The 12 Best Honolulu Shows

1.Mauka Warriors Luau Honoring Polynesia’s Forgotten History

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 3,013 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $145Our pick

At Coral Crater Adventure Park, you’ll enjoy an all-you-can-eat Polynesian feast, hula, Maori games, weaving, cooking activities, and a large outdoor show about the Battle of Kipapa and King Kamehameha I. Hotel pickup is available, and the four-hour evening is conducted in English.

“Amazing experience! They really go out of their way to make it special. The food was delicious and clean. They were so organized and the performers and host were incredible. It’s well worth the price in my opinion since other luaus are similar in price but definitely inferior than this one. This was better even than the one at the Polynesian cultural center. We don’t usually repeat these types of activities but we had such a great time that we would go there again if we visit the island in the future.”

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2.The Magical Mystery Show! at Hilton Waikiki Beach Hotel

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 2,754 reviews · 2 hours (approx.) · from $99

Spend about two hours with Shoot Ogawa and fellow audience members in a 60-seat Victorian-style theater at Hilton Waikiki Beach. Expect close-up magic, comedy, audience participation, a levitation act, a small magic museum, and a complimentary rum punch for those 21 and older.

“Small venue, it was great being up close and personal. The magicians were very entertaining. They even had a small museum.”

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3.Ka Moana Lūʻau at Aloha Tower – Oceanfront Luau Show

★★★★★★★★★★4.0 · 1,216 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $135

Spend about three hours at Ka Moana Lūʻau near Aloha Tower with lei making, hula lessons, coconut demonstrations, an island buffet, and a Polynesian stage show ending in Samoan fire knife dancing. Select Honolulu hotel pickup is available, and the experience is offered in English.

“Worst luau ever do not book! Not authentic at all. This was literally set up in a parking lot by a marina. Not on the beach, they don’t show you how the pig is cooked, and there is nothing authentic about it. And within the first 45 min they must’ve asked for a 5-star review 6 times. We left after the first hour because it was so bad. Really an insult to Hawaiian culture the way they try to pull this off as an authentic luau. It was like being at a 5 year olds birthday party. Disappointing beyond words.”

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4.Germaine’s Luau

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 652 reviews · 3 hours 15 minutes (approx.) · from $128

Germaine’s Luau in Kapolei gives you a beachside Hawaiian evening with a lei greeting, buffet dinner, one alcoholic drink for adults 21 and older, cultural dances, and sunset views. You can add round-trip pickup from Waikiki, though the ride costs extra and the evening can run late.

“I did not like this luau. The money I paid for a boring show and horrible food was not worth the money we paid. Everything was a matter of fact, nothing genuine about this experience. Never will return again.”

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5.‘Auana by Cirque du Soleil at the Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 540 reviews · 1 hour 20 minutes (approx.)

Spend about 80 minutes at the OUTRIGGER Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel with ʻAuana by Cirque du Soleil. You’ll see Hawaiian stories about Maui, surfers, and island culture told through hula, live music, comedy, aerial work, and high-risk acrobatics in an intimate theater.

“It is Amazingly wonderful, it’s so exciting with so much going on a one time, you don’t know where to look first, i loved it and will go again”

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6.Chief’s Luau Admission Including Transfers

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 457 reviews · 3 hours (approx.) · from $144

Spend about three hours with Chief Sielu at Chief’s Luau in Kapolei. Your evening includes a lei or mai tai greeting, all-you-can-eat Hawaiian food, cultural dances, comedy, fire performances, and return transport from selected Oahu hotels.

“It was a great experience. Kid-friendly and multiple opportunities to interact with the performers. The food was excellent, and the show was informative, entertaining, fun, and funny.”

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7.Waikiki Starlight Luau on The Great Lawn-Hilton Hawaiian Village

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 374 reviews · 1 day 1 hour (approx.) · from $119

Spend an evening on the Great Lawn at Hilton Hawaiian Village with Hawaiian, Tahitian, and Samoan dancing, live music, fire knife performers, and a buffet of island classics. Choose standard or priority seating, and plan for a sunset setting, drinks, and a show that generally runs about two to three hours.

“Either the stage or the seating need to be elevated. We could barely see the upper half of the performers. We both have severe food allergies and therefore could not eat the buffet.”

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8.Oʻahu: Nā Lei Aloha Lūʻau & Dinner or Cocktail Show Option

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 104 reviews · from $93Best value

At the Hyatt Regency Waikīkī, you receive a handmade lei, a welcome cocktail, and an intimate rooftop hula show centered on the meaning of lei in Hawaiian culture. Choose a dinner buffet with prime rib, crab, oysters, poke, and desserts, or attend the shorter cocktail-only option.

“Everything was just wonderful. The only thing that could be improved would be you kidnapping me and keeping me on this beautiful island”

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9.Pacific Star Sunset Buffet and Show

★★★★★★★★★★4.1 · 51 reviews · 2 - 3 hours · from $139

Sail from Pier 8 aboard the Star of Honolulu for a casual sunset dinner cruise with a Pacific Rim buffet, roast beef carving station, Mai Tai, and the Moku Ola Polynesian show. You will pass Ala Moana, Waikiki, and Diamond Head, with optional hotel pickups and Friday fireworks.

“Pues la realidad el show no vale esfuerzo no se ve y la verdad no se vio nada”

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10.Snorkeling & Dolphin Watch Cruise w/ Luau Style Buffet

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 10 reviews · from $171

You’ll cruise Oahu’s Waiʻanae coast aboard a 62-foot catamaran, watch for spinner dolphins and seasonal whales, snorkel with turtles and reef life, then enjoy a Hawaiian buffet and drinks. English and Japanese narration, Waikiki pickup, and morning, afternoon, and sunset options make planning easy.

“He explained things to me in Japanese and I was glad he took photos.”

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11.Exclusive Hawaii Five-0 TV Show Tour with Snacks

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 9 reviews · from $229

Spend four hours with an English-speaking guide such as Matt, visiting Honolulu filming sites and the real McGarrett estate. See how the house differs from the TV set, sit in the Five-0 chairs, enjoy Hawaiian snacks, and hear stories from Bruce, Dennis Chinn, and Shawn Garnett when available.

“The tour was definitely worth it. Our guide, Matt, was always in a great mood, very humorous, and knew a lot about the area and the stops. We certainly had a lot of fun. The visit to McGarrett's house was also great! The owner of the house and Bruce (founder of these tours) were able to tell us a lot about the house and the filming. We also met Shawn (Flippa) at the house, were able to chat with him, and take photos. It was great to get to know the actor in such a relaxed atmosphere. Everything was very personal since our group only consisted of 6 people. This…”

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12.Ka Moana Luau Dinner and Show with Transportation

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 6 reviews · 2h 30m · from $166

Spend 150 minutes at Honolulu’s oceanfront Ka Moana Luau with a lei greeting, cultural activities, island-style buffet, drinks, and a Polynesian production ending in a sword-of-fire dance. Hotel pickup from designated Waikiki hotels is available, and the venue is wheelchair accessible.

“The performance was good and entertaining, but the buffer spread is a let down. Food was cold and like any food served in canteen. Not tasty. For the steep price you pay, even for the classic package we paid, it was not value for money”

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