The Best Luau in Waikiki Beach

The Best Luau in Waikiki Beach: Two Great Options

If you’ve got a tight schedule or a tight budget, a luau in Waikiki is a must.

Looking for a the best luau in Waikiki Beach? There’s no shortage of luau options on Oahu, but there’s only a handful of venues located in the Waikiki Beach area.

Travelers often end up booking a luau at one of the many venues outside of Waikiki that offer round-trip transportation. Doing this can greatly increase the luau’s overall total cost and add hours of travel time due to Honolulu’s notorious rush-hour traffic. Turning what was suppposed to be just an evening event into an all-day affair.

Staying in Waikiki comes with a few trade-offs too. Luau venues may not be able to offer all the amenities that the luaus located outside the city limits can offer. Often luaus in Waikiki don’t have the space for imus (in-ground ovens), cultural games and activities for the kids, and fire-knife dancing.

However, if you’re willing to sacrifice a little in this department, you can save yourself a lot time and money. And you’ll get to experience a terrific Hawaiian luau that you can walk to from your Waikiki hotel.

Here are your best luau options in Waikiki Beach!

Best Luau in Waikiki Beach: Traditional

Enjoy a night of live Hawaiian music, hula, and storytelling at Waikiki’s newest luau: Na Lei Aloha!

Na Lei Aloha is also one of smallest luau venues on Oahu, usually only serving 100 people or less. If you’re looking for a relaxing night in an intimate setting accompanied by excellent food and entertainment, this is the best luau in Waikiki Beach for you.

The Na Lei Aloha Luau is presented by the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement and it is the only luau of its kind in the area, featuring an authentic, all-Hawaiian hula show.

Location & Atmosphere:

The Na Lei Aloha Luau is held at the Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa, located right in the heart of Waikiki and within walking distance from most hotels in the area.  The Luau is held on the third-floor rooftop terrace of the Diamond Head Tower. The terrace looks out over Kuhio Beach. There’s also a spectacular view of the sun setting over the Pacific Ocean as the evening unfolds.

Dining/Seating Options:

Na Lei Aloha Luau offers a “show only” option, which is significantly less expensive than most luaus in the area. Guests can also choose to see the show and dine beforehand at the Hyatt’s international buffet, which features over 100 items. This is a high-end, all-you-can-eat buffet with a seafood bar, carving station, and desserts galore.

Entertainment:

Na Lei Aloha Luau’s evening performance is a spectacular show that uses live music and hula to tell the story of lei making in Hawaii. Guests will learn about the history and cultural significance of lei making, all in one relaxing, yet captivating, musical performance.

Many luau shows on Oahu feature a review of the different Polynesian islands, but Na Lei Aloha Luau showcases the sounds and movement from the Hawaiian Islands exclusively.

Na Lei Aloha Luau is an authentic Hawaiian hula show from the music selections to the styles of dancing. This show does not feature a Samoan fire-knife performance, or any other styles of Polynesian dance.

Pros: 

• Small, intimate venue with a relaxing vibe and excellent service
• Convenient location, walkable from most resorts
• Picturesque rooftop setting overlooking the beach
• Live Hawaiian music and spectacular performances
• Premier buffet dinner at the Hyatt Buffet (an $84 value).
• “Show only” option

Cons: 

• A bit pricier than some other luaus when you choose the show+dinner option
• No imu (in-ground oven) on-site or imu demonstration
• No fire-knife performance
• Buffet only features a few traditional Hawaiian luau foods
• Uncovered and open to the elements if the weather is bad

Bottom line: Na Lei Aloha Luau is a great option if you want to unwind and enjoy a relaxing night in Waikiki with great food, service, and entertainment.    

Best Luau in Waikiki Beach: Non-Traditional

If you’re looking for a luau near your Waikiki hotel and having an educational experience is not a top priority, then Rock-a-hula might be the best option for you. An evening at Rock-a-hula combines an upscale luau-themed buffet with a spectacular Las Vegas-style stage production. It’s the largest and most popular show on Oahu and unlike anything else on the island.

Location & Atmosphere:

Conveniently located in the Royal Hawaiian Center, Rock-a-hula is easily within walking distance of most resorts in Waikiki Beach. The event also doesn’t start until 5:30 pm, which makes it easy to coordinate with daytime activities.  

Dining/Seating Options:

The Hawaiian luau buffet is held outdoors, under a large tiki-like structure on the terrace. This makes it one of the few rainproof (and least likely to be canceled) luaus on Oahu. There’s also live Hawaiian music, hula dancers, and one of the best-rated luau buffets in the area.

The menu features a variety of traditional Hawaiian foods, and roasted suckling pig and roast beef carving stations. There’s even a make-your-own-sundae station as well as a dessert bar.

Entertainment:

After dinner, guests move inside the Royal Hawaiian Theatre for the lively Rock-a-hula show. Starring two exceptional tribute artists paying homage to Elvis Presley and Michael Jackson. The show also features many talented local performers and musicians.

You’ll enjoy Hawaiian music and Polynesian dancing, including a thrilling fire-knife performance at the end.  Rock-a-hula is a truly unique and eclectic extravaganza. It’s easy to see why it has become the biggest and most popular show in Hawaii.         

Is it a bit touristy? Yes. Will you still have a great time and feel like your time and money was well spent? Absolutely! If you love live music and just want an easy, fun night out, Rock-a-Hula is the best luau in Waikiki Beach for you!

Pros: 

• Convenient location and schedule
• Rainproof and as cancel-proof as you can get
• Value-priced, not only the best luau in Waikiki Beach, but one of the cheapest!
• High-quality buffet with live entertainment while you dine
• Fun, lighthearted atmosphere and great service
• Las Vegas-caliber entertainment with 100% live music and a fire-knife perfomance

Cons: 

• Lacking in cultural activities
• All showbiz, very little educational content
• Touristy and definitely not the most “authentic” luau out there

Bottom line: Cheesy, but easy, and a whole lot of fun. Overall, most bang for your buck. If you’re a music lover and open to something a little different and just want to have a fun night out on the town, Rock-a-Hula is the best luau in Waikiki Beach for you.

Bonus: Two Great Options within 5 miles of Waikiki Beach

For Nature Lovers: Nutridge Luau tucked away in the mountains just outside of town

For Party Animals: Ka Moana Luau in Downtown Honolulu beside the Aloha Tower

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