone above and beyond--taking an interest in my sons' lives outside of music, encouraging their involvement in concert and marching band, and even supporting them through private school admission processes by authoring recommendations. Aunty Dale has provided consistent communication about scheduling and payment while always offering a welcoming smile to students and families as they walk thru the door. Over the years, Mr. Mark, Ms. Kira and Aunty Dale have celebrated milestones with us, offered guidance during challenging times, and shown a level of dedication that make them an extension of our family. Their presence throughout my sons' childhoods has made a lasting impact--one that goes far beyond notes on a page. If you're looking for instructors who are not only talented musicians and teachers but also compassionate mentors, you will find no better.

Brought my 5yo daughters here for their first dance lesson and it was wonderful! The owners were…read morehere and were so welcoming and the studio is big and full of fun costumes and was clean and comfortable Their teacher, Ms Jenny, was very fun and sweet but also knew how to keep girls listening Wonderful experience

This review is a bit tardy, but I am finally coming around to giving some well-deserved praise…read more We found this place through Yelp when we were scouting a dance instructor for our wedding first dance. I have to hand it to my fellow Yelpers for the stellar recommendation; Ed was great. He is clearly passionate about what he does, and he and his wife Juliet are very accommodating. We have very busy schedules, and they rescheduled our sessions multiple times and met us in the evenings after work and even on weekends. We would be exhausted and many times did not even feel like going to dance lessons, but then we would end up having so much fun. Afterwards, we were always glad that we went. At times, it was very stress-relieving and even calming to go in. This is largely due to the fact that Ed and Juliet are such nice people, and they make dancing fun. Just to provide some context, we attended private dance lessons about once a week for a couple of months before our wedding. We had no real prior dancing experience. I usually feel really uncomfortable dancing. But Ed was very patient and went through basic dance steps just to get us more used to things. After we finally picked a first dance song, he practiced everything from the entrance through to the end of the dance. He tailored the moves to us and our song. There were many times that we just changed things so that they just felt more comfortable. We did not get a one-size-fits-all type of dance. That makes it all the more special. Just so you know Ed used to be a dance instructor for, I think, Arthur Murray before he had his own studio, so in going with Ed, you get Arthur Murray instruction but for a much more reasonable price. Due to an injury, he cannot dance as much as he would like to, but he often times would still show us how to do certain dance moves by bringing in Juliet to our dance session. I think Ed is due for a surgery, so he will be up and running again. However, the bottom line is that the best instructor is one who can teach people who do not know how to dance how to dance. And Ed is very good at that.

While a student at the University of Hawai'i, one of my most memorable classes was Multimedia. We…read morelearned everything from script writing, stage lighting and props, filming, directing, and editing. So much fun!! So I guess you could say I have a soft heart for those in this industry. Now during my lifetime, I've met a LOT of actors too. You know the kind, that act nice to your face but will gossip behind your back. I don't support those kind of actors LOL This review is about, "The Piano Lesson" the actual 1990 Pulitzer Prize Winner for Drama, and professional stage performance, written by August Wilson in 1987. The scene takes place in 1936 Pittsburgh with a family having a debate over an heirloom piano. This performance was directed by Shervelle Hannah, who does an incredible job portraying Boy Willie. This character is super determined to sell the family heirloom piano, so as to make enough money to buy land from the former slave owner. The entire cast did an outstanding stage performance. Their voices, their body language, all combined with music and lighting made such compelling entertainment. Let's not forget the star, a majestic black piano carved with detail and included their family legacy of portraits. Bravo! This was a phenomenal performance ladies and gentlemen. We absolutely loved watching you on stage! And in case you didn't know, the United States Postal Service honored August Wilson in 2021 with his image on a Black Heritage Forever stamp :)

Saw "Joe Turner's Come and Gone" this afternoon. As background to the name "Joe Turner", it is not…read moresomeone's name, but a reference to anyone who captured and turned in runaway slaves. The play takes place during the 1910's and it centers around a boarding home run by Bertha and Seth Holly and the people who roomed there. The degree of PTSD for each of them varies, as do the interactions that trigger those emotional and gut wrenching memories. Excellent acting and the perfect intimate venue.

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From the owner: KĀ MAKANI KĀʻILI KOA preserves Native Hawaiian culture through education, leadership, and STREAMY…read moreintegration (Sciences, Technologies, Reading, Research, Remuneration, Engineering, Electronics, Arts, ʻĀina, Mathematics, Mele, Moʻomeheu, and You). Rooted in values of Opualiʻi and ethical excellence, KMKK builds cultural and economic resilience for the Lāhui and other Indigenous communities and populations.

We hired David with Akahi Productions for my son's graduation party to provide live band sound and…read moreDJ services (with sound and lighting). After contacting numerous sound companies around Oahu, David with Akahi had the best pricing and options. He was very responsive and always responded to inquiries in a timely manner. Due to unforeseen circumstances, my original emcee had to cancel a few days prior to the event. I contacted David to ask about hiring an emcee and he offered to provide the emcee services at NO ADDITIONAL cost (Awesome)! On the day of the event, David arrived early with ample time to set up. I experienced technical difficulties when trying to set up my slide show, and David went out of his way to help me get the stressful situation resolved even though it was not his responsibility. The sound equipment he used was perfect for the event and I even received compliments from the bands that David did an excellent job providing sound for them. If you are looking to book a sound man for your next event, consider contacting David at Akahi Productions. You will not be disappointed in his service! Mahalo plenty to David and Akahi Productions! I will definitely be using them again for all my future events.

David Asing was our assigned musician for our wedding ceremony at Turtle Bay. He did not play the…read moreright song for the bride to walk down the aisle to. The bride even asked the camera man to tell him to play the correct song but the exit song was played instead. So disappointed!

Shakti Dance Movement is sister troupe to Devi Dance Company. Both are under the direction of Kalae…read moreKaina, who is a master at her craft. I have watched both troupes perform at Ala Moana Center Stage and at Art Zone for their fundraiser. Beautiful, lovely ladies with wonderful energy, smiles, and dance! You will feel the music and dance surge through you as you watch! I've seen them dance with a number of props, including huge feathered fans and swords! They also dance to to all types of music! A wonderful fusion of music, dance, and visuals! Visit their FB pages for showings: https://www.facebook.com/DeviDanceCo https://www.facebook.com/pages/Shakti-Dance-Movement/295100417886 They are available to perform at private events. I've already made up my mind that they will perform at my wedding!

Want a great workout while: having fun; listening to some upbeat, workout tunes; exercising…read moreout-of-the-box? Then search no more! This class is AMAZING! Using some traditional yoga moves, they incorporate some fun, funky hip-shaking moves. I'd describe it as a booty-shaking yoga class. The workout is intense - leaving you sweaty, but feeling like you got a great workout in the hour you're there. You'll feel muscles working that you didn't even know existed! The classes are daily - some during the day, others at night - giving everyone a chance to try it. The studio is located in Kaimuki and can fit 20+ in the room. You can bring your own mat or rent one if needed. Sign up before the class if you want to secure a spot or try to come as a walk-in. There are bundle deals for the classes and a punchcard for attending. The first class is discounted, so you should at least try it! Hope to see you there!