Honolulu Luau at Aloha Tower: Oceanfront Show & Buffet

Lei, luau, and fire dancing on the harbor at sunset

Ka Moana Lūʻau is an oceanfront Hawaiian luau in Honolulu at historic Aloha Tower, where you learn hula and weaving, eat a traditional island buffet, and watch a high-energy Polynesian show featuring drumming and Samoan fire knife dancing. The evening runs three hours from check-in at 5 PM, with round-trip hotel pickup available from Waikīkī and downtown locations.

Step-by-step itinerary

Evening Hawaiian Luau Experience

• Check-in and lūʻau entry
• Participate in cultural activities
• Enjoy island-style buffet dinner
• Watch main Polynesian show
• Meet and greet cast

The experience

You arrive at Aloha Tower on Honolulu's harbor waterfront and begin with a lei greeting, then move into hands-on cultural activities: a hula lesson, lei making, coconut-headband weaving, and demonstrations of fire-making and coconut tree-climbing. These run for an hour before dinner, so you're learning and moving the whole time, not watching from a seat. The activities are designed for all ages, and the guide speaks English or Japanese depending on your group.

Dinner is an island-style buffet with lomi lomi salmon, kalua pork, huli huli chicken, poi, fresh fruit, and seasonal desserts. Tropical cocktails and mocktails come with your ticket. Wine and beer are available for purchase. You eat as the light changes over the water, then settle in for the main show at 6:30 PM. The production moves through Polynesian traditions (hula, drumming, and the finale of Samoan fire knife dancing), and runs until around 7:45 PM. After that, the cast comes out to meet guests before the evening ends.

Check-in starts at 4:45 PM and the grounds open at 5:00 PM. If you book an option with transportation, pickup happens from select Waikīkī and downtown Honolulu hotels and includes the return trip. The venue is wheelchair accessible, all surfaces are paved, and strollers are welcome for infants and small children. If you need special accommodations, contact the luau at least 48 hours ahead.

What’s included

• Authentic oceanfront luau at Aloha Tower with lei greeting.
• hands-on cultural activities including hula lesson, lei making, and coconut-headband weaving.
• island-style buffet dinner with kalua pork, huli huli chicken, lomi lomi salmon, and fresh fruit.
• tropical cocktails and mocktails included.
• high-energy Polynesian show with fire knife dancing.
• cast meet and greet after the show.
• round-trip hotel transportation from select Waikīkī and downtown locations (depending on option selected).

Options for this experience

8 options

Classic (NO Transportation)Guide in English or Japanese · 17:00Buffet dinner with a Farm to Table menu in the Classic Luau seating, including a shell lei greeting, one drink ticket per person, and cultural activities.

Classic WITH TransportationGuide in English or Japanese · 16:45Classic Farm to Table buffet dinner with roundtrip transportation from Waikiki, including a shell lei, one drink ticket, Classic seating, cultural activities, and a buffet dinner.

Splash (NO Transportation)Guide in English or Japanese · 17:00Mid-tier seating section Farm to Table buffet dinner in the Splash Luau seating, with a shell lei greeting, two drink tickets per person, cultural activities, and a buffet dinner.

See 5 more options

Splash WITH TransportationGuide in English or Japanese · 16:45Mid-tier seating section Farm to Table buffet dinner in Splash seating with roundtrip transportation from Waikiki, a shell lei greeting, one drink ticket, cultural activities, and a buffet dinner.

Splash Premium without transportationGuide in English or Japanese · 17:00Splash Premium upgrade: Step up your Splash Luau experience to Premium for seating closer to the Splash area and a fresh flower lei greeting.

Splash Premium with transportationGuide in English or Japanese · 16:45Splash Premium upgrade: Step up your Splash Luau experience to Premium for seating closer to the Splash area and a fresh flower lei greeting. Pickup is included.

Celebrity (NO Transportation)Guide in English or Japanese · 17:00Top-row seats in the house! Farm to Table buffet dinner in Celebrity seating, with a flower lei greeting, two drink tickets per person, cultural activities, a buffet dinner, and a souvenir gift.

Celebrity WITH TransportationGuide in English or Japanese · 16:45Best seats in the house! Farm to Table buffet dinner in Celebrity seating with roundtrip transportation from Waikiki, a flower lei, two drink tickets, cultural activities, and a buffet dinner.

You'll see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates and prices

Information

Lasts 3h, runs every day except Tuesday and Saturday at 16:45 and 17:00, from US$ 135.08 per person, with a live guide in English and Japanese, in groups of up to 15 and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesEvery day except Tuesday and SaturdayDepartures at 16:45 and 17:00Another day? ›

GroupUp to 15

Live guideEnglish and Japanese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 7 pickup points.

Book up to6h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (4 to 12 years) · Under 4: can't be booked

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPets welcomeInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Ka Moana Luau

Is this one for you?Choose transportation if you're staying in Waikīkī or downtown Honolulu and want to skip driving. Skip it if you have a rental car or plan your own way to Aloha Tower.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English and Japanese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (4 to 12 years). Children under 4 can't be included in the booking.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What cultural activities do I actually get to do at Ka Moana Lūʻau?

You learn hula dancing, make your own lei, weave a coconut-headband, and watch demonstrations of traditional fire-making and coconut tree-climbing. These hands-on activities fill the first hour before dinner, so you're participating, not observing from a distance.

Is transportation from my Waikīkī hotel included?

Round-trip pickup from select Waikīkī and downtown Honolulu hotels is included depending on which option you choose at checkout. Some packages include transportation. Others do not. Check your selection to confirm.

What does the Polynesian show include?

The main show features hula, traditional drumming, and the Samoan fire knife dance as the finale. It runs from 6:30 to 7:45 PM and moves through the traditions of Hawaii and across Polynesia, ending with the fire dance under the stars.