Hale Koa Luau

This is my 3^rd luau on the island and I felt like it was lacking in the entertainment department. There were good parts where you witnessed a man climb a coconut tree, some singing, and dancing. The dancing wasn’t quite as elaborate as what I’ve seen at Polynesian Cultural Center, and I would’ve preferred a buffet style dinner. The food was also mediocre, where they offered 3 different appetizers of ‘salads,’ an entrée of assorted meat, and dessert. They were missing the wow factory that I felt at Paradise Cover and at PCC, where the dancing just came to life.

This is my first Luau and I didn’t have any expectation going in. After researching online and seeing which luau was the closes to rental place (if you are staying at The Niihau, read my review before booking it through VBRO. There are COCKROACHES in the apt complex) I decided on this Luau.
I book my ticket online and chose my seat online also. I think it cost me around $ 50 per person.
When you first arrive there will be a long line waiting to get in, but they do have a beautiful scenery for you to admire while you wait. After you check in you are greeted and get lei with sea shell necklace. Then you will be asked if you like a alcoholic or non-​alcoholic beverages. As you wait for dinner to start, there are different stations with different activity. I really enjoy making my lei bracelet and my head gear out of bamboo leaves. Each of them did not take long to do. Then shortly after they will tell you to go ahead surround the pit to grab the food out. After they grab the food out of the pit, they will tell you to be seated. A quick suggestions, stand in front of the pit (the side where the food carrier is station) because once they carry it out they will allow you to take a photo and then you can seat yourself. Regardless of what seat you selected when you bought the ticket, it doesn’t matter the only thing that matter is the table. Therefore, if you selected seat up front, it doesn’t necessarily mean you will be sitting at the front of the table, maybe the back if you don’t arrive at your table right away.
Once you are seated, you will be greeted with appetizer. Then they will bring out your main course meal and then dessert. The food was horrible and another thing is, they will rush you to eat. Before you are even finish with the appetizer, here comes your main course and as you are just barely eating your main course here is your dessert. It felt really rush. Maybe that is why they make the food so disgusting. Honestly, this was the worse meal I ate during my stay in Hawaii.
After you eat, the shows begin (I’m assuming that is why they rush you to eat, so the show could begin). It is really weird because they do not tell you when the shows starts or end. You are sitting there guessing what in the world is going on. One minute you have somebody on stage and then the next minute they are gone for a while and you have no clue what is going on.
The only 1 good thing about this place, is the location of the Luaua, it is breathtaking.
However, would i ever come here again? NO!

This luau was a lot of fun. The line was really long to get into the luau, but it went fast and wasn’t as bad as it looked. We were greeted with a shell lei and a cocktail (you do not get to choose what type of cocktail you get). You then walk into the garden and listen to live music, and there are some stations (geared towards kids mostly) for some flower bracelet making, banana leaf headbands, etc. Everyone then gathers around the underground oven to present the roasted pig. After that, you are seated. We were at Table 20, and it was a great location. Some of the tables in the far back are probably not the best view, so book online about a week before your visit. Food was OK, you are served a plate that has a variety of fish and meats on it, along with a small portion of rice and a piece of fried banana. Appetizers and dessert were fair. The show was the best part, with the dancers! Definitely glad we went, but won’t need to go again.

I’m giving this Luau three stars. I had high expectations as this was my first luau since being on the island. I was very excited for the food! We arrived early and waited in line until opening. Once you enter the luau you are given a lei and a drink. They had both alcoholic and non-​alcoholic drinks. We chose the non-​alcoholic which was delicious! You then are led to a grassy area where there are different stations to view and participate in different activities of the Hawaiian culture. Going through those stations did not take long at all and then we were left standing and waiting for the guy to climb the tree. While waiting I noticed the dinner tables hadn’t even been set up completely and by this point I was starving. The guy climbed the tree and I was disappointed it wasn’t done earlier as it had already gotten dark outside. After being there for two hours we were finally allowed to sit down and begin our meal. The appetizers were honestly the best thing on the menu. When I got my dinner plate and started to eat I was highly disappointed. Nothing tasted authentic. The chicken was greasy and unseasoned. The salmon was unseasoned. The rice was the plainest egg fried rice I had ever tasted. The only good thing on the plate was the beef.
The show however was awesome! I was at least happy with that portion of the event. My husband and I almost left early (before the show) thinking the event was over because they took so long to come on stage. I’m glad we stayed!
With that being said, I wouldn’t recommend this luau and won’t be taking my family to this one when they come to visit.

We really couldn’t see the show. The seating arrangement and pillars for the pavilion made it difficult. Food was good but not a buffet which the kids really like, they ended up not earring much. The other luau on the island I’ve been to have buffets and better activities for the kids.

I actually have been meaning to write this one for awhile, so here goes! I’ve been two, maybe three times, and its always a fun experience. You have to be military or know someone military who can get tickets as its in the Hale Koa hotel which caters to military, but if you get a chance check it out. The entertainment is fun and well done, and of course they have heavy patriotic influences throughout the show, but it is tasteful and not cheesy. The food is good, nothing to write home about, and you get a wide selection of dishes. Your there for the show anyway! The luau garden where it is all held is a beautiful venue, very lush and green. Lots of space. Great place to take friends or family visiting if you have access to the tickets. Probably my favorite luau on island.

I had a great time at this luau. It’s located in the hale Koa hotel, and the only way to purchase these tickets is if you served in the military. I have been hearing others that haven’t served being able to acquire them. So it never hurts to either call or go to the activity desk at the hale Koa to ask:) You can even book the tickets online at the website once you locate the luau garden. They have it three times a week Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday’s starting at 5:30pm.
My hubby and I went there pretty early to wait on line. It was an extremely hot sticky day. I was using my phone to fan myself. The trade winds were non existent.
They opened the garden at 5:30pm. Our tickets were checked and a lei was bestowed over our head:) Everyone then walked to the next station where we picked up our first drink on the house, a maitai. Then the usual picture taking with a Shaka to purchase later.
On to the fun stuff. There was lei making demonstrations which my honey made me a bracelet. There was a little girl that helped me tie the string. She was Absolutely adorable. I then walked over to a man making a crown out of coconut leaves! I rocked that one lol. The next one was getting a tattoo stamped on my arm. I felt like a kid in a candy store. Running from one activity to another. The lines were long so please be patient.
There was also a Hawaiian music duo playing by what looked like a gazebo. People could sit on the mats and enjoy the beautiful sounds coming from his ukulele. They also spiced it up by having competitions on who hula d the best by bringing in some kids and adults in the audience. One of the guys climbed up the coconut tree!
After the ceremony where they removed the pig from the imu (Hawaiian underground oven) we were then told to go to our tables. It was not a buffet, but a sit down dinner. A feast of local flavors such as lomi lomi salmon, poi, mahi mahi, teriyaki beef, pineapple, shoyu chicken, and kalua pig. I loved everything except the fish. It was not tasty at all.
For dessert there was haupia and coconut cake. Those were very light, sweet, and I felt guilt free;). The luau show was entertaining, exciting, and mesmerizing. There was an 8 year old doing a live fire dance! It was a musical journey through the Polynesian islands. Everyone did a wonderful job. By the end of the show I was exhausted and ready to go to sleep. We bought one of our pictures they took in the beginning. I thought it was pretty sweet!
Don’t forget to tip the waiters! They work hard serving drinks, cleaning the table and handing out our food in a timely manner:)

If your coming for the food, save your money. It’s just run of mill banquet food. I live here in Honolulu, and came here with family that is visiting at the hotel. True disappoint with the food.
Wish they would have the kitchen, but in as much effort as the entertainment.
Entertainment is definitely 5 star!

Came her thursday night, this was my first luau… it was a wonderful experience. The only thing I didn’t like was when you first walk in they snap pics of you (not enough time to wipe your face from sweet) but other then that, it was excellent. They give you rum punch or juice when you first get there. The food was really good. Everything was fresh and had alot of flavor to it. The seaweed salad was sooo good! And the pickles where sweet. The show was beyond entertaining. I recommend going to a luau at least once to experience it. I would definitely do this again if someone wants to go.

Let me set the premise of my review for you: my preconceived perception of a luau was some guys playing ukuleles to girls in coconut bras and grass skirts doing the cheesiest and probably most stereotypical Hawaiian routines that have been done since 1955 served with some mass produced low quality food.
Now the reality of this luau was one that I learned a bit about multiple Polynesian cultures from Hawaiian style, to the multiple uses of coconuts, to how they climb coconut trees (more to it than I thought), the traditional dances and greetings of the native peoples of Samoa, Tonga, New Zealand and others! (A few dances did include coconut bras in my defense, but, hey, the girls looked fantastic.) There was demos on everything from lei making to hula dancing (again way more to it than I thought, but I think my wife caught on)!
They had a real pit bar b q of a pig, there was decent beef, OK chicken that was a bit too greasy, decent fried rice, and plenty of traditional appetizers including a salmon/​tomato blend, poi, fresh pineapple, spiced seaweed and an interesting blend of pickles and papaya (it worked).
My only criticism of the entire show was the microphone volumes have to be fixed. A lot of times a narrator would be talking about something that I felt very interested in only to have someone else’s microphone be louder — whether it be the music, someone singing, or someone acting I guess.
Besides that, great show, decent dinner, really enjoyed it and would highly recommend!

We finally experienced our first Luau! We were able to get super cheap tickets, since it is for military, than the other places we had searched. We had such a great time! Here are the cons and pros:
Cons: When we were waiting in line it was super disorganized. We were one of the first people there (make sure you get there plenty early) and one of the workers repositioned the line which caused us to get pushed back. Line cutters were able to get to the front as a casualty! But we kept our composure. Also, they do not really look at the tickets thoroughly. The lady who welcomed us only glanced at it and they do not scan it which I think they should. After we went in they gave drinks, but a glass cup for a child? I wish they had kid friendly cups since this is more of a family event. When the food came along, the server seemed like he was in a huge rush. By the time our food came, he was already removing our plates and bringing the dessert… like dude calm down, this is Hawaii! No rush here buddy!
Pros: You can park inside the hotel garage right in front of the hotel, your parking ticket will only be $ 5 after the hotel validates it, and the entertainment before the food was amazing! They really try to make as much interaction with the audience as possible. It was so much fun! When we sat at our table (make sure you hurry to sit facing the stage) there were already appetizers (super yummy) and then the food came shortly after. The food was delicious! It had pork, fish, chicken, rice, fried banana and a veggie. After the entrée, the dessert– coconut cake and a fruity gel pastry. If you want liquored drinks, make sure you either go to the bar or order from the server! The hula dancers, the singers, and the fire dancer were absolutely amazing. You can really see how hard they work to perfect everything. I think for us one of the things that was truly amazing was at the end when the show’s host sang «Proud to be an American» in respect and honor to our fallen heroes, as everyone stood. So beautiful.
This is a really great Luau not only because it is cheaper, but because it is fun filled for the military while honoring them altogether.

Paradise Cove (PC) and Polynesian Cultural Center have nothing on the food here. I LOVE how it’s a seated dinner and no standing in line for the buffets. Plus side is we live downtown and no hour and a half drive going west or battling traffic going north fighting traffic. The experience is the same in all places. I must say PC has the best view… you just can’t beat ocean and sunset views.
Highly recommend if you are military.

Five stars for the entertainment. Hands down, a great show. My husband said it was the best he had ever seen and he’s been to several luaus.
The three stars is because the food was sort of gross. Seriously, it could have been a Hawaiian high school cafeteria that we were eating at. The «alcoholic» rum punch drinks were so watered down. The woman in front if us asked one of the attendants if they really had alcohol LOL. They really should save their money and not even bother. Several of the drinks went untouched or put back on the reception table only half done.
The food motto was obviously quantity over quality. The chicken and the tiny portion of fried rice were the only things I thought were sort of ok. Everything else either had no flavor or just not that good. Dessert consisted of one small piece of cake and some other slimy almost jelly cake thing. The guy across the table from us spat it out and said it was nasty.
The waitress kept snatching everyone’s plates so fast that even if we did enjoy our food, it wouldn’t have mattered cause you get about 5 – 10 minutes to eat each course before they start clearing the table around you.
We looked around and everybody else was grubbing down! So either my hubby and I just have super high expectations or people just love bland food!

One of the highlights of my Hawaiian vaca! I have never been to a Luau before, but this was so much fun! I hate to spoil it, so I have to say it’s great just walking in not knowing what to expect. You are very well taken care of here. A little girl freaked out during the fire show and flipped the entire table over soaking me in my delicious cocktail which was also very entertaining. They sent paramedics over, but she was fine. Sadly, you must have military ID or know someone who does to get anywhere within range of this amazing show. The finale includes a tear-​jerking thank you to all current and former service folks. I really can’t imagine a luau getting any better!

Wow. La Chica and I asked her sister to take us to a luau during our stay in Hawaii and she freaking delivered!
In true military «hurry up and wait» fashion, we arrived at 5 and waited in line to receive our tickets, only to stand in another line to wait in another for the join to open up. Once we got past that aggravation, all was right in the world. They offer up a free cocktail of your choosing and then send you off to to enjoy the some pre-​luau activities. Learn how to make a lei or a pale and then sit down to enjoy some Hawaiian classics. Then, Cousin Jerry steals the show explaining the importance of the coconut tree before climbing up one. It was primitively freaking amazing!
After all this, we all watched the ceremonial removal of the pig from the ground. Being able to witness this was my only request during this visit.
Next up, the FOODS! First we got some pupus (appetizers). Spicy seaweed salad, lomilomi salmon, pineapple chunks and some strange yet tasty mixture of papaya and cucumbers. There was poi on the table as well, but poi is just poi.
Then, the main course arrived. Jesusfreakingchrispies man. Kalua pork, fried rice, beef in some kinda Asian sauce, mahi, fried banana, shoyu chicken and a sweet potato. Portion was big and it was all delicious. All of it!
Lastly, the desserts. I liked the coconut cake, but the other stuff was just meh.
After the food, we witnessed a lineup of impressive dancing and singing that represented various Polynesian islands.
This was a great night of entertainment and I highly recommend it.

I came here with the boyfriend and we had a great time! Food and entertainment was amazing!

We brought our 7 year old daughter for her birthday and she loved it! From the pre-​luau activities to the show and even the food (she is a very picky eater)
Definitely recommend! Make sure that you or someone in your party has a military ID, since the hotel and all its’ activities are for members of the military only.

Magic On The Island/​Hale Koa Magic Dinner Show was a family hit. Reasonably priced tickets for a family of five totaled just under a hundred dollars and included a buffet dinner, table with great view, and a spectacular show.
This was our first magic show. Mark Mauricio was funny and talented. He’s family oriented and two of his wife and sons are in his acts. He had the kids in the audience come on stage several times (during gall break) and my girls were just amazed!
Never thought I’d be going to a magic show in Hawaii but I’m glad I did I hadn’t seen the kids this entertained for an hour and a half since 1990 never lol.
The buffet was okay. I was really disappointed that many of the plates were dirty and disgusting. Had to sort through various plates to find a clean one (gross). Someone brought it to the attention of the staff so hopefully they fixed it.
They had plenty of desserts so all the kids there were in heaven, to included mine.
Overall great experience I’m sure the plate thing was an accident either way it’s not the magic shows fault it’s on the Hale Koa staff.

I’ve been to the Paradise Cove and Polynesian Cultural Center luaus and thought this one was way better… cheaper too!
They had all the same activities as the paradise Cove one except they had live music and good entertainment. It’s out on the lawn behind the hotel. The only negative is that after everyone gets in, it’s very crowded inside on the lawn before dinner.
The food was table service style, not buffet. That was so much nicer than standing to get your food and constantly having to re-​stand in a line.
The plate of food they gave us was packed full of all the Hawaiian style beef, pork, fish, chicken. It was really delicious and I was stuffed! They served a yummy coconut cake and haupia (sp??) for dessert.
I would defiantly recommend this one to anyone wanting to experience a Hawaiian style luau. The price is right, the food was good, and the entertainment actually entertaining!!!

Hale Koa’s luau is well organized and caters to all whether its for a birthday, wedding, or anniversary.
The food itself was decent. It was my first time having poi and it was nothing like the taro drinks that I get at Chinatown but it goes with the experience. The best part of the luau was actually the show. You really get the full experience with the hula dancing, Elvis like singer, fire dancing, and a full history of Polynesia. I thought it would be cheesy but our MC was funny and kept it entertaining. They even found a way to throw in a Gangnam Style reference.
For the ladies, the frontman has the nickname «The Rock.» He is ripped and the epitome of a man. All the women were mesmerized anytime he was on stage. He is probably the reason why the crowd consisted of 80% women — many of which are probably returning customers.
If you are considering a luau, then I would recommend Hale Koa’s. It’s a small price to pay to see The Rock.