We received a discount to attend the Luau which was hard to pass. It was a pretty packed show though it ended around 7:45pm. Got the VIP seating and got to enter at 5:15am for better seating as it was first come first serve. Dinner didn't start until 6pm and it was buffet style with a variety of Hawaiian food. The coconut cake was amazing! The prime ribs were also very tender and juice. With the VIP ticket you get three drinks, first drink being either Mai tai or lemonade. Rest or the drinks the waiter gives you a menu to choose from cocktails or beer. You can tell the whole team put in a lot of practice and work into the show. Also included was a Lei. Temporary tattoo and a wrist lei was also available before dinner started. Worth a visit for the experience! read more

Paina Waikiki Luau - Buffet with prime ribs - Polynesian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

During our trip to Hawaii , my cousin and I decided to book the Pains Waikiki luau in the Viator app. We chose the VIP ticket for $211 which included extra drinks , lei making and temp tattoos , all you can eat Polynesian buffet, and lei's with a front row seat to the show. Entertainment was amazing as the dancers performed meaningful scenes of their history in Waikiki and had several wardrobe changes that were all so beautiful. It was a really a great show but I truly felt it was overly priced as it's not on the ocean , instead it's on the exterior of the Marriott Hotel. read more

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Pāʻina Waikīkī Luau at the Waikiki Beach Marriott absolutely exceeded my expectations and became one of the highlights of my time in Honolulu. From the moment we arrived, the atmosphere was warm, welcoming, and full of genuine aloha -- it felt less like a tourist show and more like being invited to a vibrant Hawaiian family gathering under the Waikiki sky. The setting on the rooftop/terrace is stunning, with ocean breezes, city lights, and an intimate layout that never feels overcrowded, so you can actually see and enjoy every part of the performance. We were greeted with leis and a mai tai, and had the chance to enjoy cultural touches like temporary Polynesian tattoos and lei-making before the main show even started, which really helped set the tone for the evening. The food was genuinely delicious -- far better than the "just okay" buffet you sometimes get at luaus. The buffet offered plenty of variety, with flavorful local dishes and standouts like tender prime rib, kalua-style meats, and well-prepared sides that pleased everyone at our table. It truly felt like a feast, and the pacing of dinner with the show was smooth and well organized. The performances were the true star of the night. The singers, dancers, and musicians were top-notch, bringing stories of Waikīkī's history and Hawaiian and Polynesian culture to life through mele, hula, and high-energy choreography. They even brought our five-year-old sin up on stage to dance! The MC had a beautiful voice and a great stage presence, guiding the evening with humor and heart, and the fire-knife finale was absolutely thrilling -- a perfect way to close out the show. What really stood out was the energy and heart of the cast and staff: everyone was kind, attentive, and clearly proud to share their culture. Between the intimate venue, excellent food, and world-class entertainment, Pāʻina Waikīkī Luau is an easy "must-do" in Waikiki, whether it's your first luau or your fifth -- I would happily go back and recommend it enthusiastically to friends, family, and visitors alike. read more

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Food was amazingly delicious. Our server was energetic and kind. The ambiance was electrifying. We had the most amazing time. We had just got married so we used the luau as our reception. Aloha nui loa. Mahalo read more

Paina Waikiki Luau - Polynesian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

Pāʻina Waikīkī is a rooftop lūʻau located at the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa that celebrates Hawaiian royalty and the history of Waikīkī. Unlike many remote luaus, this one is conveniently situated in the heart of Waikīkī on the Queens break. Produced by Tihati Productions, the show features award-winning Polynesian musicians, hula kahiko (ancient hula), keiki performers, and a world-class fire knife finale. The evening includes traditional cultural demonstrations like lei making, temporary Polynesian tattoos, and hula lessons. read more

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Excellent Luau! The food was very good. I highly recommend the shredded Hawaiian pork. It was delicious. All of the food was top quality, and very traditional Hawaiian. The show, however, was the real attraction. The Hawaiian/Polynesian dancers were outstanding. The master of ceremonies told great stories and dancers brought the stories to life in traditional Hawaiian fashion. However, the fire dancers really stole the show. They had an adult experienced fire dancer, who was incredible and a young boy, apprentice fire dancer, who was surprisingly good for his age. If you are in Waikiki and looking for a luau, this is the one to go to. read more

Paina Waikiki Luau - Polynesian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

I am so confused with the reviews mentioning good food. The food (buffet) was terrible. The meat was all dry and there was very little variety for the cost of about $233 a person ($210 a person plus taxes and fees). You can't even see the ocean. The show is on the pool deck of the Marriott hotel. You are sitting on uncomfortable folding chairs that are hard to move in and out of the equally unimpressive folding table. All of the staff was great so I wish I could rate them separately. Save your money and find a better luau!!!! read more

Absolutely best experience ever: from the food, service, and ambiance. Most definitely worth the price. read more

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Marriott is lucky that they can get a 1 star for this. Frankly, the crap they served deserves a negative review and the chef should be fired. I've never made that comment that I can remember but this is by far the worst food service for a major meal I've ever had. Let's get the good out of the way. The show - spectacular. They were not on the beach. No full roasted pig that one would anticipate. Even with those knocks, the show carried its own. A solid 4 star experience only dragged down by expectational misses of not being near the beach or water and no pig as part of the lu'au. The kid with the fire was especially spectacular. That is where the positive ends. We were sold a bill of goods by blue hawaian about this being great food and an amazing experience with no mention of the issues relative to expectations for a lu'au or the horrible food. Needless to say, we were lied to and horribly at that. The chef needs some lessons on cooking. Apps, ok though lacking flavor and no concept of sizing on cuts for salad or other apps. The bigger issue, no temp control or balance on proteins. Fish, hammered. Chicken, overcooked. Pork, dry as fuck. Prime rib, medium well to well done. Not a single protein was cooked well or even as good as a standard rubber chicken hotel meal. The chef sucked that bad. To say he is one of the worst chefs I've ever experienced in 45 years of dining would be being kind. Oh and the topping on the cake - the au jus was syrupy. I asked about that and was told by my waitress Jessie that the chef was asked to make gluten free. WHAT??? You have 80-100 people and you make the au jus gluten free on a request for all and turn it into to a syrup with no base for the horribly overcooked prime rib??? What the hell was the chef thinking? Clearly no common sense or ability as a cook. Dude deserves to be fired for the sheer stupidity of that decision alone. On a saving note, the Chef de pastry/desert is amazing. I'm not a coconut fan and the coconut cake was amazing. The pineapple upside down cake was solid and the pineapple was a big hit with the kids. All in all, I'd recommend avoiding this place. It's not the show (was great). It's not the service (was solid). It is the ambiance to a degree (roof of a hotel, with over the top advertising for said hotel behind the show. ). But in reality, it's the horrible food. The cost is not even close to being justified. Run!!! Avoid this shitty ass chef like the plague he seems to want to cook for! read more

This was our first luau and we had amazing time. Our server was top notch with our drinks and everyone was attentive. The show was spectacular and gave us a little history of the culture. Buffet was perfect. Overall great experience. It is on a rooftop at the hotel. But I loved that it felt more intimate with not a huge crowd. It was great we were able to take pics with the performers at the end. read more

Paina Waikiki Luau - Luau bracelet - Polynesian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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The show was fabulous. The service was good. The food was terrible. It was average at best with the desert being inedible. I would not recommend going back there unless you're just going for the show. read more

The luau was the highlight of our trip so far. The show was fabulous and the dancers were top notch. The buffet was also very good with plenty of food to choose from. The service was also excellent. Highly recommended. read more

The show was nice but the food was awful. I do not recommend this luau there much better. The Chiefs luau is one of the best that I have attended. read more

The luau was great. It was just long. I'd have preferred the show during dinner. The dancers, in particular the youngest dancers we so talented. I enjoyed the Samoan dancing and the fire twirlers most of all. read more

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This is a scam. We were charged $300 for show only. This was supposed to be about 2 hours long. It rained throughout the show which was ended abruptly after 35 minutes. This show is not protected from rain which is frequent in tropical Hawaii. We tried to reach out multiple times to resolve this and get a partial refund. The response was none existent the entire time we were there and later got an apology email with nothing else. There are many luau options. This was a terrible and expensive experience. We were staying at the Marriott, have been long time customers so this was shocking to us, not only in the lacking of quality but the lack of response from the Marriott to take corrective action. I gave many opportunities. read more

Had an AMAZING time! Dean was our server and he was very attentive and great. The whole show was extremely entertaining and the music was great. The host who was singing had an incredible voice. I enjoyed the whole experience so much that I want to go back. The drinks were delicious and the Kalua pork was so good! Highly recommend! read more

Paina Waikiki Luau - The dancers - Polynesian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Loved this Luau! It was not super crowded which was great for the attentive service. The performances were excellent and it's in a private rooftop space at the Marriott so it is not open to the public like other luaus. I thoroughly enjoyed the Mai Tai--very strong! The buffet was excellent and offered a carving station with juicy prime rib, assorted vegetables, sides and chicken. They offered complimentary tattoos and a fresh lei bracelet before the show. Highly recommend! read more

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10/10 recommend this Luau! We were honestly surprised by how amazing the food was! The performances were amazing as well! The host was friendly and had perfect comedic timing! The dancers were fabulous! And the flame throwers were out of this world! One thing I'd recommend is get there early like 5ish. We got there right at 5:30 and everyone was already sat with a beverage. We will be taking about this experience for years to come! read more

Good service - Luau not on beach - show not bad / ambiance so so - over priced - we did not get the Buffett dinner

An absolute dumpster fire. Canceled the luau an hour and 15 minutes before it was supposed to start because of weather. The weather is fine. There is no rain. It is not going to rain tonight. I was told it was because other artists have to make their way to the venue that may not be able to because of the rain we had in the past few days that's fine then you should've canceled the luau well in advance not an hour before it started giving people the opportunity to make other plans an absolute disaster. read more

Great show, much local talent including adults & youth. We enjoyed the traditional stories told through dance, song and fire. Good food and each ticket includes 3 drink tickets. Mahalo! read more

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Big disappointment. First, the show itself was good and performers great. The food however was comparable to what would be served at a high school cafeteria. The prime rib, cut lengthwise and then sliced so you only got a 1/2 standard portion. Horseradish not fresh, nor was the poi (sp?). Food was pretty bland overall. In terms of environment, on the roof of the hotel, not on the beach, no roasted pig, etc. So way overpriced for what you get, and the chef really needs to improve the food quality and variety. I would look elsewear read more

The luau was very cheesy and the food was not very good. A lot of money for not a lot of value. Skip it.

food and the few dancers they had wwre goid. Do not pay for the VIP seating, the show and attendance is so small it can be seen from anywheI would reccommend numerous other Luau's on the Island. If you want to attend pay for show only and go out to dinner elsewhere. read more

What a wonderful experience!! We did a VIP seating and it was wonderful! Pros: - Starting with the food - Lots of options and delicious prime rib - At the arrival you get leis, that are absolutely gorgeous. - Before the show, you can make leis and get a tattoo - 3 drinks tickets, for lovely options of cocktails and wine - Service is timely and correct Show is spectacular!!! The dancers are really into it, they tell stories through dance, so much joy and pride in their performance. The grand finale is HOT!!! I enjoyed it a lot more than I expected, I walked away in great spirits and even did some light research on Hawaiian royal family. I would highly recommend this show. read more

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(Full disclosure: I enjoyed a complimentary seat as a hotel-status goodie) Attended a Wednesday seating in June. A new offering at the Marriott Beach Resort at the south end of Waikīkī'. The venue is spacious, with seating being spread far enough apart that you're not squashed in. The buffet for food is organized well and the food vibes mid-upscale wedding. Kālua pork and poi are good representative "traditional" fare for being buffet catering. The prime rib is juicy. GF dishes are labeled. **A note to my vegan and veggie 'ohana: it is tough to get a whole meal's worth of value off the buffet line as is. Consider calling ahead to see if there's an accommodation.** The show was entertaining. If you'd like a show that goes into the history and traditions of Hawaii and have the time, I recommend heading up to the Nutridge lū'au. For a fun way to spend a weeknight, this is perfectly fun entertainment. A little confusion up front for check-in. Evidently, there was a separate line for VIP I was unaware of. Stood in the queue for some minutes, got to the front, and was told they couldn't check me in; I needed to go to the other line. Not fabulous, but a small problem. Servers were nice, but a little "who's on first" for gettin the first round of drinks. But once the first round was settled, everything was in a good grove. My only caution about the table: the water glasses are ridiculous. They are too tall with too narrow a base and they fall over incessantly. If you have little ones with you, place the glasses far away and/or ask for a glass they use for the mai-tais, which are less likely to spill on them. read more

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Pretty basic overall. Would not recommend unless you just want to check the box of a Luau. Have to believe there's better ones on the beach elsewhere. $170 per person for general with buffet Food is served for about 1 hr but you have to wait until it's your turn at the buffet, which could be half the time allotted. Food was cold and not that great. Suggest you buy the general ticket and eat some where better. Luau attempts to walk you through the journey of the people but at times so fast it's difficult to understand what's going on. Dancing and fire show for were good. Fire show is at the end and lasts about 10 min. read more

Treated like visiting royalty! Great food, drinks, and entertainment. Charmed my whole family. Excellent way to start your Hawaiian experience. read more

Had a great time. I like the size. Wherever you sit, you can see it well. They are smart the way they have it set up with a dancer often in the middle. Fantastic live musicians. Very friendly and kind staff. Temporary tattoos and beautiful leis (and lei bracelets). And the food was soooo good. Better than other luaus I've been to so I am impressed! read more

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Great time for our large group of 15! Highlight of this Luau us definitely the staff. The GM Janel has amazing service and was very communicative in booking our large party. The luau is not one of the larger ones but it does provide enough entertainment for what you get. Additionally, the food & drinks were delicious and Dean (our server) ensured that we were always topped off and encouraged us to keep going to more food :) Dean was also a huge highlight of the night for us! This was also super convenient for us because we stayed at the hotel. read more

My family and I had a great time. The drinks and food were average, the coconut cake and the entertainment were excellent. The service and ambience were very good. read more

Took my family here for their first trip to Waikiki. We did the VIP experience and I can't really say it was worth it. We were greeted and given leis upon arriving. The VIP patrons have red napkins on their table while the regular patrons had yellow napkins. Tip: get there early so you sit closer even if you have VIP seating! We were seated on the very right side and the last rows of the VIP seating. The show was amazing. The performers did a really great job, even the host. The highlight were the little kids performing, they were so cute and did a great job. The buffet was very disorganized. We were told to just wait for our table to be called. We waited a while and saw groups of the regular tables going to the buffet line. We kept waiting and waited some more, the server told us that we should be next. I was under the impression that the VIPs get to the buffet first but maybe I was wrong? I'm not sure what the benefits are even, maybe it's just seating? We were tired of waiting and saved our appetites for dinner and we were hungry, so we just stood up and went to the buffet line. The lines moved fast and the food was delicious. This was the highlight for me. The prime rib was great. The desserts were good too! Now when we got back to our table, it was so dark! I could not see what I was eating. The table next to us asked the server for some lighting and she said she would "check." We ended up using ALL of our phone flash lights to see our food, mind you we paid for VIP but it felt nothing like that. Anyways, the food was delicious. Service was good other than the confusing buffet lines. And yes I would come back but I would save my money and not sign up for VIP and we'll come earlier for better seating! read more

The atmosphere was superb and the entertainment was great and engaging. The entertainment was worth the price alone with the delicious meals. I believe we were supposed to receive a temporary tattoo and a flower. However, I don't remember the staff directing us to that area. We received beautiful leis upon arrival. Each guest received either one alcoholic beverage or one non-alcoholic beverage. At the end of the show, attendees were allowed to take pictures with the performers. We enjoyed ourselves. read more

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Wow, just left the luau moments ago. Like a nuclear blast, I was blown away! This luau is THE very best in Waikiki, if not, all of Oahu. I've visited PC and the Polynesian Cultural Center before. Don't get me wrong, those are wonderful options for a luau in Oahu. But man, Paina Waikiki Luau feels so different and in very good way. It's a lot smaller than the popular luaus you've probably been to, so you get treated like an o'hana and you feel the love and vibe all around from everyone. Most importantly, it doesn't feel crowded at all. Super relaxing. We did the VIP package. Totally worth it! You will arrive at 5:15 pm and the entire experience lasts for about 2.5 hrs. Our server, Dean, was the best! God bless him! He took care of us through the entire time. Mahalo Dean! Each VIP's gets 3 tickets of cocktails. So technically you get four drinks since the first one is given to you the moment you sit down. First drink has to be a Mai Tai (it's their tradition). Dean was so nice to give me a 5th drink because I told him I ran out of tickets. But honestly, 3-4 drinks would suffice throughout the whole experience. I strongly recommend getting their Ube Colada. Omg! I never knew there was such cocktail exists. That cocktail was surreal! See my pic! The buffet was delicious and the layout was perfect. And they even serve prime rib! Great selections of Hawaiian food. You won't be disappointed. Food wise, this luau really takes the cake. I really enjoyed watching all the performers. They were phenomenal! They displayed some of the best of luau performances I've ever seen. Extremely well organized! Shout out to the director and host of the show! This one will be remembered forever. Mahalo read more

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Tremendous show. Well worth seeing. Entertainment, food and service was 5 star. Venue was perfect along with the weather.

We paid $600 plus for our Christmas dinner and show and it was a major disappointment!! The food was pretty bad and cold, long lines for the buffet, we saw several people not eating their dinner, and the drinks / cocktails were made very cheaply and to get them you had to give the waiter a ruffle type of ticket, very classless! We were supposed to be seated as VIP but we were seated far away from the show! It's a total tourist trap! Not worth your money! Believe me you'll regret it! read more

Yes! Yes! Yes! You must go. Food, service, ambiance and entertainment just soooo amazing. Highly recommend this show. Please don't miss this show. read more

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Enjoyed a Friday night show at the luau and we were pretty satisfied. First off, this is so smart by the Marriott to add to their onsite experiences, made it so easy. We had VIP seating which allows you to sit at the first set of (closer) tables (first come first serve), were greeted with a lei and 3 drink tickets each (score), in which you could choose a Mai tai or a vodka lemonade. I thought the food was really good!! I only eat seafood and there was plenty of options / side dishes for me to feel full (you can even go up for seconds!). Service was spot on, including by the manager Whitnie she was great. I gave it a 4/5 as overall the entertainment and show was really good, but I've been to offsite shows before and this fell slightly short - however with evryrhing was said, I would do this again / recommend. read more

Paina Waikiki Luau - Food! - Polynesian Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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Buffet dinner . A lot of fun. I have been to lot of luaus. Well organized. A little too business like and not ethic enough read more

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Our experience at this Luau was great. The staff was great upon check in, and our waitress was patient and prompt. The MC spoke with much pride in the Hawaiian Language and history, She enunciated every syllable in every Hawaiian word she said, we were also educated in the area that we were in Waikiki with history and the people that lived there originally. The show was entertaining with a loose rendition of various Polynesian cutures, there was even a couple of fire knife dancers that were awesome. My Ohana and I would recommend this Luau to anyone Kamaaina or Malihini. read more

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