A five star family and foodie event!…read more 2026 New Year's Ohana (Family) Event at the Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai'i (JCCH) was a great success! Local Food, Family , Cultural Festivities and Fun are the lead attractions here! It was very crowded here. Taiko drums, Cherry Blossom Festival with the Queen and her court, Children crafts and cultural activities, craft fair and so much more. I loved the crazy crowds, music and family atmosphere here. Yelp buddy Irene M. and I enjoyed the festivities and great food trucks and craft vendors here. This is a must visit yearly event! You can easily spend several hours here and not realize how much time passed. It's awesome that JCCH provided a free shuttle bus transportation for the event! Park your car at the Princess Ruth Ke'elikolani Middle School and board the air conditioned bus for a ride directly in front of JCCH! Bathrooms are available upstairs. The only caveat: Hold onto your little ones here! The crowds are incredible so you don't want to lose site of them. There is a first aide station available here.

あけましておめでとうございます！…read more Happy New Year as we celebrate the year of the horse...fire horse to be exact and there's no better place to do so than at the New Year's Ohana Festival at Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai'i as it's just filled with activities, food and shopping galore. What's amazing to start is the parking situation where you can park at nearby Washington Middle School and ride the free shuttle bus which drops you off right at the front that's so amazing and convenient so there's no missing out on the fun though be prepared to be overwhelmed and plan where you'd like to go as some entertainment is up on the 5th floor where the kid's activities and craft shopping is as well but some are on the ground floor which majority of the food is as well. I tried for the first time this year Kawara Soba which came with an explanation of origin courtesy of Honolulu Yamaguchi Kenjinkai as they also had various other goodies but see that many do come here annual just for this. We enjoyed the taiko drums and watch the mochitsuki the pounding of the mochi and shopped at the craft booths and of course picked up a couple of omamori as well. So very festive yet the cultural aspect was just amazing...I placed my order for their shirts as well as it all basically got snatched up fast and I can certainly see why. 今年もよろしくお願いします! m(_ _)m

I almost dont want to write this review because this is a really great event and at the moment it…read moreis not super extremely crowded but I think it deserves MANY stars. My family hasn't pounded mochi in about 35 years and I wanted to have my daughter experience it. I wasn't really expecting much from this event. My friend invited us to go to it and I was hesitant but somewhat excited to go since it has been a while since I saw or pounded mochi. Met my sister and her family and decided that we would pound together. 10 dollars and about a 2 hour wait (eating ono food and looking at the open market) later we were pounding mochi. It was pretty amazing to have that many people able to pound mochi (100 families). And it went pretty smoothly too. There was about 5 usu going at the same time and it was a sight to see. From smashing the rice all the way to pounding and shaping the balls (haha), it was really amazing. I would say go early, before the 9am opening. But wait, like all YELP reviews I gotta talk about the food! Yaki Mochi - 2$ (yes, 2 dollars) - big piece of mochi and nori! WIN! Sweet Red Bean Mochi - 2$ - again, lots of sweet red azuki beans and huge mochi! WIN again Oden - 5$ - 3 piece soft beef, egg, 3 daikon, konyakku, etc... oh man, this one was a super win. Chicken Yakitori - 2 for 5$ - my daughter inhaled them and loved it. Must have been good. There was also other food choices that I didn't try but all of the things we tried were GREAT! Bathrooms were plentiful and the parking on the grass was availiable. Pounding the mochi with my family really was a bonding experience. I loved it and it really brought me back to a simpler time of family, friends, and togetherness. LOTS and LOTS of props to the Honbushin Church for offeing this to the public. I will be coming back every year if at all possible. Hope to see you all there! Ok, wait, not ALL of you. haha! Happy NEW Year!

Who would have thought that this church was all the way nestled up in the hills of Mililani! Their…read moreannual New Years Mochitsuki festival had so much to do! They have family mochi pounding, a farmers market, cotton candy, home made fruit drinks fresh from their garden, and great music! although the selection of food is not very big, you don't need to have a big selection when everything tastes so great! The home made Oden was unlike any other oden i've eaten and it was probably my favorite one i've had. The Tonjiru (pork based soup with veggies) was full of flavor and this was my kids' personal favorite. The fresh mochi was super soft and came with a variety of flavors like Yaki (shoyu with nori), azuki, kinako (peanut powder), or peanut butter and honey. But the best thing about this event is the family mochi pounding! If you dont get here early though the spots can fill up quickly. But it was great to have my kids try pounding their own fresh mochi from scratch. They all had a lot of fun and we will definitely make this an annual tradition!

5+ stars! Everything was excellent from start to finish- location, service, food & show... all…read morewonderful.

This was easily one of the most authentic luau experiences I've had. The setting right on the beach…read moremakes a huge difference because your feet are literally in the sand while watching the show. The sunset here is unreal. It has that soft, golden Hawaiian glow you always imagine but rarely actually see in real life. The performances feel heartfelt rather than overly commercial, and the whole evening flows in a really relaxed way. It's the kind of experience that feels both entertaining and culturally grounded at the same time.

Absolutely amazing!! Chief and his staff put on an amazing show and it was a great learning…read moreexperience for our family. Amazing food. They went above and beyond to make it a special night. We will definitely be returning the next time we visit Hawaii!! We got to meet Chief and his warriors afterwards and absolutely amazing people!!

What an amazing experience. Definitely a must if you are on Oahu. The food was great and the…read moreexperience was like nothing else I've ever seen. The food was delicious and the performance was mystical. Learning and seeing the culture was definitely something everyone must do.

Friendly staff and tons to see. The grounds and are well-kept and walkable. You'll learn a lot…read moreabout Hawaiian history and the Pacific region. There's rotating exhibits in the Castle Memorial Building. When I take the kids, I go to the Science Adventure Center to see the volcano simulation. I would spend about 3-4 hours at the museum. If you need to rest, there's benches and water refill stations across the property. The only cafe on-site is Tutu's Place by Highway Inn. The food is good (consistent with Highway Inn quality). It does get packed though, so plan your dining accordingly.

Museum entry was complimentary courtesy of our hotel. We knew about it the last time we visited the…read moreislands, but didn't have time to make it over to the museum. It's a great place to learn about Hawaiian history and the culture. It also wasn't very crowded and a good way to seek refuge from the sun. I would recommend the planetarium shows (additional charge of $3/person). We spent about 3 hours here including the planetarium show.

The memory of being parked at Magic Island, the perfect spot at 7:20pm with unobstructed views from…read morea distance. At times, I rode the city bus into Waikīkī to be on the beach or better yet, on resort property to watch the pre-show at the Hilton Super Pool. That was me, years ago when I used to live on O'ahu. To watch fireworks at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, on a Friday night at 7:45pm. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ It's 2026, many years later and now residing on the Big Island of Hawai'i where I was born and raised. Traveling to O'ahu recently, I decided to select overnight accommodations specifically on a Friday night at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. To enjoy the fireworks show. Staying on-site gave me zero logistical hassles, walking right from my hotel room avoiding pre 'n post show traffic on the roads and sidewalks. By watching the fireworks from the comfort of a private balcony/lanai, it allowed me to avoid crowds and skip the time of securing a spot on the beach or within the resort property. Dining reservations were made months in advance. It's 7:24pm and there's a massive crowd already on the beach fronting the Hilton Hawaiian Village for the 7:45pm fireworks show. If you're not a registered resort guest, take the time to secure a spot here. Then, venture on-property to enjoy the resort offerings for a cocktail or snack, enjoy live entertainment or shop at one of the many boutiques. The open shoreline in-front of the resort provides perfect, unobstructed views. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ It's 7:45pm. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ As the controlled explosions, those brilliant colors fill the sky above the Hilton Hawaiian Village, a sense of emotion comes over me. Filled with nostalgia, I began to remember watching fireworks while growing up in my hometown with my family. Along with those special summer trips to Disneyland. A tear began to roll down my cheek as the visual spectacle continued. Once I passed the emotional stage, my adrenaline started to kick-in with the booming sounds. As I began to anticipate what colors, what flashes of light and shapes will appear before me. A thrilling high, a deep euphoria from fireworks in the Waikīkī sky. My eyes, frozen in-position as the sensation of wonder begins to pull me out of my worries. Brilliant chrysanthemums, electric blues and pinks, ruby reds and golden yellows bursts in the horizon, as flares rain down sparks and create a dazzling light show. The deep, echoing booms resonate across the sand and water, followed by a "crackle" and "hiss". Amplifying this visual, multi sensory experience. It captures my attention, sparks wonder and amazement. A smile appears, I can't believe I'm actually here. Watching it live with such an amazing viewpoint, I've waited years for this. As each firework shell is mounted on the white sand beach in-front of the balcony I'm perched on, a feeling of gratitude comes over me as the dazzling display comes to an end. What a spectacular finale. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Watch the show from a distance, time your arrival accordingly to obtain that perfect viewing spot. Or venture into Waikīkī and join the crowd on the beach hours before as you take a dip in the ocean, then venture on resort property to explore. Become a registered guest at the Hilton Hawaiian Village and enjoy the fireworks show from your balcony, from exclusive viewing areas for resort/dining guests. The sensory combination of light and sound, allow it to capture your emotions and trigger childhood memories. Like it did for me. As the sky transitions from darkness to brilliant bursts of color, let it symbolize a new chapter of hope, unity and fresh beginnings. Right here at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, every Friday night at 7:45pm. (photos and videos of the fireworks were taken from my iPhone)

I just arrived for the Jazz Festival and was extremely excited about the experience. Unfortunately,…read morethat excitement quickly turned into frustration after having to stand in line for over an hour just to check in. We have now been waiting for more than an hour, while there is a separate line for loyalty guests. As a longtime Marriott supporter, I chose to step outside my usual Marriott experience specifically because of the Jazzy Festival, hoping to try something different. Unfortunately, this has been one of the worst check-in experiences I've encountered. I sincerely hope this is not an indication of how the rest of the Jazzy Festival experience will be. Guests should not have to begin what is supposed to be an exciting event by spending over an hour waiting to check in. I expect better organization and communication, and I hope this situation is addressed immediately. I need to update this review as soon as we got to the desk Mia turn around this experience. She took total control and things were great afterwards. Second night of Jazz festival and I m more than satisfied!!

Food 4/5 from Hyatt regency buffet Service for our drinks…read more5/5, she was great and kept making sure we were good. Ambiance 5/5! Oh my gosh the luau and the performers, the overall show, the ambiance, the feels. 5/5 Even though this isn't at the beach front, it's up on the third floor of a hotel. The staff and dancers, the band, the singers were just amazing, just top tier amazing. We got the VIP package, front table front seats, fresh flowers, small gift bag of treats. From beginning to the end, it was just 5/5 the show is very interactive and story telling, you really get to learn about the culture and the show is just beautiful, the host is funny, roams around the stage area as you learn and just great times! Now the food, it's very decent, snow crab legs, whole fish, the seafood chowder is 1000/10, sushi is average, there's lau lau pork, lechon, Korean bbq, Kim chee, prime rib, and many sides like beef fried rice, pasta, clams n shrimp, vegetables, yams, and a whole lot more I didn't even get to try. Then the entire dessert side with a chocolate fountain and ice cream machine. I have a big appetite but I didn't get to taste like half the stuff! I gave it 4/5. But maybe it's a tough rating lol. This is a must do if you come to Waikiki! If you get the VIP experience it is just a little more special and intimate!

I wanted to go to a luau with friends that we could walk to in Waikiki from our hotel. When you do…read morea search on the internet, the larger luaus show up, so I was very pleased when Na Lei Aloha popped up and was a few minutes walk from our place. The biggest selling point, however, was the quality of the food! You get to eat at the same buffet as the Hyatt Regency hotel guests, so you get sushi, crab legs, and the classic luau food of kalua pig and poi. The big seller for me was the Korean fried chicken. Deelish! The luau is intimate and is solely Hawaiian hula, without the Samoan slap dance or Tahitian-style dance. I like this as I had recently gone to the Bishop Museum and was trying to soak in as much Hawaiian history and culture as I could get. Some of the dances had the fun themes from the '50's, with a faster, party feel. Other dances were tributes to the alii of the past, so there was a royal procession, with the king and queen. When I travel to Honolulu in the future, I will definitely bring friends and family to Na Lei Aloha for an entertaining evening with delicious food!

Backstory: I'm on a girl's birthday trip. This is my second trip to Hawaii. For two sisters, it's…read moretheir first and they wanted a luau experience. We were original Mauka on a Friday, but that was cancelled due to weather. When trying to reschedule, we debated our options and ended up at Germaine's. It was not our preferred choice due to some reviews, but the beach location swayed us. It's a good distance from Waikiki, and we thought at some point we'd gotten lost in an industrial district, but after a few turns we found ourselves in paradise. We paid for parking and everything was uphill from here. We started with check in and photos. Then onto flower making for our hair, a quick sunset selfie and a return for a temporary tattoo. Then the evening's big highlights began. We gathered for the unearthing and presentation of the pig, then returned to our tables for dinner service. The Mistress of Ceremony, Serena, has such a warm demeanor. She referred to us all as cousins and family, and honored special celebrations of those in attendance (anniversaries, birthdays, etc). I realized this was all routine, but Serena had a way of making us each feel special. Food was buffet style unless you paid for VIP. VIP had their food brought to them. The menu was fine. I got a little of everything, but was most satisfied with the teriyaki chicken and rice. I added some vegetables from my friend's vegan option. While we dined, we were educated and entertained by Polynesian history and dance. Everything was beautiful. I'm happy we had a chance to witness this little piece of Hawaiin culture, beauty and sweetness. A-lo-ha!

This was a wonderful luau experience with pretty beach on the background. This event was packed…read morewith all the seats taken. We chose the Central Area Seating (Original Luau) ticket for us. This place was easy to find because all the cars were lining up for the event and they opened the gate around 5:30pm or so. They charged few dollars for the parking fee. Checking in was easy a they gave us colored bands. After we checked in, they let us choose our seats within yellow tables that they already set up. There was a drink fountain that people can get soft drinks in the back. Half way through the performances, we were able to get foods from the buffet. They were calling people from table to table to go to the buffet. All the foods were good and everything is as expected. Alcoholic drinks should be stronger though. Too much water and not enough alcohol. I loved all the performances because they were interesting and interactive. All the costumes and designs matched their characters that they were performing. 5 out of 5 on performances. They truly represented their culture and their way of their lifestyle during their performances. The lady announcer was funny and very interactive with people. They also had pre-show cultural activities such as flower headbands making and tattooing art as you please. They were fun activities. We had fun and we immersed ourselves in Polynesian cultural show at the beachfront under the stars. Highly recommend this luau! You won't regret it!