All Reviews for Luau, Shows & Entertainment

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 💖

After checking in, I received a fresh flower lei. It was very cute.

Then, I was guided to my dining seat, but the groups were separated based on the purchased tickets. With the VIP ticket, I was able to go to the buffet first and enjoyed various privileges, which was convenient.

The food was very delicious. I especially found the Mai Tai to be very easy to drink, and I had two cups. During the meal, there was also live music and hula dancing, which added to the enjoyment.

Afterward, I moved to a seat to watch the show, and the VIP seats were in the first and second rows in the center, allowing me to enjoy the show from a very close distance. The VIP seats included two complimentary drinks, and I was able to enjoy the second drink while watching the show.

チェックインをした後、生花のレイをいただきました。とても可愛かったです。
その後食事の席に案内をされましたが、購入した座席によって、グループが分かれていました。VIPチケットの場合、ブッフェを先に取りに行けたり、何かと優遇されていて便利でした。

料理はとても美味しかったです。とくにマイタイがとても飲みやすく2杯飲みました。食事中にも楽器の演奏をしていただいたり、フラダンスが観れて楽しめました。

その後ショーを観るため座席を移動しましたが、VIP席は真ん中の一列目から2列までで、かなり近い席でショーを楽しむことができました。
VIP席は2杯分のドリンクがサービスでついており、2杯目はショーを観ながら飲むことができました。

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。

It was a wonderful way to be greeted my husband was surprised and touched we had them.

Very chill evening. The crew was very laid back. We hada clear view of the fireworks, all while enjoying the a few adult beverages and making new friends and memories.

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。

ビュッフェスタイルの料理はおいしくて、おなか一杯食べてしまいました。
食事中にフラダンスやウクレレ演奏での歌などがあり楽しく過ごせました。
十分時間をとってからのショー会場への移動。
フラダンスや歌唱ショーなどあっという間の時間に感じるくらいの楽しさでした。
レイをいただいたのですが生花だったので自宅まで持って帰れなかったのが残念でした。

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 signed up for the buffet and show plan. The buffet was delicious, offering a variety of meats to enjoy. There were also hula lessons along the way, which were fun.

And the show was amazing! In addition to the traditional hula and luau show, the performances featuring Elvis and Michael were incredibly exciting. It was great to take pictures together at the end as well.

ビュッフェとショーのプランに申し込みしました。ビュッフェはいろんなお肉も楽しめて美味しかったです。途中フラレッスンなどもあって楽しめました。
そしてショーは最高でした！伝統的なフラとルアウのショーに加えて、エルヴィスとマイケルのダンスとショーが最高に盛り上がりました。最後に一緒に写真も撮ってもらえてよかったです。

It was absolutely amazing.
I was in the front row, right in the center.
There was a guy sitting next to me who was moving strangely, and I thought it was scary.
Suddenly, he went up on stage, and security came over, so I was like, "What’s going on?!"
But it turned out to be one of the performers (the leader). Haha!

素晴らし過ぎました。
1番真ん中の最前列でした。
隣に変な動きする男の人が座って、怖いなと思ってました。
急に舞台にあがって、警備の人が来たので
えー！！どうなってるの？と思ったら
まさかの演者さん(団長)でした。笑

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。

It was amazing to see the fireworks up close from the yacht! ✨ You can enjoy a different kind of fun compared to large ships. When boarding, you get on directly from the beach, but depending on the waves, you might get wet. By the way, I was soaked from the thighs down. 😅 I think it's good to keep that in mind when boarding.

ヨットなので花火が近い場所から見れて
最高でした✨
大型船とは違う楽しさを味わえます♪
乗船する時は浜辺から直接乗りますが
波の具合悪くよっては濡れます。
因みに私は太ももから下はびしょ濡れ😅
それを踏まえて乗船されるといいと思います。

The day I happened to experience it had a small number of people, and I was able to have it explained in Japanese, which was truly wonderful. It was a rare experience to see magic up close. The magic was so amazing that even watching it right in front of me, I couldn't figure out how it was done. It was a fantastic skill, and I had a great time. It really became an unforgettable memory.

たまたま体験した日の人数が少なく、日本語で説明してもらえ，とても素晴らしかったです。身近でマジックが見られ、なかなかできない体験でした。素晴らしいマジックで目の前で見ててもたねは分からず、素晴らしい技で、楽しいひとときを過ごせました。本当に忘れられないいい思い出になりました。

Every time I come to Hawaii, I've been searching for hula shows, but since COVID, they have really decreased. This time, I finally got to see an amazing show after a long time.

I already knew that the food at Hyatt was delicious, but it seems to have reached another level; it was incredibly tasty. The man in his 70s who came with me even went back for seconds three times! The seafood was also delicious, and I wished I had a bigger stomach to eat more.

The hula show was the highlight of this trip. We were the only Japanese people there; everyone else was from English-speaking countries. The singing and music were wonderful, and the dancers were so skilled and beautiful that I didn't know where to look. It was a dreamy experience, and I was completely immersed in it.

Since we reserved VIP seats, we were right in the front center. There were no staff members who understood Japanese, but I think we managed to communicate through gestures and efforts to understand each other. They were very kind.

ハワイに来るたび、フラのショーを探しまくって見てましたが、コロナ以降すごく減ってしまい、久しぶりに最高のショーが見れました。
ハイアットのご飯は美味しい事は知ってましたが、またレベルが上がったのか、素晴らしく美味しかったです。
一緒に行った70代男性はお肉を３回もおかわりしたくらいです。
シーフードもどれも美味しくて、もっと食べれるお腹があればいいのにと思いました。

フラのショーは今回の旅行で1番です。
日本人は私たちだけで、他はみなさん英語圏の方でした。
歌も音楽も素晴らしく、ダンサーさんたちはどこ見ていいのかわからなくなるくらいみなさん上手で綺麗で楽しくて、夢のような時間でした。没頭しました。
ＶＩＰで予約したので、1番前正面の席。
日本語がわかるスタッフさんはいませんでしたが、お互いに頑張って伝えようと身振り手振りで意思疎通できていたと思います。
優しかったです。

[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.

Every time I come to Hawaii, I look forward to seeing this show, and I think I've seen it more than five times. It's a wonderful show that never gets boring, no matter how many times I watch it.

ハワイに来るたびに毎回このショーを見るのを楽しみにしており、5回以上見たかな。何度見ても退屈しない、素晴らしいショーです。

The show at the Polynesian Cultural Center was excellent and very engaging. The buffet offered a wide variety of dishes, with plenty of options to enjoy. A great overall cultural experience.

The show at the Polynesian Cultural Center was excellent and very engaging. The buffet offered a wide variety of dishes, with plenty of options to enjoy. A great overall cultural experience.

I was very satisfied with the entertainment that can be enjoyed in an open and tropical atmosphere. There were powerful performances such as hula dancing and fire dancing, and I was entertained from start to finish without getting bored. The captivating dances and lively singers energized the entire venue, and being able to see it up close was a truly valuable experience. The staff was also very courteous, and they made the dining experience enjoyable. Additionally, there were many Japanese people in attendance, which made it easy to enjoy even for first-timers. I think this show is highly recommended as a memorable part of your travels.

南国らしい開放的な雰囲気の中で楽しめるエンターテインメントとしてとても満足度が高かったです。フラダンスやファイヤーダンスなど、迫力のあるパフォーマンスが次々と披露され、最初から最後まで飽きることなく楽しめました。魅了的なダンスとノリのいいシンガーに会場全体が盛り上がっており、それを間近で見れる席は非常に貴重な体験でした。スタッフの対応も丁寧で、ご飯の時も楽しませてくれて、また日本人も多かったため初めてでも安心して楽めました。旅行の思い出として、とてもおすすめできるショーだと思います。

I participated on the first day of my trip to Hawaii. Since I had reserved a VIP seat, I was able to go get food with priority, and fortunately, I enjoyed the show from the front row. The show featured hula dancing, Elvis, Michael, and it was very entertaining. The audience was incredibly enthusiastic, making it a wonderful time. After the show, I was able to take pictures with the performers, creating great memories. The flow during the meal was a bit unclear, so I think it would be smart to prepare more informational sheets in Japanese and other languages.

ハワイ旅行の初日に参加しました。VIP席で予約していたので、食事も優先的にとりに行けましたし、ショーは幸い最前列で堪能できました。ショーはフラダンスやプレスリー、マイケル、ととても面白い内容でした。観客もものすごい盛り上がりで、とても素敵な時間になりました。ショー終了後には、出演者の方々と写真も撮れ、とてもいい思い出になりました。食事の時の流れがわかりにくいので、日本語や他の言語での案内用紙などをもう少し準備するとスマートと思います。

We so enjoyed our evening. The servers were personal and attentive. We could tell the meal time entertainers were having just as much fun as we were. The food was excellent and presentation marvelous. There was ample time to enjoy our meal and table talk. The show did not disappoint us. The singers and dancers keep us engaged and time flew by.

I had a great view from the center. I could clearly see the performers' expressions, which was moving. I enjoyed a wonderful performance with powerful sound volume.

中央で大変よく見えました。
パフォーマーの方の表情もよくわかり感動しました。
迫力ある音量で素晴らしいパフォーマンスが堪能できました

My wife, our daughter, and her family of seven participated! It was very interesting, thrilling, and we were extremely satisfied. My son-in-law got involved in a car accident, but we created a lifelong memory at the circus.

私達夫婦と娘家族7人で参加して来ました！
とても、面白く迫力もあり大満足でした。
娘ムコが巻込み事故に遭いシルクドに実演一生の思い出ができました。

I wanted to see a Hawaiian dinner show for at least one night, so I made a reservation. Since I was staying at the Sheraton Waikiki, this dinner show on the 4th floor of the Royal Hawaiian Center was conveniently close. The hula dancers were cute and very soothing⭐︎ The dinner buffet felt a bit short, especially by the time we got to dessert, since we went to the neighboring Rock Theater afterward. The show was also quite long, and it seemed like my mother, who is in her 70s, enjoyed it as well.

一晩くらいはハワイアンディナーショーを観たくて予約。宿泊がシェラトンワイキキだったので、ロイヤルハワイアンセンターの４階で過ごせるこちらのディナーショーは近くて良かった。フラのお姉さんが可愛くて癒されました⭐︎ディナービュッフェはデザートまでいくと以外と時間が短かったかな？食べてからとなりのロックシアターに行くので。ショーも長めで一緒に行った70代の母も楽しめたようです。

This luau was incredible, literally everything was perfect! Book this, You will not regret it!

It was the best sunset cruise ever. It was my first time experiencing a sunset cruise. I had been interested in it for a while, but due to my schedule, I couldn't experience it until now, so I made it a top priority this time. I was worried about the weather after the Kona storm, but it turned out to be a beautiful, clear day. The service from the captain and crew was outstanding. The views from the boat were incredible, especially Diamond Head, which we saw from an angle that you can't see from land, making it very special. I was able to enjoy the sunset as it sank into the Hawaiian sea. Onboard, there was unlimited alcohol and soft drinks, and the Mai Tai was especially delicious. Dance music was playing, and everyone on board joined in dancing, making it an incredibly fun experience.

最高のサンセットクルーズでした。初めてサンセットクルーズ体験をしました。以前から気になっていたのですが、滞在スケジュールの予定でなかなか体験できなかたったですが、今回最優先として組み入れました。コナストーム後で天気が心配でしたが、快晴で最高の天気でした。船長、乗組員の皆さんのサービス精神がとても素晴らしいです。船上からの景色はどれも最高で、特にダイヤモンドヘッドは陸からでは観られない角度からだったので、とても貴重です。夕陽もハワイの海に沈む瞬間までじっくりと観ることができました。船上ではアルコール、ソフトドリンクが飲み放題で、特にマイタイは最高に美味しかったです。ダンスミュージックが鳴り響き乗客皆でダンスで盛り上がり最高に楽しかったです。

Since the designated seat was next to the stage, it felt like I was watching the performance from the side the entire time, and the lighting coming from the opposite wall was directly in my eyes. However, I was still able to enjoy the atmosphere of the venue.

If you have visited Oahu multiple times, it's worth seeing this as part of the current culture in Honolulu.

今回指定された席が、ステージ横だったので、演技を終始真横から見ている感じ、反対壁から放つ照明が目に直接はいる位置でした。ただ場の雰囲気は十分楽しめました。

オアフ島に何度も訪れているようなら、今のホノルルの文化として一度は見ておくと良いです。

I liked experiencing the culture of Hawaii. The dancers outfits were awesome! The food was different but very good at the same time. The workers were very friendly as well. My friend and I enjoyed ourselves very much.

I was able to see the sunset over the ocean, and the cheerful atmosphere among everyone on the boat further lifted my spirits. I'm glad I participated.

海の上で、夕陽も見ることができて・・船上のみんなの楽しそうな雰囲気で更に気分が上昇・・参加して良かった。

It was a very enjoyable 90 minutes, filled with thrilling moments unique to the circus and scenes where the clowns interacted with the audience to make them laugh, all combined with a storyline.

サーカス特有のハラハラする場面とピエロ的にお客さんをいじって笑わせる場面もあって、ストーリー性も相まって、非常に楽しい90分間でした。

It was truly a wonderful show, and just being able to see this made my trip to Hawaii worthwhile! My elderly mother and my 10-year-old daughter both enjoyed it very much, and I recommend it to people of all ages!

本当に素晴らしいショーで、これを観られただけでもハワイに来た甲斐があったなと思えるほどでした！
高齢の母も10歳の娘もとても楽しんでおり、全世代の方におすすめです！