Wailua Nui Luau Kauai: Hawaiian buffet with fire-knife dance

Kalua pig, imu ceremony, and Samoan fire-knife dance on the Kauai shoreline

The Wailua Nui Luau is a three-hour Hawaiian cultural experience on Kauai's Wailua Bay shoreline, where you receive a fresh flower lei upon arrival, move through a self-service buffet of traditional island dishes, watch live Hawaiian and Polynesian performances including the Samoan fire-knife dance, and try interactive skilled arts like tatau (tattoo) and rosette making before the show. Standard and VIP seating options are available. Self-parking is included with validation.

Step-by-step itinerary

Wailua Nui Luau cultural experience

• Arrive and receive fresh flower lei
• Watch imu ceremony
• Enjoy Hawaiian themed self-service buffet
• See Hawaiian and Polynesian performances
• Experience Samoan Fire-knife dance
• Participate in interactive skilled arts

The experience

You arrive at the oceanfront venue and are greeted with a fresh flower lei. The self-service buffet opens with traditional island favorites: kalua pig, prime rib, huli huli chicken, and the seared island catch of the day. Before the performances begin, you can try your hand at interactive skilled arts: tatau (traditional tattoo marking) and rosette making, so the experience is not just watching but doing.

The show unfolds with the imu ceremony, a ritual opening that sets the tone for what follows. Live Hawaiian music and Polynesian performances fill the evening, building to the exhilarating Samoan fire-knife dance. Gentle ocean breezes from Wailua Bay move through the space the whole time, and the backdrop is the water itself. The full arc takes about three hours from arrival to the end of the performances.

Self-parking is included with validation, so you don't arrange transport separately. The venue is wheelchair accessible throughout, and infants can use a pram or stroller. Service animals are welcome. You choose between Standard and VIP seating at checkout: both include the same buffet, performances and activities, with VIP offering a different vantage point for the show.

What’s included

• Self-service buffet with kalua pig, prime rib, huli huli chicken and island catch.
• live Hawaiian and Polynesian performances including the Samoan fire-knife dance.
• imu ceremony.
• interactive skilled arts like tatau and rosette making.
• fresh flower lei upon arrival.
• self-parking with validation.

Options for this experience

2 options

Standard Seating17:00Standard Seating

VIP Seating17:00VIP Seating

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

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday, Friday and SundayDeparts at 17:00

AgesAdult (11 and older) · Child (3 to 10 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 300

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

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 2 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyInfant seats availablePets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Tihati Productions Ltd.

Is this one for you?Choose Standard seating for the full cultural experience at a lower price point, or VIP seating if you want a premium vantage for the fire-knife dance and performances. Both options include the same buffet, activities and shows. The difference is your seat location for the show itself.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 10 years); Infant (under 3): free.

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 kind of food is served at the Wailua Nui Luau buffet?

The self-service buffet features traditional Hawaiian dishes: kalua pig, prime rib, huli huli chicken, and seared island catch of the day, representing the island's culinary favorites.

What performances happen at the Wailua Nui Luau?

The evening includes live Hawaiian music, Hawaiian and Polynesian cultural demonstrations, the imu ceremony, and the Samoan fire-knife dance as the main event.

Can I try any cultural activities myself at this luau?

Yes, before the performances begin, you can engage in interactive skilled arts including tatau (traditional tattoo marking) and rosette making.

How long does the Wailua Nui Luau last?

The experience runs for three hours from arrival through the end of the performances, including the buffet, interactive activities, and all live shows.

Is the Wailua Nui Luau accessible for guests with mobility needs?

Yes, all areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible, and infants can use a pram or stroller. Service animals are allowed, and public transportation options are available nearby.

What's included in the price of the Wailua Nui Luau?

The luau includes the self-service buffet, all live performances and cultural demonstrations, interactive skilled arts activities, a fresh flower lei upon arrival, and self-parking with validation. You choose Standard or VIP seating at checkout.