I've been to about half a dozen luaus on Oahu over the past few years, and Rock-A-Hula is now my favorite by far! Unlike the others, this is one I'll remember for a long time. The buffet was surprisingly delicious. My favorites were the tofu salad, mac salad, stir-fried noodles, fish, and the pork. Everything was packed with flavor. I'm usually not a dessert person, but the coconut jelly was absolutely amazing. As for the drinks, one Mai Tai had me feeling relaxed, and two had me feeling really good! The highlight of the night was definitely the theater show. It was 90 minutes of nonstop entertainment with incredible live singing, Hawaiian dancing, and amazing performances. It's basically a Las Vegas show! Elvis absolutely stole the show. I was ready to jump out of my seat and start dancing in my slippers! Michael Jackson's Thriller and Billie Jean performances were also incredible. From the outstanding performers to the friendly staff and how well everything was organized, Rock-A-Hula delivered an unforgettable experience. If you're trying to decide which luau to see in Waikiki, this would be my top recommendation! read more

Rock-a-Hula - Michael! - Performing Arts Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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If you're looking for something different from a traditional Hawaiian luau, Rock-A-Hula Waikiki is a fantastic option. Located in the Royal Hawaiian. Rather than focusing only on a traditional luau, the show takes you on a journey through the history of Hawaiian music and entertainment. It begins with beautiful hula, Hawaiian chants, and Polynesian performances, then transitions through the evolution of music in Hawaii as different cultures influenced the islands over the decades. The centerpiece of the performance is Elvis Presley, celebrating his special connection to Hawaii through his concerts and movies filmed on the islands. Guests have the opportunity to meet the performers and take photos with the singers, dancers at the end of the show. I loves every minute! read more

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I had a great time at the Rock a Hula buffet. The display of food with was beautifully presented. When we arrive to our table, you could choose between a juice or mai tai. There was a whole pineapple on our table. It was very sweet. There were hula dancers dancing, and a person playing the ukulele. After the performance, it was time for us to get our food at the buffet. There was macaroni salad, salmon, Kahlúa, pig, prime, rib, rice, stir fry noodles, salad, and an array of fruits, Coffee and water. I thought the food was just OK. I've had better food selection at other buffets. For the show, I really enjoyed it. It was very entertaining to watch Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley perform all their famous hits from the past. It was fun for the whole family and for the kids. If you want a different type of luau, you can try the Rock a Hula. read more

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I came to the Rock-a-Hula show as a first-timer to Hawaii to catch a show with my family. It offers a lively, pre-packaged, easy-to-digest introduction to hula, Hawaiian culture, and local history--mixed with plenty of iconic pop-culture moments that Hawaii has embraced and celebrated over time. The experience is broken into a few different ticket options, and what you pay really affects what you get. Here's what to know before you go: 1. Ticket options & pricing You can choose between show-only tickets or a luau buffet paired with the show. Pricing varies quite a bit. I was able to snag a 2-for-1 show-only deal, which came out to about $43 per person, and I also saw a single-ticket promo for around $60. The luau + show packages run $100+ depending on whether you upgrade to VIP. The buffet is definitely better suited for non-vegetarians, but there are some meat-free options like tofu, sweet potatoes, chow mein, white rice, salad, and macaroni salad. The proteins (fish, chicken, and traditional roast pig) are toward the end of the buffet line. Drinks come with dinner and there are additional drink options sold separately inside the venue and usually run $5-$10 each depending on whether you get alcohol. 2. The venue & overall vibe This is a non-traditional show set in a large, comfortable amphitheater on the top floor of a shopping plaza. The show opens with a short historical video about the land and people of Hawaii set in 1920, which sets the timeline for the rest of the performance. From start to finish, the show runs about 1 hour and 10 minutes--just the right length in my opinion. 3. Show highlights The pacing starts off a bit slow with traditional hula dancers and singers, then really picks up steam once the show moves into the 1950s. The Elvis segment is the longest and most prominent, and honestly, the performer is impressively spot-on in both voice and movement, covering several of Elvis's biggest hits. From there, the show transitions into tributes to the Jackson 5 and Michael Jackson, his dance moves really get the audience excited with high-energy dance numbers. You'll also see nods to familiar cultural touchstones like Israel Kamakawiwoʻole's "Somewhere Over the Rainbow," Moana, and finally, a dramatic flaming poi performance honoring the fire goddess. The fire segment is exhilarating, though the shortest of the rest. Overall, the choreography, costumes, and singing are polished and visually exciting. There is also a photo opp with performers at the end. 4. Who this show is best for This is a fun, family-friendly production that's clearly designed with tourists in mind. It's polished, predictable, and easy to enjoy. If you're looking for a deeply authentic or immersive cultural experience, this won't fully scratch that itch--but it is entertaining. For seating, the middle section, center seats offer the best overall view. 5. Crowd levels & logistics When I went on a Monday night about a week before the December holidays, the theater was only about half full, so same-day tickets were still available. The entire experience is very easy to navigate from check-in to seating, and it's probably one of the more affordable luau/show options in Waikiki or Honolulu. Just make sure you have your vouchers ready when you arrive at the fourth-floor check-in. I'd recommend this show for families, groups with elderly relatives, or anyone who wants a low-effort, entertaining evening while visiting the island. It's a pleasant way to get a bit of history while singing along to familiar "greatest hits"--especially if you're an Elvis/MJ fan. If you're seeking a deeper cultural connection, though, you may leave feeling like something's missing--and wanting more. read more

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Hmm, I booked this through the chase portal. I would have skipped the dinner and just done the show. You are seated at long tables with strangers and have to wait at least 30 + min to get food. After dinner three dancers do a little dancing in the middle aisle. The food was just ok, the fish was the best. 530-730 for dinner was too long. The show started around 8 so another wait once you were in the theater. I was surprised how much I liked the Elvis and Michael Jackson impersonators. They were really high energy and it seemed like they were singing themselves. I was impressed. This is not a traditional luau like the one I went to in Maui, but I enjoyed the show and would skip the dinner. read more

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We wanted to take the kids to their first luau, and I came across this one in my research. It's definitely not a traditional one by any means but it was a super entertaining show for the whole family! The luau takes place on the 4th floor of the Royal Hawaiian Center, so I liked that it was walking distance from our hotel and we didn't need to stress about parking or being on time. The seating area is covered, and the actual show is inside the theater, so you don't need to worry about getting canceled for weather. Our tickets included a mai tai (you can choose non alcoholic or alcoholic) for all of us! This was actually one of the better buffet spreads I've had at a luau! They had a carving station for roasted pig AND prime rib! My plate was stacked with food, I couldn't even see what was on the bottom. I couldn't even finish my plate and I only went through the buffet once! They even had a couple of dessert options - haupia pudding, fruit, chocolate cake, and build your own sundaes. They had live music and some dancing throughout the meal time. They also did a hula lesson which our kids enjoyed. I do wish they had some more activities especially for the kids since it was a long time for them to sit for 2 hours during the meal. Even if they had some themed coloring pages or lei making, that would have been something more to keep them occupied for a bit. After dinner they moved us into the theater for the show. It was a little bit of a wait until the actual show started. The show itself is about an hour to 1 hr 15 mins. The singers were all singing live and they were so talented! Like I mentioned it wasn't a traditional hula show but went through the history of music and even had impersonators for Elvis and Michael Jackson who both were awesome. The staff were all amazing and helpful, the dancers were so sweet to our kids as well. Awesome service from the moment you walk in until you leave! Overall I thought this was a fun experience for the whole family, and appreciated the great variety of food! I would say this probably isn't a great choice for a first time luau goer but if you've been to a couple already then this is a nice change of scenery and something unique to try out. read more

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My wife and I did this show last night and it was amazing. I highly recommend it. The dancers and musicians are very good.

The luau portion of this was definitely not the best, because you end up waiting quite a while to eat and there aren't a ton of options for drinks while you wait. They give you pineapple that is sliced on each table to snack on if you like, but overall, it wasn't the best in terms of food options and the small show table side. The show was entertaining and the history of the island music was great. My husband and I enjoyed the show portion for the live music performance, but can't say we would do this again for the luau. The service was a bit awkward and it was a little pushy when people would get up to grab things because the staff like to call you up to go to the buffet line or the show room even if you are looking to just use the restroom. It was an alright experience, but probably one I wouldn't revisit. read more

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A fun twist to the traditional luau! We really enjoyed our experience. It's located in the Royal Hawaiian Center on the 4th floor. Upon arriving, you get to take a picture with Elvis lol and then they lead you to your seats. There were fresh pineapples on the table to start off and then they give you your complimentary Mai Tai which was delicious btw. Once everyone was seated, they had hula dancing and a singer playing a ukulele. Then they started calling everyone by tables to get food. The food wasn't amazing but still pretty good. The roasted pork, chicken, and mac salad were my favorites. There was also a variety of fruits, cake, and an ice cream bar for dessert. After dinner, they had some fun activities like hula lessons. Then they led us into the theater for the show. This was my favorite part of the night. The show had a theme of periods in time. It was a nice mix of pop hits throughout the decades and traditional Hawaiian music. There were also appearances from Elvis and Michael Jackson. Overall, it was a great show. read more

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OMG, I was expecting something less, something a bit cheesy, but this was quite entertaining. The performers, the skits, the music, the audience interaction, all made for a wonderful show and a show enjoyed by everyone in the group. The bar? A bit slow. That did not factor into our enjoyment of the show. read more

The show had a period theme, taking us on a journey from the past to the present, which made it a great way to experience Hawaiian culture. The live dances and performances were super energetic and really inspiring to watch! The food was okay. It was a family-friendly setup with a buffet and a hula dance performance, creating a nice atmosphere overall. read more

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Went on a Sunday night and family had a blast. Food buffet was good with a good selection and the Rock a hula show was entertaining. Definitely worth the price and visit. read more

Parking at Royal Hawaiian Center, first hour free, 2nd and 3rd hour is $3 each hour. We arrived by 5:30 and were seated right away. Dinner started around 6:00. It was a good spread of buffet with Hawaiian food and prime rib and roast pork. Followed by the show and we all enjoyed it very much! read more

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After shopping and enjoying our day at the beach, we treated ourselves to the one of the best shows in WAIKĪKĪ, "Rock-a-Hula". The show was very much like in Vegas settings, you have the impersonator likes of ELVIS (The King of Rock) and MICHAEL JACKSON (The King of Pops) performing their best. Before the show even began, we had a fantastic "LUAU" dinner and drinks. "Rock-a-Hula" had a fantastic combination of traditional and modern music mixed with Hawaiian flavors and flamboyant dances. I highly recommend it to those who visit's Hawai read more

Food was great. Show was definately entertaining. Service was excellent and over the top. Would do again read more

Rock-a-Hula - Stage - Performing Arts Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

9/10 best Vegas style Luau on the island! I parked in parking garage. Took elevator up one floor and then walked for about 5mins until we arrived there. We already ate so we didn't do the luau. I will check the luau out before I leave the island. (Whenever that is lol) After that we checked in and went to the bar and ordered some drinks. Then headed inside to watch the show. The show is theater type seating. It was a great temperature inside so you won't need your jacket. I was in shorts and a tee shirt. The show was amazing they told the Hawaiian story throughout. I love how they incorporated Elvis and Micheal Jackson. Everyone did a great job! I was really pleased. I just wished Micheal Jackson would moon walk more. He only did it for one song at the end. Which was a little disappointing. When you leave a lot of the restaurants will be closed. That's why it's best if you do the luau with the show or come early to eat before the show. To avoid being hungry after. I did however find Fire Grill Wakiki which was right outside the parking garage. The food was great and you could walk there. read more

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We got the Original Luau ticket that came with the buffet and the show. Right when you check in you sit down and they come with a Mai tai. Then within ~30 mins you get up to get the buffet. I got a little bit of everything. I didn't love the crusted fish. The chicken was tasty. They cut the pork and beef but wished they gave a larger portion the first time. The noodles were good, and the Mac potato salad was good. The dessert was also tasty, I loved the coconut haupia. I got two of the vanilla ice cream and topped it off with Oreo crumbs. You could totally go up for seconds. The staff were friendly throughout. There was dancing throughout the dinner. We paid $117/pp after a discount. Now onwards to the show. We went into a nice theater. We were about 4 rows away so that was perfect. The show was awesome, they had Elvis and Michael Jackson and classic Hawaiian songs. Then the fire performance came out and that was lit. Highly recommend this part. Overall was a great experience, the food was decent but the show was amazing! read more

Rock-a-Hula - Luau buffet; Follow me @RimyEats on Instagram - Performing Arts Near Me - Honolulu, Hawaii

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This show is way more fun than I expected. The band was the star they are outstanding. Elvis does a great job as well and Michael Jackson is good not great. The theater and video footage played during the show make the experience even better. We did the show only package and had center seats. read more

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Had such an amazing time! Loved the staff and the show was epic ! But.....food was extremely disappointing. The experience was great met new people and had an overall great experience. The guy playing Micheal Jackson just needs alittle more energy as he seemed at little annoyed or nervous but he did good just could tell something was bothering him mentally. Rest of the cast did absolutely amazing loved every minute! I also feel like the male dancers need more time to shine , I love the women they did great but would like to see the males shine as equally as they are definitely talented. read more

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We paid for the green room for our honeymoon. We were the only ones that purchased the green room so it was like a private booking! Becky gave us a backstage tour, educated us on the pieces they use during the show, and showed us all the behind the scenes. It was really cool and personal. She took lots of pictures and videos of us during our tour and was overall such an amazing person. We got to enjoy the green room with champagne and a charcuterie board...again, all to ourselves! We had our own private table which was 5 4ft tables put together for just the two of us haha. We also had reserved seats in the theater. They made us feel so special. The food was great. They had so many options to try and the pig was really cool. The best was the passion fruit potatoes. The show was amazing. It's not your average hula show which is amazing. The girls really know how to dance and the men are super impressive. The Elvis personator was amazing. He knew how to work a crowd and his gestures were so on point with Elvis. Michael Jackson was good. Elvis gave me his red scarf that smelled like him with a kiss in the face. Michael came and shook our hands while performing. I love how involved the cast members were to us. This was the funnest part of our honeymoon and we loved everyone we met. Everyone was so nice and friendly. I definitely recommend booking Rock-a-hula for you and your family! read more

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Wonderful variety show with fire dancer, singers, Michael Jackson and Elvis impersonators. Voices were spot on. The main woman singing had the voice of an angel. Good production value. Very entertaining. Located in the Royal Hawaiian Center on the 4th floor of Bldg. B. You can't miss it once you get off the escalator. Bathrooms in the theatre were clean. Bartender on site serving drinks. Located in a building with a food hall and many restaurants. Parking (not cheap) available in a garage across the street. read more

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Rock-a-hula baby Rock-a-hula baby Got a hula lulu from Honolulu That rock-a-hula baby of mine... While I was half-heartedly looking at the exorbitant price tags for some of the luau shows around town, Jamie W. found this show online and noticed there was a coupon that reduced the ticket price from $76 to $46. It also didn't require us to participate in the pre-show grazing buffet which didn't especially appeal to us during these post-pandemic times. What did appeal to us on a sporadically rainy evening was that the 90-minute show was housed in a 750-seat indoor theater on the fourth floor of the Royal Hawaiian Center. There were no assigned seats, just areas roped off for premium ticket holders, but honestly, the tiered auditorium gave everyone a clear view, even toddlers. The show itself was described as a musical history of Hawaii from the 1920's to the present. It definitely started that way with an ensemble of young women and men singing and dancing traditional Hawaiian music semi-clad in native costumes. There was a zaftig native pop singer who performed the lead vocals. Didn't catch her name. Then it shifted gears into an Elvis tribute with a reasonably good impersonator in jet back hair sporting various familiar outfits spanning his Hawaii-set movies and memorable 1973 concert. Elvis gave way to a Michael Jackson impersonator whose appearance here seemed questionable given he performed just a two-night stand at Aloha Stadium in 1997. In ghostly face makeup, the MJ performer was decent enough but not as animated as Elvis. Still he also received the full star tribute with "I Want You Back", "Black or White", "Thriller", and "Billie Jean". He also arbitrarily introduced another tribute to Hawaiian legend Iz with "Over the Rainbow/What a Wonderful World". An acrobatically impressive fire dancer provided the show's thrilling climax, and the entire cast took a final bow after a Tahitian dance extravaganza. Seeing Elvis and Michael Jackson together made me wonder if Lisa Marie ever saw the show. All in all, it was entertaining in a cheesy kind of way and reasonably priced, but I did wonder where the Don Ho impersonator was. RELATED - Exploring Hawaii? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://bit.ly/3Kz5ksc read more

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Horrible. Cheesy. Tacky. NOT WORTH THE MONEY AT ALL. The location is in the mall! Literally upstairs on the 4th floor of the mall! You can't get much more low-class than that. The food is decent, but you don't get your own table, you have to sit with a bunch of strangers in a long banquet-hall size table. It felt like I was at a work luncheon, not a luau. We paid extra for the "$25 Family Photo" that we thought was a family photo but ended up it included a Michael Jackson impersonator!? Why the heck would we want an MJ impersonator in our family photo??? For the show - we paid extra for VIP seating to be in the front and center - but the theatre was so empty we would have been sat in the front and center anyway - so that was a huge waste of money! The show itself is just ok. It's not a traditional hula show at all. It's much more like a cheesy Vegas show with cheesy impersonators. To make matters worse, half of our family had fire butt the next morning from the food. To add insult to injury I contacted them the next day to express my disappointment and concerns, and no one has even bothered to respond almost a week later. As the saying goes if I could give 0 stars I would. read more

This was by far the worst performance I've seen in Hawaii. Fake singers with dubbed vocals and half live with limited instruments. I do not recommend and go watch an actual luau. It was a wasted $85 per person and 90 minutes. Also, show was suppose to start at 7:15.... Actually started 25 minutes after. Go elsewhere and avoid this waste of time. read more

I was just walking in the Royal Hawaiian Center, transitioning from the 3rd level escalator to the 4th floor escalator, when the guy who plays Michael Jackson, rushed up behind me, said, "Jesus Christ!", and cut me off as I reached for the escalator handrail. It was so awkward. He was so irritable and unfriendly. The encounter made me increase my gate, as I now felt self-conscious about waking too slowly. But I also felt compelled to remind my camouflaged pants, black tank-top, aviator sunglasses, MJ hair-do wearing Rock-a-Hulu employee to try his best to spread the Aloha Spirit while being a good ambassador of Hawaii State Tourism. read more

This was an absolutely amazing performance! Brought the wife here to celebrate our honeymoon and this show brought us both so much joy and nostalgia. The performers are true pros, Elvis transports you to the 60s and 70s with his great vocals and dancing. MJ is smooth with his voice and cool moves and the local artist Chardonnay had amazing vocals. The band and dancers were also top notch---the fire dancer thrilled the entire crowd. We will be back! Highly encourage everyone to check this out and support the local artists. read more

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I wouldn't waste your money on this nonsense. Food was just ok, the wait staff was friendly but the music performers are below par. The Michael Jackson was just pitiful, this has nothing to do with a traditional luau. read more

Completely disappointed! This is an American musical, not a Hawaiian show. If you want Elvis Presley and american 1950 music, this is for you..The sound is also horrible. Do not recommend for anyone looking for authentic Hawaiian music and show. A very poorly commercialized show. read more

Show is pretty good. It was the only luau I could find in the area that I could opt out of the dinner since my kids would not be to last. I had never taken my 3 and 5 year olds to a live show before and was worried they wouldn't last the 1.5 hours. They loved it and the show kept their attention. Now they're super into Michael Jackson. I do wish they had more Michael Jackson songs in the show though.. There's also a fire part, which my kids liked too. At the end you can take a photo with the actors before you leave, which is nice. read more

Was desperately looking for a luau. Would have loved to do one on the beach......but there are not many in the area and one that is actually outside is very expensive. So we settled and it's done like a rooftop party, with buffet style eating. They pack people in like sardines which I wasn't too fond of. But hey, they are looking to make money so I get it. Food was okay. Offered hula lessons and very interactive. Then you leave the rooftop to go to the theater for the show. Not a fan of shows. But I must say this one was VERY good. Sienna is a local singer, she is good. And the Elvis & MJ impersonators were very good. Favorite is the fire handler part. Overall a pretty good experience. read more

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Best luau out , good food , friendly , if you want great food and show go here . This is my 2nd time and still enjoyed it . I was amazing !!!! read more

This is actually a really good show! It gets great reviews and it's definitely not your standard luau you've heard about. I really liked how they incorporated the traditional/cultural Hawaiian things w/the modern eras of music. The dancing was top notch (all dancers perform throughout the show, which is quite an accomplishment as they need to do dances from multiple different genres), the impersonators were very good (I really liked the Elvis one, as he did embody the spirit/look of the real Elvis). Just surprised he didn't actually say "Thank you very much" or have an announcer say "The King has left the building". I guess they can only do so much. Michael Jackson was good, but he only does a few songs/dances (though does them quite well). If you're looking forward to seeing the King of Pop, just know it'll be a pretty short performance. There was an MC from Hawaii who also sings her own songs and does covers. She keeps the crowd engaged. There was also a dancer that I believe did a duet as Big Iz w/the MC. Not sure if it was a recording (didn't seem like it), but he was pretty good too. They even had a fire dancer, who was outstanding and my kids were mesmerized at his skills (eating fire, rubbing fire on body, spinning it, etc). Very impressive. I also liked all the cast comes out in the lobby after to sign autographs (no charge I think) and take pictures. I assume you wouldn't get that at a big Vegas show (at least not for free). The drinks were also reasonably priced--a pina colada is only $10. It wasn't even close to sold out on the weekday that we went, which was to be expected. The auditorium is also set up to have good seating pretty much anywhere in there. I also saw a ton of people taking photos and videos, I guess that is also ok (just no flash photography I think). Overall, a great experience and I am glad I can say I went to my first luau on my first trip to Hawaii. read more

A modern take on your luau buffet entertainment experience. Its more like Vegas meets Hawaii. They start you off with lei greetings and buffet servings and mai tais with hula dancers performing for you. Different food options and the highlight is the roasted pig. An array of desserts and fruits to complement afterwards. Then comes the theater experience wherein they have Elvis and Michael Jackson impersonators with some background singers and dancers combining Hawaiian and modern music. It was okay. Elvis was good but the Michael Jackson impersonator lacked energy. Some of the dancers were a little off their game too. But all in all a good show to see. read more

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What a night to remember. My daughter and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The singers, dancers were all so beautiful and talented. The fire eater was amazing. We were captivated from the beginning til the end. My daughter said she did not want the performance to end. Food was excellent as well. read more

What an amazing show! I'll definitely do it again. The buffet was great but the show was exactly what we needed! Thank you Rock a hula! read more

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This was such an amazing, uniquely Hawaiian experience and definitely a great way to start our trip! The food was delicious (though I can only speak for the vegetarian dishes - my sister said the beef was good!) We definitely enjoyed the fresh fruit at the end, the papaya was so sweet. The show was also entertaining and enjoyable! It was interesting to see the history of music and dance throughout history in Hawaii and the 70 mins just flew by! I'll def revisit if I ever get the chance to come back to Hawaii. read more

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My wife and I came here tonight for our 27th anniversary. As lifetime locals, we only recently heard of this show and I'm glad my wife found it! I would highly recommend it for anyone looking for a fun and enjoyable evening. Everything was done with excellence, and it was amazing to see how the dancers, singers and musicians were top notch in all the different genres that they performed. We especially loved Elvis, Michael and the featured female singer (I think her name was Chardonnay). I said hi to her in the lobby after the show and told her how much I enjoyed it. What was nice to see was how humble and grateful she was that I took the time to tell her. I also told one of the male dancers the same and he was very nice and personable and also grateful for my compliment. The fire knife dancer was also one of the best I've seen! We had a great time, thank you Rock-a-Hula! read more

I've been to many hula shows in Hawaii. This one has a special place in my heart. Starts off with good traditional Hawaiian music and then it takes it to another level with Rockin hula from Elvis to Michael Jackson incredible performance love the show and enjoy the food thank you so much for the hospitality. read more

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I neglected to give them a rating back in 2022. They helped me propose at the show, went out of their way to make sure it went without a hitch. They are great ! From the moment I called to ask and to the check in that day they were so accommodating and gracious. Btw this was the first time they have ever done that. It will always be in my heart. Mahalo, sorry it took so long to give you a shout out lol Elvis mahalo for the song. Love this place !! read more

It's luau with a twist! Food was yum! We loved all the songs and music they played, danced and sang. Our favorite was the fire warrior. He was on fireeee! Great overall experience! read more

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