Sunset Luau at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott

The Sunset Luau runs every Monday and Wednesday on the oceanfront lawn of the Waikoloa Beach Marriott, overlooking ‘Anaeho’omalu Bay on the Kohala Coast. Doors open at 4pm. That’s when you want to arrive, not 5pm: get your wristband at the desk upstairs, join the line downstairs, and let the staff escort your group to a table. The shaded spots fill first, and the afternoon sun comes in from the west over the seating area until the show begins.

Gates open at 4pm: arriving early gives you the pick of shaded tables before the afternoon sun swings west over the bay.

The evening starts with the imu ceremony: staff open the underground cooking pit, covered since morning, in front of the crowd, with the kalua pork that’s been slow-roasting underneath. From there it’s cocktail hour, then dinner, then a roughly 75-minute Polynesian revue covering Tahiti, New Zealand, Hawaii, and Samoa in sequence. The show closes with a Samoan fire and knife dance. When we attended, the fire dancer worked close to the front tables.

The open bar runs all evening; the buffet centers on kalua pork from the imu, with island-style sides and desserts.

The bar opens at 4:45pm and runs through the night. The mai tais are worth ordering. The buffet centers on the kalua pork, which is good, plus a rotation of salads, bok choy, purple potato, steak, and island-style dishes. Food quality is solid, not exceptional. That’s an honest read, not a knock: the setting and the performance are what make the 3 hours evening worth $198 per adult.

The Polynesian revue runs about 75 minutes after sunset: four island cultures in sequence, fire dance at the close.

Seating comes in two tiers. General admission starts at $198 per adult and $99 for children ages 6 to 12. Premier seating costs roughly $47 more and reserves you the first three center rows, plus a lei greeting and a small Hawaiian treat on arrival. General admission guests who arrive at 4pm can get tables only slightly off-center from the Premier rows.

The fire and knife dance closes the show after dark; the performer works close to the front tables.

What other people say

Guests rate the performances highly, especially the fire dance finale. Reviews of the food are mixed; most describe it as solid. West-facing tables sit in direct afternoon sun until the show begins, so bring sunscreen and arrive at 4pm, while the shaded tables are still open.

The Sunset Luau is one of the more affordable Kohala Coast options at $198 per adult, and the setting backs it up: oceanfront lawn directly on ‘Anaeho’omalu Bay with a smaller crowd than the big Hilton and Marriott shows north of here. The multi-island Polynesian revue is well-produced and the Samoan fire dance finale is a genuine highlight.

Best choice for visitors who want the full luau format, open bar, and ocean backdrop without the premium pricing of the Mauna Kea or Mauna Lani shows.

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