We're going to Big Island and Oahu this summer, and we definitely want to do a luau. I've read on this board that the Polynesian Cultural Center has a great one, but we'd like to go to a luau within walking distance of our hotel(s) if possible.

One option is the luau at the Marriott Waikoloa Beach on Big Island. However, the luau is on Wednesday nights at 5:30pm, and we'll be landing on Big Island at 2:15. Would we be calling it too close? I'm thinking we would be.

If that's true, what luau should we do on Oahu? We'll be staying at the HHV in Waikiki. We're arriving there on Saturday, so the Monday night luau at Royal Hawaiian is an option. Has anyone been to that one?

Thanks!

Oops, minor detail missing: On Big Island we're staying about a mile from the Marriott, at the Hilton Waikoloa. So we wouldn't be trekking too far.

I've been to the Marriott Waikaloa Luau a few years ago. It was good and I liked the show after. But I'm not sure if it was worth the money. I did go to a luau at the Royal Hawaiian, 25 years ago! It was a great experience and food was really good. Hopefully someone who has been more recently to the luau at RH will respond.

I've only been to the PCC luau while we enjoyed the tour through the villages and the canoe pageant the evening show by far was the highlight. I've read several reviews that agree the food is better at the Royal Hawaiian but the show after at PCC is the best.

Is the show at the Royal Hawaiian BAD or just not as good as PCC? (Oahu Revealed hated the show at RH, but that's just one opinion.) We like the idea of walking to and from a luau (by which I mean, walking to and from mai tais) but not if the show is going to be boring. But we do have 25% off coupons for the show at PCC (and it's non-alcoholic, so we'd be safe driving home! ), so I won't rule it out if it's that much better!

How far is the PCC from Kailua Beach? Maybe we can end our day in Kailua with the PCC luau.

Recently we were at the Royal Hawaiian Luau. The show was good, but not as good as it was about 10 years ago when we also saw it.
The food and service however were very good. Of course the location with view over Waikiki is great.

I liked the Paradise Cove luau, touristy like all of them, but fun and a beautiful beachfront setting. It includes free bus service, quite a ride, about 45 minutes from Waikiki.

Haven't heard good things about the Royal Hawaiian Luau.

Hmmm. So maybe I shouldn't rule out Royal Hawaiian after all. Is the show right outside by the beach? How about the show at the PCC -- outdoors or indoors?

ggrtist, I've also heard good things about the Paradise Cove....but I worry about stuffing myself full of roasted pig and sweet potatoes and then sitting on a bus for 45 minutes!

Maybe I could put it this way -- would we be happy with the RH luau if we have nothing better to compare it to than the Disney Polyneisan luau? i.e., if we haven't already seen the apparently awesome show at PCC?

We went to the Royal Hawaiian luau 2 years ago. It was very good. Entertainment was excellent. Food was ok. There was plenty of booze. Luau is right on the beach.

A bus trip to a luau will have plenty of drunks for the ride back to Waikiki.

we went to Paradise Cove twice (once just 2 of us) then on a return trip with the kiddies. Once was on the bus, no drunks just a bunch of tired people trying not to fall asleep (guess too much roasted pig huh?)

2nd time we drove.

Haven't been to PCC, but there's a big mix of opinions on here. FI's parents went a year ago and they felt the day events were way too touristy and too crowded to get anything out of it. They rated the luau & food pretty good and thought the additional evening show was very good. Guess you'll never know until you try it You should have a good time whichever you choose.

The evening show, 'Horizons' at PCC is so much better than any other Polynesian show in Hawaii that it alone is worth going to PCC instead of anywhere else.

When you add the seven villages, the canoe pageant, the canoe rides, and IMAX, the experience at PCC is much better than anywhere else.

The Ali'i Luau at PCC is only an average luau with average food. The Ali'i Luau package includes a lei greeting and upgraded seats for 'Horizons'.

So my recommendation is if you go to one on Oahu, PCC is by far the best.

If you are spending more time on Big Island than Oahu, then you ought to consider going to the one on the Big Island and use the time on Oahu for other things.

PCC is about 35 minutes from Kailua or 60 minutes from Waikiki.