All Reviews for Ko Olina Resorts

If you're like me, you're doing a deep dive into every luau on the island and reading every review so you can decide what to spend your hard earned money on. Look no further. Kaula Luau in Ko Olina truly delivered an unforgettable experience and I will highlight some of the best parts.

First off, it's a new luau (opened February 2026) and differs greatly from traditional luaus. Will get more into it later.

We got the hotel shuttle transfer and even though it ran a little late, we made it to the luau with a lot of time to spare. The bus was luxurious and very comfortable. We were a small group of 8 but our guide Kanoa (Zeek) was very welcoming, funny and attentive.

The gift shop featured only items sourced and made from locals on the island, nothing imported. A lot of cute bags!

The preshow/dinner activities were fun and we learned a lot. Our favorite was the fire baton twirling, dancing with traditional instruments, and throwing a fishing net. The teachers were very friendly and guided us throughout.

There's no buffet, but small huts that serve dishes. You can get seconds... Thirds... Or more. The poke taro chips, grilled chicken and the Hawaiian roll were delightful. Bottled Jason Mamoa water was provided. The wait staff was quick to remove finished plates too! As with any outdoor luaus, there will be bugs. Use bug spray and maybe bring a hand fan to shoo them away.

The preshow featured live singing and hula dancing. It was a good workout for the food we were gonna eat!

You got plenty of time in between the preshow and main show to take pictures with the gorgeous sunset.

The main show was the highlight. The story telling was immersive, engaging, easy to follow and enjoyable for all ages. Felt like watching a theatre show! The production was top notch. A lot of dancing, live singing and high energy. Ended with a bang: fiery fire dancers, including the first female fire dancer!

Book it. There's a lot of love put into the production and it shows 💖

The surroundings were too bright, and it was disappointing. I compared it to my previous experience of watching the sunset and stargazing at Mauna Kea on the Big Island of Hawaii.

まわりが明るすぎて　期待はずれでした。
前にハワイ島のマウナケアでサンセットと
星空鑑賞をしたので　比べてしまいました。

I had a great time being together with people from abroad. The guide seemed to understand a little Japanese, which made communication enjoyable. Above all, I think it's happy to share the time of enjoying the beautiful starry sky with those who love stars in Hawaii.

外国の方とも一緒になれて楽しかったです。ガイドの方は日本語も少しわかるようで楽しくコミュニケーションが取れました。何より、Hawaiiで星が好きな方々と綺麗な星空を見て楽しむという時間を共有できることがhappyだと思います。

I booked the round-trip transportation plan for the Royal seats. It wasn’t cheap, but I’m really glad I chose it. It was absolutely worth it; the performance was truly amazing!!

I booked the round-trip transportation plan for the Royal seats. It wasn’t cheap, but I’m really glad I chose it. It was absolutely worth it, the performance was truly amazing!!

I used the plan with transportation included. The shuttle bus was just for the two of us, but even though they couldn't speak English, they kindly communicated using a tablet, which made us feel very comfortable and reassured. Since the venue, Ko Olina, is quite far away, I highly recommend the transportation-inclusive plan.

Upon arrival, we were offered a welcome drink and had a relaxing time enjoying the beautiful sunset.

Dinner was served buffet-style, but to be honest, compared to typical hotel buffets, the selection was a bit modest. If you go in with high expectations for the food, you might feel a bit disappointed. However, personally, I didn't feel too let down, and I was satisfied as long as I enjoyed the atmosphere along with the meal.

During dinner, there were also small shows, which kept things entertaining. The main show was impressive, authentic, and very moving.

As mentioned in the reviews, it felt a bit chilly at night. It was a good idea to bring a light jacket, but I think something a bit warmer would have been better.

In the end, there was a warm send-off from the performers, and we even got to take pictures with them, which made for a wonderful memory.

送迎付きプランを利用しました。お迎えのバスは私たち2人だけでしたが、英語が話せなくてもタブレットを使って丁寧に対応してくださり、とても親切で安心できました。会場のコ・オリナまでは距離があるので、送迎付きプランはかなりおすすめです。

到着後はウェルカムドリンクのサービスがあり、きれいなサンセットを眺めながらゆったりとした時間を過ごせました。

ディナーはビュッフェ形式ですが、正直に言うと一般的なホテルビュッフェと比べると少し控えめな内容です。食事に強く期待して行くと物足りなさを感じるかもしれません。ただ、個人的にはそこまでがっかりすることはなく、雰囲気と一緒に楽しめば十分満足できました。

食事中にも少しずつショーがあり、飽きることなく楽しめます。そしてメインのショーは迫力があり、本格的でとても感動しました。

口コミにもあった通り、夜は少し肌寒く感じました。薄手の羽織りは持って行って正解でしたが、もう少し暖かいものでも良いと思います。

最後は出演者の方々による温かいお見送りがあり、一緒に写真も撮ってもらえて、とても良い思い出になりました。

I was relieved to have staff who could speak Japanese. I was moved to see dolphins, sea turtles, and whales. I had a great time playing in the ocean with snorkeling and the water slide. Watching the staff's hula show made me feel the essence of Hawaii. The lunch was also included and it was delicious.

日本語が話せるスタッフさんがいて安心しました。
イルカとホヌとホエールも見れて感動しました。
シュノーケルとウォーター滑り台思いっきり海で遊べました。
スタッフさんのフラショーを見てハワイだぁと感動です。
ランチも付いていて美味しかったです。

I booked this Luau with our Ko Olina Kaula Kai Sunset Sail and Luau Combo.
https://www.veltra.com/en/hawaii/oahu/a/201093

After checking in around 5:00–5:15pm, we were instructed to board the catamaran while musicians played and welcomed guests. For safety reasons, women wearing sandals or heels were asked to remove their shoes and board barefoot.

There were cookies and chips available for everyone on board, and once most guests had boarded, the bar opened. It was an open bar with options such as lilikoi mai tai, Waianae sunset, piña colada, turtletini, catatonic, and local beers from Kona Brewing. The boat was quite packed, and with only one bartender, the line became very long—so unless you were willing to wait, you could likely only get one or two drinks. They also ran out of chips, so not everyone was able to have some, until the very end when they refilled the table again.

We departed around 5:30pm. Since this was after the days of the storm, the ocean conditions hadn’t fully settled, and the ride was still a bit bumpy. Fortunately, I found a spot at the back of the boat, leaning against the railing and facing forward, which helped with the motion. We were able to spot a few​ whales, though they appeared only briefly, making them difficult to capture on camera. We returned to the harbor around 6:30pm, so the sailing portion lasted about an hour.

[Reviewed by HawaiiActivities.com Staff]

I booked this Luau with our Ko Olina Kaula Kai Sunset Sail and Luau Combo.
https://www.veltra.com/en/hawaii/oahu/a/201093

Upon arriving from the boat around 6:30 PM, we headed straight to the luau, just in time for dinner.

Their Luau dinner setup is different​ from a typical Luau. Guests ​g​o to multiple food stations and ​food trucks​ to select individual menu items. At each station, guests​ are served a plate of that item. One highlight for me was that the catering is provided by Moani. Moani Island Bistro in Kapolei is one of our favorite weekend spots, so I was especially excited​, and the food did not disappoint. Everything served at the luau was delicious.

Regarding seating, since this was an Industry FAM night,​ I'm not sure if this was normal but there were no assigned seats. Instead, a designated area was reserved for FAM attendees on a first-come, first-served basis. We were seated on the left side of the stage at the last table in the back, but still had a great view.

The stage itself was beautifully designed​, very unique and inviting. The storytelling was engaging. It felt li​ke a full production, almost like an outdoor ​broadway​ show, with impressive lighting, sound effects, and screen animations, ​oh and we were surprised to see an acrobatic​ too!​  It actually reminded me of “Auana” in Waikiki​,​ almost like a Westside version in Ko Olina. The performance featured a wide range of Polynesian dances, which was fun to watch.

Highly recommended especially for those staying at Ko Olina Resorts or on the West side.

It was spacious, fun, and there just wasn't enough time! It opens at 10:30 and we had to gather at 15:00, so we only had about 4 hours to enjoy ourselves!! Next time, I want to take my time. The staff explained everything in Japanese and were very attentive.

広くて、楽しくて時間が全然足りなかった！10時半オープン、15時に集合だから、実質４時間しか遊べない！！次回はゆっくり行きたいです。スタッフは日本語で丁寧に説明、対応してくれました。

First, I made a mistake and booked the wrong date, realizing it the day before and requesting assistance. They responded immediately, and I was able to go the next day without any issues, which was very helpful. It was reassuring that there were staff members who could communicate in Japanese.

As for the pool itself, perhaps due to the limited number of staff, half of the attractions were closed. That's unfortunate...

That said, I was still able to have a fun time.

まずは自分のミスで予約日を間違ってしまい、前日に気づき対応を依頼。
すぐに対応していただき、翌日無事にいく事が出来た事はとても助かりました。
日本語対応が出来るかたもいて、安心できます。

プール自体ですが、スタッフが少ないためかアトラクションが半分はClose.　
残念です。。。

とはいえ、楽しい時間を過ごす事は出来ました。

I participated with my 11-year-old son. There were two instructors who cheerfully energized the atmosphere. However, since my son doesn't understand any English, he was treated equally to the other customers, which left him feeling quite lost. The safety measures were excellent, and the zip line was long and felt great.

11歳の息子と二人で参加しました。
インストラクターさん二人いて、陽気に場を盛り上げてました。
ただ英語が全く分からない息子にも他の利用客さんとある意味平等に扱うので、息子は何がなにやらって感じでした。
安全対策はバッチリで、ジップライン長くて気持ちよかったです。

It's not as big of a facility as I thought. There are few free deck chairs available. The slide tubes are narrow, so if you lift your head, you could get injured. The FlowRider was under maintenance, and there was no explanation from the staff. If I had known in advance, I would have chosen a different ticket. The free drinks are only cold beverages. I don't think I'll come back a second time.

思った程、大きな施設ではない。無料デッキチェアの数は少ない。スライダーのチューブは狭いので頭を上げると怪我をします。フローライダーはメンテナンス中で体験出来ず、施設の方も説明なし。事前に知っていれば他のチケットにしたかった。フリードリンクは冷たい飲み物のみ。2度目は無いと思います

This wasn’t just a commercialized Luau. It was a cultural experience. Great food, fantastic dancing, fun activities, and a moving story. All approved by the elders. We couldn’t have had a better time. Highly recommended .

I was really grateful that they provided transportation not only from Waikiki but also from the Ko Olina hotels. 🙏 The instructor was always taking photos, and at the end, we could purchase them for $70. 📸 There was one instructor who spoke Japanese, and they explained everything in Japanese, which made me feel very at ease. 🇯🇵 I was able to see the dolphins up close, and the thrilling water slide was a lot of fun! 🐬 I definitely want to visit again!

ワイキキだけでなく、コオリナのホテルでも送迎していただけた点がとても助かりました🙏常にインストラクターさんが写真を撮ってくださっていて、最後に70ドルで購入が可能でした📸日本語が話せるインストラクターさんが1人いらっしゃって、常に日本語で説明してくださったのでとても安心でした🇯🇵イルカもとても近くで見られて、スリル満点のウォータースライダーもとても楽しかったです🐬また訪れたいと思います！

The park opens at 10:30, so it's always disappointing that we have to wrap things up feeling a bit unsatisfied. I understand it's to accommodate those who want to participate in cruises that day, but that's just the situation. Is there any way to have a 4 PM gathering to increase the satisfaction of the activities?

開園が10:30なので、あと一歩物足りない感じで切り上げないといけないのが毎年残念です。
その日クルーズなどに参加したい人に合わせてとのことですが、それはその事情なので。
アクティビティの満足度をあげるために16時集合に出来ないのでしょうか。

The crowd was moderate, and we were able to enjoy all the attractions with only a short wait time. The wave pool and the thrilling water slides were all of high quality, making for a very satisfying travel experience.

適度な混み具合で、どのアトラクションも少しの待ち時間で乗ることが出来ました。波が出るプールや、スリル満点のウォータースライダーは、どれも完成度が高く大満足の旅行体験になりました。

I've been here at least five times. Whenever I come to Hawaii, I always go there. I only ride the thrill rides. You should definitely try the board experience.

もー5回はきてます　ハワイに来たら　必ず行きます　絶叫系しか乗りません
ボード体験は　やったほーがいい

Due to a rare weather disruption that occurs once every few decades, it was difficult to carry out the originally scheduled date, but they proposed an alternative date, making it possible for us to participate. The captain was very friendly and treated my family, who are not very familiar with English, with great kindness. Thanks to his patient instruction on fishing techniques, we were able to catch some fish! He was also very gentle with my child, who got seasick, which made for a very satisfying experience. If we have the opportunity to go again, I would definitely like to use their services.

数十年に１度の天候悪化のタイミングで当初予定していた日程の実施が難しかったのですが別日程を提案頂き利用が可能となりました。
船長は非常に気さくな方で英語が不慣れな家族にも非常にフレンドリーに接してくれて釣り方についても親切に教えてくれたおかげで釣る事も出来ました！
船酔いになってしまった子供にも優しく接してくれて非常に満足のいく体験でした。
また行く機会がありましたらぜひ利用したい先です。

It was an honor and a privilege to experience the tour of Pearl Harbor, USS Arizona, and USS Missouri. Much of the other areas seen were just site seeing. Honolulu was fine but I would like to have seen less of Honolulu and more of Pearl Harbor.

Saw no whales this day but all not lost. We encountered a pod of dolphins on the way back to the dock. They played with us for awhile circling the boat and darting away. That made up for the lack of whales!

This time, I participated in a dolphin watching and snorkeling tour in Hawaii for the first time. We were incredibly lucky to encounter a pod of spinner dolphins just 15 minutes after departure. There were quite a few dolphins swimming alongside and in front of the boat for a long time, and we even got to see them jumping. During snorkeling, I was able to swim very close to a green sea turtle.

On the way back, we were fortunate enough to see seven humpback whales at the same time, making it a miraculous day, and I had a truly satisfying experience. We were lucky to encounter the dolphins so quickly, but for those who don't get to see them, the boat has to circle around, and after snorkeling, it can get chilly, so I felt that motion sickness medication and cold weather precautions are necessary.

Additionally, there was a staff member who spoke Japanese, which allowed us to enjoy the experience even though we couldn't speak English.

今回、初めてのハワイでイルカウォッチングとシュノーケリングのツアーに参加させていただきました。
運がすごくよかったのが、出航15分でハシナガイルカの群に遭遇でき、かなりの数のイルカがとても長い時間、船の前や横を泳いでいて、ジャンプすら姿も見れ、シュノーケリングの際もアオウミガメのすぐ近くで泳げました。
帰りにザトウクジラも同時に7頭見れるという奇跡的な日だったので、すごく満足のできる体験をすることができました。
自分たちは、イルカもすぐ遭遇できたのでラッキーだったのですが、なかなかイルカに遭遇できないと船で色々回らなければいけず、シュノーケリングのあとは、身体も冷えるので酔い止めと寒さ対策は必要だと感じました。
また、スタッフの方の日本語ができる方がいたので、英語ができない自分たちでも楽しむことができました。

We enjoyed the performance combining traditional hula, music and dance with contemporary lighting and video. The food is great. Staff is friendly, welcoming and helpful. Beautiful setting. A few tweaks to the overall experience will likely be coming as they work through these opening weeks. Waiting in lines at the "food trucks" takes some time, and the hot food was getting cold by the time we got to our tables. Perhaps the sweet bread and cold food could be plated ahead of time and more personnel added to the hot food stations. The "welcome drinks" could also be poured as guests were arriving and served on trays to speed up entry. Perhaps different colored wristbands (or stickers) on arrival could designate drink eligibility rather than adding another wristband. We got there early, but did not have time to visit any of the activities--would have liked to visit the drumming, etc.

I was lucky enough to see whales, dolphins, and turtles all in one trip. We saw five whales, 15 dolphins, one turtle in the sea, and three on land. I'm not very good at snorkeling, so I watched the dolphins from above the water, and my snorkeling experience was only about 15 minutes, but I was very satisfied. However, the boat was really rocky, and since I tend to get seasick, I took motion sickness medication the night before and in the morning, which helped me manage. Unfortunately, another group of Japanese tourists was vomiting the whole time. Also, the boat ride and the bus back were cold after snorkeling, so it's essential to have something to wear.

運が良かったのが、クジラ・イルカ・カメを全部見ることができました。
クジラは５頭、イルカは15頭、カメは海で１匹、陸で３匹でした。
シュノーケルはあまり得意はないので、イルカは海の上から見て、シュノーケルも15分程度の体験でしたが、非常に満足しました。
ただ、船の揺れはすごく、自分はかなり船酔いするタイプなので、前日の夜と当日の朝に酔い止めを飲んでなんとか平気でしたが、もう一組の日本人はずっと吐いてました。
また、シュノーケル後の船と帰りのバスは寒いので、羽織るものは必須です。

Very fun and staff were awesome and very helpful !

Show was great! Chief and his family put so much positive energy into the whole event! Food was very good!

Luau was awesome, and the shuttle to the luau is so convenient!

Not only do you get a great show you get a great laugh throughout - perfect balance!

The entertainment was top-notch and the food was delicious. I loved the different portions of entertainment that were designed around the various cultures that came together through history to make Hawaii what it is today. It was exactly the kind of experience and education I was hoping for.

Our tour bus did get stuck in some traffic and was slower due to picking up guests from multiple locations, and while I felt like that luau did their best to hold off on the main event (dinner and show) until we arrived (which I greatly appreciated), we did miss out on getting the full experience listed on the events description (i.e. "Interact up close and personal with your Pacific Island hosts with Hawaiian crafts, hula lessons, coconut husking, fire making, weaving, tattooing, and more. ") So if those activities are important to you, you might want to consider booking private transportation to the luau instead of taking the group shuttle option to make sure you arrive in plenty of time to get the full experience.

I participated in a dolphin watching and snorkeling tour. Overall, the atmosphere was very pleasant, and the views of the sea and mountains were beautiful, which really lifted my spirits during the trip. Although I couldn't swim with the dolphins this time, I was lucky to see them up close, and it was said that encountering two different species of dolphins is quite rare (about once in ten times). The sight of the dolphins surfing on the waves created by the boat was also impressive.

During snorkeling, I was able to see many sea turtles and schools of fish, which made me very satisfied. The underwater world was more lively than I had imagined, and time flew by. The sandwiches for lunch and the potato chips for snacks were delicious and added a nice touch to the experience.

Among the participants, we were the only Japanese, but Ken provided interpretation and support, making the trivia and explanations easy to understand, which allowed us to enjoy the tour with peace of mind.

One point to note is that the air conditioning on the bus was quite strong, making it very cold, and I noticed several people around me wrapped in beach towels. I also used a beach towel to keep warm, so I think having something to wear would be reassuring. Additionally, after coming out of the water, I felt quite cold, so a jacket is essential. It was mentioned that the boat can sway quite a bit on certain days, so having motion sickness medication ready would also be a good idea.

Overall, it was a very enjoyable and memorable tour.

イルカウォッチング＆シュノーケルに参加しました。全体的に雰囲気がとてもよく、海と山の眺めもきれいで、移動中から気分が上がりました。今回はイルカと一緒に泳ぐことはできませんでしたが、船のすぐ近くでイルカを見ることができ、さらに2種類のイルカに出会えたのはとてもラッキーだったそうです（見られるのは10回に1回くらいとのこと）。イルカが船の波で楽しそうにサーフィンしている姿も印象的でした。

シュノーケリングでは、たくさんの海亀や魚の大群を見ることができて大満足。海の中は想像以上ににぎやかで、時間があっという間に感じました。ランチのサンドイッチやおやつのポテトチップスも美味しく、ちょっとした楽しみになりました。

参加者の中で日本人は私たちだけでしたが、Kenさんが通訳やフォローをしてくれて、豆知識や説明も分かりやすく、安心して楽しむことができました。

一点だけ、行きのバスがかなり冷房が効いていてとても寒く、周りでもバスタオルをかぶっている人が何人かいました。私もバスタオルで寒さをしのいだので、羽織れるものがあると安心だと思います。また、海から上がった後もかなり体が冷えるので上着は必須です。日によっては揺れが強いこともあるそうなので、酔い止めも用意しておくと安心だと思います。

全体として、とても楽しく思い出に残るツアーでした。

Great experience seeing real life, wild whales!!!!