Lūʻau on Kauaʻi: 7 Shows Compared

The cheapest lūʻau on Kauaʻi runs $30 for show-only at the Smith Family Garden Lūʻau. The priciest, the Manor House tier at Lūʻau Kalamakū, runs about $276 with a four-course sit-down dinner. Seven shows fall between those two numbers, most charging $175 to $215 for a standard all-inclusive adult ticket.

A lūʻau is a few hours of Polynesian music, dance, and food, usually outdoors and built around a buffet anchored by kālua pork from an imu (underground oven). Most run two to three hours. The seven sit in four parts of the island, from the Poʻipū resort shows on the south shore to a small family-run indoor show in Hanalei on the north shore. The real question is rarely which is best. It’s which is closest to where you’re staying, then whether setting, food, price, or intimacy matters most.

Compare all seven Kauaʻi lūʻaus at a glance

Use the map and table below to see all seven Kauaʻi lūʻaus side by side: where each one is, what it costs, and which nights it runs. It’s the fastest way to narrow the field by location first, since the show closest to where you’re staying is usually the practical pick. Full write-ups on each lūʻau follow further down.

Which Kauaʻi lūʻau is right for you?

Here are answers to the questions we get most often about choosing a lūʻau on Kauaʻi:

The seven Kauaʻi lūʻaus, show by show

Kauaʻi has one of the shorter lineups in the islands: seven lūʻaus running on various nights around the island. Here’s what each one offers.

• ʻAuliʻi Lūʻau
• Grand Hyatt (Havaiki Nui) Lūʻau
• Lūʻau Kalamakū
• Smith Family Garden Lūʻau
• Tahiti Nui Luau
• Royal Sonesta Feast of the Pacific (Kalapaki Bay)
• Wailua Nui Luau

ʻAuliʻi Lūʻau at the Sheraton Kauaʻi Resort and Spa

The ʻAuliʻi Lūʻau runs on the beachfront lawn beside the Sheraton Kauaʻi Resort, on the south shore in Poʻipū. The show covers traditional dances from across Polynesia and adds a segment on 1950s Hollywood hula, the era when artists like The Beach Boys turned the dance into mainland pop culture. The oceanfront setting and the Poʻipū sunset are the main reason to pick this one.

• When? Monday,Wednesday, Thursday
• Where? Sheraton Kauaʻi Resort and Spa
• Shuttle available? No.
• Price Range: From $210 (adult standard)
• Website: ʻAuliʻi Lūʻau

Grand Hyatt Kauaʻi Lūʻau (Havaiki Nui)

The Grand Hyatt’s lūʻau, Havaiki Nui, runs three nights a week on a garden lawn beside the ocean at the resort in Poʻipū. Of the seven, it draws the most consistent praise for its food: imu kālua pork, grass-fed local beef (New York Strip), “volcano spiced” fresh catch, and huli huli chicken. If the meal matters as much as the show, this is the one to book.

• When? Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays.
• Where? Grand Hyatt Kauaʻi Resort.
• Shuttle available? No.
• Price Range: Starting at $215 (adult standard), Kamaʻaina discounts are available.
• Website: Grand Hyatt Kauaʻi Lūʻau.

Performers at the Grand Hyatt Luau on Kauaʻi. Image credit: The Grand Hyatt Kauai Luau

Lūʻau Kalamakū

Lūʻau Kalamakū, at the Kilohana Plantation in Līhuʻe, is the most flexible booking on the island. You can keep it to the show and buffet or stack on a ride on the Kauaʻi Plantation Railway, round-trip transport, or a four-course sit-down dinner at Gaylordʻs Restaurant beforehand. Those add-ons are why the price runs from $189 for a standard adult ticket to about $276 for the full Manor House evening, and they make it an easy pick for families who want to build out the night. You can see all the available packages here.

• When? Mondays, Tuesdays, and Fridays.
• Where? Kilohana Plantation.
• Shuttle available? Yes.
• Price Range: $189 (adult standard) to about $265 (Manor House, four-course dinner at Gaylordʻs).
• Website: Lūʻau Kalamakū

Smith Family Garden Lūʻau

The Smith Family Garden Lūʻau is the easiest to fit into a trip, running three to five nights a week, more than any other show on the island. It’s not on the water, which puts some people off, but the setting is a jungle clearing next to Wailua River State Park rather than a manicured resort lawn. Smith’s also runs the evening differently: you eat under a shared pavilion, then walk to a separate amphitheater with stadium seating for the show. At $30 for adult show-only up to $150 for the full dinner package, it’s the cheapest lūʻau on Kauaʻi.

• When? Three to five days a week, depending on the season.
• Where? Kapaʻa near Wailua River State Park
• Shuttle available? No.
• Price Range: $30 (adult, show only) to $150 (adult standard).
• Website: Smith Family Garden Lūʻau

The last act of Smith’s Tropical Luau on Kauaʻi. Image credit: Jennifer Kramer on Flickr.

Tahiti Nui Luau (Hanalei)

The Tahiti Nui Luau is the small, indoor outlier among Kauaʻi’s shows. It runs inside the family-owned Tahiti Nui restaurant and tiki bar in Hanalei, a north-shore fixture since 1963, so instead of a resort lawn you get a full room and a handful of performers a few feet away. The trade is clear: far fewer dancers and no ocean view, but a close-up, storytelling feel the big productions can’t match. It runs Wednesday nights and is seasonal, so confirm dates before you build a trip around it.

• When? Wednesday nights, seasonal (back for summer).
• Where? In the Tahiti Nui restaurant on the road into Hanalei (5122 Kuhio Hwy, Hanalei 96714).
• Shuttle available? No.
• Price Range: $205 (adult).
• Book here: Tahiti Nui Luau.

The Tahiti Nui luau is a good fit for travelers looking for a more intimate, less touristy lūʻau experience.

Feast of the Pacific at the Royal Sonesta Kauaʻi Resort (Kalapaki Bay)

The Royal Sonesta’s lūʻau, Feast of the Pacific, is the newest show on Kauaʻi and one of the few that puts you directly on the sand, here at Kalapaki Bay in Līhuʻe. A pre-show set by Hawaiian musician Keliʻi Kanealiʻi and an open bar (beer, wine, Mai Tai, soft drinks) are included. It runs Thursdays year-round, with a second Tuesday show added in summer, roughly late June through mid-August.

• When? Thursdays year-round, plus Tuesdays in summer (roughly late June to mid-August)
• Where? The Royal Sonesta Kauaʻi Resort at Kalapaki Bay (Līhuʻe)
• Shuttle available? No
• Price Range: $180 for adults
• Website: Feast of the Pacific luau website

A conch shell signals the start of the Feast of the Pacific luau, held oceanside on the sands of Kalapaki Bay.

Wailua Nui Luau

The Wailua Nui Lūʻau sits on the waterfront at the Hilton Garden Inn on Wailua Bay and is produced by Tihati Productions, which has run Hawaiian shows for more than 50 years. The evening covers Hawaiian and Polynesian dance and storytelling, with an imu (underground oven) ceremony and a hands-on craft activity (hana noʻeau) before the main show, plus an all-you-can-eat island buffet. VIP tickets add preferred entry, front or second-row seating, and first access to the buffet.

• When? Tuesdays, Fridays, and Sundays
• Where? Hilton Garden Inn Kauaʻi Wailua Bay, 3-5920 Kūhiō Highway, Kapaʻa
• Shuttle available? No
• Price Range: $175 (adult standard) to $200 (adult VIP with preferred front-row seating)
• Website: Wailua Nui Luau website

What to expect from a lūʻau show on Kauaʻi

The Hawaiian lūʻau is a family-friendly “dinner and a show” experience. Here are six things worth knowing before you go.

Lūʻaus are two to three hours in total

Doors open about an hour before dinner for family-friendly pre-show activities such as lei making or wood carving. The bar usually opens at this time as well. The dinner buffet starts next, with about 45 minutes to eat before the show begins, which lasts roughly an hour and a half.

Most lūʻaus have more than 100 guests

Lūʻaus are not private events, and shared tables are common. A VIP ticket package can get you closer to the stage, and some shows let you book a private table. Check seating options with your lūʻau of choice when you book.

Expect to pay more than $100 per person

Lūʻaus are not cheap, but the ticket covers a full evening out with dinner and an open bar. Tickets for teens and kids usually run about three quarters of the adult price, and children under 5 are often free.

Parking is not always included

Lūʻaus at hotels may charge extra for parking. Others include free parking or shuttle transportation. Check the details when you buy a ticket so you’re not surprised.

General seating and VIP packages

Most lūʻaus offer two ticket types: VIP and general admission. VIP tickets add extras like premium seating, lei greetings, or professional photos. The perks vary by show, so read the inclusions closely before you buy.

The meal is based on tradition

The dancing at a lūʻau is rooted in Polynesian tradition, and so is the food. The meal, almost always a buffet, includes Hawaiian staples like kālua pork, fish, and poi. Most lūʻaus demonstrate the traditional method by uncovering a pig from a ceremonial imu, the underground oven that uses hot rocks as its heat source. Imus were once the main way Native Hawaiians and other Polynesian cultures cooked.

Things to consider when choosing a lūʻau

Before you pick a lūʻau, think about the goal for the evening. Good questions to ask yourself:

1. Are you deeply interested in Polynesian dance?
2. Are you looking for the best food?
3. Do you want that classic lūʻau photo in front of the sunset?
4. Will you be happy with anything as long as there’s an open bar?

For most people, price and location do most of the deciding. Those with a specific interest may be willing to drive farther or pay more for it. Being honest about what you want out of the night is the fastest way to narrow the field.

Luau shows on Maui, the Big Island, and Oʻahu

Lūʻaus are common across Hawaiʻi, so you’ll find them on every island. If your trip covers more than Kauaʻi, see our guides to Maui lūʻau shows, Lūʻau shows on the Big Island, and Lūʻau shows on Oʻahu for recommendations on those islands.