Ticketed lūʻaus on the Big Island
These are the main public shows on the Big Island that we would compare. Each sells tickets on its own website, and schedules and prices change, so confirm there before you plan around one. Show details below are from each show’s own website, read November 7, 2026.
Island Breeze Lūʻau, King Kamehameha Kona Beach Resort, Kailua-Kona. Best if you are staying in Kona; its website lists Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5:15 pm, with an open bar, a buffet dinner and a Polynesian show. ibluau.com
Legends of Hawaiʻi Lūʻau, Hilton Waikoloa Village, Waikoloa. Best on the Kohala Coast for a resort show; its website lists Sundays, Tuesdays and Fridays at 5 pm, with unlimited drinks, a Hawaiian dinner and a show. legendsluau.com
Waikoloa Beach Marriott Sunset Lūʻau, Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, Kohala Coast. A second Kohala choice; its website lists Mondays and Wednesdays at 5 pm, with a dinner buffet, an open bar and live Polynesian entertainment. thesunsetluau.com
Our pick by trip: staying in Kona, Island Breeze; on the Kohala Coast, Legends of Hawaiʻi or the Marriott Sunset Lūʻau, depending on which night you are free. None of them is ours, and your hotel’s front desk can tell you what else is running during your stay.
Public show or private lūʻau?
A ticketed show suits two to six people on vacation. You buy seats per person, share the evening with other guests, and the menu, start time, and program are set by the show. The Big Island is large, and the shows above are all on the west side, so if you are staying near Hilo, plan for a long drive.
A private lūʻau suits a group that wants its own evening. Families use it for a reunion or a celebration at a Kona home or timeshare. Couples use it for a wedding welcome dinner or a Kohala reception; see wedding entertainment on the Big Island. Companies use it for a retreat dinner at a Waikoloa or Kohala resort; see corporate events on the Big Island. The performers come to your venue on your date, and the program is timed around your dinner, toasts, and presentations.
If you only want your group to learn some hula, you do not need a lūʻau at all. Private hula lessons on the Big Island are a separate service.
What to ask before you book
For a ticketed show, ask: which nights it runs during your stay, how long the drive is from where you are staying, what the ticket includes, what children pay, and what happens if it rains. Check each answer on the show’s own website.
For a private lūʻau, ask your venue: does it permit a private event and outside performers, which room or outdoor area you will use, whether there is a covered or indoor alternative, what the setup window is, and who the event contact is. A Waikoloa or Kohala resort may want the entertainment coordinated with its own event team.
Our private lūʻau on the Big Island
Hawaii Luau Company’s private lūʻau packages are Plumeria at $2,697 (2 dancers, 1 musician, 1 production manager), Pikake at $3,197 (3 dancers, 2 musicians, 1 production manager), Hibiscus at $4,387 (4 dancers, 2 musicians, 1 fire-knife dancer, 1 production manager), and Bird of Paradise at $5,787 (5 dancers, 3 musicians, 1 fire-knife dancer, 1 emcee, 1 production manager, and fresh flower leis for up to 10 people), each plus Hawaiʻi tax. The price is per package, not per guest. Sound and lights, tables and chairs, and décor are extra, and food is arranged separately. A fire-knife dancer can be added to Plumeria or Pikake for $570 plus tax. Travel, air, lodging, and car rental are additional, with costs to be determined for your location.
To compare with tickets, divide the package price by your guest count. Plumeria at $2,697 for 30 guests is about $90 per guest, but that covers the performers only, before tax, food, and travel to the Big Island.
A Kona address and a Hilo address are different planning briefs, so give us the exact property address before settling on a package or performance time. We travel to agreed homes, timeshares, hotels, and resorts on Hawaiʻi Island. See private lūʻaus on the Big Island.
Our take
For a few people on vacation, buy tickets to a show near where you are staying. If Maui is also on your trip, our own shows are compared in Best Luau on Maui. For family, wedding guests, or colleagues who want their own evening, a private lūʻau at your venue is usually the better fit.