We have attended the Hale Koa Luau in 2024 and again this year in 2026. 2024 was better because there was a female host named Lyric who reminded me of a Disney princess. I later learned that she was a contestant on The Voice. In addition, my 2024 luau was my first visit to Hawaii ever and I was pumped to attend a luau and learn the traditions. Our 2026 host was a gentleman who had more of a flat stage presence. Flash forward to 2026, many components of the luau remained the same. The luau starts at 5 pm and there are various activities on the lawn such as lei bracelet making, some music, a man who climbs up a coconut tree, and a complimentary drink either rum punch or guava juice. There is the typical push for professional photos when your party enters the space with an opportunity to purchase closer to dinner time at $25 each. The show takes a touch to get going and has a strong focus on getting the crowd engaged. There are many songs dedicated towards anniversaries and celebrations which is nice. In addition, there is a big focus on military and those who have served this country being at a military hotel. The event is clean, staff is friendly, yet I do wish there was more performing as opposed to crowd shout outs. The show takes you through Polynesian history, New Zealand and more demonstrated via dancing, fire throwing and hula. There is an MC who hosts, live musicians and interactive crowd sessions. I've never been a big fan of the food but appreciate it all because it's a learning lesson about traditional food. The appetizers are pineapple, pickled onions, poi and salsa with fish that will get split at your table with pre-set plates. Servers will come around to serve the main dish. The main plate contains chicken, pulled pork, steak, fish, sweet potatoes and zucchini. Dessert has always been guava cake which pairs nicely with coffee. My favorite take-a-way from the show is learning how the men have always done the hunting, cooking and cleaning as the women are considered sacred since women can give the gift of life. This is such an honorable lesson that makes me smile. Thank you to the staff as I know it takes a village to put on a show like this especially 3 x's a week. Mahalo!! read more

See all

I don't like to post a bad review but this needs to be done Sorry, we have been to maybe 10-15 Luaus over the past 30 + years of doing business in the islands. Most are very similar but this one was sadly at the very bottom. We felt like we were on a Carnival cruise with a cruise director trying extra hard to get his guests involved. You start out having to sit on the grass on mats! You listen to music, watch some dancing and the main actor a young man climb the coconut tree as they all do. He kept trying and trying to be funny but just couldn't make it. The food was the typical so so luau food but this was plated and brought to the table. Some may like that but the big buffets allow you to get what you like and pass on the items you don't. Here, you get it all and in a big hurry with very little interaction by the over worked server. The "cruise director" did it all from Tiny Bubbles sing along to Happy Birthday songs and Anniversary celebrations. Almost thought there would be no Luau at all! Finally got into it but the dancers, some ok but most looked like they never performed together and had very poor stage presence. I could go on but this really just reflects on the management. The price is good I guess but I know there is better. Sorry to leave this but perhaps it could save you a few hundred dollars. Left two stars out of respect for the Hali Koa the used to put on a great show. read more

So this was not my first Hawaiian Luau, but the first time I attended at the Hale Koa. It was for a group work event and it lined up perfectly with our schedule. I was a bit worried about the authentic vibe, but once the show started my worries went away. The food could have been better, but it was adequate. We were seated towards the back of the venue and the columns can make viewing a challenge, but we eventually got up and moved around to get more involved in the experience. Highly recommend this experience and you can show up early and check out the rest of the property as it has so much to offer. read more

Hale Koa Luau - Performing Arts Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

The halekoa luau was highly recommended to us. We went, we enjoyed ourselves, the dinner was actually really good, and the performers are really good as well. There's a little bit of pre-show activities, which are fun especially if you have kids, but for adults I would say probably not really worth your time. My biggest issue with this is that it isn't really an authentic luau. It is much, much more like a old style variety show. There's a host, there's a musical review, yes there are some authentic dances and authentic costumes, but this is not an authentic glue out in any way shape or form. This is a fancy cater dinner at a hotel with a variety show. The pre-show activities were pretty cliche. They performers were pretty cliche. They definitely had a "too cool for school" vibe. But like I said, the dinner was actually really good. And my kids really really loved the performers and the costumes. It's also very expensive. I get it, it's a tourist activity, tourist activities are expensive. But it was very expensive. So did we have a good time? Yes. My kids really really loved it. It was very expensive. And it is not authentic. So, take with that information what you will. And make your own decisions on whether or not you want to visit. Now that I've experienced it once, I would not go back a second time on a return trip. You can pay to park in the hotel parking structure but there's also a public lot that is less expensive just across the street that you can park in. read more

The food wasn't the highlight but it was good and plenty. The entertainment was amazing. To be in a venue with about 600 patriots was the highlight of the night. When the women sang Proud to be an American every single person stood at attention. Just made my night. read more

The Hale Koa Luau is especially for US veterans and service members. You can order your ticket online and pay based upon your rank and then you can pick up your tickets at will call. You have to make sure you get your tickets at will call before lining up to get in and you must show your military ID. I overall think it is catered to US military in terms of service of food especially how it's not a buffet and they serve you by plate which is very quick and efficient, that saves a lot of time compared to the buffet style. And they especially pay homage and recognition to celebrations and service members who served at wars. That is really nice to see. I personally thought the show was good, the performers were great, they had pre activities that were engaging- music, lei making, head bands, tattoos, someone climbs a coconut tree. They talk about the history and the show the pig and imu. For my elderly retired parents they enjoyed. We didn't know you can ask for to go boxes if you can't finish your food. We saw another table request that, we wish we did because we actually enjoyed all of the meats it was just a lot. Parking is validated and across the hotel and they start at 5 and end right on time at 8. read more

See all

An excellent evening, and a very good price. When you first walk in, you are given a shell lei, and a complementary drink. Either a rum punch, or a non-alcoholic punch. The first drink is complementary, and after that, if you don't want coffee or water, you pay for what you choose to drink at the bar. You can have your picture taken with the cast of the show, with the picture available for purchase later. Before dinner, there are a lot of different activities, such as hula lessons, learning how to make leis and headbands, and the like. There is a tree climbing demonstration, and then the pig is pulled from the imu, (oven in the ground) with much fanfare. Overall, dinner was pretty good. There was a lot of food. The appetizer was pineapple, pickled vegetables, Lomi Lomi , salmon, basically a ceviche, and of course, poi. I've tried poi before, but to be fair, I tried it again. No thank you. For the main course, it's not a buffet, it's a set dinner, and it was very good. Barbecue chicken, teriyaki beef, mahi-mahi as well as sweet potato, squash, and rice. Overall, the main course was good although I thought that the teriyaki beef was a bit tough. It tasted good, but it was a bit tough. Dessert was a coconut, guava cake, which was very good. After dinner, came the show. And what an amazing show. It was basically a trip through Polynesia. Lots of dancing, lots of interaction with the crowd, and of course, the big fire dance at the end. The very last part of the luau was a very touching tribute to the military, as the. Hale Koa is a military hotel. I had a very good time, and I would definitely come back and see the show again. read more

See all

The food was delicious! Richard, our server was top notch! He worked very hard and fast to make sure our table had everything we needed and explained the food and its cultural significance. The show dancers both male and female performers were amazing. The ambience perfect! The old MC was the famous Glen Mediros sorry if misspelled and now his daughter is. We sure missed Glen. And we missed the 2 included drinks vs 1. read more

See all

What an incredible experience! From beginning to end, you DON'T want to miss a second! We got there at 5:03pm as the line was slowly moving in and there were so many small things to do. Warning, that rum drink is STRONGGG Anyways, there were various stations and you could learn to play some instruments, make a bracelet with real flowers, make a palm leaf head band, and take photos with the dancers in the show! Their band was also playing live instruments and you could sit in the grass area on mats provided to relax. Afterwards you get called with a big shell thing like on Moana to check out how they make kalua pig. Once that portion is over you go to your seats and dinner begins. I'm really glad they set up the dinner/show the way they did because I didn't feel annoyed at having to eat while trying to watch the show. Everything was over at about 8pm, so for the price it was worth every cent! read more

See all

Food was amazing here. Service is usually exceptional except that night we were there. We felt our server was always rushing us on finishing our dinner and dessert so she could clean up and guess to go home sooner. I didn't even finish my dinner and she was already cleaning up all the side dishes and our dessert came and was asked if we were done a couple minutes later. We didn't want to make a fuss about because we took my brother's family there to experience the luau. They enjoyed the luau a lot. We will be bringing hubby's cousins here when they come visit in December. read more

See all

The luau was amazing. My bf and I first time ever doing one and it didn't disappoint. They greeted us with a shell laie and a drink, non alcoholic and alcohol. The performances were amazing as they had so many different styles. The hotel itself was so nice and the luau area was clean and secluded which I loved. The food was delicious and the dessert didn't disappoint. They did have a bar for other drinks but we didn't get to go but we were satisfied with all the amenities we had already. read more

See all

Super touristy luau. After experiencing the best luau in Kona with all-you-can-eat authentic Hawaiian food "for the same price", this experience sadly disappoints. It felt very Disney as the lead singer sounded like Ariel, The Little Mermaid. And the male MC's Polynesian accent was NOT convincing at all. Haha! It was almost comical but not in a good way. Again, super touristy. Free Mai Tai per adult upon entry - yesss! I appreciated all the activities and things to watch while we waited to be seated. That was great! I enjoyed watching them un-earth the pig from the imu. I also appreciate that it is a military luau and they pay homage to everyone who served in the military - that is great! But how about paying homage to our veterans with exceptional food? For the price, this isn't a mess hall. Dinners are pre-plated so you don't get to choose what you want to eat. The beef was very DRY, no one ate theirs at our table. The poi was very watered down, and the lomi salmon lacked flavor. Sad and disappointing. I don't remember it being that bad the last time we came in Nov 2021, but this time was an unfortunate let-down. read more

See all

A unique experience in Hawaii. The Hale Koa Luau is the best Luau in Waikiki and one that provides an unforgettable experience to any visitor. The audience with which we shared the experience was amazing. All ages, all backgrounds, multiple nationalities. We spoke at length with a retired US Marine "Gunny" who was a Korean War vet, before the event. We shared our table with several Australians, a New Zealand couple, And a father-and-son Mexican American duo. It made the experience even better, asking the ambiance truly superb The Luau began with a Hawaiian arts and crafts demonstration, followed by the uncovering of the roasted pig, complimentary drinks and juice, and we then were ushered to our assigned seating. The dinner was superb, pork, beef and chicken as well as taro and vegetables. We were then treated to an hour and a half of a magnificent cultural experience covering several Polynesian cultures. It was an amazing experience. Not to be forgotten. read more

See all

The luau here exceeded my expectations! When we first entered we received beautiful shell necklaces and got to choose one drink (a Mai tai or POG). After that, we go to do some actives like making a plumeria bracelet and learning how to make a crown. The food here is delicious as well, my only wish was that there was more veggies or variety on the plate because there was alot of meat/protein and it filled me up very quickly. The performances were fantastic. My favorite part was the fire dance at the end. And my mom's favorite part was the host/singer who has an amazing Disney Princess like voice! The overall vibe was great, everyone was very friendly and the tables seated 8 people each so we got to meet other couples/families. read more

Hale Koa Luau - Performing Arts Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

See all

Really amazing luau performances and taste of Hawaiian food. Staff were friendly and welcoming and there were family and kid friendly performances throughout the whole evening read more

See all

Ive been to more than a few luaus here and this is the best one. Military only, and they get booked quickly. So make reservations on advance for best seats to view the show. read more

This luau was rank amateur hour from the entertainment to the food. They had so few performers that the host needed to sing songs or make jokes while the few performers they had were changing into their next costume. I've been to several and this is just an awful performance. It's worthwhile to spend a little more money for better food and entertainment elsewhere. The hotel is fantastic and the staff is great but this luau is absolutely shameful. read more

Must experience while visiting Hawaii! Very interactive & the show is so cool to witness in person! Will definitely be back again when visiting. Worth the price we paid for front row. Food was good wish we had Mac salad but that's my own opinion. Pork, chicken & Fish was super good read more

See all

This was such a fun thing to do our first day in Waikiki! Food and drinks were both decent and the courtyard they hold this in is very pretty but the reason we were there was for the performers and they did not disappoint. Everyone working seemed to really enjoy performing and my family had a great time. Our kids both interacted with the performers before the show... making a flower bracelet and a crown out of palm leaves and both performers took the time to talk with them and help them. I would definitely recommend to someone staying in Waikiki. read more

See all

We came to the Luau Show and enjoyed it! The atmosphere was very welcoming and the entertainers were phenomenal. The food presentation was awesome! Overall, it was a great experience and I would recommend this show. Enjoy! Mahalo to all the staff! read more

Hale Koa Luau - Performing Arts Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

The food is great (and plentiful!) The pre-show entertainment was very educational and very inclusive - engaging all attendees. The dancers were amazing and all the staff is friendly and accommodating. Overall great value for the price. Best vegetarian and gluten free meals our party has ever had at a similar event. Very convenient to Waikīkī - no bus ride! The one downside was the MC - sweet but a very nasally singer, frequently off key - might have been a bad night - who was difficult to understand when she was speaking. read more

The Hale Koa is an amazing hotel resort. Anywhere you go, you are welcomed and greeted. The luau was fun. As you enter, youll be greeted and lei'd. Once inside, photo opportunities for a small fee. Here at the Hale Koa, you will not be disappointed with a three course meal served- appetizer, the main meal kalua pig, Portuguese sausage, steak, fish, grilled vegetables and rice. Lastly, the chiffon cake! Entertainment is happening through the meal. Hula dancers, fire show and a little audience participation. read more

Hale Koa Luau - Luau plate and appetizer - Performing Arts Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

See all

I heard about this place from a facebook group that said it was one of the best luaus and is military only. So we have to verify we are military or a veteran to book tickets and get in, The parking situation sucks. I am handicap and we all have to park across the street from the hotel, pay for parking and walk/ride/stroll across the street and around the path or up the steps. I do wish that I stayed at this hotel because I saw that they had a waterslide. When you walk in you get complementary juice or rum drink. They say doors open at 5. We went at 530, but they only had about 10 chairs to sit around waiting until you can go sit in your seats. So again, not great for handicap people. They had little stations where you can make a headband from palm leaves, flower bracelet and play the drum. You can buy drinks from the bar or have water of coffee included in your tickets. The food.... not good. Everyone at the table pretty much just had a couple nibbles of their food. It was small pieces of fish, chicken, steak, Kahlúa pork, rice, squash and taro? The chicken was tasty but everything else, not so much. A few hours later my stomach did not like the food and decided to get rid of it. I liked the guava cake, but most people didn't eat it. The show was neat; I did like that. I liked how the host was singing a song from Moana and has kids sing with her. I heard that the Polynesian luau on north shore is the best. read more

See all

I brought my family to this Luau as they were visiting me and I wanted them to get he full experience of a first trip to Hawai'i. This show was amazing from beginning to start, the food was so delicious as well. The only issue was that I couldn't eat everything in my plate and I wish I could have took some home. Our waitress Mui only asked if we were done and took our plates but after our table was cleared out we saw other servers asking their tables if they wanted to go plates which Mui didn't offer us. We were so disappointed because we didn't know this was an option, we would have loved to take all of those delicious left overs home with us to enjoy the next day. Only time she offered us to go boxes was after we were done eating dessert but our entrees were all already gone. read more

We were staying at the Hale Koa and decided to book the Luau here too since they also have a military discount for admission which was super affordable. We booked about 1-2 months in advance and got to choose our seats. We chose to sit right up front in the uncovered area. They do have a covered area but seating for that was farther back. If it rained we were told that we would be seated in the back in a covered area but it was a risk we were willing to take and glad we did. I wouldn't have wanted to sit anywhere else than up front. They had a welcome drink and pre-luau activities like palm crown making, lei bracelet making and tree climbing. They had an open cash bar as well. They took the cooked pig out of the ground and spoke about its significance and history. The food was pre-plated but served warm and there was plenty of pig. The pork was the best park and steak the least favorite, it was tough and dry. The appetizer and poi were good too. The Luau show was amazing and so entertaining, they had me in awe, I loved the fire dancing, he was AMAZING. The entertainers were full of enthusiasm and pride. We caught eye of another luau at another hotel later in the trip and feel we really lucked out with this. read more

See all

The Hale Koa Luau was really good! The food was good and entertainment!! The dancers ( both the men and women were awesome) The young lady who was the host was a bit annoying. I know that sounds mean ‍ her voice was so nasally . She was probably all of 25 ? But was acting like a 50 something talk show host . I just don't know why she is needed in the show at all . Anyways I would go again , hopefully she will be replaced by one of the actual Hawaiian folks. fire dude was awesome as well! read more

See all

Eh. Not great. Entertainment: Not good. The performers looked bored. Food: Average at best. The best part of it was the Cucumber Namasu. Fish stunk to high heaven. Venue: Meh. Not worth the money at all. We did a Luau in Maui where the entertainment and food were infinitely better. read more

Great show, but not so good foods. The steak was way too well done and hard to chew; quality probably inferior, too. The fish was sub-par. I hope the management will do something about improving the quality of the steak, fish, and cake; the others, including the chicken, were more eatable. Have attended this luau twice within the past few weeks, so I know. No offense, but in my opinion the male singer(Glenn?) was better than the female singer. read more

See all

This luau was so much fun, when you enter you receive a free welcome drink and there's many activities to do before dinner. Once we got seated the food was amazing especially the Kalua pig and our server was very nice and quick to get food out. The show was after dinner and was so entertaining as they got the crowd involved too. I would recommend to anyone interested to definitely go to this luau it's worth it. read more

Excellent experience all around. Before the meal, they had drinks for everyone and fun activities. The food, I thought, was excellent with more than you can eat. The show was fun and family friendly. It was educational and entertaining. The highlight was the fire dancing. read more

What an amazing experience. Hale Koa put on a first rate event. The grounds at the Hale Koa set a beautiful stage for the meal and the show and the demonstrations prior to the meal and the show were also very good. Also appreciated the patriotism shown by the cast. read more

The luau was great! We had a wonderful time. A much better value and venue compared to some other luaus we researched. Great entertainment and food was delicious. Highly recommend! read more

I have been to Paradise Cove, Germaine's, Polynesian Culture Center and the Hale Koa....in my opinion the Hale Koa has become my favorite. The food was served and their was no buffet option - they even had a vegetarian option for me which included: tasty tofu, rice, squash and sweet potato. Everyone else had the traditional Panko crusted fish, chicken, teriyaki steak and Kalua pork along with squash, rice and sweet potato. Everyone with us really enjoyed their food. They have the traditional kill the pig ceremony which as a vegetarian and animal lover, I never enjoy and can't watch. Prior to the start of the luaus they offer some activities but the absolute best part of the entire experience was the entertainment. I don't know if I have the right name but Cousin Jerry (the guy that climbs the tree) was hilarious and really good. All of the dancers were amazing. While I've seen the fire dancer at the end, this was the best. Absolutely amazing to watch! Several of us that went give this luau 5 stars! If you go, we hope you enjoy as much as we did! read more

Hale Koa Luau - Performing Arts Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

See all

We haven't been here in 10 years and we remember it's extremely good and it was the events start at 5 with many activities to participate in and live music. The show is amazing and a much better price than others on the island. Food had a bit of everything pork, steak, fish chicken and great vegetables. Very military geared which is what we wanted as my wife and I are both veterans. My 3 grandchildren were amazed it was great read more

As a local, Loved the experience in Waikiki. The food, service, and entertainment were awesome! I have a go to on the East side to bring my mainland friends to! read more

Firstly remember this is military/veteran only and you must provide proof. The staff and entertainment were awesome. Before the meal they setup stations to teach about Polynesian culture. My Granddaughter loved this and she loved learning to Hula. The meal was mostly decent, the steak was way overcooked and tough. The roasted pig was great and the chicken was good. Come for the experience, the food is just a byproduct. If you're following a lower carb lifestyle, the meal fits perfectly. Most of the items you can eat. read more

See all

Loved the overall Luau experience. Main course entree was a disappointment. I took my leftovers to the hotel just in case someone in my group wanted it later. You would think after so many complaints they would change the main course options or find a better way to season and prepare the items. The first course salad & pineapples were amazing. The Haupia Guava Cake I had for dessert was beyond delicious. After telling my server I really loved the cake, my party and I we're offered more. read more

See all

It was worth the money for the experience, but one time is enough. The food and service were great and the show was fairly good. My husband and I enjoyed it. $120 per person was a bit steep, but for a one time experience, we are glad we went. Ambiance was definitely Hawaiian. read more

Amazing! This is my 5th luau over the years and the only one that I felt was worth the price tag! The pre show activities were so fun! And free!!! Dinner was plated and farrr better than any Buffet I've had at a luau. Staff was so hospitable and kind. Gorgeous venue, costumes were gorgeous, host was great. Special moment for our fallen soldiers was so emotional and memorable. We purchased beautiful photos taken by staff, we unfortunately left the pics behind when we got home and after Informing staff they made sure we got the pictures! read more

Hale Koa Luau - Fresh kalua pig - Performing Arts Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

See all

This luau was wonderful. There were really enjoyable activities and presentations, and one performer, tree-climbing Uncle Jerry, stole the show! The food was so ono. read more

See all