Luaus on Oahu
January 3, 2009
Many visitors to Hawaii want to see a luau. What exactly is a luau? A luau is a Hawaii feast and is generally accompanied with music and entertainment. Typical luau foods include:
Chicken Long Rice
A staple at most luaus, this Chinese side-dish is made with chicken and long rice, oriental vermicelli, or saifun (bean strands).
Chicken Lu`au
A Hawaiian favorite made with chicken cooked with taro leaves (or spinach) and coconut milk
Kalua Pig
The featured dish at every luau, Kalua Pig is slow-cooked whole in an imu (underground oven) for many hours.
Lau Lau
Salt butterfish, beef, chicken or pork wrapped in taro or ti leaves and then steamed.
Lomi Lomi Salmon
Lomi Lomi Salmon is made with cold diced salmon, tomatoes and onion. It is found at almost every luau in the islands.
Poi
Poi is a thick, purple-colored paste made by pounding taro. Poi can be bought fresh or "day-old," which allows a sour flavor to develop. It is used in many Hawaiian recipes or served as a side dish.
Poke (pronounced po-kay)
Most often seen made with the freshest raw ahi (tuna), poke is made with onion, soy sauce, salt, pepper and spices.
Luaus on Oahu
Now that you're hungry for some Hawaiian food, here is where you can find luaus on the island of Oahu.
Germaine's Luau
www.germainesluau.com
Luaus are offered nightly and runs from 6 pm until 8:45 pm. It is exactly how you envision a luau: mediocre Hawaiian food served buffet style, Polynesian dancing and on-stage crowd participation. Germaine's is located on the far southwest part of Oahu near Barber's Point. Transportation from Waikiki hotels is included with the ticket price. I've been to Germaine's Luau. It's okay. Here is a link to my blog about Germaine's luau:
Link to my Germaine's Luau blog
Paradise Cove
www.paradisecove.com
Paradise Cove has a daily luau from 5pm until 9 pm. It is located on the southwest part of Oahu near Ko Olina. Like Germaine's, it is what you expect from a luau. I haven't been to Paradise Cove's luau, but I know several people who have been to one. They all enjoyed it but said the dancing and food wasn't anything special.
Polynesian Cultural Center
www.polynesia.com
The Polynesian Cultural Center is open Monday thru Saturday. It is located on the windward side of Oahu in the town of Laie. The Polynesian Cultural Center has a bus that will pick you up from Waikiki. Keep in mind you will be stuck there all day if you take the shuttle bus. Hawaiian food is served up buffet style. The food is fairly good. After the luau there is a large multi-media Polynesian Dance Show. It's a very good performance. In addition to the luau and dance show, the Polynesian Cultural center offers many different activities. It's a nice place to explore. There are different ticket prices depending on what you want to do, so it's best to explore their website to check things out. I have been here a couple of times and I enjoyed my time here. One last thing to remember - no liquor or caffeinated beverages are served because it's run by the Mormons.
Hilton Hawaiian Village's Starlight Luau
http://www.hiltonhawaiianvillage.com/luau/index.cfm
Luaus are held Sunday-Thursday 5:30-8:30 pm on the rooftop of the Mid-Pacific Conference Center at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. This luau is located in Waikiki, so that's a bonus. Music, dancing and food - your typical luau, even if it is held on the rooftop of a building. I haven't been to this luau, so I can't comment on the quality of it.
Sheraton Princess Kaiulani
http://www.princess-kaiulani.com/de_creation.htm
Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Seating is 6 pm for dinner and 7 pm for the cocktail show. This isn't really a luau but more of a dinner and a Polynesian Dance show. I haven't been to this show so I can't comment on whether it's good or bad.
Royal Hawaiian Hotel
http://www.royal-hawaiian.com/the-resort/dining-entertainment/aha-aina-a-royal-celebration/
The Royal Hawaiian Hotel is the world famous pink hotel on Waikiki Beach. Every Monday from 5:30 pm to 9 pm, a luau is held at the hotel. This luau focuses more on the cultural and traditional aspect of Hawaii. I haven't been to this luau - maybe because it cost $175 per person. YIKES!!!!
Chicken Long Rice
A staple at most luaus, this Chinese side-dish is made with chicken and long rice, oriental vermicelli, or saifun (bean strands).
Chicken Lu`au
A Hawaiian favorite made with chicken cooked with taro leaves (or spinach) and coconut milk
Kalua Pig
The featured dish at every luau, Kalua Pig is slow-cooked whole in an imu (underground oven) for many hours.
Lau Lau
Salt butterfish, beef, chicken or pork wrapped in taro or ti leaves and then steamed.
Lomi Lomi Salmon
Lomi Lomi Salmon is made with cold diced salmon, tomatoes and onion. It is found at almost every luau in the islands.
Poi
Poi is a thick, purple-colored paste made by pounding taro. Poi can be bought fresh or "day-old," which allows a sour flavor to develop. It is used in many Hawaiian recipes or served as a side dish.
Poke (pronounced po-kay)
Most often seen made with the freshest raw ahi (tuna), poke is made with onion, soy sauce, salt, pepper and spices.
Luaus on Oahu
Now that you're hungry for some Hawaiian food, here is where you can find luaus on the island of Oahu.
Germaine's Luau
www.germainesluau.com
Luaus are offered nightly and runs from 6 pm until 8:45 pm. It is exactly how you envision a luau: mediocre Hawaiian food served buffet style, Polynesian dancing and on-stage crowd participation. Germaine's is located on the far southwest part of Oahu near Barber's Point. Transportation from Waikiki hotels is included with the ticket price. I've been to Germaine's Luau. It's okay. Here is a link to my blog about Germaine's luau:
Link to my Germaine's Luau blog
Paradise Cove
www.paradisecove.com
Paradise Cove has a daily luau from 5pm until 9 pm. It is located on the southwest part of Oahu near Ko Olina. Like Germaine's, it is what you expect from a luau. I haven't been to Paradise Cove's luau, but I know several people who have been to one. They all enjoyed it but said the dancing and food wasn't anything special.
Polynesian Cultural Center
www.polynesia.com
The Polynesian Cultural Center is open Monday thru Saturday. It is located on the windward side of Oahu in the town of Laie. The Polynesian Cultural Center has a bus that will pick you up from Waikiki. Keep in mind you will be stuck there all day if you take the shuttle bus. Hawaiian food is served up buffet style. The food is fairly good. After the luau there is a large multi-media Polynesian Dance Show. It's a very good performance. In addition to the luau and dance show, the Polynesian Cultural center offers many different activities. It's a nice place to explore. There are different ticket prices depending on what you want to do, so it's best to explore their website to check things out. I have been here a couple of times and I enjoyed my time here. One last thing to remember - no liquor or caffeinated beverages are served because it's run by the Mormons.
Hilton Hawaiian Village's Starlight Luau
http://www.hiltonhawaiianvillage.com/luau/index.cfm
Luaus are held Sunday-Thursday 5:30-8:30 pm on the rooftop of the Mid-Pacific Conference Center at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. This luau is located in Waikiki, so that's a bonus. Music, dancing and food - your typical luau, even if it is held on the rooftop of a building. I haven't been to this luau, so I can't comment on the quality of it.
Sheraton Princess Kaiulani
http://www.princess-kaiulani.com/de_creation.htm
Tuesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Seating is 6 pm for dinner and 7 pm for the cocktail show. This isn't really a luau but more of a dinner and a Polynesian Dance show. I haven't been to this show so I can't comment on whether it's good or bad.
Royal Hawaiian Hotel
http://www.royal-hawaiian.com/the-resort/dining-entertainment/aha-aina-a-royal-celebration/
The Royal Hawaiian Hotel is the world famous pink hotel on Waikiki Beach. Every Monday from 5:30 pm to 9 pm, a luau is held at the hotel. This luau focuses more on the cultural and traditional aspect of Hawaii. I haven't been to this luau - maybe because it cost $175 per person. YIKES!!!!
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