Rare georgiacat Posted July 26, 2022 #1 Share Posted July 26, 2022 Where is the best luau in Honolulu? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KeepCalmBearOn Posted July 26, 2022 #2 Share Posted July 26, 2022 Best for whom? What are your expectations? My favorite is the Hale Koa Luau, but you need a DOD connection for that one. After that Experience Nutridge is my current favorite. Toa Luau is very popular, but it is up in Waimea. Chief's Luau and Paradise Cove Luau out at Ko Olina are very popular. If I had young kids, I might do the Aulani Luau, also Ko Olina. Sea Life Park has a newish luau and the International Market Place has a newish one as well. If I was planning on visiting the Polynesian Cultural Center, I'd probably do their luau, and I think their luau has the best/most authentic dancing. Many of the performers are from the cultures they depict in the show and are students at BYU Hawaii. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare georgiacat Posted July 27, 2022 Author #3 Share Posted July 27, 2022 Thanks, we are 3 adults (2 are seniors). We do not plan to rent a car. I am investigating tours and attractions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rg123 Posted July 30, 2022 #4 Share Posted July 30, 2022 We are doing the one at the Polynesian Cultural Center which we wanted to visit anyway. We chose the package that includes the tour of the center, the luau, an evening show after that, and round trip transportation from Waikiki. It will be a full day (I believe pickup is around 10:30 am), but it includes everything we wanted. Reviews were good! 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rg123 Posted July 30, 2022 #5 Share Posted July 30, 2022 I forgot to mention that they give a 10% discount if you reserve at least 10 days before you want to go. 😊 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare georgiacat Posted July 30, 2022 Author #6 Share Posted July 30, 2022 rg123, Did you book this Polynesian Center tour including luau directing with the Polynesian Center? You said it did include transportation, right? thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rg123 Posted July 30, 2022 #7 Share Posted July 30, 2022 Yes, we did. We booked the Ali’i package (other packages available as well) on their website . The transportation is $25 per person RT and we felt that the whole package was worth it to us as it included quite a bit and we will not have a car either. Rita This is from their website: PACKAGE INCLUDES: Island Villages (12:30 - 6:00 pm) Island Villages Six island nations, Hawaii, Aotearoa , Fiji, Tahiti, Tonga and Samoa, are represented within our Island Villages. Each village provides hands-on activities, demonstrations, and performances which brings these unique cultures to life. Immersive cultural experience in 6 island villages All day admission to explore the authentic cultures of 6 pacific Islands. Interact with friendly villagers as they share entertaining presentations, enduring customs and the vibrant traditions of their islands Guided group tour Be part of a small group guided tour through the Polynesian Cultural Center’s beautiful and expansive 42-acres with one of our knowledgeable tour guides. (Check-in 12:45-2:00 pm) Hands-on activities Explore each island’s unique culture with hands-on activities; games of skill, canoe paddling, fire starting, cooking and much more Canoe tour Take a leisurely canoe tour across our magnificent lagoon Free preselected digital photo (a $22.50 value) Get a free digital souvenir photo with additional photos available for purchase Laie & Temple Visitors Center tour Take a spin around the beautiful BYU-Hawaii campus and stop at the historic La’ie Temple Visitors Center to wander through its stunning gardens and displays Free 3-day pass Free 3-day pass to our island villages (after initial visit) Dining (5:00 - 6:30 pm) Dining Taste, sight and sound unite to bring you the ultimate luau experience. Dine in our authentic “all you can eat” Polynesian buffet while enjoying an island extravaganza of song, dance and celebration from across the Pacific. 4:40 pm: Seating begins 5:00 pm: uncovering of the pig from the imu (underground oven) 5:00 pm: Live entertainment begins (imu) 5:30 pm: Final Seating Alii Luau Buffet with live entertainment (seating begins at 4:40 pm) Our award winning Alii Luau is a royal celebration of our cultural heritage which includes the Royal Court procession, presentation of the imu (underground oven), delicious traditional food, and lively Hawaiian entertainment held in a covered outdoor venue against a background of waterfalls and lush gardens Flower lei greeting (at the Luau) Be greeted with a fresh orchid lei as you enter the luau Evening Show (7:30-8:45pm) Evening Show Experience the power of HA: Breath of Life, an action-packed story of passion ignited by fire, song, and dance, featuring over 100 Polynesian performers from across the Pacific. Gold level seating at "HA: Breath of Life" evening show Gold level seating at "HA: Breath of Life" evening show 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare georgiacat Posted July 30, 2022 Author #8 Share Posted July 30, 2022 thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
93yearsyoung Posted July 30, 2022 #9 Share Posted July 30, 2022 The PCC is a great place, very entertaining and the dinner show terrific. I don't know if the Hale Koa Hotel has restarted their luau, but it is the one we usually go to. We've been to the Hilton's (before it was on top of a parking garage) and Royal Hawaiian's (both before and after the remodel) and Germains's (decades ago). Hale Koa is the only one we'd go back to. We have not tried the "new" ones (meaning anything new in the last 20 years). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rg123 Posted July 30, 2022 #10 Share Posted July 30, 2022 I saw the one for Hale Koa, too, and it looked nice, but as we are not military, I didn’t think we were eligible to attend (?) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
princeton123211 Posted July 30, 2022 #11 Share Posted July 30, 2022 3 hours ago, rg123 said: I saw the one for Hale Koa, too, and it looked nice, but as we are not military, I didn’t think we were eligible to attend (?) Correct-- active duty or retired service members only can stay/utilize Hale Koa. There are some other limited exceptions for DoD employees etc. Official list here: https://www.halekoa.com/about-hale-koa-hotel/eligibility 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilkySal Posted August 4, 2022 #12 Share Posted August 4, 2022 Best luau we've ever been to was the original Lahaina luau in Maui. So, after looking at a few of them in Honolulu, we will be picking the Chief's luau, which has a 5-star rating from Trip Advisor. We'll be celebrating anniversaries for DH and I, as well as my DB and his wife, so looking forward to the cruise to Hawaii!! Cheers!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare georgiacat Posted August 5, 2022 Author #13 Share Posted August 5, 2022 I have read about several of the luaus. Right now I am thinking of booking the all day Polynesian Cultural Center with the luau at the end of the day. Does anyone have comments about the Polynesian Cultural experience? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rg123 Posted August 5, 2022 #14 Share Posted August 5, 2022 Hi Georgia-cat. After re-reading my earlier post today, I hope I did not mislead you. There are a couple luau packages to choose from at the PCC and transportation ($25/person) is an optional add on to them. So our total package included the Ali’i luau and the extra transportation. (They have several pick up points in Waikiki). Sorry if I wasn’t clear Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KeepCalmBearOn Posted August 5, 2022 #15 Share Posted August 5, 2022 11 hours ago, georgiacat said: I have read about several of the luaus. Right now I am thinking of booking the all day Polynesian Cultural Center with the luau at the end of the day. Does anyone have comments about the Polynesian Cultural experience? I think the PCC is great. As you to through the various "villages" you will meet people from those areas and cultures, who are students at BYU Hawaii and have come from all over Polynesia to go to college there. The entertainment is probably the most authentic you will find. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seahappy08 Posted August 7, 2022 #16 Share Posted August 7, 2022 My husband is not so keen on all the food and drink at this Luau and it is very expensive so will just visit the site during the day and miss the show. I would like to hear some music and dancing and thought to book the House without a key. Any advice on what time to arrive, to sit indoors or out to see the entertainment and what is the food like? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KeepCalmBearOn Posted August 7, 2022 #17 Share Posted August 7, 2022 The music at the House Without A Key starts at 5:30PM in general so I would either want to be there before 5:30PM or after 7PM as some of the early folks leave for dinner reservations elsewhere. The food at HWAK is good, but Orchids is outstanding. We do cocktails at HWAK, dinner at Orchids. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seahappy08 Posted August 9, 2022 #18 Share Posted August 9, 2022 On 8/7/2022 at 8:14 PM, scottca075 said: The music at the House Without A Key starts at 5:30PM in general so I would either want to be there before 5:30PM or after 7PM as some of the early folks leave for dinner reservations elsewhere. The food at HWAK is good, but Orchids is outstanding. We do cocktails at HWAK, dinner at Orchids. Thanks for your input, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pcvtmom Posted August 21, 2022 #19 Share Posted August 21, 2022 On their website, Polynesian Cultural Center says that guest will be returned (with their transportation) by 10:45 pm, which is too late for our Carnival cruise. The ship sails at 11:00 pm. I've been looking for options WITH transportation, but it's really limited. For those in the know, would Chief's Luau or Paradise Cove Luau be a safer bet, since they are much closer to the ship? I sure wish the cruiseline would offer a luau, with pickup and return at the port. Arranging transportation is a pain! Even if you book the luau transportation (and they don't all offer this), you still have to get to and from Waikiki. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H2OfordCruiser Posted August 21, 2022 #20 Share Posted August 21, 2022 On 8/7/2022 at 3:14 PM, scottca075 said: The music at the House Without A Key starts at 5:30PM in general so I would either want to be there before 5:30PM or after 7PM as some of the early folks leave for dinner reservations elsewhere. The food at HWAK is good, but Orchids is outstanding. We do cocktails at HWAK, dinner at Orchids. Great suggestion! If we did drinks at HWAK at 5:30, what time would you suggest doing dinner at Orchids? We'd like to see the sunset. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KeepCalmBearOn Posted August 21, 2022 #21 Share Posted August 21, 2022 5 minutes ago, H2OfordCruiser said: Great suggestion! If we did drinks at HWAK at 5:30, what time would you suggest doing dinner at Orchids? We'd like to see the sunset. You can Google sunset time for Honolulu on the day you to go, but generally if we went to HWAK at 5:30PM, we'd probably reserve Orchids for 6:30PM. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H2OfordCruiser Posted August 21, 2022 #22 Share Posted August 21, 2022 Just googled it after asking you! Thanks!!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rare georgiacat Posted August 22, 2022 Author #23 Share Posted August 22, 2022 pcvtmom, Check the ship that you are cruising on. We are going with Pride of America. I believe that they have a luau excursion on one of the islands (not Oahu). I feel sure that other cruiselines would schedule luaus also. That is such a "Hawaiian thing". We are planning to stay in Waikiki for 3 days before the cruise. I have not made reservations or bought excursions yet, but I am thinking about one day Circle Tour and another day Polynesian Cultural Center with luau and their transportation. I am sure we will be tired from trying to get too much in. There is always the beach and the pool. Then get on the ship and go some more. Thinking of the Pearl Harbor transportation tour from ship to airport at end of cruise. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pcvtmom Posted August 22, 2022 #24 Share Posted August 22, 2022 6 hours ago, georgiacat said: pcvtmom, Check the ship that you are cruising on. We are going with Pride of America. I believe that they have a luau excursion on one of the islands (not Oahu). I feel sure that other cruiselines would schedule luaus also. That is such a "Hawaiian thing". We are planning to stay in Waikiki for 3 days before the cruise. I have not made reservations or bought excursions yet, but I am thinking about one day Circle Tour and another day Polynesian Cultural Center with luau and their transportation. I am sure we will be tired from trying to get too much in. There is always the beach and the pool. Then get on the ship and go some more. Thinking of the Pearl Harbor transportation tour from ship to airport at end of cruise. I checked the cruise line's shore excursions first, but Carnival isn't offering a luau at any of the ports, sadly. Hence, my concern about getting back to the ship on time. It appears that Oahu is our best port to schedule a luau, since we have an 11:00 pm departure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rg123 Posted August 22, 2022 #25 Share Posted August 22, 2022 Have never been to this one (only Paradise Cove and going to Polynesian Cultural Center this time), but it looks pretty good and would fit your time frame: Ka Moana Luau at Sea Life Park. checkin is 5-5:30; dinner 5:45-6:45, Luau at 7; finishes at 8. They do offer transportation from Waikiki -$25 RT and says they get back at 8:30. I saw this on TravelShack website Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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