Best luau | great experience $$$ I've been to a number of luaus and this is probably the best one I've experienced. Bus drivers are friendly when they pick you up and knowledgeable about the area. (You don't have to tip, but we did) Entertainment is excellent. The location of the luau is appropriate and nice. I'm saying this because the last one I went to (in Oahu, too) was located in this industrial construction area -- weird. The location of this luau, Sea Park, is actually where they filmed 50 First Dates!! SO cool. Everything is organized and fun. Before dinner, you can get your drinks, mingle, make some arts and crafts... etc. They do a quick presentation of the kalua pork, prayer, and then have you sit down. They dismiss you by table to go get your food at the buffet area. A super cute cat will lounge around the tables. He's so smart. He gets free pets and possibly free food. After dinner, the show begins. They introduce you to the Polynesian Islands and then top it off with some fire dancing. It's not just any fire dance performers, these guys compete in Oahu for some epic title. Legit! Overall, the chief is funny, the food is great, and the performance is excellent. **See my review on Germaine's luau and why I highly recommend NOT to go with them. Pricing is by 3 tiers. We were satisfied with the basic package. read more

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My husband and I along with my parents booked this luau since it had the best recent ratings. We had the royal package and sat right in the front row. Food was good the service was great they have you turn on a little electric tea light for food (food is all you can eat) or drink service. Chief the narrator has a dry humor witch I loved. The dancers did a dance from each major pacific island for the men and women and a did a few native culture "how used it / made it " items. Over all it was a great experience and very heart warming we loved everything about the luau I would definitely recommend read more

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If you are going to a Luau these folks do an amazing job! We used to live on the island 17 years ago and we would always take friends to a Luau when they came to visit, so we have seen most of the shows on the island. Chiefs was not there when we lived there, so when we recently went back for a visit we thought we would give it a try. Hands down it's my favorite. If you can I would recommend going with the Royal experience, you get to go In first so you have more time to try all the Hawaiian crafts and activities that happen before the show. Preferred seating and real flower lei's. The Chief is an amazing entertainer, his charm and quick wit keep everyone engaged while he tells the story of the native island people. The dancers were so incredible, they did different dances from all the neighboring islands even my six year old son was impressed. It sprinkled a little during the show but the staff was quick to pass out towels and ponchos. We had a great time well worth the money. read more

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I can't say enough about Chief's Luau! This was just an amazing experience! There were activities for the kids prior to the meal and dancing . Food was delicious and the dancing was beautiful! Chief was incredible... he was funny and sincere. The location is also beautiful! It was experience that my family will never forget!!! read more

Chief's Luau - Performing Arts Near Me - Kapolei, Hawaii

Wow! I was recommended this luau by the outrigger reef Waikiki hotel. it was a wonderful evening. The Buffet style dinner was so good. I went back for seconds. Our ticket got us two mai tai drinks each. Which were delightful. The show was amazing of course. There was everything I wanted. Fire dancers. Hawaiian dancers. Storytelling by the Chief himself. He's a funny guy by the way. You could see the sunset off in the distance. It was just a magical night and I will definitely go back again! read more

Our experience was absolutely amazing!!!! The staff was great and made the experience surreal. This is a great place for all family members.... so much to see and so much to eat... Wayne our bartender was spot on!!! He has a great pour and an amazing personality! He was our favorite I will most definitely be being my family here on my next trip!!!!! read more

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We had a wonderful time at Chief's Luau! The food was great and the entertainment was fantastic. We chose the royal experience which seats you closer to the stage. We received a coconut leaf headband, beautiful lei, a free shirt and 1 mai tai and 3 complimentary drinks (each). I would strongly recommend this Luau to anyone who is interested in learning about Polynesian culture with some humor. The performers were spectacular and all the staff was friendly. read more

Chief's Luau - Performing Arts Near Me - Kapolei, Hawaii

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Just slightly disappointed with the experience. There were some major highlights like the Chief's wit and humor, but also some downfalls, like LONG lines waiting to get food. Also LONG lines to wait at the bar to get a drink. Felt like they just crammed too many people into the luau. Overall, the entertainment was spectacular, especially the fire dancers at the end. But there was also like 30 minutes taken up bringing newlyweds up on stage, which just felt like time filler. read more

This was sold to us through the activities desk at our hotel. The tickets were about $160 a piece which includes transportation, drinks, food, and entertainment. Our bus was on the later side for pick up and showed up about 4:15. The bus ride was long, and they had a lot of "entertainment" with the hostess. The a/c didn't work on the bus, so the hour plus ride felt even longer. There were fly like insects on the bus and they were biting us throughout the ride. This is definitely something you have to be in the mood for to sign up for this. They had head band making, temporary tattoos and some stands for shopping for souvenirs. The food was ok, this experience is not about the food. It's about the same level as a high school cafeteria, so do not come here expecting $160 worth of quality food per person. You can eat as much as you want, but it's not worth the calories. The performances were good, and worth seeing at least once during a visit to Hawaii. The jokes were a little bit repetitive. It's good for all ages. It does get chilly, so bring a jacket. Bus Ride - 1 star Food - 2 stars Beverages - 3 stars Activities - 3 stars Performance - 4 stars read more

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This was the best luau ever!! I went to another but this was by far the better one! So many activities and photo ops!! The view is spectacular! The chief was hilarious!! The show was awesome!! The food was eh, but they weren't bad especially for a buffet. Their drinks were a bit watered down, nonetheless pretty strong. TIP: get the basic ticket! The view is just about the same.. the only different is you get a better lei, an extra drink and priority to get your food (there was enough food that we got seconds) read more

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Absolutely loved this experience from the bus ride to the venue. Cousin Gregg who was our shuttle host was absolutely hilarious keeping us all the way entertained to the venue. And the Chief of the show! Just as hilarious with his jokes throughout the show. All the performances were wonderful. They really make the guests feel like family. Specific shoutouts to celebrate special moments made it all the more memorable. Food was not as bad as i thought it would be and was nice. All in all everyone was welcoming and kind. Would definitely recommend this experience to friends. read more

Great, tasty & bountiful Service was timely & organized Ambiance was appropriate for the event read more

Chief's Luau is the very first Luau i ever went too, and they never dissapoint. Came back for the second time today with friends from san francisco and again it was indeed the best night! Good food and very good performers! read more

as an indigenous person from the east coast, going to a luau is maybe not my top choice activity in hawaii... it makes me a little uncomfy. i haven't been to one since i was a child, which i have done but complicated feelings about. it was very nice but feels like parading culture for a crowd of mostly rich white ppl. but it was my partners first time in hawaii and so i wanted to take them! a lot of luaus are closed on the weekend and we needed to go on saturday, so our hotel suggested chiefs luau and touted it as run by a "real samoan chief." it had good reviews and so we went for it. in short, as others have noted: the luau is in a water park and the bathrooms are in the park, which is a very odd setup. the plastic chairs and fact that most of the back tables were empty was also odd. the drinks were limited and expensive, the food was basically inedible - i ate three or four bites and had to go out for dinner after. the show was fine. yes, the chief is funny. he's a comedian, literally... that's what he does. he's not an actual chief. maybe humor makes the whole thing palatable for most americans, but i - and my partner - wanted something more serious and respectful. this country still treats POC like garbage and esp indigenous folx. hawaii wants ppl to stop coming? bring a little of that energy to the masses then. read more

Ok...this will be a bit long winded....but this Luau experience made our entire trip! We saved for 4 years to bring our family to Hawaii to celebrate our 25th anniversary. From the moment we arrived we were greeted promptly, with friendly smiles, happiness, and it was all extremely organized. This is a substantial differentiator as so many places that handle large volumes can't pull off something like this with extreme organization, let alone with such authentic kindness. Prior to the event there are a host of activities as the crowd filters in. Fire starting, palm tree leaf headband making, arts and crafts to purchase, various Hawaiian snacks such as Poi/ Lomi Lomi/raw coconut to sample. As the dinner buffet is served, the Chief and his accompanying tribe members entertain the crowd with outstanding music. The buffet line was managed perfectly, everyone went through expeditiously, and seconds were plentiful. The show them commenced and it was AMAZING! Tribal dances and FIRE dancing/handling from multiple world champion tribe members. Non-stop action and entertainment. The Chief has a wonderful sense of humor and the crowd is always engaged! Additionally, one last thing to share...there is a moment in the night when the Chief calls up all of the newlyweds and anyone else celebrating an anniversary. He shared a passionate speech about his parents and the importance of their marriage to him and his family. He then serenaded all of us with a wedding dance under the stars. Between newlyweds and married couples that came to the stage, it was a beautiful moment for us and for our children. The amount of love shown by the Chief and his Luau tribe, and between couples, was magical. This is simply the best Luau on Oahu! Until we meet again Chief.....thank you for making our entire our trip so amazing! read more

May seem odd that this luau is at a Wet and Wild but when you are there you really don't notice. The waterfall in the background and the nice landscaping is what you see. The food was good and the show was great. The Chief is funny and puts in a really nice show. I would recommend this to my friends for sure. I had always pictured a luau on the beach sitting in the sand but sitting at tables is probably more practical. The luau consists of sitting at long tables and the food is a buffet type setup. You pick what and how much you want to eat. There are activities before the show such as fire starting, spray on temporary tattoo, headband making from palm leaves, etc. Then later the stage show with the Chief and hula dancers and fire twirlers or whatever they are called. All are fantastic. read more

Chief's Luau - Performing Arts Near Me - Kapolei, Hawaii

We have been to 4 luaus on the island with this being our fourth. I am happy to say I have found another great luau to bring the family to on their next visit. Although we have our favorite (Paradise Cove), this one has got to be our 2nd favorite and so glad we had the opportunity to check it out. The luau itself is located within the grounds of the Wet n Wild water park so do not be surprised when you find yourself paying for parking (it was an unwelcomed surprise for us as the luau was costly already). Another thing that I found odd is that they sell flower leis at the front which is great but kind of defeats the purpose of the welcome to the luau. It would have been nice to see it incorporated into the activities that you do before the luau dinner starts. Upon entering you are greeted with a lei based on the package you purchased. The paradise package gets you a kukui nut lei (it is slightly different from the royal package in that they get flowers and mens leis are kukui nut leis but theirs don't have scratches on them). Anyhow you also get two drink vouchers good for mai tais, wine, beer, or soft drink. I must say, the drinks are small but boy did that mai tai pack a punch (I highly recommend). You get about 30 minutes or so to enjoy the grounds and see the different activities and demonstrations. As for the luau itself it was awesome. This luau was more comical as the chief is pretty funny and engages the crowd with humor and some inappropriate yet subtle jokes. We loved it. I also really loved the theme of celebrating love and family and thoroughly enjoyed the message they tried to convey with the married couples. It was beautiful and heartfelt. Their fire show is also by far the best one of all the ones we have seen because they have more than just a couple of guys with fire (its a bunch!) The 4 stars are due to having to pay for parking (yes, I know it is only $6 but come on I just paid $100+ per person to enjoy this experience) and the food. I enjoy a good luau performance but for me the food is very important and this one fell short. By the time we reached the food it was room temperature and the rice and noodles were cold. The taste was there but not the temperature. The little haupia squares were missed too. This is a wonderful luau and I look forward to bringing our family here so they can experience a new luau. Mahalo for a great time :-) read more

So if your going to the big island or Waikiki this is a MUST stop. Chief Luau is a complete dinner show that is highly interactive and entertaining and comes complete with a buffet. Before the show starts you get to experience some of the Samoan culture and meet all the tribe and they make you gifts and let you sample the food which was a nice touch. You can take pictures with them and have conversations with them which is not typical of you go to shows anywhere else in the country. Once the show starts you will be on the edge of your seats from start to finish and the show even has some humor which will make you laugh. This was a true island experience and a must see. The food was about a 7 but it's all you can eat and they have the sweetest pineapples you will ever taste and they even roast a whole pig fresh read more

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Great show! The chief has a really good show from what we saw from the beginning to the end. We booked from the Hilton with a tour bus that picks you up at the hotel. The tour bus was called Robert's tour bus and they were late to the show so I did miss some of the show at the beginning. Not sure if this is because they waited on some passengers too long but they were about 10 minutes late for us then waited on another passenger. An Uber would have been better. I noticed everyone was wearing a lai but again I think they received them at the arrival but we arrived late. An Uber would have been about 60$ for all of us they said it was more but no it wasn't. I checked. Anyhow the salad, potato slices and some traditional sauce was on the table in a container when we sat down. So, I was not impressed with the food and I didn't even eat much at all. The only thing I liked was the chicken and it is hard to mess up a chicken thigh. It reminded me of cafeteria food. Be sure not to take the bus and end up being late! Take an Uber read more

This was a great evening in Hawaii we were lucky enough to have perfect weather but it is outdoors so dress accordingly! The performance was thrilling and very informative! The dancers were amazing and on point even though we were setting their first performance in months when we went! The food was good and filling for sure! Everyone was nice and service was prompt! Each party got their own table. read more

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This luau is the best on the island. The seating is comfortable, the food is great and they put on a really great show. I would recommend Chief's Luau to everyone. read more

I've lived here all my life, this is the 2nd Luau I've been to, that's a tourist spot! You'll love this place, everyone is friendly. You can get the haku's they make or try a piece of coconut that they cut up, just leave a tip. You can order drinks (comes with one free drink) at their bar or with a waiter/waitress. You can make fire the way they used to, participate in their teaching of hula! The best part is the Chief, he's so funny! If you want a great show and awesome laughs, this is the luau to go to! You'll have a great time! Food was okay. There was flavor and it wasn't dry, so that was food. They ran out of sweet potato. I forgot what they had, but I remember eating kalua, poi, lomi salmon, salad, chicken, haupia. I would recommend this one if you're looking to bring visitors to a luau! read more

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We've lived in Hawaii for 8 years now and have never been to a Luau. They are expensive and having celiac disease, it's just about impossible to find someplace that has gluten free options. This luau exceeded all expectations! The grounds are beautiful, the staff very warm and welcoming, and the food was good! They had each item listed with allergens, so I Knew that I was safe eating here. They even went out of their way to get me a gluten free dessert! Top notch! The performances were awesome / and mixed in with humor. We all truly loved it! Who knew that this luau was right in our backyard! It's located next to Wet n Wild. Kamaaina rates can't be beat! :-) read more

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We went tonight and this was hands down the most entertaining, most interactive and most talented performers ever. I would highly recommend for everyone to chose Chiefs Luau. read more

Chief's Luau - Luau - Performing Arts Near Me - Kapolei, Hawaii

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We've been to several luaus over the years and this one was pretty good. The entertainment was excellent and the food was decent. Some of the other luaus have a few more dishes, but the selection at Chief Luau's is acceptable. I reduced a star because the seating is rather crowded and it is difficult to see from the back. read more

For me, this was the most boring cattle herd of an event and the first time Yelp failed us. I can't believe we sat, while the host preceded to interview more than 15 couples celebrating anniversaries. The first few were "cute" at best, but the remaining 12 couples got old real fast. And then, when we thought it couldn't get any worse, we sat through the same interviews for the 20 newlyweds as well. More than an hours worth!! And then we had to watch them all slow dance. This was not what I expected from a Luau!! Next issue: Sewage smell. The waitress tried to sway me, however I'm a big boy, and I know the difference between sewage, ocean and sealife (the event is located at a marine world type location). The smell was definitely sewage. So, why 2 stars? The food, was decent for a buffet and the location and weather were excellent. And the fire dancers were the hit of the show. read more

Chief's Luau - Sewage smell may have originated from the nearby toilets - Performing Arts Near Me - Kapolei, Hawaii

Visited 9/20/2018 The reviews I read about this luau were exactly what everyone shared. The Luau is now located in the Wet & Wild Waterpark, pulling up I will be honest I was a little hesitant at first because I was thinking that we would only see water slides lol. But the location that the actual Luau was located in was perfect! We walked through the gate in the order of which our bands were purchased. Everyone received a lei based on their order preference. Then we were guided to take pictures and then escorted to our tables. They had various activities taking place while we waited for everyone to arrive. I highly recommend arriving 15 minutes early this way you're first in line and you have the chance to have closer seats in your designated area. They had a headband braiding area where they taught you how to braid the traditional Hawaiian headpiece from bamboo leaves. They also had a coconut area where you can try several pieces of fresh coconut. They even had food samples and drinks available. Everyone had a chance to experience everything at their convenience and even purchase handmade Hawaiian merchandise. When the show began, I made sure I had my strawberry daiquiri ready to enjoy the show. I'm not going to share what happened during the show, but I will say this, you don't want to miss ANYTHING! I laughed, cried and my jaw dropped the entire time! The Chief and his entire team was incredible! Oh the FOOD! Well you will see from my photos how amazing the food was. I even tried by very first purple sweet potato! So delicious! Everything that you will read from these reviews about this Luau is exactly what you will experience. Theres no bad seat at all so purchase the one you can afford, and if you purchase the less expensive one, just go to walkmart and purchase you a lei before attending lol. Just a suggestion ;-). I will be coming back so that I can dance with my hubs next time! read more

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This awesome experience called a luau deserves 10 stars, from start to finish it was engaging, interactive and entertaining. The food was good, it was fresh and delicious, not super wow but not bad either. The activities and crew were fun and once more interactive and you have from make your own palm crown to yummy fresh coconut water and nice vendors. Uncle Chief Dave was not only funny but warm and truly Made you feel like ohana, the show spectacular! We purchased the aloha package and had great seats you can see the show everywhere no bad seats but again if you can afford the others it's best! We will recommend this show to all our ohana coming to visit this beautiful island and will take a piece of their show in our hearts, thank you all for making this an awesome vacation. read more

It was a wonderful experience, there was laughter, amazing dancing, singing, and a nice insight into the different Polynesian cultures! A great way to spend an evening with the family, fun for all ages! I highly recommend, and if you are in Oahu it would be a mistake not to go!! read more

Great food great show great drinks. All around wonderful experience. The Chief is funny and informative and a wonderful performer as are all the dancers and musicians. My little kids loved it and were entertained and well fed. read more

My FIRST EVER LUAU and it was honestly such an amazing experience. Let me start by saying we got the ROYAL (highly recommend)package through some discounted vendors at the Outrigger/Wyndham activities desk. We rented a car for the whole trip so we opted to drive out vs waiting for shuttle bus. The food was great, way better than expected! I'm mainly vegan but broke it for the trip to the islands to try some fresh fish and make dining easier on the Hubbs. The Chief was charming, the dancing ladies were so beautiful in all the ways they moved. The men were so full of ENERGY and manly! MY FAVORITE PART OF THE NIGHT was when they called out honeymooning or anniversary couples and gave them all pretty bouquets and played/sang a beautiful song under the moonlight and dimmed fires. I literally cried, but maybe it's cause I was so emotional with all those Mai Tais I chugged. Everything was very well organized, truely something to add to your list of activities. Try to get the royal package for a discounted price! read more

Chief's Luau was my first luau ever and I wasn't disappointed! They put on an amazing show, with audience interaction. The buffet has ube (purple yam) which is my favorite! The cocktails were also delicious. I would definitely recommend the Chief's Luau, whether you go as a couple or as a family. It's really the best way to end any night!! read more

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Experince wasn't that great If you go PCC and night show then come to chefs luau you realize that it's not even that great Feels like a scam . And food was bad they didn't even serve good food Worst experince in the middle of a lame water park seems like it's all fake read more

This was a great show that our family thoroughly enjoyed. Lots of activities to do. Plenty of food to eat and you get a free alcoholic drink! The host was wonderful. He kept us laughing the entire night! Would recommend!! read more

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I have been to more than a few luaus on different islands so when I say this was the best luau ever, I mean it! First, the organization of this luau was amazing. We went with the Royal and it was worth every penny. Our seats were in the front and center. The mc made the show! The dances, both female and male were beautiful and handsome. Can I say talented? The fire dancers were over the top! The fastest spinners I have ever seen! The food was delicious and flavorful! Everything was delectable and mouth watering. The people we met were great too! There is nothing bad I could say. If you are reading reviews like I did. Do not read further. Buy your Royal tickets now. Don't hesitate. You will not be disappointed! I like to try new things but will probably go back with others so they can have this amazing experience! read more

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AWESOME EXPERIENCE at first we were like why at a water park? But it's so small and intimate it was so worth it at the end I definitely recommend getting the royal package you get more perks and 4 alcohol drinks. And awesome views. Great show great dancers and some jokes from the chief. We will be going again soon MAHALO The Roberson family read more

Chief's Luau - Performing Arts Near Me - Kapolei, Hawaii

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One of the big things my parents wanted to do when they came to Oahu on their first visit to see me was to go to a luau. I rolled my eyes and feigned annoyance, but I knew that I could go on base and get tickets at a discount, so I wasn't too worried about it. Chief's Luau boasts its ratings are the highest rated luau on the island due to Tripadvisor, so I mistakenly took that as the green light and got the tickets. The day we ended up going it was POURING rain, and they did not refund or reschedule the event. We ended up being huddled together under the food pavilion tarp and were basically eaten alive by mosquitos when the rain would subside for a few minutes. On top of that, the performance itself was pretty lewd, there were some very off colour jokes and not subtle innuendos that my mom found unsettling, and others I heard remark they were offended and they left. We actually ended up leaving early too because it got to be too much, On top of that, after paying for the tickets, we also had to pay for parking, which I thought was crazy. I do have to admit, the high point was the food, which was really excellent. I did not hear a single negative thing from anyone about the food, it was well made, perfectly seasoned, and pretty authentic. That said, I would absolutely send the rest of my friends and family elsewhere, this was a waste of money and a waste of time. Definitely not the luau experience we wanted! read more

Chief's Luau - That's a lot of food - Performing Arts Near Me - Kapolei, Hawaii

I'm so sorry to have to give it one star, but it was such a disappointment. --- If this is TLDR for you: Pros: covid safe, friendly staff Cons: incredibly short show (not even an hour), food absolutely horrible (all in our group is sick), just mediocre overall. --- The pros I'll give them is they have tried and overall did a great job to be COVID safe. They have thought of good ways to alert the servers of anything you need (two different colored tea lights, one for food and one for drinks), spaced out tables and friendly employees. But where they get one star is the food and the show. There were a total of seven of us and all seven of us are sick after the food. The fish they served was soggy, nothing was hot or even luke warm... Well the salad they had sitting out on the tables when you arrive was probably the warmest food item. We chose this luau because Chief's has been around a long time and wanted to try it.... Really wish we had skipped a luau all together and just gone to a nice restaurant for dinner in Waikiki or North Shore instead. read more

So glad we came to the Chief's Luau! The chief himself was so amazing! Such a genuine and warm person. He made us feel like ohana the show was really great (fire!!!!) and the food was delicious! 100% recommend! read more

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Looks and sounds kitschy and cheap but it's far from it. It's a fantastic show with a nice mixture of culture from across Polynesia with amazing dancers and ending with some amazing fire dancing. The chief himself is an amazing MC and makes the whole thing fun and enjoyable. For a mass produced luau as well the food is fantastic, very tasty and all you can eat. The only thing I might ding them on is that the initial activities are a bit odd. Other than that I can't think of a better luau experience on Waikiki. read more

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