Any Good Luau on the Big Island??

[Johnnycake]

I have friends coming from the mainland and they really want to see a Luau..I personally haven't been to any in years and then only in Maui. Does anyone know of any decent Luau on the Big Island? I'm sure they will have to go to Kona or Waikoloa? Mahalo.

[David M]

When our son and family last visited, his wife also wanted to attend a Luau. Son used his Marriott points and we stayed at Marriott Waikaloa and attended their Luau. Had a better time than I anticipated, especially as our granddaughter ( 2 1/2) was totally enthralled by the performers. Be sure you buy tickets at Kama'ania rate.

David

Ninole Resident

[missydog1]

The best is at the Kona Village Resort, no question. Wed and Friday. One is Hawaiian and the other is Polynesian. It's also the most expensive.

In general I feel like the commercial lu'au are tourist traps, although they do employ people, so that's good. Kona Village aims at an authentic experience.

[jdirgo]

What about Uncle Robert's in Kalapana? Less touristy (and maybe less commercial as well). I think it captures the spirit of the luau without all the trappings of Tahitian dance and overpriced accessories. Last I heard, once a month his weekend offering is fairly traditional and still well-priced. Just a thought...

John Dirgo, R, BIC, EcoBroker, ABR, e-PRO
Aloha Coast Realty, LLC
808-987-9243 cell
http://www.alohacoastrealty.com

[Devany]

We used Marriot Points last summer to stay at the Marriott Waikaloa and we did not go to the Luau, but could see it from our room. It was quite a production. We ate about 10 meals at the resort and all of them were extremely good, so I would assume their luau would be great too. I have friends who have gone to the Kona Village Luaus when staying there and they were impressed. I tend to agree with the commercial luaus being tourist oriented, probably why there are so many on the Kona Side and none here. It kind of reminds me of the SNL skit. Of course you can take them to Uncle Billy's for some entertainment.

Aloha au i Hawai`i,
devany

www.eastbaypotters.com
www.myhawaiianhome.blogspot.com

[morganlady]

Question for John - Kalapana? Apparently, that is a region, not a town/village anymore? Are you saying that the dead-end that is left after the lava flow enveloped the entire outpost still has some public activities for Hawaiian entertainment? All I saw there was some papers posted about the Independence movement, and then I hiked across the lava fow to the sea (eastward).
I thought the King Kamahamaha Hotel advertised a Wed eve luau, but I haven't seen one yet.
It'd be nice to have an option on the Pahoa side, for sure, for our visitors. We certainly have more natural beauty than the Kona side does! (And Pele, too!)

[aline]

We had a friend come to Puna with us in Feb and we went to the Kona Village Luau. The food was pretty good but the show was very disappointing. The fire dancer was good but they did a cowboy skit and it was not Hawaiian and the show seemed to be trying to be more like a broadway production. Have been to luaus before and although I find most of them very touristy this one was probably the worst I had been too as far as a show goes. We were told that they are planning on shutting down the Kona Village Resort for updates for a year or so that came from some staff members.

[missydog1]

Really? And it wasn't Paniolo night? I've never heard of the cowboy skit with their lu'au.

Kona Village is not shutting down until after New Year's 2010, for sure, that is directly from the manager. There was a plan to shut down in September, that you probably heard about, but that's a no go now.

The King Kam lu'au is cheesy but cheap. There's one at Royal Kona Resort. There's the Marriott, the Hilton, the Gathering of the Kings at the Fairmont, the no-imu liquid smoke pig at the Sheraton, that I can think of.

I don't care for lu'au that much, but the Kalapana one sounds good. How does one arrange to go, John?

[John S. Rabi]

are you sure aline1?! I have been taking all my visiting family and friends to the Kona Village luau for years and it always has been a very educational and professional show. I also stayed there 10 times between 1991 and 2002 but have not seen a cowboy there yet.

Aloha,
John S. Rabi, GM,ARB,BFT,CM,CBR,FHS,PB,RB
808.989.1314
http://www.JohnRabi.com
Typically Tropical Properties
"The Next Level of Service!"

[aline]

we went to the luau in the middle of the week cant remember if it was wed or thur night. Maybe that made a difference. The food was very good I just thought the show was more show than a history of the islands and the people who have settled there like I have seen in other shows.