Excellent show. Great atmosphere. Beautiful scenery. The performers are outstanding! Highly recommend.

The performance was great! Very fun and interesting to learn more about the history. The family photos they took turned out great as well. The food was good but we weren't able to order drinks. read more

Mauna Kea Luau is the best luau I've ever been to -and I've been to many throughout The Hawaiian Islands! The oceanfront setting is magical! The performers are SO talented - singers, dancers, flame throwers - all graceful and authentic! I was waiting for Pele to make her presence known! The array of food offerings presented on the bountiful buffet was impressive, with all of the usual Hawaiian dishes plus some of the best New York steak I've ever tasted! The Mai Tais were tasty too! All in all, a beautiful evening under the stars and an abundance of Hawaiian cultural sights, sounds and tastes to savor and enjoy! A MUST for all visitors to the Island of Hawaii! read more

Really a mixed review here. The setting is magnificent, with long tables sloping down toward the stage which is framed by trees with a spectacular ocean/sunset backdrop. Serving a buffet to a couple hundred people is not easy, and they do a pretty good job. We all got through promptly and food was plentiful. It wasn't a five-star meal, but not bad considering. The pork is the star, and the evening begins with a ceremony where it is removed from its earthen oven. Sides were okay, and the desserts were really good. The show itself was well-performed, but the content was a mess. Half of it was a boring cruise ship nightclub act ("everybody say A-lo-ha!") and the other half was a weird sexualized dance show. Seriously inappropriate for families with children or anyone with a sense of decency. If they'd just done the fire-dance and skipped the rest, I would have been happier. read more

The show was great - starting with building an understanding of Hawaiian culture & traditions, then going into the modern expectation of a luau (e.g., torch throwing, hula) The food was not very good, certainly compared to luaus I've attended in the past. COVID may have a role, but individual plates with luke warm food (e.g., roast pork) were handed out. Small dishes of sides (poi, poke) that might have been appropriate sized for 1-2 people, certainly not 5. All in, we paid ~$200 per person. The show was worth $100 (maybe more), but the food was definitely not worth $100. A nice buffet (which would have been preferred in normal times) is probably $50/person. It was entertaining, but not good value. read more

The Mauna Kea location and resort cannot be beat! Their Luau lives up to MK's reputation. It is an authentic story/telling experience with top notch live band, singing, dancing, costumes, and delicious food. Highly recommend and hope to see it again! read more

We really enjoyed this luau. We truly appreciated that they altered the venue due to rainy conditions. This allowed us and many others to enjoy a true Hawaiian experience despite the weather conditions. Would highly recommend. read more

Best luau we've been to. The food was really good and the show was outstanding. The MC was so good, she was also a good singer. we thoroughly enjoyed the entire thing. read more

We were hosting a group (Ohana, not work) and decided to take them to the luau. It's well known on the Big Island, and overall a great experience. Space: very nice spot on the grounds of the Mauna Kea hotel. It's off to the side down by the water, so a bit of a trek if you have a little one or an elderly family member. We parked the car in the lot over in the far corner, which is close and made the trip back with the baby quick. Food & Drink: the food is ono, which was great (only regret is that I didn't get seconds). The drinks were actually the only downside of the experience and kept this review from being five stars: except for one drink from a small selection, they weren't included and were really weak. Entertainment: the best performance at a luau we have seen. Not only did they have a great mix, but the performers were talented and into it. My favorite was the story about Pele and her sister, and the journey to the Big Island. We knew the story already, but they did such a cool job with the dance and the performers nailed it. Aside from the cocktails issue, it was a great time and we'd go back. Our people loved it. read more

incredible setting with a beautiful sunset. Very respectfully presented and if you like history you get a taste of hula and dance history from Tahiti to the Hawaiian islands. We thought everything was exceptional as well as the food! read more

I've been to many Luau's, this is by far the best! Mauna Kea Resort & Luau venue is beautiful, Food was very good, entertainment was excellent, providing excellent historical show. Just great . Highly recommend. read more

This luau was one of the best I have seen. Dancers told the story of how Hawaii came into being and united into one under the king. The dancers we great and they kooked like they were having fun. The narrator had a beautiful voice and she encouraged audience participation. Location was majestic and the food was "Ono" delicious. They had a wide variety of foods and the drinks were not watered down. Staff was great and our server Chey was friendly, cheerful and explained some of the Hawaiian culture. She was very informative. Well worth the money. read more

Mauna Kea Luau - Old story of Hawaii - Performing Arts Near Me - Kohala, Hawaii

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Luxurious hotel, beautiful beach, great experience!! Hike to Mauna Kea sister resort beach. Via hotel 20 min to another stunning beach read more

Waiting 30 min in the sun with mosquitoes biting you without any direction when told to get there 30 min early and spending $500 for 2 people is not welcoming. Also only one drink for that price so pace yourself. read more

We had a GREAT Experience! Recommend the Preferred Package since that gets Perks (Closer to Stage Seating, Mai Tai Upon Entry & 1st Dibs for the Buffet)! Cuisine was OUTSTANDING & Delicious! The Show was SPECTACULAR! Our 6 Year Old Daughter was AWESTRUCK during the Fire Dance! The location is ideal to watch the Sunset! The Staff are Professional & Courteous! Thank You! read more

The food was good. The dancers were good. But the show was too long. The historical dances were great. The modern dances should be cut from the program. The MC talked way too much and really shouldn't sing. She doesn't have a pleasing voice and her style is like a cheap Las Vegas show. All in all I would give it 3 plus stars. The setting is beautiful and the staff were excellent. read more

By far the best Luau we've been too! Fabulous views! Wonderful plated food! Entertainment was wonderful! Well worth the money!

I really enjoyed learning about Hawaiian history and culture. I think it's great that the Hawaiian people value their traditions and want to educate and share them with non natives. The food was plentiful and good. I especially liked the yellow rice that looked like golden noodles and the coconut flavored potatoes. I recommend this lua! Get the premium seats so you have your own table and can see everything up close read more

Mauna Kea Luau - King Kamehameha's Court - Performing Arts Near Me - Kohala, Hawaii

First of all - the venue - WOW! The stage was at the water front and the sunset was perfect! We purchased the VIP package so we could be at the front and we were also served some very nice appetizers. Then the rest of the food - way too much to eat. We enjoyed all of the food options. A bit disappointed that the pig was not cooked in the imu but due to COVID restrictions, they were not able to do this. When we discussed our favorite part of the week we spent in The Big Island, this event was at the top of our list. read more

Mauna Kea Luau - The calling of the royal court - let the show begin! - Performing Arts Near Me - Kohala, Hawaii

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Food was average but there were lots of flies using the shrimp as their meeting spot. The mai tai's were the worst I've ever had and the show was average. Just about fell out of my chair when I received the $808 bill for my family of 5. Use your $ on something else.... read more

This is a really great, if not pricey, experience. This was my third time and I have now taken all three of my grandchildren...2 of the three danced throughout the show! The show is terrific and different each time; dancers are clearly talented and the M/C (the same year after year) loves her history and sharing it with the audience. There's no reason to pay the extra price; everyone gets the same food and one can see we'll no matter where the seats. Just don't be late! The photos taken prior to the show are worth it and such fun memories! read more

I like shows and performances so I'm glad I took my family to the Luau while we were staying at the Mauna Kea resort. It's good fun and there woman MC was awesome in her singing and way of getting the crowd excited. I would've docked my review by one more star if she wasn't involved. I was disappointed that much of the singing and speaking was recorded vs. live performances. Our premium seating table also was missing plates and silverware. So while people were eating and food was on our table for a while, we still waited while our server eventually brought silverware (only). I finally had to get up and find someone to talk to and ask for plates. The food was okay and nothing great, though on par with what you expect for a show like this or banquet meals. BTW the complementary mai tais are pretty bad though they weren't good for our entire hotel stay so I guess on par for the resort. Our server did give us a couple free drinks because we mentioned were didn't care for the mai tais, so that was nice of her. We really enjoyed our stay at the resort. Their Beach and cabana services are great. The show is still a nice thing to do while you're there. read more

The seating was horrible, the seat very uncomfortable. The food was cafeteria style, the pork very dry, flies all over all of the food. I ordered 2 cocktails during dinner, I was charge $50.00 for the 2 cocktails, ridiculous!!!!! The performance was OK, but not worth $200 per person. read more

Spent a lot of money on this but service was extremely poor. We didn't receive our dinner until other tables were getting dessert and only after I asked another server if they would be providing dinner. Our server finally showed Up with dinner and it was cold. kids were no longer hungry by the time the cold food arrived. the show was mediocre avoid this luau, it was a terrible waste of money read more

What a fantastic experience! "They" said it was the best luau in Hawaii and "they" were right. Unforgettable show and the performers really wove the story of Hawaii. The food selection was unbelievable, plentiful and absolutely great tasting and cooked just right. Our party of four had a such a wonderful time and it was definitely one of the highlights of our Hawaii vacation in 2022! We would all wholeheartedly recommend this Mauna Kea Luau to all we meet! read more

Location was amazing and the food was really good. But, the show itself was sub-par and not worth the price. read more

Food and service were great and the ambiance was authentic. Highly recommend! Well worth the money to get premium seating. Skip the line and have a perfect seat for the entertainment. Staff moved everyone through the food service very efficiently, so no one missed the show. My family loved it. read more

The cast was good and the location beautiful. The food at par with other Luau's. The show was underwhelming but enjoyed the narration.

Emcee, musicians and dancers were talented. Food delicious! For $400, a single complimentary drink compromised the value.

This was a really fun experience for my family. We have been to a couple of other Hawaiian luaus on Maui, and this was the best one. The food was good, the show was great, and I thought the event was very well run and organized. If you're looking to attend a luau on the big island, I highly recommend . read more

The performance was great. The dancers did a fabulous job. It was a cheesy tourist experience and that's fine. The food was terrible. The pig, which is the big deal, was dry and had no flavor. Everything was bland and we left not feeling well. For almost $500 for two people to have to buy drinks on top of that is outrageous. I've been to other luau and this was the most expensive and by far the worst. read more

After paying $200 per person for the Luau, we did not expect to pay $67. for 1 Mai Tai, 1 Blue Hawaii, and 1 Pinacolato. The show was nice, and the food (except for the fish and the lomi lomi salmon was acceptable. Buyer beware! read more

What a lovely Aloha to the Big Island! Our last night on the island and to experience this magical moment with the warmth we were craving helped us be able to say goodbye and Mahalo. The service was impeccable yet subtle, the food was amazing and the entertainment was all we expected. Beauty, culture and history woven together masterfully. And afterwards we wandered to the bluff and watched the mantas feeding below us. A perfect ending to a perfect vacation. read more

Loved the concept of the show and the food however for the premium seats our table view was obstructed and saw only half of the dancers. read more

Mauna Kea Luau - Front row seats obstructed by stage light - Performing Arts Near Me - Kohala, Hawaii

Ok this was a ton of fun. I make it a point to not really do many touristy things but having hit most of my bucket list items on island I figured why not and I was not disappointed. Decent food, a good time and very much reminiscent of 1960's Hawai'i mostly in part to the resort feel - although very modern it just has the vibe which I love. Also told a good story of the island and (i felt) was pretty respectful of the culture (which is extremely important to me). Luckily there was a cancellation so I got in with no prior reservation - made the ticket purchase the same day so that is my hack to you - if you want to go and it is last minute sometimes they have cancellations - Oh was also an amazing sunset. Enjoy! read more

Mauna Kea luau is located at the Mauna Kea beach hotel. Valet is free but don't get there early or they will turn you away or tell you to go to the beach and if the beach is full you would have to leave the resort. The luau is near the beach outside, overlooking the ocean at sunset. The walkway and luau area is on concrete, so easy access for handicapped, hard of walking or strollers. I was disappointed with the cost of the luau that we didn't get a picture with the dancers upon entering like other luaus. There is a private photographer that will charge you an additional fee to get a picture of you and your family in front of the sunset before you go in the luau but the picture was washed out and expensive. We opted in trying to take our own selfie's since it was just the two of us. Every patron gets a shell or nut necklace upon entering with their drink. First drink is free, additional drinks cost extra. We both got a Mai Tai but there was a non-alcoholic punch available as well. It costs $20 for each additional alcoholic drink. We got there early and our seating was already preselected, but on the email it says first come first served, so we thought we'd get a better seat than we did. Large assortment of Hawaiian food buffet style but not vegan friendly. No picture or video allowed during the show, they allow you to take pictures and video during the finale at the end of the show and the dancers come to the exit to greet and take photos with you. read more

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I've been to other luaus and this one left me disappointed. I can't say if it's just COVID cost cutting contributing, but I'd recommend reading recent reviews and looking at other venues. The event opened at 530. When we went through the food line at 615 the food was already cold. The first bar was shut down at 630 and the second bar stopped serving liquor at 7 and no drink service available after 730. Other luaus I've been to have had bars open until the venue closed, 9 or 930pm. This was over at 745pm (advertised to go until 8). The hard working dance crew was small (only 5 people in the biggest routines.) Some of the numbers were very cheesy, not something I've seen at other luaus. The fire dancer was amazing. The staff were very nice and the COVID precautions were adequate. Overall a disappointing $300+ night for two. read more

The best luau experience! We've been to many luaus but this one was by far the most beautiful! Our server Chyanne was so sweet and thoughtful. We felt so welcomed by her Aloha spirit. My in-laws were visiting from out of state and they were so impressed with everything. My kids loved the fire dance and were very inspired by the magic of it. I highly recommend this luau. read more

The Mauna Kea luau is so not worth it. We've been to plenty luau's in the past and this one had to be the most expensive and worst one. For starters, if you don't get premium, you sit in the back and can barely see the show. Secondly, the drinks are NOT included. Not once have we ever been to a luau that drinks weren't included. We paid $230 each for food and an hour show? Sounds like a rip off. The show was decent but there was only one fire guy and there are usually more. Do yourself a favor and go to the Hilton or Marriott Luau as drinks are included and much more favorable. read more

This luau was not terrible- I just feel the whole event was a bit disorganized. Thank GOODNESS we didn't pay for premium seating! The only difference was you sat at a different table, got an appetizer of chips and hummus brought out to you, and they got a flower Lei instead of a hard shell lei. Definitely not paying extra for that! You can't video or photograph the performance. The food was decent. The performance seemed very scripted and disorganized. One woman is the MC of the night and scripts the whole evening. I've been to way better luau's in the Hawaiian islands. This did not feel authentic or natural at all. They were also about 20 minutes late to opening the doors for us to be seated. The sun was in our eyes the whole night. read more