If you don’t care for watching a pig come out of the imu pre-luau show than this will be fine for you.  It’s a buffet style, lots of food choices to pick from.  I’ve stayed at the Princess Kaiulani and it’s okay.  A bit run down already and for the price you’d hope for a more updated room.

Either way, be prepared to feel a bit claustrophobic as there are going to be tons of people in attendance.  Because I come from Hawaii, I can’t really comment on the show.  Just know that a dance is a dance.  As long as it’s entertaining.  Be sure to get in line early so you don’t miss out on some good seats.  Or you might end up far away from the stage.

You don’t have to be a Military member to participate in the Hotel Luau Show and you are going to be able to experience the pre-luau show where they take the pig out of the underground imu. They also offer lei making and you can watch a guy climb a coconut tree. That’s something you won’t want to miss.  Make sure you bring your cameras.

The show begins at 5pm so go early, like at 4pm.  I’d recommend making reservations.  You don’t want to spend the night walking around Waikiki looking for another luau, you might miss the grand beginning.  Glenn Medeiros is the Hale Koa Hotel’s Luau host and he is a long time entertainer of Hawaii.  Really worth watching.

The luau takes place in the luau garden a really beautiful setting and will cost you about $50 bucks per head.  But, do realize that the food is not buffet style, it is plated and you are going to get kalua pig,  teriyaki beef, fried rice, chicken,  fish, sweet potato, and a fried banana. Dessert is a slice of cake and haupia.  So, at least you get  to try a taste of all kinds of Hawaii’s favorite dishes.

Don’t forget to bring your Military ID while you wait for the show to begin, the children can actually enjoy some swim time.  Just go, relax and enjoy Hawaii.  Forget about your worries and have a good time.

If you plan on going out all that way from Waikiki or anywhere near Honolulu town, I’d recommend you either try to find yourself a place to stay at the beautiful Turtle Bay grounds, which is a few miles out of Lai’e but a lot closer than town.  Turtle Bay also has family friendly condo rooms for rent at a very reasonable price.  Starting at about $80 up to $200 (for a 3 bedroom condo) it’s really worth it.

It’s beautiful out there.  So, you should spend at least 2 or 3 days out at Turtle Bay.  It will be a wonderful to get a little R&R from your long travel.  Besides, it takes about 1 hour to get out to Laie and maybe even more if you head out during traffic time which is usually right about pau hana time (end of work day).

This little place is out in the country and then when you head back into town, to the main city of Oahu, I recommend you have some fun in Waikiki.  let me tell you though, you are going to wish you booked more days out in the country part of Oahu.  Don’t make me say, “I told you so”.

The Polynesian Cultural Center is on about 42 acres.  Yeah, so you better bring some walking shoes.  They open at about noon, thank goodness, you don’t want to get too tired before the night show and luau dinner.  You probably won’t have the energy to stay all night, I wish they had a rest center just in case people got tired and wanted to stay out there anyway, the night show ends at 10pm.  A warning to you, there will be a long procession of cars and tour buses leaving the little town of Laie at 10 pm.  Talk about a traffic jam.

So, if you are heading back up to town because you are staying in a Waikiki hotel or something near there, be prepared to reach home at about 11pm at night.  Bring yourself a warm jacket and comfy clothing, it will be a long day.  So, if you are smart, you will do what I said earlier, “stay at the Turtle Bay”.  That way you can go back to your hotel room and possibly come back later for the luau show.

Many of the students from BYU-Hawaii work for the Polynesian Cultural Center (also known as PCC).  I think it’s a wonderfully well rounded institution.  Not only do they provide a good private education for their students, but they also provide economically and financial support to their students by allowing them to work at PCC.

No free hand outs here.  It’s an awesome concept I think many colleges should consider providing for their students.

But, you are visiting the islands so I understand when it comes to getting the true experience, as true as they can make it is what you should be looking for.  Many of the best hotels in the islands will definitely have this traditional style of cooking.  They must.  It’s what you come here seeking in the first place or what’s the point of being in the islands if you are not going to be able to experience it’s true culture.

I’ve been to quite a few luau’s here in Hawaii and they all share a similar feeling.  I enjoy the dances and especially enjoy it if there is a story behind the dancing.  Some luau’s depict the various Polynesian cultures throughout the Pacific.  The cousins of Hawaii like the Tahitians, Samoan’s, that is when the dances are quite fun because it’s varying.  Usually these stories tell of the voyages of the ancient people who found the islands and traveled from island to island to finally reach Hawaii.

There are also some luau’s that tell the legends of Hawaii, maybe Pele, the fire goddess and her sister Hi’iaka.  They may also portray the Ali’i (King’s and Chiefs) of ancient Hawaii, of their folklore heros.  These are always fun.  So, each luau is extremely different as every Kumu Hula has their interpretation and dance you will never find a show the same as the other.

Whenever I think about the Hawaiian luau I think about hula dancers, sunset and delicious food.  I’ll be seeing you around at the next luau.

This website is going through a lot of changes so please do stop by again to see the updates I will be making over the next couple of months as I write the reviews of the best luaus in Hawaii.  First hand experience.  I am local, I am Hawaiian and I give you this site for your awareness.

Aloha and hope you have a wonderful stay in Hawaii.