A Luau experience by The Royal Sonesta Kauaʻi. Back to all Kauai tours.
Tour Summary: An oceanfront lūʻau on the lawn at Kalapaki Bay in Līhuʻe, about five minutes from the airport. Dinner is a buffet with ʻulu (breadfruit) mac salad and huli huli (Hawaiian barbecue) chicken, followed by Polynesian drumming and dances from several island groups.
The stage sits on the lawn at the water's edge, with a cruise ship lit up across Kalapaki Bay during the fire dance. 
Dancers take the stage at dusk, with tiki torches lit along the lawn. Live drummers play through the show, which is where Drums & Dances of Polynesia gets its name. Fire runs through much of the main show, which starts at 7:20. A long exposure turns the fire poi, balls of flame swung on cords, into loops of light. A solo fire dancer works close to the front of the stage. Guests pose in their lei on the lawn before the show, with the ridge above Kalapaki Bay behind them. The resort grounds run down to Kalapaki Beach, about five minutes from Līhuʻe Airport.
5 Tour Highlights:
- Fire dancing through much of the main show
- Lawn seating beside Kalapaki Bay
- Free photos on the lawn with Kalapaki Bay behind you, 5:30 to 6:30
- Open bar with beer, wine and mai tais
- Live Hawaiian music and hula before the show
Important: Seating is open and first come, first served, so arrive at 5:30 PM for a seat near the water.
Tour Information:
| Price: | Adult | Youth |
|---|---|---|
| (excluding taxes & fees) | $180 | $140 |
Price note: Prices are before tax and fees; checkout adds about 10.7%, so a $180 adult ticket comes to $199.28. Adults are 21 and up (ages 13 to 20 book as juniors), children 5 to 12 are $85, and kamaʻāina (Hawaiʻi residents) and seniors get 10% off.
Tour Provider: The Royal Sonesta Kauaʻi
Activity: Luau
Tour start time: Thursdays, 5:30 PM
Duration: 3 hours
Location: Līhuʻe
Included: Lei greeting on arrival. Dinner buffet of local dishes. Open bar and soft drinks. Pre-show hula and Polynesian show. Complimentary professional guest photography
Cancellations: Cancel at least 24 hours ahead for a full refund or credit; groups of more than 8 need 72 hours' notice. Cancellations are by phone, and no-shows pay the full price. If the operator cancels for weather or any other reason, you get a full refund or credit.
Read more: about luau in our Kauai luau guide.
About this lūʻau
Thursday is the only lūʻau night at the Royal Sonesta Kauaʻi, and the show runs on an oceanfront lawn at Kalapaki Beach in Līhuʻe. It’s called Drums & Dances of Polynesia, formerly Feast of the Pacific. We checked the booking calendar from October 2026 through January 2027, and every show is on a Thursday at 5:30 PM.
The evening starts at 5:30 PM with a lei greeting. Until 6:30 a professional photographer takes free photos on the lawn, with Kalapaki Bay behind you. At 6:00 a pre-show of live Hawaiian music and hula starts and runs to 7:00. Dinner is a buffet.
The buffet has pipikaula (Hawaiian dried beef) salad, ʻulu (breadfruit) mac salad, a poke bar, shredded smoked pork from a whole roasted pig, mahimahi with lemongrass and kaffir lime butter, and huli huli (Hawaiian barbecue) chicken. Poi (pounded taro) and sweet rolls with lilikoi (passion fruit) butter are there too. Dessert includes haupia (coconut) cake. The open bar serves beer, wine, mai tais and soft drinks.
At 7:20 the main show starts and runs to 8:30 PM: Polynesian drumming, dances from several island groups, storytelling and fire dancing.
Why book the oceanfront lūʻau in Līhuʻe
If you’re staying in Līhuʻe, this is the lūʻau on the water. The Royal Sonesta is about five minutes from Līhuʻe Airport. The other Kauaʻi lūʻau shows are in Kapaʻa, Wailua and Poʻipū, and Kilohana’s, also in Līhuʻe, is under a covered pavilion inland.
Plan your Līhuʻe stay to include a Thursday, the only show night. As of September 2026 the show has 15 TripAdvisor reviews, averaging 4.5 stars.
Prices by age band, open seating and what to wear
Adult pricing starts at age 21, an unusual cutoff: adults pay $180, and guests 13 to 20 book as juniors at $140. Children 5 to 12 are $85; ask about children under 5 when you book. Prices are before tax and fees, and checkout adds about 10.7%. We priced a Thursday in November 2026, and the $180 adult ticket came to $199.28. Kamaʻāina (Hawaiʻi resident) and senior discounts are 10% each.
Seating is first come, first served, with no seat selection when you book, so the earliest arrivals get the seats with the best view of the bay. The check-in point and parking details come with your booking confirmation. Dress is resort casual.
Our read on the show and the buffet
The main show has a lot of fire dancing from a small cast. The buffet is a large spread of local dishes, and reviewers rate it from good to average. If the water is why you’re booking, arrive at 5:30 PM for a seat near the bay.
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