KA WA'A - A LŪ'AU

Typical Disney: stand in entrance line (30 mins) to take an obligatory character picture, then move to another line to wait & be seated then wait 30 to 40 minutes to be called to the buffet line. There is no floral lei, just a cheap koa bead necklace. Food is mediocre. No traditional roasted pork or poi. Up side is open bar (drink as much as you want). The entertainment is Disneyfied Hawaiian tunes. This Lū’au is really geared to entertain children. (The Lū’-au at Hilton Waikiki is much more worth the cost. Hilton has better traditional Lū’au food, no lines, & more traditional Hawaiian song & ceremony. )

Amazing, fun, exciting experience! The show was spectacular! Such a great way to spend an evening in Aulani. The food was not bad, they brought a bento box for my daughter so that was great. The drinks were really good and the bartenders were friendly, approachable, and even remembered my drink order after the first time! I believe you can start making reservations as early as 6 months. We did the preferred seating, your seats are already assigned. Meaning, doesn't matter how early you arrive you won't get a better seat. Seating goes by when you ordered your tickets, so purchase the tickets as soon as possible. We did get front row seats so it worked out. We also did get there early and we're first in line. There are a few activities that take place so getting there early is probably the better idea.

The overall luau experience was great but guest’s arrival and set up could be so much better. The staff, food and show were stunning! Everyone was extremely friendly, the food was very well cooked and seasoned and of course the show was beautiful, as you would expect any Disney service to be. However, when you first arrived you have to join a line where they write your last name on a piece of paper and hand it to you. Once the “gate” opens, you then join another line where at the end a cast member will take the piece of paper from your hand and send you to a table that was pre-assigned based on the first letter of your last name. That process seems a bit unfair to the people who started lining up 30-40 minutes before the show, hoping that they would get good seats. No matter how long you wait in line, if your last name starts with the one of last letters of the alphabet, you may not be assigned anywhere near the stage. All the waiting in line and the seating process doesn’t seem fair or comfortable to guests. However I wouldn’t let this discourage you from going to this luau. Mickey and Minnie will make a quick appearance but this show is solely focused on the beautiful story of the Hawaiian people, and Disney characters/stories are not included. Overall great experience but if you’re a person that is traveling with younger kids or can’t stand for a fair amount of time, I would recommend speaking to a cast member and getting accommodations for the first arrival moments

This was a highlight of our recent trip to Hawaii. We did not stay at the resort, but after much research thought we’d give this a try. We were not disappointed. Comp parking upon arrival was lovely and easy. The luau grounds are located at the back of the property but a lovely walk through the resort. We got general seating but because we were celebrating our honeymoon, they upgraded us to premium which was so kind! Traveling as two adults, we were thrilled Disney had the sense to group us with a bunch of other adult groups and couples who we enjoyed chatting with. We worried it could be too kid focused, and it wasn’t as all. Child friendly, yes. Child focused, no. The food was all delicious, lots of variety. No shellfish was of benefit for me given an allergy (buffets are scary places!). Oh, and we love an open bar. Unlimited mai tais and other cocktails, and premium beers. The show itself was extremely well done. If there’s one thing Disney won’t mess around with its entertainment, and that’s what I wanted more than anything. Was it authentic? Depends on your definition. Luaus are designed for tourists. The dancing, costumes, music and story telling was fantastic. I liked how each song had a theme and told a different story and slightly different tonality. It was never boring. Past luau’s I’ve felt were so heavy on one thing only, and with super tacky hosts holding it together. The “duo” leading the show were phenomenal, Broadway level talent. Captivating and beautiful voices. One thing I will say if if you’re coming thinking this will be a character filled evening with Minnie, Mickey, or others, you may be disappointed as they only make a brief appearance at the beginning. After the show we went to a bar on property to listen to some more live music, and of course the gift shop. As nearly 40 somethings we loved this outing and it truly was a highlight for us. Disney made us feel special, and despite the very high cost (Canadian tourists with awful exchange rate) we felt it was well worth the investment for the value of the evening.

Have been coming here for 4 years straight first time ever security after dinner told us and twenty kids dancing in the back that they all need to take there seat. Half the audience is kids. Are you kidding me you give them blue sugar drinks and then tell us to keep are kids seated for 3 hrs. I ll never be back for $160 a person. Photo is after they told all kids to sit down immediately.

Had a great time at this Lu’au! Was sat at a table full of couples, had a great view of the show! Activities were fun and informative, drinks were yummy (and strong) and included! Dinner buffet was great, and lots to offer. The show is so well done and embraces the Hawaiian culture. Not too Disneyfied

This is the luau that is hosted on site at Aulani. The show itself was engaging and entertaining. They tell lots of interesting stories about their local culture and history. The biggest disappointment for me was the food. I was hoping for more authentic traditional dishes, but there were hardly any on the buffet. The way it operates can also be misleading. Seating is basically first come first serve within the section you paid for (premium or standard). Some people knew to line up early to get good seats within their respective section. That said, I don't think there is a bad seat anywhere for enjoying the show. For food however, the tables in back go to the buffet last and that can take quite some time. There was very little Disney influence added to the show (which I preferred), but if that's what you're looking for, you will be disappointed. Overall, we enjoyed it, but if you're looking for a more authentic experience there are other options on the island.

OMG! This luau was so awesome. Definitely Disney quality. You can read other peoples description of the evening. It is spot on. It was so fun experiencing the pre-luau activities. Temporary tattoo, flower lei bracelet, ukulele lesson. Crushing taro We paid the higher price for preferred seating and it was so worth it. The Buffet was awesome. Our favorite was the pork! They left the buffet open for a long time. The service was fantastic. we knew in advance that the luau was mostly focused on Hawaiian history not Mickey and Minnie and that’s exactly what we wanted. The music, storytellers and performers were top notch.

This is the best luau on Oahu. It's better than every major luau in Waikiki, Honolulu, and everywhere else on the island. It truly feels special from start to finish with the operational excellence for large crowds that Disney resorts know how to do better than anyone. There's a reason why you need to make reservations around 5 months in advance. Unlike many mass produced luaus, the food at Ka Wa'a is actually good. Really good. The sweet potatoes, prime rib, kalua style pork (which I normally don't even like!), all the way to the desserts, all delicious. Far better than something like Paina Waikiki, which is not great and makes you wonder why you paid so much for some of the worst Hawaiian food you've ever had. You pay more for Ka Wa'a, and you probably drive further out of town than you planned to for a luau, but you will have no regrets. The nighttime show is perfectly timed. First hour is for check-in and activities, including temporary tattoos, ukeleles, grinding taro, and grabbing drinks. At 6:00 PM, the first tables are called for the buffet. Preferred seating eats first, but the lines move fast and there's time for seconds. At 7:00, the show starts, and that's where it all comes together in a beautiful raised stage setup where nearly every seat is a good one. The show features such talented performers that really make the night magical. They present memorable stories of Hawaii and all of the musicians are top notch. Pro tip: Mickey and Minnie only show up to do one dance on stage, and they don't stick around for photos (would be impossible with a crowd this size), so show up early, check the video boards for their character schedules, check in to the luau, leave, then find Mickey and Minnie from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM for a photo. After getting a very relaxed, enjoyable photo, head back into the luau with plenty of time to spare for activities and dinner. I've been to Oahu many times, and this is the only luau I've seen that I would recommend to anyone and describe as truly magical and 100% worth it.

Fantastic! We did not stay at Aulani, we stayed in Waikiki, but had to have at least a taste of the Aulani experience and this was perfection. First of all, the hotel is beautiful and I do hope we stay at some point - however I'm glad for our first trip we are more centrally located. We came early to check out the shoppes and the hotel, which are all just as you would expect from a Disney resort. Moreover, they have a couple vacation club models you can walk - with no pressing sales pitch (yes, one day we are doing that, so no sales pitch needed). Now for the Luau - I debated doing something at the cultural center or the hotel we are staying at, but after a ton of research, went for this one because of the reviews and of course, Disney magic. So to start with - Disney is a very very light touch, which was appropriate and tasteful IMO. We did preferred seating, so we got in early, got to enjoy some moseying around looking at the fun activities, and relaxing before dinner. We also had great seats. Temporary tattoos, a lei, and trying out a eukele was super fun - it was not a kiddy style experience, so no worries about partaking in things that were mainly intended for kids. This was definitely appropriate for all. Next - the food - it was fantastic. My husband thought so too. Highlights were the poke, the macadamia fish, and actually - the teriyaki chicken. Pork - fine but salty and not really remarkable. Prime rib was great and though noted by some as not traditional, I love a good prime rib and this was definitely a good one. Nice array of desserts, and unlimited drinks. A note - you have about an hour to eat before they shut everything down, so you can go back for seconds but if you want to have a salad plate and then a dinner plate or something like that - plan accordingly. Last - the show - we were blown away. Talent as expected for a Disney production. Amazing music, great singers, storytelling and dance. We have no point of reference as this was our first luau, but we did have a couple near us that's been to several, and their POV was that the food and production were better than they've experienced elsewhere, the only + at some others was there was more fire which some may enjoy more. Thought that was a good tidbit. All to say, if you want to experience Aulani but don't really want to stay there (or can't rationalize the $750+ a night room) this is a great way to experience the magic and have a great night!

The story telling, music, dancing, etc. are spectacular. I really really enjoyed this experience. The food was a sold B for me. I do love that they have different offerings for the kiddos. The drinks were also a solid B. Obviously I realize that a luau has nothing to do with Disney characters, but given that this is a luau that takes place on Disney property I was unpleasantly surprised that there were no Disney characters (other than a quick introduction to Mickey and Minnie) involved. A visit before or after the luau would be a plus.

Aloha! What an experience! My very first luau experience and it did not disappoint. Everyone was given a beaded necklace at the front and then have photos taken. After you get your seats, you can walk around to do some activities before dinner starts. There are 2 open bar stations where you can get drinks but you may also order drinks directly from your server. Self serve food stations. They do it by groups so that the lines for the food station won't get too chaotic. Once everyone gets their share on the first round, you can go for seconds, thirds, etc. It's all you can eat by the way :). Everything was so good! One of the best meals I had while in Hawaii. The luau punch is non-alcoholic and was super good. Definitely give it a try if they offer it. The show was fun, entertaining and got to learn a bit about their history. After the show is over, you have the opportunities to take photos with the casts members. Mahalo!

I made a reservation for 9 adults online. The online reservation system is simple to use and I made sure to add comments about dietary restrictions/allergies for some adults in our party. The day has arrived for our reservation. We drove up and vallet helped park our car. The cool thing about Aulani, you can explore the resort, however some spots are restricted to only people that are staying at Aulani. The resort is beautiful! Loved that we were able to check out the gift shops. We started lining up abut 30 minutes early. When doors opened, we were greeted and were given, I believe were Kukui Nut Leis and were asked about how many people were in our party and also asked again about the dietary restrictions/allergies. We had one adult who was vegetarian and one who was allergic to garlic/onions. They were very accomodating and had separate plates for the two individuals. Food was buffet style. For the first round, they would call up table by table to start lining up and getting food. From there, you are welcomed to go back for seconds...thirds.. and so on. Food was good! There was a lot of varieties. On to the show. Show was good, but wished there were more Disney characters and more fire. Felt bad because someone in our group was waiting for the fire show, but when he went to the bathroom - that was when the fire show went on and he missed it all. Overall, this was a good first time luau experience.

This luau was hosted by Aulani and I was a bit skeptical about it. Ambiance Aulani is just beautiful. Customer Service Hawaiian people are just very kind and warm in general. Here at Aulani it is top shelf. Food and Cocktails We got the Preferred Package and this includes unlimited alcohol. Our server would take our drink orders and bring them to us. Food was excellent u get the pork and poi of course. Prime rib, chicken, fish, salmon poke, purple sweet potato mash. Salad and vegetables all good. The fish a bit dry but had good flavor. There was something for everyone. Fancy finger desserts tasty. Entertainment We had a good view of the main stage and seated next to small stage where warriors performed war dances and hula dancers performed. The fire performers were experts. This was the highlight of the luau. They were extremely talented the men fit and women beautiful, high level of precision and skill. They had a view activities like temporary tattoos, learning ukulele and pounding poi. You were also welcomed with a kukui nut necklace and given a lei bracelet that tied into the show. They don't do the ritual of pulling the pig out of the ground but don't really think it is an option of doing this on this beautiful property. I have been to maybe 4 luaus over the years and this by far was the best. A little pricy but well worth it.

The luau at the Aulani is fantastic but a bit pricey. For the preferred seating around $200 and basically you get a better view. Now people do lineup early just to get good tables so while the event check-in is at 5 PM people are lining up an hour prior to the luau. It includes cultural show, tattoo making (non-permanent), the pounding of poi, and the dinner food buffet. I actually came for the poke and Lomi Lomi Salmon. Now, drinks are included, and you can order at the bar, but you could also order from the waitress tending to your table. The Hulu show was very well done and the food was fabulous. This was an enjoyable experience and I got to meet folks from all over the country. Worth it!!

We went to the luau (booked 6 months in advance). It was so convenient to walk over from our hotel room. There are 2 separate locations for check in if you are preferred vs general. The preferred is closer to the pana community hall room and you cut through the ewa tower to get the lawn and check in if you are preferred. General line over passed ama ama and auntys beach house. They let you in early if you are preferred. There are 4 activities- ukelele lessons, flower bracelets, Taro making and temporary tattoo. We hit up all of the activities in about 20 min. Photo is also right when you walk in. There are drinks prepared already- alcoholic and nonalcohol. Theres also a drink bar as well. And then you are shown to your tables. We shared with another family. I believe the table seats 16 total? Dinner is buffet style. You get called up by table. Around 6:30 is when it starts. Food was Pretty good. Show starts around 7:30 and is about an hour. It was a good show. It ended at 8:30.

This luau is performed on the Disney Aulani's Resort property. You do not have to be a guest to book a show. I booked the luau online about a few months in advance for the Friday show. We parked in guest parking which is a garage to the right of the front entrance and it cost us $40. I do think there was a way to validate it, we didn't get a chance look into it so we just paid it. To get to the general check in, we entered the front entrance of the lobby and made it a left until we saw a sign that said Ewa tower. You can either take the elevator or stairs next to it to go down to the ground level. Upon getting to the ground level, we went outside and followed the path to the left until we saw signs that pointed us to general check in. We saw the line of people and lined up around 5:10pm. They did check us in a bit slowly. We didn't get to enter the actual luau grounds until 5:40pm. We got kukui bead leis and took photos with the Polynesian performers upon entering. When you are assigned a seat and seated, an employee will come by to show you the photos and they are available for purchase for $45. We did purchase ours since it came with all the 4 digital photos they took and one printed photo of our choice. This is a great luau for kids of course. It's Disney! All the cast members are friendly and helpful. There was a temporary tattoo station, a ukulele station, lei bracelet station, and interactive activities with hula performers. The show is really really good! The singing, dancing, and storytelling is magical and easy to follow along. They make small references to Disney characters here and there, but the primary focus is Polynesian culture. The lead female and male singer also have such beautiful voices. The buffet was served table by table. I believe the sooner you got in line to enter the luau, the closer you'd be seated to the stage behind the preferred seating and sooner your table would get to go first. The food was pretty good and filling. My favorite was the prime rib roast with their au jus sauce and mac salad. The kalua pork was way too salty for me unfortunately although the meat was tender. They do have a kids bento box too available, I'm not too sure if that is ordered ahead. They do pack up the food without announcing a last call. I glanced behind me at 7:10pm and the food was already gone. I also enjoyed that your server can also take your drink order for the open bar so you don't have to get up. I only got to drink #2 since the alcohol was strong. There are bathrooms available but it is like a 2-3 minute walk outside of the luau grounds and back into the hotel and pool area. There are signs to point you in the right direction. Overall, I thought this luau was very enjoyable! I've been to the Old Lahaina Luau before so I feel like this one is worth the price point if you want to have a great experience in O'ahu.

Excellent luau! Highly recommend attending this one. I've been to other luaus on the island and his is by far the best. This luau doesn't all of the Polynesian islands. It only covers O'ahu and the surrounding area. Great storytelling about O'ahu. The food is delish and the entertainment is top notch!! This luau runs only 3 days a week, so reservations are necessary.

This Luau at Aulani was amazing the whole show we were paying attention great performances it felt personal before and after the show great story to keep you hooked to the show dancing fire etc up and down the isles was great food was great the all you can drink full bar was amazing I've been to other luau's this is the best definitely worth it

Spectacular storytelling of the first ancient explorers to the shores of Ko Alina. Easy to follow and beautifully told through music and dance. We reserved preferred seating 3 months in advance and had a great table that we shared with another family. Our server was exceptional very attentive and super friendly. We had a great meal and delicious desserts to follow. Drinks were amazing and the coffee was delicious. We had a magical evening from the start with the temporary tattoos and lei bracelets and the complementary photo. Parking was also validated from our server. We parked in the guest parking. Loved every minute of our family time at the KA WA' A, a Luau at Aulani.

I wanted to like this luau a bit more but overall it fell a little short for me, so honestly it's more like 3.5 stars for the price. We had the general seating. Check in was simple and you take some photos at the start. They gave us cute kukui nut leis and they have little stations once you get in to go experience. Flower lei bracelets, poi making, tattoos, etc... Seats are pre-assigned and we sat on the very right back side table which was fine because we had young ones. They gave us a nice welcome drink upon arrival. Our waitress was very friendly. Food: Buffet style and the waitress tells you when you can grab food. Food was ok. Poke, kalua pork, sweet potato, and haupia were my favorites. They cleaned up the food super fast, so if you want seconds/dessert, jump on it! Once it gets dark, buffet is done and the show begins. Show: The show wasn't bad, but out of all the luaus I've seen it wasn't great. They have a pretty small group and it felt like a lot of story and not a lot of performance. I felt myself getting bored/tired, thankfully staff came around and offered coffee. Fire dancers at the end were the most entertaining. Overall, maybe this luau just wan't to my taste. A lot of families and kids looked like they enjoyed it though! So don't let this review stop you from seeing it! Just sharing my honest opinion of my experience.

I've been to a few lu'aus through several trips to HI, but I have to say, Aulani's Ka Wa'a Lu'au was really well done. It's expensive, there's no sugar coating that, and be sure to book well in advance (several months). For general seating, we waited in line and upon entry, got a brown seed lei and photo opp with hula dancers. Before the buffet lines were open, there were stations to get temporary tatooes, bracelet leis, and play the ukulele. Oh and the drink stations were open as well. Buffet was well organized and went table by table. There was a bountiful selection of food. My favorite happened to be the sweet purple potatoes. Menus are subject to change. I think the best part were the performances. Compared to past lu'aus that I've been to, the flow and storyline for this one was much better. They had really good MCs and wove in nice stories to better educate us on each performance. Of course, the hula dancing, singing, and fire throwing were also very impressive on their own.

Best luau we ever attended. Great performance with Disney influence. The food and ambiance was also top notch.

We went in June 2022 and was pleasantly surprised that it seems to be back to pre-COVID protocols. Activities and buffet are back. Kids were still served pre-made bentos and desserts. Activities: There was lei making, poi pounding, temporary tattoo and ukulele lessons. Food: Food and drinks were good. My favorites were the prime rib, poke and mashed Okinawa potato (really ono!). Maybe for all the out of state visitors, better signs with description of each dish would help. Con: Being in Aulani, I was expecting more Disney magic incorporated into the luau. We took pictures with just hula dancers when we first arrived. If Mickey and/Minnie were in the picture, I would definitely purchase the photo. I waited all night for Mickey and Minnie to make their appearance, and maybe even Lilo, Stitch and Moana! I was disappointed that I missed Mickey and Minnie's brief hula show because I went to the bathroom at that time. Such a disappointment! Speaking of bathroom... that's also a con... was far away back at the Makahiki restaurant/elevators. The show, in a story line was good. I feel like the Tahitian dancers at Polynesian Cultural Center were more impressive though. Overall, I think there's a lot of room for more Disney magic, but I still feel it was a great luau experience, especially for visitors.

This was a phenomenal Lu'au. Truly top notch in every way. The food was shockingly good, especially the poke and poi. The entertainers were all amazing!! Service was fantastic. The band was so good and they even had an authentic pedal steel player (very rare) to give the music a real Hawaiian sound. This lu'au is one you will never forget. It's 10/10. I'm very glad I was able to experience it.

This luau deserves no less than 5 stars and I would give it 6 stars if I could. The food, service & entertainment was all incredible. We paid a little extra for the preferred seating and we are so glad that we did. We got there early to check in and were the 2nd family which gave us plenty of time to enjoy the pre-show activities as well as the delicious drinks (all you can drink). Also, the preferred seating got us an early release to the buffet which I always prefer when it is served buffet style. I highly recommend this luau to anyone going to Oahu. You do not need to stay at the Aulani in order to go to the luau!

For our first family luau, the preferred seating was worth it for the extra $$$: -Early entrance -A server takes your drink order vs. having to wait in line at the bar and unlimited drinks. -Separate buffet line for preferred. Was able to go back a few times for the prime rib as there was leftovers. Food and dessert was delish. Kids meal was good and they liked it. Some of the kids fell asleep after dinner. Everything was easy, clean, and kid friendly. It was a great first luau for the family.

I've been to many luau's here on the island. I was skeptical at first about coming here thinking it wasn't gonna be good and more commercialized. I was wrong and ate my words. The food was by far the best that I have ever eaten at any LŪ'AU. They had plenty of choices from salads, veggies, teriyaki chicken, macadamia nut crusted fish, kalua pork, hand carved prime rib, rice, veggie pasta, fresh fruit, many desert choices, and all you can drink cocktails and not watered down ones, full bar. The show was amazing too, great entertainment. A bit pricey but considering the quality of the food and the all you can drink cocktails - it's well worth it. Make sure to book before you arrive cause they sell out daily and you could miss out.

Signed up for the preferred seating of the Luau at the Aulani Disney Resort. We were in the second row next to the aisle. We got to see everything really well. There were two center box stages for dancers to perform throughout the night. It was three hours of pure entertainment. We got to make lei's and at our table we each received a Kukui Nut lei as a souvenir. The Kukui Nut tree is a symbol of enlightenment, protection, guidance and peace! Loved how family oriented it was. Really well done !! Definitely recommend. !!!

[SHOW] Honestly I thought there would be more inclusion of Disney characters since it is Aulani. There is only one part with Mickey and Minnie and that's all. Would have liked to see Lilo & Stitch, which wouldn't be a stretch because they dance hula in the movie. [HANDICAP / RESTROOMS] Be prepared to walk a distance since the nearest ones are located next to Makahiki. Don't be surprised if you see a lot of lost fellow lūau guests wandering next to the elevator looking for the restrooms. [FOOD] All beverages (alcoholic and non-alcoholic) are included. The whole dining experience felt really rushed. I had to be stern and say no I'm still eating when several of the workers asked if I was done. Food was mediocre, at these prices I would expect more. [OVERALL] Average experience, I'm glad I tried it. [PROS & CONS +/-] - There is only one activity. There is a box on the table with flowers and you can string your own bracelet. - There are no condiments on the the tables. Maybe grab some ahead of time at Ulu Cafe or bring your own if you like to have shoyu (soy sauce), salt & pepper, etc.

What else can you say, it's a Disney Luau! Compared to other luau I've been to this place have the best tasting food. The prime rib was excellent. However, I feel the activities and entertainment can be improved on. There were only 3 activities for the guests to participate in, poi making, flower bracelet, and tattoo. The allotted time for these activities were about 45 min. So if you didn't get there early (like before they start check in) you may not have time to participate. This maybe a personal preference but for the entertainment portion there weren't much audience participation.

Definitely a step up from the starlit hui from years past. We got the vip seating and it was definitely worth it. We ended up in the front row for a great show with outstanding singing, dancing and food. It was a great 3 course meal of native foods including poi, Lomi salmon, Kalua pork, butter fish and a whole bunch of other food. Seriously stuffed afterwards. I was pretty surprised at how great the level of singing was from the hosts. It was everything we would have hoped for in a Disney luau.

We opted to go with the Preferred Seating. I can't say it was worth the extra money. You definitely get to sit around longer (which means more time to drink) but otherwise I'm not certain the better seats are worth it. On an individual ticket basis it doesn't seem like much but an extra $116 for 4 people didn't seem worthwhile. That being said if you are doing a Luau in Hawaii do this one. We got to watch another at a different hotel and it was like amateur hour. The Disney Luau is professional and the story telling is great.

They cancelled our Luau and they wouldn't accommodate us for any days we were there visiting.

Great experience at the luau. We had a 9 month old and a 2 year old and they absolutely loved it. The 2 year old was completely mesmerized by the performers and the stories being told. They had a ton of fun activities that we partook in and the staff was very kind. We were fortunate to be paired with a very kind server who went out of his way to make the experience special for us. The ambiance was amazing! The food was great and I was totally stuffed by the end of my meal.

We did Ka Moana Luau earlier in the week, so I have a little something for comparison. We got the Preferred seating, which got us closer seating to the stage, complimentary photos (taken with 2 performers, and stored on the Disney Photopass) and seating before the General crowd came in. Service was typical Disney (great). Show was very good, but there were "empty" spots, with no performers on the stage. At Ka Moana Luau, there was never a break. Something was always happening on the stage. I think Disney needs to fix this. There were a few items on my plate that stood out, but overall the food could be better. Cake and brownie were tasty for dessert.

I loved seeing this luau from my toddler's eyes. For a 3-year old who loves the story of Moana and Maui, she was blown away at all the story-telling, dancing, music and lights. She was also excited to get a Maui fish hook as a souvenir. The show can be slightly late because the fire show starts when the sun goes down but my little one stayed up throughout the entire show. The hardest part of the evening was having to travel somewhat far for the little one to use the potty. I pretty much had to carry her and run to the restrooms to avoid an accident. We were walking back and forth so much that we even missed Mickey's guest appearance. We opted to get the premium passes, which made the line slightly shorter upon arrival for the photos, allowed us to sit closer to the stage and get buffet food first, and came with digital photos from the luau. I had to call in advance to get the tickets since I was reserving for a group of 10, including kids and the website wasn't showing premium tickets. It's worth the tickets if you have a lot of kids who might be hangry since the dinner and show are somewhat late, especially if you live somewhere with a time difference. Otherwise, everyone gets the same food and it's open bar for all. We had 4 kids under the age of 3 so we luckily didn't have to pay for the food but they still gave them kids meals! I was just expecting the kids to eat whatever we pulled from the buffet but they got their own bento box and desserts which was nice. The buffet food wasn't bad and there were plenty of protein and veggie options, and a lot of fruit and dessert options. Lastly, the only activities were tarp pounding, tattooing (stamps), and bracelet lei making. The kids weren't really into the activities but they just enjoying running around the grassy area. I would recommend the luau. It also wasn't overly Disney-themed.

If you are going to stay at aulani you might as well do the luau. Make sure to get there early as there is a line and you have to be there on time when they open or you will miss out on their free activities. They have flower bracelets, my fave the temp tattoo, pounding poi. I like this luau because no matter where you sit you got great views. Food was great and drinks were sweet as expected. Service was amazing and for our table we owe it all Janet. She was so amazing with the kids and provided excellent service throughout the night. We had 13 to our table which 7 were kids. They breakdown one table and keep one for the food buffet. Get as much as you want same with the drinks! If you made light up ears during your stay make sure you bring them and wear it for photo op later and just for extra lighting. Only things that disappoints are the walk to the bathroom. It is pretty far. Not many Disney characters come through it was only Mickey and I believe Minnie or goofy i forgot who the 2nd was and lastly I wish the alcoholic bevies were not so sweet. Janet is amazing hope you all get to experience her service top notch!

A most wonderful night to come. Thanks to our very generous daughter we were able to attend. Aside from being Valentine's Day, what a fabulous way to celebrate! We were gifted with VIP tickets at $179 per person. That allowed us to enter earlier than general admission, unlimited drinks even alcoholic ones and excellent preferred seating. We arrived about 35 minutes earlier and were first in line. Within minutes the line continued to grow. Once the conch shell was blown, we were leid upon entering the seating area. We were escorted to our table and told to explore the activities. Took photos of the kiddies but did get a hand flower bracelet and a pseudo tattoo. The food was plentiful and good. Way better than most luau food - just no chicken long rice and poi. Considering Asian tourists and mainland or Canadian attendees it was probably wise. The suckling pig aka kalua pig, lomi lomi salmon, and Haupia were good. So were the guava cake and bread pudding. The entertainment was top notch with traditional, Tahitian, fire dancers and modern day hula. The musicians were very good. The male storyteller Noah had the right voice for the job. This time we were hopefully Akamai and bought the e digital for our photos for $35. It was a most delightful and lovely way to spend the evening. Thankyou CA.

The VIP preferred seating went from $169 in 2019 to $189 2022, but the quality went down. The only benefit for VIP is a closer seating but other than that general and VIP is the same. Before prefer seating men got better quality kukui lei with real sea shells. Now everyone gets the same plain kukui nut lei, even ladies get kukui nut lei instead of all sea shell lei. Show 5/5 7:00-8:00 pm The performers and story telling during the show was great Activities 1/5 5:00-6:00 pm It was cool before being able to interact with the cast to do activities. I understand it's post covid, but having the host say here's the box of flowers to make your own lei at the table for activity wasn't really helpful. I think there should've been at least an instruction sheet because not everyone going to know what to do. Before as VIP you got early entry to do interactive activities. Now it's just here's a box of flowers to keep busy because it'll take an hour to seat everyone. Food 2/5 6:00-7:00 pm I was disappointed that it went from a buffet with roasted pig and prime rib to bento boxes. Most of the food items were the same or similar to the buffet, but they got rid of the 2 more expensive items to make which was roast pig and prime rib. It was nice having food brought to you instead of having to line up. Except it made it feel like the VIP was the same as general. Before VIP was first dibs to the buffet line, now everyone just equal which isn't a bad thing. It just feels like aside from the view there's not much else that's different. VIP is all drinks included and I'm not sure if general is still charge per drink, but general no longer has to line up at the pop up bar. First course: -Waipoli Lettuce, Cherry Tomatoes, Papaya Seed Dressing and Croutons - the dressing taste good & the veggies were fresh -Lomi Lomi tomatoes Salmon (F)- I didn't like it... it has tiny bits of salmon with tomatoes -'Ahi Poke (F/S)- better than I thought but I've never had ahi poke before -Taro Macaroni Salad (E/G/S)- it was ok -Seasonal & Tropical Fresh Fruit Medley- the pineapple is sweet, berries were sour, melons didn't taste ripe -Poi- taste like poi Second course: -Steamed Short Grain Rice- it was ok -Seasonal Stir-Fry Vegetables- it was pretty good -Puree Okinawan Potato (C/D)- this tasted amazing, but only if you like coconut taste -Braised Pork Imu Style with Shaved Maui Onions- a bit dry and bland -Oven Roasted Teriyaki Chicken (S)- honestly tasted like if I got chicken teriyaki from any chain place -Grilled Boneless Kalbi Ribs (S)- was more on the salty side and chewy -Hawaiian Local Catch with Crushed Macadamia Nut Sauce (D/E/G/N)- extremely dry and the sauce was just ok It's a decent portion to finish, so bring your own to go box to package because non will be provided. Third course: Macadamia Nut Brownie (D/E/G/S/N)- thick and fudgy Haupia (Coconut Pudding) (C/D/N)- more like coconut jello Guava Cake (D/E/G) - probably the best, light cake with really guava favor

I LOVE THIS LUAU! Last year, we saw this from the balcony and loved it, so my mother in law gifted us this year. I'll get the "disney magic" stuff out of the way: I am not a Disney "person". So when I first came to Auluni I didn't know what to expect. If you're more interested in Hawaiian culture and story telling, you'd love it. If you're trying to see Moana, she is not here. I'm seeing a good chunk of it people complain about that. If you're on the fence about this show because of that. Let me hopefully sway you: Auluni has explicitly made it clear this is to celebrate Hawaiian culture, not to imitate its theme parks. Come and be open minded and I think you will enjoy it! Moana isn't even Hawaiian! The activities are fine. You can make a wristlet, get a fake tattoo, pound poi, and play ukelele. We enjoyed them but they go quickly. I liked grabbing drinks and listening to the pre show entertainment more. The food is good! I will say that we maximized our plate with meat. I can't tell you much about the veggies and starches. I did grab some salad, and the dressing was awesome. Prime rib and kalua pork where the stand outs. The show IMO was really fun. I liked that it was a cohesive story that sounded real enough. The dancers are awesome. The ended performance between Maui and the sun was VERY thrilling and fun.

We loved this luau. It was a complete voyage of storytelling and food. The dancers, singers and musicians were absolutely incredible. Even better than that was the chef staff especially Chef Adam who worked to creat and inclusive experience for my very allergic son to get the best out of the moment. I can't recommend this more highly-especially for anyone with food sensitivities who wants to be included. All of the food was outstanding and served bento box style. The Keiki menu was great for kids and the adults received two servings of bento boxes- cold and then hot. More food than you could possibly eat.

This is the Disney Aulani's take on a Hawaiian luau. The wait was lengthy for general seating, but once you arrive and are welcomed with a lei, there are activities to do until service begins. There are numerous food choices and the price of beverages is included with the cost of admission. Book well in advance, as this was filled to capacity and family who tried booking the week before were unable to get tickets. We all enjoyed our meal and the entertainment was fabulous! Worth it!

Attended Aulani'a luau this weekend. Wow from start to finish it was such a beautiful experience for my husband and I! The grounds is so beautiful, the stage, sound lighting-everything blends into the luau grounds and so it feels natural and like you're in a Hawaiian forest. The food: 6/10 wasn't amazing but wasn't horrible. Presentation was lovely, we were given more poi and poke when asked. I really liked the poi. The salad dressing, cherry tomatoes and fish were my favorites. Drinks: Never ending and they brought one to us as we were walking into the luau. Servers: They were amazing!! So attentive and friendly!! Anthony and Duane were in our area - such nice guys :-). SHOW The band was top notch and the story tellers were amazing vocalists, actors, performers! Really energetic, emotion was on point. Dancers Beautiful, tight with their choreography, very expressive. Simple costumes and some Modern mixed in with the ancient. I loved it all. The story was very well told and had us intrigued till the very end! It was a fun change to see the mini stages in the aisles, lots of formations and the relaxed fun feel in between choreography. The dancers were good actors! Definitely recommend this luau. High quality show, family friendly, beautiful display of our Polynesian culture (predominantly focusing Hawaiian culture). Fire knife wasn't super fancy but it was cool to see three dancers do it in sync. Clean, simple and again flowed effortlessly into the main storyline.

We arrived at Aulani and had the luau experience booked as it's the first time visiting Aulani for my mother-in-law (we stayed at Aulani once before). It was truly a great experience as we were told the history of Hawai'i and how the islands were discovered. There were activities prior to the food - poi pounding, temporary tattoos, lei making and ukulele lessons. The food (buffet style) was really good as well - there was a nice salad, the okinawan sweet potato was fantastic, chicken and fish as well as poke along with the prime rib with salt. OMG the prime rib was absolutely fantastic and I actually ate three slices as well (hijacked two off husband and son's plates) besides the okinawan potato and poke. My mother-in-law enjoyed the experience and totally had a huge grin on her face. At the end of the luau, all the performers were in line for photos and my mother-in-law even knocked over my husband to get to the performer who played Maui and proclaimed it was the best ever. The experience is well worth the cost.

3.5 stars for Ka Wa'a A Luau locates in Disney's Aulani Resort. My fiancé and I were in Oahu for a little over a week and made it a must to see and experience one luau on this island. After doing a bit of research, we narrowed our choices down to Germaine's Luau, Polynesian Cultural Ctr Luau, or Ka Wa'a A. Regardless of how amazing the other luau performances sounded, I couldn't help be find myself going back to Aulani. Disney automatically brings up images of fun, joy, quality and most importantly, magic- pretty much everything I was hoping to experience. General admission for an adult [10 yo+] is $129/ticket, a child [age 3-9] is $79/ticket, and infants between the ages of 0-2 yrs is free. For an additional rate you are able to purchase VIP admission which allows for early entry, better seating, and provides you with one complimentary alcoholic drink and unlimited soda. The price tag is definitely more on the steeper end of things but what do you expect when it comes to anything Disney riiight?? Be patient as you wait to enter into the show. Every group, couple, family is lei'd and quickly ushered into taking photos which is a great marketing ploy on Disney's part. This in itself is time consuming and so very tedious. With that being said, Aulani offers small activities for you and the kids to partake in prior to the show starting. These include lei making, wrist lei making, smashing|making poi, and even [temporary] tattoos. Food is served buffet style and some of the highlights imo were: taro & guava croutons, poke, prime rib, & the purple mash. There is also a children's buffet offering up chicken tenders, Mickey shaped pasta, veggie sticks with ranch. I was legitimately floored by Aulani's food quality and taste- our party arrived here not expecting much since we had been extremely letdown by the food aspect from another luau on a different island. SCORE!!! Here's the scoop on the show: I honestly expected more DISNEY MAGIC. Moana made a quick visit since she was "passing through" and our favorite Mouse [Mickey & Minnie] appeared long enough to do one skit and completely disappeared. This show then revolves around a brother & sister focusing on the history and ancestry of native Hawaiians people. [[Doable for me but I found my guy dozing off on more than one occasion.]] Glad to say I experienced it but very doubtful I'd want to make a return. I envisioned something totally different being that this was a Disney production.

Do not waste your money on the preferred seating. The tables are assigned. We were near the front of the preferred seating line and were put nine tables back. What a waste. Then part of the kids meal did not arrive, and their main course arrived cold. Major disappointment. Save your money and spend it elsewhere.

One of the best if not the best luau to go to when you are in Oahu is the luau at the Aulani...well worth the price, the quality of the food, the excellent entertainment, and overall the staff and performers went above and beyond! I attended this luau with 6 other family members and we had the table to ourselves. First we checked in, line is located to the left of the resort. Then we took a photo with a kane and wahine performer with 4 different poses/angles. We were pleasantly provided a greeting of Hawaiian hospitality with a choice of cocktail or beverage and were immediately seated. The general admission seating area was great because we were not too close yet had a beautiful view of the multiple stages and surrounding ambience that totally immersed us into the Hawaiian cultural experience. I loved how each performer had a stage to themselves besides just the main stage and we were able to see up close the ornate designs of the cultural costumes as well as see the dances without having to leave our seat. The food was delicious aka "ono" in Hawaiian and very plentiful, you were served bento boxes and could ask for more if you so wanted to eat more. I was very full and each food item was amazing, I do recommend that you come on an empty stomach because it is a lot of food. The lei making for wrist bracelets was a great way to keep us engaged as we waited for our meal, but it was not a very long wait once the food was served. The show was very intriguing and we enjoyed the different cultures that were represented as well as the narrators/main vocalists who shared their story and provided a more personal experience to the performance. Overall this is a must see! Make sure to make your reservations early because it can get booked fast, we made our reservations over a month in advance. Enjoy and aloha!

4&1/2 stars. I gave this review more stars because we had a large party of 16. 5 of us had special diet restrictions. Vegetarians, vegans, gluten free, milk/nut/egg allergies and they kindly walked us around the buffet to let us know what we could eat and what we couldn't eat. Two of us are vegetarian and can't eat onions or garlic so the chef came out and personally took our order to see what he can whip up really quick. Not a lot of restaurants can do that for us when we go out to eat, yet this chef was able to at a luau event. Pretty awesome. I enjoyed it even though I had to cut it short because my son wasn't used to the time change and was ready for bed. Luckily I had a garden view from my room so I was able to catch a few more shows while I was in the room with my son. Luaus in general is something to definitely experience but not necessarily to do again. This is the luau to experience though. If you have kids and/or like to enjoy several drinks, VIP is the way to go. It's worth getting in early to get front row seats, enjoy the activities with little to no line, and grab a bunch of drinks before the show starts, as well as be one of the first to grab food (as they send people off table by table). The people who are a part of the luau really make you feel welcome. They walk around to greet you and talk with you and announce what you're celebrating. They announced their interaction with my son in their experience while walking around to greet people. It was nice to hear such kind words about my son. Really made it feel personable. I enjoyed the arts n crafts too. :) love that it's conveniently outside of the hotel. No need to drive anywhere. Was able to conveniently head straight to bed without dragging the rest of my family with me.

We loved our luau experience here! The entertainment aspect was perfection. Not completely "Disney" related, which I appreciated in this setting. Food was good; not the best meal I have ever had but certainly not the worst! Service was great!

This was a great way to start our vacation. We literally came down to the Luau after checking in and I was impressed by the staff and how well organized everything was. We paid extra for the preferred seating, and got to sit at the very front. The staff was very attentive and friendly. I really cannot say enough about the staff. It is true that there aren't much activities to participate in, but that isn't really the focus of this Luau. If thats what your looking for I suggest spending the day at the polynesian culture center. I was very happy with the food and drinks. It was truly all you can eat and drink. Like i said the staff was always offering more food or drink. The kid bento box dinner was great as well. The food for them was good, but i loved the idea of not having to handle two plates at the buffet, having to ask the kid what they want to eat. Staff even offered more food for the kids. All the kids at my table got seconds of mac and cheese. The show was great too. Very nicely done with just a small hint of Disney. Would definitely recommend for anyone staying at the Aulani.

I give it 3 1/2 stars. This is a Disney Luau and like everything Disney it's geared towards kids. The entrance line builds up to enter the area so get there early. I suggest paying a little more for VIP if you don't like crowds since you enter the area about 30 minutes before everyone else. My son was able to get a temporary tribal tattoo, stamp cards, make bracelets and pound Poi before the larger crowd entered the Luau area. He was also able to have a conversation with the hostess which mentioned his names a few times during the show. There are no bad seats in this outside show. FYI- from my understanding the show was preformed inside for a while since the area was being renovated. Inside show would be a bummer for me. Glad the outside area is updated. We were in the first row so our view was amazing. There are three mini stages throughout the audience which the cast members used throughout the show. The show included a good storyline and tons of hula dances/acts. The beginning of the show included Hula lessons from Minnie and Mickey. Too bad they didn't have a character pic during the Luau. The middle of show included kids from the audience playing with Hawaiian musical instruments. The end of the show had the performers with fire (sticks?) which was my favorite part. Just wished it was a bit longer. The VIP section gets their food first so no lines (make sure you get two plates for all the tasty food). Honestly there was never a long line as the meal lines were properly spaced. There was a kid buffet which was super cute watching the kids get their own food and dessert. The dessert table was amazing. Make sure you don't leave without trying the warm bread pudding (I had 3 servings...ha). All the food was good and everyone left stuffed as there was plenty of grub to go around a few times. VIP gets free drinks which the waitress brought to our table. I think regular seating pays for drinks including soda. There is a bar area. The bathroom is in the hotel and a hike so make sure you go before you enter the luau area. They also have pictures with the performers that you can buy (we did not). All in all the show was great. I was not blown away as I thought I would be (it was my first Luau) but they did make an extra effort to include the kids and that is what Disney is about.

Return to Aulani after 5yo granddaughter had a great time at the Luau last year. This year was able to book early enough to reserved preferred seating. Realize this year luau food is buffet style instead of bento style. Drinks are unlimited and the buffet menu includes prime rib along with the usual luau stables which you can view on their website. Everything on the menu was really delicious and the prime rib was cooked to perfection. Son and I had 4 pieces each which we finished with no problem. The female host is the same lady/singer as last year but her co-host is different "brother" than last year's. Both hosts were excellent in their story telling about the Hawaiian culture. Male and female performers were very professional as with the band members. We had front row seating so my granddaughter really enjoys the performances and the hula dancing lesson during the show. All in all, it was well worth the extra cost of preferred seating and would do it again if we return in the future.

I made a last minute reservation to this Luau during my trip to the Aulani. A traditional Hawaiian cultural activity with a bit of Disney magic. The food, entertainment, and overall presentation is nothing less than phenomenal and what you would expect of Disney. I went to the event solo and I'll say that the staff really made sure I had a great time. When you first walk in you're first greeted and given a necklace to welcome you in typical Hawaiian fashion and then you are free to partake in any of the activities​ they have before the show starts. This ranges from picture taking, ukulele​ lessons, and flower braid making. A lot of the other activities​ may be​ more kid-friendly​, but that does not mean ​there are plenty of other things for adults to enjoy as well since there is​ live music and drinks that you can buy. The show itself is really fun and doesn't feel too overdone with the Disney characters. Moana, Mickey, and Minnie all come in very little segments but I'm glad that they stuck very much to a traditional Hawaiian cultured story. Some parts of the show call for kids to partake, but again that's what Disney is known for and it's not too frequent or hoaky, just enough for adults to still enjoy. The best part of all though is the food! I especially loved the roast pig. It comes out as a whole full bodied pig and best of all it's all you can eat, with consideration of course ha. Delicious and presented well. Other options include roast chicken, prime rib, and market fish as well as plenty of other choice sides such as mac and cheese, veggies, and desserts. The only small complaint​s that I have is that the buffet shuts down much later during the show so it is not open all night, and the show to some may drag on a bit too long (around 2 1/2 hours) but it is still a very enjoyable family-friendly​ story. With that said I very much enjoyed my time during the luau and would highly recommend it to anyone who has not been to one yet and/or is looking for a great buffet to enjoy with friends/family.

I'm conflicted as to how rate this so I settled on 3.5 stars. The show: I was hopeful this would be more Disney - but it wasn't. There was Mickey and Minnie right in the very beginning and a Moana as a topper to the kids brownie but that is about it for Disney. So if you are looking for a Disney level show, it is definitely not that. It is a decent "story" though. It was really long - they waited to start the show until we were done eating which made the whole event 3 hours- this was way too long for my little one and the audience too (the other audience kids noticeably grew bored). The food: We had unlimited drinks included, which is a change I think (based on previous comments). Drinks were fine but nothing special. Really sugary - so recommend opting for a beer. The service: Really great. This was the best part! They were really accommodating to our child. The ambiance is ok as well: it was fun to walk through the resort but no views of the ocean or anything.

I'll start by saying our toddlers had a fun time. That said, Maui (Young Maui) made an appearance, but they were bummed Moana wasn't included. I realize Moana may not be historically accurate in the Hawaiian timeline, but considering Mickey and Minnie made an extremely short appearance, why wouldn't a current heroine be there?! And, their signature children's cocktail was called Moana punch! A little gripe. Why isn't a bathroom closer to the venue? With 2 kids, we made multiple bathroom trips and we missed out. Yeah, Aulani can't be responsible for when kids need to pee. I missed out on my food and after my wife finished with her 1st course, I walked up and asked where my food was. The cast members were confused, wondering why I wasn't served, but they had previously told my wife they wanted to serve it hot when I sat down. The 1st course, salad, fruit, poke, and other cold stuff. Ok. The poke was excellent. The salmon was well hidden within the tomato. Being from California, I thought it was pico de gallo. Main course was nothing special. Ironically, the least dry protein was the chicken! They caught an extra star for taking food allergies into consideration. This was awesome. They provided a special, egg free, Mickey shaped brownie for our 3 year old. She loved it! Covid probably didn't help, they seemed out of practice, the service. The performers were great! We did enjoy that part. But, the bathroom concern struck again. My wife and our 5 year old missed out on the big Maui ending montage with their bathroom hiatus. For most people, without kids, going to a luau at a Disney property, this might not be a valid concern. So, take this with a grain of salt, kinda like the kalbi.

Hula dancing? Check! Fire twirling? Check! Fruity drinks served in abundance? Check! Chicken tenders and Mickey Mouse? Why the heck not? Everything you want out of a luau without a preachy Christian vibe (I see you Polynesian Cultural Center). Kick back, have some drinks, and enjoy why you came to Hawai'i.