All Reviews for Waikiki Beach, Oahu

I came to the Rock-a-Hula show as a first-timer to Hawaii to catch a show with my family. It offers a lively, pre-packaged, easy-to-digest introduction to hula, Hawaiian culture, and local history—mixed with plenty of iconic pop-culture moments that Hawaii has embraced and celebrated over time. The experience is broken into a few different ticket options, and what you pay really affects what you get. Here’s what to know before you go:

1. Ticket options & pricing
You can choose between show-only tickets or a luau buffet paired with the show. Pricing varies quite a bit. I was able to snag a 2-for-1 show-only deal, which came out to about $43 per person, and I also saw a single-ticket promo for around $60. The luau + show packages run $100+ depending on whether you upgrade to VIP. The buffet is definitely better suited for non-vegetarians, but there are some meat-free options.

2. The venue & overall vibe
This is a non-traditional show set in a large, comfortable amphitheater on the top floor of a shopping plaza. The show opens with a short historical video about the land and people of Hawaii set in 1920, which sets the timeline for the rest of the performance. From start to finish, the show runs about 1 hour and 10 minutes—just the right length in my opinion.

3. Show highlights
The pacing starts off a bit slow with traditional hula dancers and singers, then really picks up steam once the show moves into the 1950s. The Elvis segment is the longest and most prominent, and honestly, the performer is impressively spot-on in both voice and movement, covering several of Elvis’s biggest hits.

From there, the show transitions into tributes to the Jackson 5 and Michael Jackson, his dance moves really get the audience excited with high-energy dance numbers. You’ll also see nods to familiar cultural touchstones like Israel Kamakawiwoʻole’s “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” Moana, and finally, a dramatic flaming poi performance honoring the fire goddess.

I came to the Rock-a-Hula show as a first-timer to Hawaii to catch a show with my family. It offers a lively, pre-packaged, easy-to-digest introduction to hula, Hawaiian culture, and local history—mixed with plenty of iconic pop-culture moments that Hawaii has embraced and celebrated over time. The experience is broken into a few different ticket options, and what you pay really affects what you get. Here’s what to know before you go:

1. Ticket options & pricing
You can choose between show-only tickets or a luau buffet paired with the show. Pricing varies quite a bit. I was able to snag a 2-for-1 show-only deal, which came out to about $43 per person, and I also saw a single-ticket promo for around $60. The luau + show packages run $100+ depending on whether you upgrade to VIP. The buffet is definitely better suited for non-vegetarians, but there are some meat-free options.

2. The venue & overall vibe
This is a non-traditional show set in a large, comfortable amphitheater on the top floor of a shopping plaza. The show opens with a short historical video about the land and people of Hawaii set in 1920, which sets the timeline for the rest of the performance. From start to finish, the show runs about 1 hour and 10 minutes—just the right length in my opinion.

3. Show highlights
The pacing starts off a bit slow with traditional hula dancers and singers, then really picks up steam once the show moves into the 1950s. The Elvis segment is the longest and most prominent, and honestly, the performer is impressively spot-on in both voice and movement, covering several of Elvis’s biggest hits.

From there, the show transitions into tributes to the Jackson 5 and Michael Jackson, his dance moves really get the audience excited with high-energy dance numbers. You’ll also see nods to familiar cultural touchstones like Israel Kamakawiwoʻole’s “Somewhere Over the Rainbow,” Moana, and finally, a dramatic flaming poi performance honoring the fire goddess.

The driver arrived at the pickup location on time and was very kind to us, even though we are Japanese! If you're planning to climb Diamond Head, I definitely recommend going early in the morning. We were able to see a beautiful sunrise! ♪

運転手さんは時間通りに送迎場所に来てくださり、日本人の私たちにも優しく接してくださいました！
ダイヤモンドヘッドに登るなら絶対早朝をおすすめします。
とても綺麗なサンライズを見ることができました♪

Anyone can climb it. However, to climb Diamond Head, prior application is required, so it might be easier to join a tour like this. If you can apply in advance by yourself, it would be cheaper to get to the trailhead by bus or Uber.

誰でも登れます。但し、ダイヤモンドヘッドを登るには、事前申請が必要なので、このようなツアーで参加するのが楽かも知れません。自分自身で事前申請ができるのであれば、登山口まで、バスやウーバーで行った方が安いでしょう。

The price was high, but the seats were in a central and easy-to-see location, which was very good. I was satisfied. I always use Beltora for options.

金額も高かったですが、席も中央で見やすい位置でとても良かったです。満足できました。いつもオプションはベルトラさんを使わせていただいてます。

The Cirque du Soleil performance "Awana" was amazing. I want to see it again. I'm always impressed by the high level of the performers.

シルク・ドゥ・ソレイユの公演『アウアナ』は素晴らしかったです。
また見に行きたいと思います。
パフォーマーのレベルの高さにはいつも感心しています。

Convenient, smooth, friendly staff. Easy to book and reserve. Perfect way to start your morning on this sunrise cruise

It was a short course starting from 530. Overall, the portions were generous, and even with just three dishes, I was full and had to take half of the main meat home. All the dishes were lightly seasoned, allowing the natural flavors of the ingredients to shine through. The meat was supposed to be Waimea beef, but I was informed in advance that it wouldn't be available, so it was US beef instead. I would like to create another opportunity to try Waimea beef. The staff were pleasant, and the entire space, including the restaurant and restrooms, had a cohesive and natural feel, creating a stylish atmosphere.

530からのショートコースでした。
全体的に量がたっぷりで、3品でも、お腹が一杯で、メインのお肉は半分持ち帰りました。
全ての料理は味付けがやさしく、材料そのもののお味が楽しめました。お肉はワイメア牛のはずでしたが、事前に用意できないと、連絡があり、US牛でした。又機会をつくって、ワイメア牛をたべてみたいと思いました。スタッフは感じがよく、店内、トイレにいたるところまで、統一感のある自然なかんじ、おしゃれ空間でした。

I watched from the front row. I participated last year as well, and the powerful show was amazing no matter how many times I see it. Since I was able to see it up close, I could also see the expressions on their faces, which was very nice.

最前列の席で観覧しました。昨年も参加しましたが、迫力のあるショーは何度見ても最高でした。
近くで観ることが出来たので、お顔の様子も観ることができて、とても良かったです。

I went with my grandchild. The weather wasn't great, and the sea in January was cold. There was some rocking, and just when my first grader started to feel a little seasick, we spotted a whale, which was incredibly exciting!

The staff had a wonderful atmosphere. I only had a card with me, but I ordered juice anyway... However, they responded with such kindness and excellent service that I want to give back next time.

孫と2人で乗りました。天気がイマイチで1月の海は寒かったです。揺れもあり小1の孫が少し酔い出した頃にくじらが見えて大感動！

スタッフの人の雰囲気がすごく良かった。
カードしか持っていなかったのに、
ジュース頼んじゃって…でもきちんと優しい素晴らしい対応してくれたから、次はお返しがしたいくらいです。

I applied with my husband and grandchild. The pickup was about 10 minutes late. I was moved by the wonderful experience and returned home feeling touched. January is the rainy season, and it rained a lot, but it seems we were able to see the sunrise, which was great! It was a bit pricey, but the transportation service was the right choice. 👍

主人と孫と申し込み。ピックアップは10分ほど遅れました。
良い体験ができたと感動して帰ってしました。
1月は雨季で雨ばかりだったけど日の出も見れたらしく良かった!
少し割高になるけど、送迎で正解👍

I was moved by the fire dance! At the end, we were able to take photos, which became a nice memory. Since it's at the Hawaiian Center, the location is great, and I highly recommend it!

ファイヤーダンスに感動でした！
最後に写真撮影などもできて、記念になりました。ハワイアンセンターなので、立地もよく、オススメです！

The prologue was cool, and both the music and performances were really good; time seemed to fly by. Even though everything was in English, I could understand the atmosphere, and I was happy that the cast members smiled as they walked past the seats, showing consideration for the audience. ♪

プロローグからカッコよく、音楽も演技もとても良くて、時間はとても早く過ぎた感じでした。
全部英語ではあったけれど、雰囲気でわかるし、団員さん達が席の横を通って行く時にもニッコリしていってくれて、観客に気配りしてくれているのが嬉しかったです♪

Since it was the first day, I was a bit anxious about being in a new place, but I was able to get in relatively smoothly. The Japanese language was also fine, and I was able to relax while listening to music. The amount of food was just right for us, which was great.

初日だったので初めての所は不安でしたが、割とスムーズに中に入れて、日本語も大丈夫だったし、音楽を聴きながらゆっくり過ごせました。料理の量も多過ぎず私達には、良かったです。

The trolley service had fewer buses, but it was great because it could take us to the main tourist spots. It was a 7-day ticket, so it was a shame that I couldn't use it every day. The East Oahu Scenic Line gets crowded in the mornings. It's best to board from the Royal Hawaiian Center at the start of the line, as it becomes difficult to get on later. The driver was cheerful and kind, making the experience enjoyable. Last time, I used the Waikiki Trolley, but this one was only for Japanese tourists, which made it easier with shorter waiting times.

トロリーだと、本数は少ないけど主要観光地にも行くことができるたので良かったです。7日間チケットだったため、全日は使用出来なかったのは残念。東オアフ絶景ラインは午前中混み合います。途中からは無理なので、始発のロイヤルハワイアンセンターから乗るのがおすすめです。運転手さんも陽気で親切、楽しく過ごすことが出来ました。前回はワイキキトロリーを利用しましたが、こちらは日本人だけで、並ぶ時間も短縮出来て楽でした。

I saw Cirque du Soleil for the first time.
All the performances were moving.
They were powerful, and I was able to watch with excitement and anticipation!
I definitely want to see it again!

初めてシルクドゥソレイユをみました。
全てのパフォーマンスが感動しました。
迫力があり、ワクワク、ドキドキしながら見ることができました！
また絶対に見たいです！

The East Oahu drive course was amazing! The driver spoke Japanese well and explained various things, and even took photos for us. The scenery was beautiful (^ - ^) It was drizzling, so they provided us with raincoats! Next time, I want to try it on a nice sunny day. Haha!

東オアフドライブコース最高でした！
運転手さんが日本語が上手で、いろいろ説明してくれたり、写真を撮ってくださいました。
綺麗な景色でした(^-^)
小雨だったのて、カッパもくれました！
今度は天気の良い日に挑戦したいです。笑

We had a large group in town for a sort time over NYE and this ticked all our boxes. The crew were great fun and made us all feel very welcomed.

I was able to see whales a few times, and I also got to see dolphins up close along the way, making it a satisfying tour. The only downside was that the whales were far away, so I couldn't really grasp their size. The crew also kept things lively during the tour, which was fun. It was great to see Waikiki Beach and Diamond Head from the sea as well.

クジラを数回見ることができ、また、途中でイルカをまじかに見ることもでき、満足いくツアーでした。残念なことは、クジラが遠く、大きさを実感できなかったことです。クルーの皆さんも、ツアーの間いろいろ盛り上げてくれて、楽しかったです。ワイキキビーチやダイアモンドヘッドを海から見れたこともよかったです。

I signed up for the tour because I wanted to enjoy authentic hula. The hula dance and fire dance were spectacular and very impressive. In the impersonation show, there were performers resembling Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson, and since I belong to the generation that grew up with Michael Jackson, it was great to enjoy both his songs and dance.

本場のフラが楽しめるということで、ツアーを申し込みしました。
フラダンスやファイヤーダンスは圧巻でとても良かったです。
モノマネショーではエルビスプレスリーやマイケルジャクソンのそっくりさんがパフォーマンスをされていて、特にマイケルジャクソンはドンピシャ世代なので、歌とダンスが楽しめて良かったです。

We participated as a family of three, and the experience of looking down at the city and the sea from such a high place was refreshing. We were very satisfied. Since the photos didn't turn out well, it might be better not to ask for them.

家族3人で参加しましたが、遥か高いところから街や海を眺める体験は爽快でした。大満足です。写真はちゃんと撮れているのないので、頼まない方がいいかも。

The weather was nice, which allowed us to see some very beautiful scenery! It was a really enjoyable experience.

The staff is accustomed to dealing with Japanese customers, but the explanations will be in English. However, during the boat ride, there are also explanations in Japanese, so I think it would be reassuring to pay attention to those as well.

You can have photos taken during the experience for an additional fee, and since they took many pictures, it became a great memory. I definitely recommend requesting this!

天気が良かったことも幸いし、非常に良い景色が見られました！とても楽しい体験でした。
スタッフの方は日本人の対応にも慣れている方ではありますが、説明は英語になります。船で移動中に流れる説明では日本語でも説明があるので、そちらも注意して聞いていた方が安心して臨めるかと思います。
別料金で体験中の写真を撮っていただくことができるのですが、たくさん撮っていただけていい思い出になったため、ぜひお願いすることをおすすめします！

I have seen Cirque du Soleil performances all over the world, but this one truly respected the local culture and elevated it to an art form, which was amazing. I was initially worried about the small size of the venue, but once the show started, I realized that the scale was actually perfect.

I now have more plays that I absolutely recommend to anyone going to Hawaii, and I will definitely go see this one again when I visit.

The entrance can be a bit tricky to find at first, but you go up the escalator located in the small rotary next to the hotel, and then turn right, and you will see the entrance right away. Show your ticket to the staff standing there, then go up the escalator again to reach the doors in front of the venue.

They sell popcorn and drinks that you can enjoy during the performance.

I definitely plan to go again.

これまで世界中のシルク・ドゥ・ソレイユを見てきましたが、それらの中でもその土地の文化を尊重し、芸術として昇華させている感じが最高でした。会場規模が小さくて最初不安だったのですが、始まったらその規模が最高に良かったんだということを実感しました。

ハワイに行ったら必ず見に行くし、ハワイに行く人に絶対に勧める演劇というものが増えました。

入口は最初は少し分かりにくいのですが、ホテル脇の小さいロータリーにあるエスカレーターを上がって、右に曲がると直ぐにエントランスです。立っている係員にチケットを見せて、エスカレーターをさらに上がって会場前の扉まで行きましょう。

観劇中に食べることのできるポップコーンや飲み物はそこで売っています。

また必ず行こうと思います。

The pickup and reservation process was very helpful. Since there was plenty of time until the meeting point for the descent, I was able to climb Diamond Head at my own pace and take lots of photos. On the way back, the route was to the hotel, but when I mentioned that I wanted to go to the KCC Market instead of the hotel, they kindly took me to the KCC Market and dropped me off there. The driver was cheerful, and it was a very enjoyable time.

お迎えや予約の手続きも助かりました。
下山の集合までたっぷり時間があったのでダイアモンドヘッドに自分のペースで登ることもでき、たくさん写真も撮ることができました。帰りはホテルまでのコースでしたが、ホテルではなくKCCマーケットへ行きたいと伝えたら、快くKCCマーケットまで送ってくれてそこで下車しました。
ドライバーさんも明るくてとても楽しい時間でした。

I watched from a center seat. The aisle side might be more enjoyable since the performers come over there. It's in English, but I can understand the content as well. The acrobatic performances are impressive and wonderful.

センター席で鑑賞。通路側は、キャスターが横に来てくれるので、もっと楽しめるかも。
英語ですが、内容も理解できます。アクロバット演技は見応えありですばらしいです。

I always wanted to experience sunset sailing! The view of Diamond Head and Honolulu from the water is completely different from what you see from the beach! The sea breeze and music really lifted my spirits. Since it was the last night of my trip, it was a memorable experience that I will cherish along with the fun memories.

一度は体験したかったサンセットセーリング！砂浜から見る景色とは違うダイヤモンドヘッドやホノルルを一望！海風や音楽がテンションを上げてくれます。旅行最終日の夜だったので楽しかった思い出と共に記憶に残る体験でした。

My first parasailing experience!! The view of Diamond Head and Waikiki Beach from up high was so beautiful! The staff at the shop were kind and fun, making it an enjoyable experience.

初めてのパラセーリング！！高いところから見るダイヤモンドヘッド、ワイキキビーチとても綺麗でした！
お店の人も親切で面白く楽しめました。

The view from the second row was incredibly powerful. I was captivated by the performers' expressions. The staging was directed like a 3D movie, and I felt satisfied no matter where I looked. It felt like a fusion of musical and circus, with music and dance that evoked the spirit of Hawaii, stirring my emotions to the point of tears. I hope entertainment in Hawaii becomes more vibrant. I'm grateful for the opportunity to see 'Auwana' again; I definitely want to watch it once more!

前から2列目で迫力が凄かったです。演者さんの表情にも見とれてしまいました。舞台から3D映画のように演出されていてどこから見ても満足だと思いました。ミュージカルとサーカスが融合している感じでハワイを感じる音楽や踊りで感情が高ぶり涙が出ました。ハワイのエンタメが盛んになって欲しいです。又絶対観たいと思うアウアナに感謝！

I conveniently used it to go to various delicious places from Waikiki, such as Monsarrat Avenue, Kaimuki, and KCC, and to watch the sunset. I would like to use it again next time. 😊

ワイキキから色々美味しいものを食べに行ったりでモンサラット通りやカイムキ、KCCに行ったり、サンセットを見に行ったりと便利に利用させて頂きました。次回も利用したいと思います😊

The driver spoke English, so there was still a language barrier. Although there were no issues with getting on and off during the transfer, I couldn't get any water and ended up having to buy expensive water on-site. Diamond Head was wonderful.

運転手さんが英語なので、やはり言葉が通じない。送迎の乗り降りは、通じなくても、問題はなかったが、水がもらえず、現地で高い水を買うことになった。
ダイアモンドヘッドは、すばらしかった。