Hawaii Alive Luau Show

This is our second time seeing this show. First time was five years ago when dinner wasn't a direct option. Loved that they included a buffet dinner. Spiked the pricing but nice to have together. Last time we saw the other big luau on the island too and this one we like better so when we brought the kids this year, this was the only one we booked. Food was great but maybe have some salt available. Show was great. Why only 4 stars? A couple reasons. More than one bar tender is needed at least during the leak time. We wait in line so long that food gets cold or you miss part of the show from your seat. Some of the servers were taking frink orders which I thought was great but ours wouldn't. Also, as a family for 5, we showed up 6th in line. Yet we were placed pretty far back because they says that's the only place they have tables of 5. I questioned it based on where we arrived and the amount of money we spent. They said they were limited because of Covid but the tables were all jammed together so that wasn't true. The people who spent $290 for two got front row while a family of 5 spent $700+ and for middle to rear. So anyone keep in mind if that is important. Overall I would still return.

The venue is nice, and the food is good but the show is where its at! These dancers are incredibly talented. I was entertained and I got to learn about the history and culture of Hawaii, I greatly enjoyed myself.

Terrible seating. We were first in line they moved us to the worst table in the back. The food was just ok. We ate all over Kaui and the worst food was here. The Lady dances werw only thing that was good. But the entertainment was so short. The fire dance was not good.

Moved inside due to possible bad whether but they had everything ready for transition. The food was pretty good for its buffet style and one alcoholic beverage was included per person. The singing was good and the performers did very well. The line to get it was very long and somewhat slow moving, but the service inside was much more expedient. We have been to 2 other luau's which were a better outside experience, faster moving lines, and more in depth performances.

This was the only luau available since we waited til the last minute to make a reservation. The venue at the Royal Sonesta was very nice. The seating was outside and surrounded by the beautiful grounds of the hotel. One alcoholic drink was included with the meal which was set up buffet style. The food was okay, not the best. We did enjoy the entertainment but would have liked it to last more than an hour. The girls were wonderful dancers, and we enjoyed hearing about the history of the host's family in Hawaii.

I agree with one of the more recent reviews. Some of the negative reviews must not be from any recent experiences. My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed the show. The narration and music was great and the dancers were very talented! There were lots of people of varying ages in the audience and a large crowd volunteered to participate in a hula lesson near the end. You could tell people were having a great time. As for the buffet, I couldn't compare it to other places. While a bit pricey, it was really tasty (especially the Kaluha pig).

Fun show but on the short side and a little slow. The main host was hard to understand on their sound system. The music was ok though. Weather brought us into a ballroom which was a nice room. The food was very good and was labeled for gluten free and vegan. We each get one complimentary drink ticket. More drinks available if you buy them. Overall a nice evening but IMO an actual Luau experience really requires an outdoor experience with a imu pit, room for the dancers, especially the fire dance and a mask free experience.

We love the show! We have been to a few Luau's and dinner performances and we like this one because it is more personal. Just enough people that you can actually be close to the stage. It is neat that most of the dancers actually have been dancing since they were kids! Fun! The fire dancers are great too. If you are looking for a big Luau like the Smith's this is not for you. We wanted a smaller luau so we tried it. Our kids (under the age of 5) enjoyed it a lot!

The worst EVER!! I cannot emphasize enough that this place is a scam and NOT a luau!!! Not our first Luau, we've been to several on each island, so we knew what to expect. We paid $153 per person, so definitely had high expectations. Boy were we disappointed!!!!! First of all it's NOTHING as they advertise in their videos. It is not facing the ocean on the lawn. No one to greet you with any kind of lei. No hula dancers to take pictures with. No pig roasting ceremony. No welcome drinks... nothing!! This is NOT a luau. It's a scam! An overpriced buffet dinner. The bar only serves three types of drinks...wine, beer and Mai tai. You only get ONE drink with your luau purchase, Anymore after that, you have to buy it cash which is not disclosed anywhere. So if you got no cash with you, you can enjoy tap water all night. Also no orchids in the drinks you buy either. The buffet display had no esthetics, Zero effort was made to at least make it look pleasing. The display was as basic as your average buffet restaurant. Food choices were very basic and average. The show was very boring for the most part. The best of this whole Luau was the fire dancers. Very talented! I honestly wish we would have just done the fire show at the Hilton and saved ourselves $60. We wanted the whole Luau experience and the best on the island. Unfortunately, we were very disappointed. Don't waste your money it's not worth it! THIS IS NOT A REAL LUAU!!!! We are so sad we wasted our time and money, and did not get to experience a real Luau. Do yourself a favor and book Kalamaku luau instead they're amazing!

Our tickets were 145 dollars per person which included 1 beverage (alcoholic or non alcoholic), a buffet dinner, and show. Food was subpar, very basic and generic Hawaiian inspired dishes prepared en mass and without real flavor. This was not a true Luau experience, it was held indoors in the conference room and the sound quality and acoustics of the room were just off which detracted further from the show. Servers were very nice, performers were enthusiastic but seemed more like a high school culture club rather than fully polished show charging premium prices. Ukelele player/singer was lovely but once again it wasn't worth the price. I'd definitely skip this one.

This was my first luau experience and it was very nice. Sitting under shaded area at the Marriott, good narration throughout to provide some background, and a variety of interesting performances. Also neat that it's a family business with some performers from the family. The show wasn't too long and there was a nice break for folks who wanted to try to dance. I'm glad we didn't pay extra for the pre-show hotel dinner...those luau-style entrees can be ordered at many other restaurants/takeout places where the food can be better.

This is our second time seeing this show. First time was five years ago when dinner wasn't a direct option. Loved that they included a buffet dinner. Spiked the pricing but nice to have together. Last time we saw the other big luau on the island too and this one we like better so when we brought the kids this year, this was the only one we booked. Food was great but maybe have some salt available. Show was great. Why only 4 stars? A couple reasons. More than one bar tender is needed at least during the leak time. We wait in line so long that food gets cold or you miss part of the show from your seat. Some of the servers were taking frink orders which I thought was great but ours wouldn't. Also, as a family for 5, we showed up 6th in line. Yet we were placed pretty far back because they says that's the only place they have tables of 5. I questioned it based on where we arrived and the amount of money we spent. They said they were limited because of Covid but the tables were all jammed together so that wasn't true. The people who spent $290 for two got front row while a family of 5 spent $700+ and for middle to rear. So anyone keep in mind if that is important. Overall I would still return.

You can purchase the dinner and show separately. If you just wanted to see the show, you may do so! We had dinner and then watched the show... Upon arrival there is VIP to park your car!! Love!! The Marriot was a gorgeous open air building that really puts some class to the show as well. My boys love the koi pond in the way in. The food was absolutely delicious. A single drink was included with meal. There was an hour and a half to kill in between meal and the show, which is why I've lowered the rating. I was hoping it could have been while we were eating. Regardless the show was a gorgeous display of Hawaiian culture and my boys loved every minute of it.

Only attend this Luau if you are looking for really ono (delicious) food and an awesome Polynesian show. Worth every cent. Kaina and Uncle Wallis made us feel right at home and we're gracious hosts. Please support this Hawaiian family business.

This was one of the best if not the best show I have ever seen ! costumes made by the lead singer's wife are the most beautiful ever, the fire dancer his son phenomenal !!! The dancers spectacular! Music great includes a bit of history! Beautifully presented! DO NOT MISS!

*Not a luau* This is a buffet dinner followed by a show in the courtyard at the hotel. The call time for dinner is 5:30pm which is more than enough time to eat this buffet and get your ONE complementary drink. If you were expecting a real luau this was the first let down. The food was mediocre at best. No freshly prepared pork, beef cut thinly and varied in cook, dryish buffet fish and a plain salad bar. Dull and boring. The drinks were fine, nothing special. As for the show, the performance was enthusiastic and enjoyable although a little unpolished. These performers did come across genuine. The venue was a let down. Sterile, uncomfortable and while the performers tired to engage, it just wasn't a good set up to feel a part of the luau. All in all this is not good value for $100+ per head. Without the authentic food, free flowing alcohol and beautiful nighttime surroundings, what is left to make a good luau?

This was by far, the best luau we've attended! I enjoyed the smaller venue and the gourmet food. It was very different from the huge luaus I've attended in the past. The show was lovely and showcased the dancers. Also enjoyed the dinner music.

175+ for not even a real luau... It is indoors and gives off major wedding vibes, you get one drink ticket per guest and it can be used for either alcoholic drinks or regular beverages. Would recommend just trying elsewhere and saving that money for a better activity.

Definitely not worth the price. The food is mediocre at best. Either too salty or not salty enough. I had pieces of fish skin mixed in with my salad and it grossed me out. The show was pretty nice but it's about 45 mins long and nothing too exciting happened. The last performance was the best but I can assure you not worth the 175.00. Giving it a 2 star only because of the friendly service

Very bad organization. This is nothing more than an overpriced buffet with few items, long lines, meager portions, and poor service at the poolside restaurant of the Kauai Marriott. This was followed by an excruciating and long line to go watch a variety show. Save your $ and catch a show elsewhere

This show is a MUST SEE. It's so beautifully done, not cheesy AT ALL and the dancers are incredible. The singer and the performers take so much pride in their culture and share it in a way that even captivated my skeptical teen.

We loved the show! The family shows their "Aloha" spirit throughout and the cultural information that accompanied the music and dance is really nice for the family. For our first Hawaiian Luau experience, this was really fun. Thank you!

The food was delicious! So much to choose from buffet style. The drinks were amazing as well. Loved it. The hula dancing was amazing.

We stood in line for an hour to make sure we could get a table up front Close to the stage. It was our grandsons 8th birthday and we wanted to make it special for him. 10 minutes before we were allowed to enter approximately 50 people showed up and were escorted in ahead of us. No waiting . They also were lined up at the buffet before we were allowed to enter, this made allot of people mad considering what we paid for these tickets. The explanation was they bought their tickets early! So what! What does it matter when you bought your tickets? And they all bought their tickets in bulk? We will never attend another Hawaii Live luau.

This Luau was simply phenomenal! The leader/conductor Wallis was so soothing, funny and professional. He really brought the historical depth and culture of Hawaii to the forefront of our minds. The dancers where perfectly in-sync, the fire show was spectacular and the music was profound. This Luau made me feel like I took a journey back to early Hawaii and its beautiful people. The location where it's held on Monday evenings (Kauai Marriott) was top notch. My family and I were in awe and inspired by this performance. We recommend it to all searching for authenticity and depth in a Luau. Thank you Hawaii Alive Luau!

We had a smallish crowd for our show which made it more interactive. They were interesting and the dancers were fun to watch. My wife and I ended up on stage participating in a dance which was a lot of laughs. I haven't seen any other ones so I can't compare them. Definitely worth it, we enjoyed it.

Disappointing with a capital D! We have attended Luaus on all the islands including Kauai. This was not a luau. An ordinary buffet meal was served in the pool restaurant and then you go to a small stage area for the show. There was music, a guitar, bass guitar and occasional drums. There were hula dancers and a fire dancer. However, this was nothing like one would except at a Hawaiian Luau. Costuming was minimal, the music was horrible and not relaxing and mellow as you would expect for a Hawaiian show. That my advice and find a real Luau. There are plenty.

The dancers were talented. They look like they are really enjoying what they do and they've spent a lot of time learning the dances. The food was really tasty and the garden setting is beautiful. There is no pig ceremony at this luau. The fire dance was really cool, we were impressed but that portion of the luau isn't very long. It would have been fun to be able to take pictures with the performers but they weren't around before or afterwards. Even so, I would still give it a 5.

Don't waste your money. They cram everyone under the awning outside of the lobby. It is not set up on the beautiful lawn facing the ocean. We were toward the end of the line so by the time we were seated and got our food, they started packing the food up so we missed out on dessert too. Better luaus have an open bar instead of just one drink ticket per customer. I will say the performers were wonderful, but since the show was in the courtyard of the hotel, people who hadn't paid just loitered near the back tables and watched the show for free. Very disappointing.

Do not waste your money. This is not a luau or even close. If this is the only one you can find available, just skip it. The food is in a restaurant and there is not any roasted pig in the sand or even any sand. The food was ok and the staff was great ,but again not a luau. The show which you had to wait for from the time you finished eating until 7:30pm to get in to sit down even with your reservation lasted a total of 41 minutes, yes that's right 41 minutes. The eight people in the show did a great job for the time they were there. The young boys dancing with fire were excellent and the young girls also were great but again, THIS IS NOT A LUAU.

Wallis was a great Host and the dancers were so much fun. The servers were very attentive. The show, music and atmosphere was amazing.

its clear the cast and crew worked really hard to put on a good show the talent was great. Unfortunately for the price we have been to way better for less cost in Hawai. Was expecting that with the weather being nice this would be outside on the lagoon as advertised. Other luaus provide you with a real flower lei and open bar. This one included only one drink and didn't provide a flower lei. Others also do the pig roast in the ground during the day with the ceremony. We won't be back to this one.

It was totally different than the website portrayed. It was not on the Beach. The actual show lasted 45 minutes.

The location of the luau was inside the Marriott resort hotel which was great. They seat you on how many parties you book so that's was great food was flowing so better be hungry before u attend this event. Was a great experience.

We love the show! We have been to a few Luau's and dinner performances and we like this one because it is more personal. Just enough people that you can actually be close to the stage. It is neat that most of the dancers actually have been dancing since they were kids! Fun! The fire dancers are great too. If you are looking for a big Luau like the Smith's this is not for you. We wanted a smaller luau so we tried it. Our kids (under the age of 5) enjoyed it a lot :)

We were very excited to attend this luau and even spoke to Wallis on the phone to get more information. He was very kind. The Kauai Marriott is quite impressive and the buffet was very good, service excellent. I was a bit disappointed because, although the food was authentic enough, it was really a hotel restaurant meal, not a luau as I had imagined it to be. The show was wonderful. Wallis and his family have been in the performance and cultural preservation business for a long time. We loved that the keikis (children) performed; they were quite sweet and earnest. All the dancers were very good and the explanations of what we were seeing was helpful. The men and their fire dancing was amazing and the Samoan dances were spectacular. We are on the island to celebrate with my family and I have been jokingly saying I wanted to take a hula lesson. So when they asked for volunteers I jumped up on stage and got one! It was so much fun! I highly recommend this event but don't expect a luau feeling at dinner.

Awesome show!!! I really liked the mix of current and traditional music and dance as well as the history and culture lesson that came with it. It is obvious that these folks have a strong passion for preserving the culture and sharing it with the world!!!!

Took the family including the 3 & 5 year old to the show only. We have been to many shows in past years. The show is under a large cover and this allowed us to enjoy the show without getting wet from the rain. The show lasted just over 30 minutes which is plenty. Nice family event and very friendly. We paid $35 per adult which was clearly a tourist price. Do recommend the show.

The performers are great and it's a family group and is the only reason I give this Luau any stars at all. My main complaint is the dinner portion. Your typical luau is communal dining experience getting to know the people from Tucson sitting next to you while watching a show. This isn't even close. The whole experience was baffling. First of all, the food isn't served in a communal dining experience with the pig in the ground or any of that. It's actually in the Kukui's restaurant with the bar. So rather than hearing traditional Hawaiian music while you eat you are serenaded by guys at a bar cheering for the touchdown, homerun, three point shot or whatever sport happens to be in season when you're there. (We listened to the Carolina Panthers versus Indianapolis Colts.) The food was decent but it's basically a pre-fixe meal. You're better off just ordering from the menu and don't bother to pay for the meal portion of the luau up front. From the time we sit down and took all of five minutes for them to deliver which makes me suspicious on how much time and effort they put into it. So since the dinner is essentially in a restaurant you're left wondering "do I tip, do I just leave, what am I'm I supposed to do and how many drinks do I get?" (We just left.). I would've preferred a more traditional luau experience as cliché as they may be sometimes.

I bought the show package only so can't say much about the food. The show was organized by a family dance group company. It's definitely an amateur group. More for an audience at middle schools functions. I have been to several Luas in my trips to The Hawaiian islands in the last 22 years and I'm sorry to say this was really bad. There was no luau feel and they had very young girls performing who need time to work on their skills. The best part of the show was when they displayed the fire dance with this awesome drum beat. Otherwise I felt like I was at a children's performance. Please spend a little more money and go watch something with more quality. I hope that the beautiful Marriott will take my advice and work on their program to improve the location of the luau as well as the performances. Yes the younger performers are the future generation and all but the audience who pays so much money shouldn't be used as stepping stones for their performances.

The show was fantastic! The Hawaiian music, the dancers, the costumes, it was all awesome! Worth seeing! The Host, Wallis, was a great MC and musician/singer! Great show all around! Cynthia and George HUNTINGTON BEACH CA July 2018

The buffet dinner was ok but the show was simply AMAZING! I learned a lot about Polynesian culture and it was so high energy, my kid stayed entertained the whole time. I love that this family tradition cares on. I highly recommend this show

A friend recommended Hawaii Alive when I was explaining I was searching for an authentic, exciting luau to celebrate my lady's birthday with some friends who were celebrating a birthday and anniversary. Although I was expecting the luau to be on the beach, the setting within the Marriotts atrium actually proved to be a better location as you are able to literally sit right up next to the stage and the dancers - it becomes a more personal, enjoyable experience. As part of this personal experience, the host will interact with the audience, congratulating those celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, honeymoons etc - inviting all to participate at certain points in the show. This show is performed as part of a story being told of the history of various cultures, by individuals who are actually related and have continued the Hawaiian culture for decades. It contains all the relevant dances/chants and fire of course, leaving out much of the filler others will include to prolong a show. If you are looking for the best luau, this is it, bar none. I would highly suggest the dinner option as well, it was incredible - chicken, fish, pork, rice, veggies and a mai tai! Food is phenomenal, not your average meal. Hawaii Alive- you won't regret it! http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g60623-d573944-r311887591-Kauai_s_Best_Luau_Hawaii_Alive-Lihue_Kauai_Hawaii.html#

Pretty good but with some caveats I must say. I quickly found out about this venue on short notice. It is done at the Marriott hotel in Lihue which is near Nawiliwili beach. There is a food or show only option, but we were offered both for a discount on short notice with included valet parking. My rating focuses solely on the show. Quick tip, skip the dinner, it's made for easy comfort and is not anything really specially plus you are not going to get a pig pit here or anything real authentic. The show starts off in an open seated courtyard. While waiting one eager young guy entertains the crowd but doesn't get too obnoxious. The performance starts off with 3 band members who sing about 3 songs. They first were not really gelling, but once they sang they got their bearings. It is a bit loungey but at least they can sing. The bass player Barto? B something particularly has a very good voice. The real treat though are the dancers. Are they the best ever? Obviously not but they care about the art and their enthusiasm shows, as once the level of speed increases the sweat really starts pouring off them. They also have child performers, and this is not some cute small chaotic school play, they actually dance very well and sync excellently. And yeah ok they are as cute as hell also. The fire dancing is great also, and the fact you can sit up front to experience this is a treat. At times I could feel the heat from the torches on my face. Is this authentic? Not really? Is this the best luau ever? Probably not.. But the dancers are great and its a comfortable if "staged" setting.

I've been to at least 6 different luaus on Kauai over the years so I'm in a good position to compare them. I would give the show 3 or 4 stars, but the dinner only deserved 1 star, if that. All the other luaus have been a sumptuous feast, similar to American Thanksgiving. This "luau" was a single plate with a sampling of typical Hawaiian dishes. I would say it is to a true luau what a TV dinner is to Thanksgiving. Overall, the Luau at Smith's is consistently a winner.

Amazing amazing show! Will highly recommend. The singers, the dancers, the vibe, the music, everything was magical. Left me with a really memorable evening.

I wish the rating could be for the two parts of the evening. The dinner portion of the evening would get a three from me, but the performance part of the evening would get a 5+. Since that can't be I will give it four stars. The dinner was just fine, for a dinner. It was not fine for a luau as it was difficult to tell what was traditional Hawaiian fare or what was just what they wanted to cook and serve. It was very disappointing to have no ceremony of getting the pig out of the emu or any explanation of the history of the luau. If there is a next time we will choose show only. Although the setting was fine for dinner it was not anything like I would have expected. The show was exceptionally well done. We enjoyed every moment of it. The history of Hawaiian dance, the performance of the dance and the friendliness of the emcee made the evening end on a super good note.

The show was excellent but the food at the Marriott was not up to Marriott standards the soup was cold and the meat selection was horrible all cold. The white wine you got with your meal was old.just go the show and go eat somewhere else

This is possibly the worst place anyone could go to spend any time or money. Richard, a security guard, is very pushy and thinks he is the chief of police at this Marriott. The only people that are great to talk to at this $500.00 a night Marriott are the bartenders. The bartenders really care about people. When you juxtapose the other staff members to the bartenders, the bartenders, in their gregarious ways, win the kindness awards hands down. The food and show where something to be forgotten and never to attend and consume again by this person. Go somewhere else if you want to enjoy a real luau.

I give 3 stars because dinner was just plain, and boring and no choices for kids. I'm a 5 Star chef by trade but this was just not what I expected for spending $400 for 5 plates of food and show. Now show was amazing and I would pay for that twice. I wish I could give separate review for dinner and show because show would get 5 stars.

This review is for the Punua family Hula show. We hired the group for our recent wedding at Na Aina Kai. They were amazing. They did a 30 minute show with traditional dancing, music and fire-dancing. They even got most of the wedding guests up to learn a few moves. It was a jaw-dropping experience. One of the biggest highlights of our wedding. Well worth the money. What an incredibly talented group/family. Highly recommended!

We attended the show only, which was shorter than expected. Some parts were nice, but overall it was way too touristy. A resort kind of show.

I have no idea who is writing these favorable reviews. This show is like a hybrid of a creepy 4th tier Las Vegas lounge act mixed with some quasi traditional Hawaiian dancing. The band leader could not keep straight where he was, who he was talking to, what he had said. The act is living 30 years in the past and trying to recreate Don Ho. We have been to spectacular traditional Luau shows in Lahaina and imagined this would be similar. We could not have been more wrong. It was embarrassing to watch. The fact that the show is only done once a week in the biggest resort in Kauai and was barely half full is a pretty good clue. I think the entire back row was taken up by "friends" of the band to try to fill out the show and create some energy in the audience. It was truly pathetic.

The dinner want at the show and the show was in too small of a venue. Been to other shows and didn't feel it compared due to the string. Amazing dancers, though. Hard to see with the seating.

This is not a luau by any means. We were served a delicious gourmet dinner, but it only included one drink (non-alcoholic or alcoholic...of their choice). We sat poolside at a table by ourselves. We were so disappointed with the experience that we didn't even go to the show. Just don't confuse this with a luau like we did!

I arrived in Kauai really excited to go to a luau for the first time. Usually I have a lot of faith in tripadvisor.com for trip related suggestions. Well someone thought this luau was the best luau and it was ranked very highly as something to do in Kauai. So since we were staying nearby, we signed up for it. I have been debating whether to give it 2 stars or 3 but ultimately decided to stick with 3 since my main complaint is over the food not the show itself. This luau is divided into dinner and show or show only. If you do the former, you arrive in the evening where a rude hostess gives you the run around regarding the dinner then seats you one of the Marriott's main restaurants. So in other words, eat first... Luckily the wait staff was very friendly and attentive. The food consisted of a plate of what I can only imagine was pre-made hours ago and reheated. Laulau, purple yams with a super sweet coconut sauce, lomi lomi salmon, teriyaki chicken, and some white fist with a beurre blanc sauce. Do you think you read the last bit right? Yes you did. there was a beurre blanc sauce on my fish at my luau - "sad face". After dinner, scoot over to the courtyard and get in line. The show is about to begin. Once seated, the first 20 minutes was filled with the host praising all the people who just got married and were here for their honeymoon. No offense but there are other people in the audience who need not watch 8 couples go through their first married couple dance again. The hula dancers and fire dancers were cool. It would have been nice to see more fire dancing. The hula dancing was fun because they did a lot of different types of dancing, not only the stereotypical hula dancing you think of when you picture Hawaii. Overall the food luckily tasted good which saved it and the rest of the show was good because the performers were talented. That said, I'd probably not recommend this luau and opt to go in search of a more traditional one on the island.

The show was wonderful. The dancers were amazing to watch, the music was great and the host was friendly and knowledgeable. The Luau was not our favourite part. The staff was great and the resort setting was nice but it wasn't at all what we imagined a Luau would be. Some of the dishes were Ok but I could have done without the meal and only took in the show.