Went with my girlfriend on our trip. We paid $80 on their website and got the free gift after arriving (it was a cooler-bag, postcards and pen for each of us). Bus ride took about an hour from Waikiki, but the host was funny on the way there. It was a beautiful beach setting, decent bar, and most tables had a good view of the show. Talented dancers give you a good idea of the various dances and it was entertaining. The MC was informative and very good when he came on stage. As for the meal, it was okay. When you're eating with hundreds of other tourists, you don't go in expecting gourmet meal. Most of the dishes were good (see the list on their website). Overall I'd say Germaine's was worth my money if you factor in the meal, drinks, transportation and entertainment. The only negative for me was that the bathrooms (located in between the non-alcholic bar and the buffet lines) smelled a bit further out than they should have. But we sat on the opposite side of the stage and didn't notice at all while we ate. read more

Local, Authentic and Fun! We've been in Hawaii visiting for a week now and after two failed attempts to book a luau we took the advice of a cousin (also a local) and hit up Germaine's. Our seats were super close, and we bought up for the cool glasses. I was looking for some basics: 1-pig in a pit; 2-fire; 3-authenticity. We got all three. It was a little bit of a drive from Honolulu/Waikiki but it was worth it. The atmosphere once you arrive offered a great ambiance, and the pig was fantastic. read more

***3.5 stars*** since it was my hubby's first time in hawaii, i suggested that we attend a luau so that he could experience entertainment and food associated with hawaii and her neighboring islands. we found a great deal on hawaiidiscount.com and purchased tickets for $57 each (plus taxes and fees). considering many luau's in waikiki were well over $100 per person, we felt that $57 was a pretty good deal. this was partly due to the fact that this luau took place about an hour away, on the westernmost part of the island of o'ahu at barbers point beach park. each ticket entitled the holder to a buffet dinner with dessert, 3 alcoholic drinks (in the form of 3 drink tickets), an evening of entertainment with song and dance, a raffle ticket for prizes from the gift shop, and a lei made out of shells upon arrival. photographers also took our picture before the official start of the event, purchase of the picture would be an additional cost. DRINKS a very large selection of tropical drinks was available at the bar, these included mai tai, melon ball, pina colada, daiquiris, and margaritas. some of the drinks would cost you 1 ticket, some cost 2. you could also purchase a souvenir "germaine's luau" glass to take home. soda, water, coffee and tea were also available at no additional cost. FOOD as expected, i saw the traditional hawaiian dishes such as lomi lomi salmon, roast chicken, poi, shredded pork, breaded mahi mahi, and white rice. they also had mixed green salad, three bean salad, and dinner rolls. for dessert, they offered vanilla cake, chocolate cake and haupia. the lomi lomi salmon had more diced tomatoes than it did salmon as i was "fishing" for the salmon in the cup that it came in. the poi was your typical mashed and pureed taro root, a very traditional hawaiian food. most people will need to add sugar to give it some taste. the chicken was pretty good, with lots of spices and juices to give it some flavour. the shredded pork was just ok, a bit disappointing since we got to see it raised from the ground, where the pig looked mighty fresh. the mahi mahi would have been better fresh, without all of the extra breading covering the fish. the rice, green salad, bean salad and dinner roll were all pretty average. the vanilla cake was disappointing since the frosting was too sweet and the cake dry and bland, i'm guessing this was purchased from a grocery store. i didn't get to try the chocolate cake since it ran out by the time i went up for dessert. the haupia, a coconut pudding, was great, and in my opinion, the best part of the meal. i actually had 3 helpings of this! since we were given paper plates that were rather small, it was hard to get a little bit of everything on the first round, so we went up two more times to get more food. they also provided plastic utensils. ENTERTAINMENT before dinner was served, we were invited to the back of the venue to see the ceremonial raising of the pig, which is how a traditional luau begins. the pig has been cooking underground since the early hours of the morning, and raised just before dinnertime. after everyone had a chance to visit the buffet and be seated, the entertainment began and we were treated to singing, dancing, and musical numbers representative of hawaii, samoa, fiji, and the polynesian islands. i enjoyed seeing the traditional clothing as it was very colourful and each country had a distinct style and pattern. VENUE overall, a good venue, since it was right on the beach and guests could take photos by the sunset, which occured just before the raising of the pig. since it was a relatively sunny day, we could see the ocean and the horizon upon arrival and were treated to a beautiful sunset. i did feel the picnic tables and benches were a bit tight though, since i had to squeeze by other guests each time i got up. parking is also free, if you choose to drive, or you can take their complimentary bus service which provides roundtrip transportation between guests' hotels and the venue. overall, a decent experience if you've never been to a luau before, and while the entertainment was very good, i felt that the food could have been better. read more

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Great service and friendly staff! I went on a Saturday night and it was pretty busy. Wish I had upgraded my package, ONLY to have a better view of the stage. The food choices were slim but was still tasty! Overall a great experience and beautiful venue. read more

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Went here a few nights ago with some friends. I have to say that, overall, I had a decent time but left feeling mostly disappointed with the experience. I'd say this mostly comes from the fact that it never (even for a second) felt like a genuine, authentic luau experience. I'll break the night down into several categories, based on what you actually do when you're there... On the bus ride (there and back), you have a guide. His (or her) job is, quite simply, to entertain you on the long, long ride. Our guide (Kale) was friendly and entertaining, but in the end, he turned out to be a bit on the annoying side. On the bus ride home, he gave us a simple vote: make him work and 'entertain' us or turn the light off and let us rest. The first 6 or 7 times he took the vote no one (and I literally mean NO ONE) voted for him to do anything on the ride. He kept taking the vote until the first option won. As our 'reward', we spent the better part of 30 minutes singing an excruciating song that only one or two people on the bus seemed to actually enjoy. You get tickets for drinks and dinner. The drinks were quite good. All in all, probably my favorite part of the evening. Two things to note: First, they are STRONG. Second, if you really enjoy drinking, you can purchase a tiki mug for $10 that is roughly twice the size. What this means is that for $10, you can drink twice as much as you ordinarily would. The food is served buffet style. Different sections get called up one at a time. Once everyone has gone through once, they open it up to everyone. Although this seems nice, you'll end up getting so much food on your first pass that I can't imagine going back for seconds. So how was the food? Mostly, it was bland and not very evocative of Hawaii or of Luaus. Fried fish, fried chicken, cole slaw, macaroni salad??? This is really the best you can do??? The show piece is the pig, but quite honestly it was a bit greasy and underwhelming. All in all, it was edible, but not all that good. Now, the main attraction here is the entertainment. While some of it was quite entertaining (I'm looking at you, Mr. Fire Twirler), most of it was quite amateurish and overly cheesy. The narrator has to be heard to be believed ... I swear they stole him from the 1950s. The narrator didn't stop throughout the entire show, with really took you out of moment. Rather than watching the dancers, you have to listen to this ding dong prattle away. There was a ton of fanfare and hoopla associated with it all ... and none of it felt genuine. I will admit that I've never been to a luau before. That being said, Germaine's felt like a luau put together by someone who doesn't really know what one actually consists of. I would say that it felt like it was put together to *resemble* a luau, but wasn't actually a luau. The best way I can describe it is that it was very much akin to watching a movie that you are keenly aware of is a movie. You might be entertained by it, but you can't ever shake the feeling that you are doing nothing more than watching a movie. read more

This was my first Luau ever and it was an interesting Luau. For a Friday night, it was honestly a pretty empty Luau and I was expecting a huge amount of people there. So this place is pretty much community style table and you talk amongst one another. You even share the pineapple that is laid out on the table because it only has two so yeah you have to share. As you arrive at the area you get laid first by their employees and take a picture along the beach. These pictures are not free and cost about $10 or so to purchase. After you settle in you can either get your alcoholic drinks now or check out their gift shop. When the time comes you will be called to watch the pig ceremony. Then you all go back to your seats and get dismissed table by table to get in line for food. Remember this is a buffet so you do not have to stuff everything in one plate because you can always get more. I was so full from my one plate that I was not able to get another plate. However, there is a certain time period of when you can get food because a show will go on at the same time and they don't want you to be disrespectful to the performers. It was nice to have a show go on, but also I felt a little rushed. I noticed that they had their staff go around and talk to people, but they did not go around and talk to everyone because they did not talk to us at all. Your seat in the show depends on how much money you want to spend because sitting in the front costs more. The middle section is also an additional fee, the tables among the back are for everyone else and up for grabs. The tables in the front are all reserved, which sucks because the view in the back is not the greatest. Overall, the show was nice, some of the staff were nice, but I don't think I would come back to this specific luau. I heard nothing but great things about this place it did not reach the bar for me. I want to try other luau's first before coming back. If you have not tried this place before I would recommend people to try it out to give it a shot. Another thing I did not like about this place is the location. It was kind of in the middle of no where and it was creepy. read more

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Not what I expected from a luau. Upon getting there you get a lei and take pictures of you in them to be purchased later at a price of $20, which was way overpriced but you buy it bc of memory sake. Very disappointing that the leis they gave were sea shell leis instead of the traditional flower lei. The whole experience was very commercialized and didn't have the traditional experience I wanted. The food they serve was mediocre, definitely didn't want more after my first plate. The kalua pork wasn't as tender as I expected it to be. The act and performances were not bad. They were entertaining. But I would've liked the more traditional feel. Overal, I wouldn't do it again and I most likely won't recommend it. For what I got, I feel it was very over priced. read more

Vacationing in Hawaii? You have to do a luau right? RIGHT :] Germaine's Luau was the first luau I have ever been to so I don't really know the difference between traditional and non-traditional dance styles or what not. We took the bus from Waikiki to Germaine's own private section of beach away from the hustle and bustle of Waikiki/Honolulu. Our guide made the bus ride interesting and fun. On our way to the luau though, I was honestly a little confused. We drove through a very industrial area filled with steal mills and 18 wheelers. We got to the luau though, and I agree with other Yelpers when they say the place was almost "summer campesque." All of that though is just a minor flaw though next to the breath taking view of the sunset from the beach. Going on with the review of the actual luau itself though, the food was okay. The teriyaki beef was a little too sweet for my taste buds and the mahi mahi was a little on the dry side, but other than that everything else was pretty delicious. The show was entertaining. There was your typical hula and fire dancing, and there was a section where they brought guests up on stage for contests and dance lessons. Overall it was a fun and memorable experience. read more

I can't say I've experienced better. But I'm sure I will in the future. $70 to take a bus ride to the middle of nowhere with not so great food, expensive drinks (BRING CASH if you want to drink away your not so great time), and lots of biting bugs. The show was cool but I'd probably never go back. If I do another luau.. I'll probably try the one at the Polynesian Center. Oh and our entertainer on the bus was amusing and very good at his ukelele. I think his name was Prince Kuhio... That was probably the most fun I had during this experience. The bus ride to and from. read more

THE LUAU LOCALS BRING THEIR FRIENDS TO Yeah, it's touristy. Yeah, it's corny in some places. And, yeah, there's a little audience participation tossed in when you might rather slink back into your seat. But of the three bigger commercial luaus I've been to (PCC, Paradise Cove, and here), Germaine's gets my repeat visits time and again (I've been here at least ten times)... First, it's actually on the beach. Sure, you have to drive through Kapolei's industrial district to get there, but you do arrive on a very pretty piece of beach. The PCC's luau is in a "stadium-like" atmosphere which feels NOTHING like a beach luau. If you're a local, get there ahead of the tourist buses in order to have your pick of seats (I always like to sit in the back, center, right in front of the bar with the stage in full view). Second, the kahlua pig you eat was actually cooked in the imu from which you'll see it unearthed. PCC only does a "ceremony" of sorts, and you eat pig that was cooked in conventional ovens. Third, the bartenders are not at all stingy with the pours. Tip: Hit the gift shop and buy one of their large souvenir glasses--they'll fill THAT up for one drink ticket. Better still: Toss a $20 into the tip kitty and you might forget about drink tickets altogether! :) Fourth, the show is decent enough that you'll have a good time. Food's so-so. Not awesome, but you do get plenty of it. I mainly go for the party atmosphere, the stiff drinks, and the chance to unwind with friends amid a solid enough show and entertainment package that always leaves me feeling like I got good value (there's a GREAT kama'aina discount--bring your ID!). In short, Germaine's is the party luau. If you want the family-oriented luau with games and activities, hit up Paradise Cove or the PCC. I prefer to relax, take in the beautiful ocean sounds, sip mai tais, and be entertained. I don't need games, basket weaving, or anything else. So, if I'm on O'ahu, Germaine's is my luau. read more

We had such a great time! All the food was delicious and plenty, no second helping for our group! The performances were all top notch, couldn't ask for anything better! Will definitely return on next visit! read more

If this is your very first time in Hawaii, and you are a sucker for tourist trap activities, go here. If you like watered down Hawaiian food, go here. If you like watching hula dancers that aren't even HAWAIIAN (they were asian, and one looked portugese, maybe one of the males was mixed with Somoaen, but thats it) go here. It was a mistake to come here. It just reminded me how tourists like me infiltrate the islands and ruin its eco system with tour busses that need smog checks, and how the hawaiian culture is slowly dying, so much so that they can't even get real Hawaiian dancers at their cheesy luau. read more

i had a great time here...but why only 3 stars? well.... as soon as you arrive, you get in line to take pictures with the sunset in the background which was nice. they show you the pictures before you leave the luau for purchase, but my smart and much more sober boyfriend just took a picture of it on his phone. LOL after picture taking, you grab a seat (it's first come first serve) and alot of the bench seating were taken already so we had to settle for the tables where we had to sit on sand mats. which i didn't mind because it brought a more authentic luau experience. the food is buffet style, with your typical hawaiian food. what i didnt like was by the time i was ready for a second round, they already took everything off the buffet tables! what the heck! i paid for a buffet and expected more than just ONE plate. so that was a bummer. the food wasn't bad. the pork was a little saltier than what i'd like but i know its meant to be salty. i tried the poi which i've heard is pretty nasty but i didn't mind it. it's just bland and tasteless. the show was spectacular, with lots of hot shirtless men dancing and pretty girls swinging their hips. we even got the chance to go on stage to do some hip swinging too! that was a lot of fun. i was just a little disappointed that the show seemed shorter than what i anticipated. typically your ticket comes with 3 ticket drinks but we were told by our bus driver that it's worth it to buy the souvenir cup for $10 more and they fill the souvenir cups instead of giving you little dinky cups. so we did that and....boy, did the alcohol REALLY kick in after the 1st glass. so overall the experience was good. we had no mosquito problems like some other people mentioned in the review but i think it just depends on the time of year you visit. we went in october so it was nice. so i took off 2 stars for them taking away the food so quickly and the show not being long enough. read more

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Sad to say that I was disappointed by this luau. I have been to Paradise Cove's luau many years ago, but this luau was recommended by a friend who said the food was better here. We came here on the last night of our trip, since one of our friends had never been to a luau before. I was not too impressed by the show. I was looking forward to the hula dances, but this show felt like it was dragging on and it seemed that a few of the dancers were new and/or confused with the dance steps. I would give less than 2 stars, BUT the food was pretty good and the bartenders were nice. I really wanted to love this luau, since it was recommended to me... but will most likely try a different one if I ever go again. read more

We were suckered to a presentation (with breakfast) for this. We thought "Why not? Let's do a luau since we are in Hawaii for the very first time." It was quite expensive and not worth it. Around $50 for adults and $30 for kids. This was the "special" price since we went to this presentation. The bus ride there was pretty entertaining and part of the view during the ride there was beautiful. We got to the beach and the sun was setting and ofcourse it was beautiful. We had to "make new friends" by sharing picnic tables. From what I remember we each got 2 drink tickets. They got the pig out of the ground. I LOVED it and couldn't wait to try it. There's two lines to stand in to get the food. There was this one table where the bread was. And there was a whole ARMY of ants crawling all over it. Gross!!! I wasn't getting any of that! The woman manning that table saw the ants and was brushing the ants off the bread. ECK! The pig wasn't good at all. There was no taste, it was dry, and cold. The line for drinks was crazy long. I needed something to wash down the bland food. The performance on stage was AWESOME! I agree with other reviewers stating that this is a tourist trap and save your money for something better. I suggest trying the Polynesian Cultural Center since I've heard raving reviews of that place. Next time I'm in Hawaii, I'm definitely going there. read more

This luau was recommended to us by our concierge. I must say I am disappointed and regret spending such a large sum of money in this event. The food was not good. Everything was heavily salted, fried, greasy, and it had the effect of gross mass production. I've been to many other luaus and in general they are all very similar, but I feel I must review this one in particular because the value was so poor. The entertainment was average. The fire show portion was cool but the rest of the show had a "game show" feel to it with too much gimmicky " come on down," " who has a birthday," "everyone repeat ____" moments. Overall, it felt cheap...but it wasn't. That being said, the employees were all very friendly. The drinks were mixed strongly. A suggestion: you will get 3 drink tickets for small drinks but if you purchase a large souvenir cup in the gift shop, they'll fill that instead of the small cups, which in effect, doubles your drink. This may be overkill (I couldn't finish my drinks) but it seemed a popular decision. In summary: Food was poor. Entertainment average. Atmosphere was small and lacking. Overall value was not worth it. There are many other activities that you can take part in for $72 which will make your dollar go much further. read more

Germaine's Luau was recommended to us by several people so it's only natural we listened. Glad we did. The entertainment was great, plus the food was delicious. Keep in mind this is not an intimate setting on the beach where you're gathered with 20 other people. Its a location where many pick nick tables are accommodating 700 people, in front of stage. Lots of interesting people to meet and the free shuttle rides to the location are worth it. One of the best times I had was on the shuttle bus. The bus guides will talk and joke the whole way to the luau location. Absolutely hilarious! read more

We were asked to arrive at 5:15pm; however, the show did not start around 7pm when they said the show will start at 6pm. We were not informed prior that they HAVE TO WAIT FOR ALL THE TOUR BUSES TO ARRIVE before the show starts. I'm not sure what time these buses left waikiki but i'm pretty sure they should leave earlier due to THE GIVEAn RUSH HOUR on a thursday afternoon. We asked one of the staff for the reason of the delay - they confirmed they are waiting for all guests to arrive and that THERE ISNT REALLY A SET START TIME FOR THE LUAU. WHY PUT 6 PM AS YOUR START TIME THEN?? I'd appreciate some disclaimer when i booked. I ain't wasting my time waiting. Location - location was very sketchy. Location is located in a industrial park. Food - food was ok. Like what some people posted here- yes it's like cafeteria food. Please take your business elsewhere and don't waste your money at this luau. read more

Our bus drivers name was Shane and our guide was Kii. The transportation is worth it. It was so entertaining and fun. the ride took about 45 minutes because of traffic. Once you get there they take a picture of your party. And greet you with your lei. (We just purchased the original luau so we got a shell lei) Its a beautiful setting but do not wear heels as it is on sand. Our package came with one drink ticket and the sodas are free! there was plenty of audience participation. I had a smile on my face the entire time. The bus drivers even get on stage and participated. The food was awesome! I enjoyed the pork and the beef. Those were my favorites! I would definitely come back read more

This was my second time at Germaine's Luau. It's location looks a little sketch at first, it's well within an industrial complex, which is a shame because the beach is beautiful. We each had a drink voucher, but they were super strong in the not-good way. Thankfully, there were plenty of non-alcoholic beverages. I'm a vegan and I was super pleased with the vegan option they provided me it was a veggie and tofu stir-fry. The show was also very entertaining. read more

O MY GOD, BUGS. Pretty sure these are not mosquito bites, but sand flea bites. Absolute misery. read more

Pros: Great Performance 3 free drinks Ocean view Kama Aina rate Cons: Over 3 hours long Mediocre Food No activities The performers have big smiles and seem very genuine in their acting. The costumes are fantastic. The fire dancing at the end is a real treat. The food could have been better and I wish there were more options. I think there were 9 dishes: Tossed Salad - cheap greens Mac Salad - mayonaise gruel Bean Salad - very tasty! Bread roll - typical store bought Chicken Rice Noodles - Very good, al dente Poi - ehh.. Baked Chicken - Cooked well, covered in breadcrumbs or something Pork - Tasted like it has sat in the vat for a while Lomi Salmon - I dug through my cup of tomato pieces and couldn't find any salmon Mahi Mahi - so much deep fry I couldn't taste how bad the Mahi Mahi was. Dessert: Coconut cake, Chocolate cake, coconut pudding - all bought from 7/11? I thought it could have ended a bit earlier, it drags on for a while. I was also excited to get a fake tattoo and then found out they charge $5 for it. read more

Background: in Honolulu for a week with my family and girlfriend. We decided one night that a luau would be necessary to have that Hawaii experience, and germaines appeared to be at the right price point in between too expensive and too cheap to be a good time. Our bus arrived on time to pick us up, and as other reviewers wrote the bus chaperone did keep things entertaining for the 45 minute ride to the other side of the Island. During the ride he spent about 20 minutes tellibg us how amazing the food was so I was quite excited, until he mentioned there would be about 800 people there tonight.... So much for being a friendly "backyard luau" The event itself is surrounded by miles of gas and oil refineries which looks quite ugly, although inside the event you are mostly surrounded by a wall of trees which keeps that out. There are lots of picnic tables and a large stage where acts are continuing on throughout the night, some which can be quite impressive. The food was quite below average hence the 3 stars. It was a large buffet of very bland food which wasn't too impressive. Also you are given 3 drink tickets and they make them strong... With some hard liquor they found below the lowest shelf as that is some harsh stuff. I paid around 64 for tickets from a deal website, and I think the price is overall worth it for what we received, although at full price I wouldn't recommend it. Tip: if you buy their $10 souvenir cup each of your drinks will be 16oz. Instead of 6oz. read more

Negatives - The buffet was not good at all in my opinion. I went back for seconds to fill up on salad. The benches were incredibly uncomfortable. My feet were dangling so all the pressure went on my lower back. The MCs were very unclear and hard to understand. Positives - The fire show. The dancers were very talented. The views were amazing. read more

Not sure why I gave this 2 stars, except that I'm feeling generous today. Bottom line up front: go to the Polynesian Culture Center luau and stay for the show. Here are my issues with Germaine's: 1. Food is pretty low quality. No poke on the buffet. Service on paper trays with plastic forks. 2. Very little education into Hawaiian or Polynesian culture. Very little was explained to the audience. You have to get up and walk over somewhere else to watch the pig come out of the ground. 3. The speakers and hosts spoke so quickly that it is almost impossible to understand what they are saying. 4. The dancers are good, there is no explanation of what is going on. There is also no apparent rhyme or reason to how the show is put together. The dancers are talented, but the show is a let down. 5. A big part of the show is getting fat tourists on stage to "perform" hulas and other dances. I did not pay to see some lardass from New York do the worm on stage with his shirt off. 6. A lot of the humor contains innuendo, which I did not really find appropriate for the setting and audience. 7. A lot people will avoid the PCC because Germaine's sells alcohol. All I can say is that Germaine's needs the alcohol to make their experience seem fun. 8. I was personally offended for all the Hawaiians in earshot as the hosts repeatedly told the crowd to give up a "hang loose" sign instead of using the proper term, "shaka." It was really sad. Anyway, I say avoid this luau unless you have NO OTHER CHOICE. You can do Much, much better at the PCC. read more

We booked Germaine's for a post wedding celebration for all our friends and family (over 25 people) still around for the wedding and I am please with the group tour rep, Paulette who made the process of reserving and booking easier. With the local discount we got a great deal that applied to all of our guests attending and I think that is what made all our family and friends still want to join us after the wedding. I have been to Germaine's before and enjoyed the luau for the experience, the entertainment and culture it provides. Some of our wedding friends and family went to the Polynesian Cultural Center show early that week and said that they enjoyed this show more. read more

Great show, great food, great drinks, great price!!! I recommend getting the hibiscus or plumeria package. It's a little more but it's worth it! Three drink tickets per person, close to the stage, and priority for the buffet read more

Germaine's Luau - Hawaiian Near Me - Kapolei, Hawaii

We dropped of our son and visiting friends and went shopping, but they enjoyed it. There was lots of parking if you want to drive there. We made the reservations online and were forewarned when we called for directions that it was in an industrial area. Had they not told us we would have been alarmed thinking we were lost! Everyone enjoyed it, but our son the local boy thought it was a bit cheesy. He said once was enough. But the visitors enjoyed it. Next time I think maybe I'd try the luau at the cove (closer, and nicer grounds, and in a nicer area), plus there were a lot of mosquitoes at Germaine's, and an airfield close by so small planes were flying over head. But our visitors didn't mind at all. Everyone said that they had fun, the food was good, and that the employees were very nice. They even gave us a refund for the Mai Tais since a couple of the kids were adults (over 18), but under 21. They also forgot to pick up their complimentary tote bag and that was part of the refund - which I thought was fantastic. The price was reasonable though next time maybe I'd make the reservations for a tour bus which picks them up and returns them to a hotel in Waikiki. You really have to experience a luau if you are a visitor!!! They even had poi :) read more

It was my boyfriend's first trip to Hawaii and he was hellbent on going to a luau, but knowing that the bad ones can be an overpriced, artificial mass-produced experience, I didn't want to spend TOO much on tickets. Based on our research, Germaine's seemed to be one of the best options combining reasonable prices and entertainment value. The pickup is in Waikiki and it's in the same place as many other departing bus tours, so it can be a bit chaotic and confusing, but once we found our bus, things progressed smoothly. There's a bus ride that takes about 45 minutes to get to the luau site, and each bus has a tour guide who points out sights and entertains the passengers. Our guide was "Cousin Greg," who was... kind of weird. He was clearly unenthusiastic about his job, made some odd jokes and comments, and generally created a weird vibe. I doubt there's any way to control which tour guide you end up with, but just know that the experience can vary widely depending on who you get. It seems a bit sketchy and industrial when you get off the bus, but the atmosphere improves a lot once you enter the luau area. There's a pit off to the side where the roast pig is cooking, and it's pretty cool to watch them uncover the pig and bring it out for serving. There's pineapple set out on the table for sharing and shell necklaces to wear. While you wait for the buffet to open, you can mill about, check out the gift shop, take pretty sunset photos with palm trees, and get in line at the bar for one of your included cocktails. They're super-sweet and pretty weak, of course. The buffet isn't huge, but it has a decent selection of what you'd expect to find: kalua pig, lomi-lomi fish, chicken and rice, noodles, poi, haupia, plus some random filler items like bean salad. It all felt very winkingly circa-1960s retro, from the "exotic" food to the Don Ho-style emcee and his silly game-show-host spiel. There's the inevitable audience-participation-humiliation bit, which went on too long (it involved dressing up three guys in hula costumes and making them dance), but the actual performances were high-energy, fun, and had great costumes. We were there during Xmas, so the show had a holiday theme that we enjoyed. My boyfriend LOVED it because that was exactly what he was expecting and what he wanted from a luau experience. We paid about $70/person for our tickets, which seemed like a fairly typical luau price, and since it included transportation, dinner, and the show, felt like a decent value. If you go with the right expectations and are ready to enjoy yourself, I think it's a lot of fun for what it is (except Cousin Greg). read more

3.5 stars! I would have definitely put my rating a lot lower if it had not been for Cousin Alika! I would have to say that the bus ride to and from the Luau was a lot more entertaining than the overall experience of the luau. We had a lot of fun b/c we only paid $20/person (due to sitting through a vacation package presentation). It was so worth it for this price!! Cousin Alika entertains you throughout the entire bus ride there, and you don't even notice that you are stuck in traffic...He remembers a whole bus full of people! It was so impressive! He is funny and tells jokes...He encourages others to meet each other. He took care of us b/c my friend was on crutches, and hooked us up with a table near conveniently located near the buffet and the stage. We were the first to eat at the buffet. Prior to eating, Cousin Alika had explained all the food (spread). Wow, the food was disgusting...the best was the bread/butter and white cake with frosting. The drinks are the best part of the meal...pineapple juice. There are a number of mixed drinks (FYI: Go to the big bar vs. the small hut on the right b/c they have more selection). If you don't drink, use 1 drink ticket for 5 juices. The dancing and entertainment was fun. We went on stage on multiple occasions to learn the dances. The show dragged on for a bit, for my taste, but overall, great! The fire dances were the best. There was one gorgeous, female dancer from Tahiti that had a lot of solos which helped the show! Put her out there more and people will be captivated =) Bus ride home was the BEST! Cousin Alika sang several songs, ranging from R & B and Country. He is a G on the ukelele. He definitely shared his spirit. He made you feel like you've known him for years! Best bus ride ever! read more

I'm a fan of Germaine's. It has an old-school, 1950-60s Elvis Blue Hawaii kind of vibe. The entertainment was fantastic. They have one hula dancer who does this solo in a white skirt with her hair over her front area and her back is completely exposed and she is BEAUTIFUL. I'm talking this hula is breathtaking. Of the luaus I've seen, the entertainment is the best here. The food... Good but not great. I don't enjoy lining up like cattle to go get my food off a buffet. It's just not my favorite thing to do. I like to be served. But when you go to a luau, that is the way you get food. It is what it is. The drinks were tasty. The ocean was beautiful. The aloha was there. I recommend it. read more

Pretty boring; from the time they pick you up to the time they drop you off. On the ride there, they tell you the evening's schedule and go through everything that's on the buffet menu, everything in full and repetitive details. When you get there, they do activities to get you excited, then you eat, and then it's an hour an half of entertainment. And by entertainment, it was just different types of hawaiian dances, which got boring really fast. I really wished they did the entertainment while we ate, it would have been more interesting and less time consuming. And the way the tables are set up, you have to turn your head or body to watch the show. Kinda annoying to do for an hour an half and the benches were so uncomfortable that towards the end, I just had to stand. Food was mediocre and fattening. I most likely won't do any luaus ever again. For the price that you pay, you can dine elsewhere with way better food and a way better view. read more

I'm sad to give Germaine's 2 stars. I' ve gone to the luau about a dozen times and I went again and found it to be very commercialize. What happened to the family owned feel? They got rid of the pit tables and everything is setup tiered pricing. Also, what happened to the wahines going around and kissing all the guys? I come back to the islands every 2 years and go to Germaine's almost every time I go back. I have to say this is the last time I'll be going. What a shame, Germaine's used to be one of my favorite things to do when I'm back in the islands. read more

I am terribly dissapointed with the unprofessionalism here at the luau. No Aloha for such poor taste in how our guest was treated. You see, her name was called at the luau for a prize. She was very excited. Unfortunately, an hour later, one of the staff comes by asking in a friendly manner if her package was one of the prizes. He then grabs the prize, tells her that it someone else's last name that was called (with a similar last name). Understandable, but then... He offers her a drink, then quickly says before running off, "Oh, you already have one." What drink, the cup of free water sitting in front of her? No consolation at all for their mistake in calling our guests name. So rude! read more

I really enjoyed the Germaine's Luau in Kapolei. My family was visiting from the mainland and I had never attended a tourist-style luau experience. After checking out a number of websites, we decided to go with Germaine's and they did not disappoint. The food was super ono and the drinks were flowin'. I recommend upgrading to the Plumeria package for a front row experience of the show, as well as premium service. :) read more

Absolutely Surreal! Even my children ages 11, 5 and 1 sat still in suspense the entire show! Out was everything you dreamt about for Hawaii. People and staff were friendly, the beach and sunset were gorgeous... Cannot wait to go back! Thank you for the cherry on the cake for our vacation! read more

Germaine's Luau - Our 5 year old in complete Heaven dancing on stage with the performers! - Hawaiian Near Me - Kapolei, Hawaii

Wow! What an experience! Part 1 of 2 OK, I have to admit from the start that I sell tours and activities to visitors from a desk in a Waikiki hotel so I want to make it clear that because of the nature of my position at work requiring me to experience what I sell to better relate to my guests and provide first-hand knowledge, I need to mention that I was able to experience this luau for free. In my position, we have many luau's to recommend but we always recommend the leaders in the industry that's been around for a while. Like searching for the best auto mechanic you want the best qualified, hence, we provide the industry leading vendors we know that have a proven record of providing lifelong memories for our visitors. I am from Hawaii, born and raised, 50% Hawaiian. Growing up here in the islands and having experienced Luau's at grandma's house on 6th road in Nanakuli, the only thing that comes close is Germaine's Luau. Before we begin, let's start with the history of Luau's. Once upon a time, The Hawaiian Islands stood alone in the pacific without any outside influence. All of a sudden, the Western world arrived and brought good things and bad, including disease. The Hawaiian population dwindled rapidly to the point that it was a surprise when a baby made it to its first birthday and when a baby did, we celebrated by throwing a big party, a luau! After Western contact, it became a tradition to celebrate a baby's first anniversary of birth with a luau. In a native luau (if you want to call it that), a live pig was arrived to grandma's house and was prepared and cleaned, to be cooked in an underground oven we call an `imu. That's where heated lava rocks were placed into its carcass, laid onto a pile of heated lava rocks covered with banana leaves already in the pit, covered with more banana leaves for flavor, covered by dirt, and left overnight to cook. I have so many cherished memories of family members prepping the main dish which is the true essence of the gathering. Anyway, to make a long story short, Germaine's Luau duplicates the spirit of a traditional luau, celebration of traditional dance, live music, great Hawaiian food, valuable family time, and unforgettable memories. Let's start from the beginning - the pickup from Waikiki. You can select to drive out or be picked up from Waikiki for the same price. Obviously, I'm gonna recommend taking advantage of the included transportation; other Oahu luau's charge extra for the service. Their escorts in Waikiki are easily identifiable and are very entertaining during the drive out. If you already have a rental car and decide to do other things before your luau then that's great too! Upon arriving to the venue on the beautiful, underdeveloped (it's actually a positive thing) West side of Oahu, your escort will have already explained your package and will inform you where to check in. Germaine's Luau offers 3 packages with each providing unlimited soft drinks, a Hawaiian Buffet, Round Trip Transportation from Waikiki, an extravagant Polynesian Show and... 1. Original Package - Shell Lei Greeting, 1 Standard Drink, Open Seating in Non-Reserved Sections, and more. 2. Pikake Package - Second Row Seating, 3 Premium Drinks, 1 Souvenir photo per booking, and more. 3. Plumeria Package - Front Row & Table Service, 3 Specialty Drinks per Adult, 1 Souvenir Photo per Adult, and more. I highly recommend selecting the front row PLUMERIA package with TABLE SERVICE. You are on vacation and deserve every bit of pampering! Have someone serve you at your table while you leisurely enjoy the views, dance, and conversation with others from around the globe seated right at your table You may even meet a local from Hawaii. All packages require that you walk to the bar to retrieve your alcoholic beverage(s) to assure compliance to Hawaii's minimum age drinking requirement of 21 years old. Be sure to bring your I.D. just in case, they will not hesitate to card you. The PIKAKE and ORIGINAL options do not provide table service but is more affordable and you'll receive one or two less alcoholic beverages. You will also seat one or two more rows behind the Plumeria guests which very good if you're minimizing your travel expenses. THE SHOW - WOW! What can I say? Now, the luau at grandma's house never had dances other than Hula (traditional Hawaiian) but Germaine's Luau provides their guests a variation of Polynesian dance which adheres to the definition of "many" or "Poly". These segments portray dances from Tahiti, Tonga, and Samoa along with Hawaiian Hula. Their sultry and chiseled Polynesian wahine and kane dancers convey romance and brawn as they take their viewers on a journey through the Polynesian triangle. The highlight of the show, of course, is the Samoan fire-knife dance which is quite amazing. These fire dancers have the courage and dexterity to play with fire and convey their energy to an ever-clapping audience. Be sure not to miss this segment! read more

Be sure to mention that you are Kamaaina and your whole party gets in for that price. (just learned this) The first time we enjoyed Germaine's Luau was during our honeymoon 31 years ago...it really hasn't changed. Now instead of riding the bus with escort we drive ourselves all the way to the industrial park of Barber's Point on the westside of the island. Admission comes with three drink coupons for standard drinks: mai tais, rum punch, blue Hawaii's etc...for two coupons you can upgrade to daiquiris, chi chis or other foo foo drinks. Buffet is good and heavy on the protein side. Luau show involves quite a bit of audience participation. Come up for the hula, come up for the tahitian dance, stand up if its your birthday...shake pinkies with your neighbors...hold hands for a sing along...you get it...lots of aloha. Always love the Samoan portion so the show, but was disappointed to see only one fire knife dancer. He was GREAT, but really would have liked to have seen more than one... read more

Cousin K, Cousin K, Cousin K!!! He was hilarious and entertaining as well as passionate about his job and culture. I gave him a bear hug when he dropped us off at the hotel. Bus ride-10 stars Food-7 stars Entertainment; fire danicng/toggling 20 stars. Dancing 8 stars...Only because it felt like Disney Americanized version of cultural dance. I wished it werent so. We got two souvenir tiki ceramic glasses which are awesome. Love them. I got 3 drink tix which was 1 too many for me personally. I wanted to gorge on food and less bloated on alcohol although they were pretty stiff. It was a beautiful setting and every one there seemed to be having a great time. We did. 06-28-11 read more

I feel bad for these guys, but I have to say don't bother. The food isn't good. The drinks were bad and tasted like nasty artificial syrup. The show was boring and everyone wanted to leave but couldn't. The leis were the cheap shell ones instead of real flowers. For what we paid, we should have gone to a fancy restaurant instead. On a good note, the host of our bus was hilariously funny and entertaining! The host made up for the bad parts. read more