We traveled to Hawaii for the first time in October of 2018. As we planned the vacation, people insisted we include a luau during our trip. It was one of the things I was most excited to experience. It was also one of the biggest disappointments. But it was my own fault!
You’ll quickly learn that not all luaus are created equal! Here are a few things you’ll need to consider before buying your tickets to one of the hottest shows on the islands!
- Fire Please! — Did you know that not all luaus include fire dancers? We wanted to make we attended a celebration that included the tradition. I THOUGHT I’d hit the jackpot when I found a Groupon for a luau, including fire dancers, at Sea Life Park in Honolulu. (More on why it wasn’t right for us below)
- Alcohol With Dinner — Some luaus in Hawaii include alcohol and some don’t. If that’s a deal breaker for you, make sure you ask before buying tickets. For example, alcohol will not be served at the luau at the Polynesian Cultural Center on Oahu. It was founded by and is run by Mormons, who don’t drink.
- Different Experiences — The luau at Sea Life is geared toward families and children. There are all kinds of activities to keep the kids entertained before and during the show. It’s the perfect atmosphere for families … it just wasn’t perfect for us. We traveled without children and expected a laid back party and entertainment atmosphere. The luau turned out to be just a little cheesy for us because it’s geared toward kids. I just didn’t realize that when I bought the tickets. The food was good, but we would have enjoyed our experience more if it was geared a little more to adults.
- Going the Distance — How far do you have to travel to your luau and how are you going to get there? I didn’t realize just how far it was from our Waikiki hotel to Sea Life Park until we were on a tour earlier in the day. We didn’t rent a car, and it was going to cost a fortune to get to and from the luau by taxi or Uber. We ended up taking a public bus from Waikiki (Bus 22) to Sea Life. We took the reverse route (Bus 23) back to the hotel. But we had to walk out of the luau before it was over because the bus didn’t run late enough. It only cost us $11.50 for 2 people round trip, but it took over an hour each way to get to the luau. And again, we didn’t get to enjoy the entire show. There are tours that include the luau as well as transportation to and from your hotel. Just make sure you ask about the transportation when buying your tickets.
What are your tips to find the perfect luau in Hawaii?
Summary
Article Name
Hawaiian Luau Review: They Aren't All Created The Same
Description
Hawaiian luaus aren't all created the same. These are the four questions you need to ask before buying tickets. Don't waste your time or money.
Author
Heidi Schmidt
Publisher Name
ClaimedBaggage.com
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