Ticketed lūʻaus on Oʻahu
These are the main public shows on Oʻahu that we would compare. Each sells tickets on its own website, and schedules and prices change, so confirm nights and prices there before you plan around one.
Paradise Cove Lūʻau at Ko Olina, long the best known on the island, closed after its last show on December 31, 2025, so it is not on this list.
Polynesian Cultural Center Aliʻi Lūʻau, Lāʻie. Best for a full day out: the lūʻau comes with the center’s island villages and evening show, and Lāʻie is an hour or more from Waikīkī. The center’s page lists the lūʻau Monday through Saturday and also says it is closed Wednesdays and Sundays, so check its calendar. polynesia.com
ʻAhaʻaina, A Royal Hawaiian Lūʻau, The Royal Hawaiian, Waikīkī. Best if you are staying in Waikīkī and want to walk to dinner; it is held on the hotel’s Ocean Lawn on Mondays and Thursdays. royal-hawaiianluau.com
Pāʻina Waikīkī, Waikīkī Beach Marriott. A second Waikīkī choice, on the hotel’s rooftop deck, so you do not need a car. painawaikiki.com
Toa Luau, Waimea Valley, Haleʻiwa. Best if you are spending the day on the North Shore; it is held inside Waimea Valley on weekday evenings, so plan on driving. toaluau.com
Chief’s Luau, Wet ʻn’ Wild Hawaii, Kapolei. A West Oʻahu show for visitors staying at Ko Olina or on the leeward side. chiefsluauhawaii.com
Germaine’s Lūʻau, Kapolei. A beachfront show in West Oʻahu near Barbers Point. germainesluau.com
Our pick by trip: staying in Waikīkī, choose ʻAhaʻaina or Pāʻina Waikīkī; spending a day out, the Polynesian Cultural Center; on the North Shore, Toa Luau; on the west side, Chief’s Luau or Germaine’s. 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. Pick one by its location and night: a show on the far side of the island from your hotel means a long drive before and after.
A private lūʻau suits a group that wants its own evening. Families use it for a reunion, an anniversary, or a milestone birthday. Couples use it for a wedding welcome dinner or reception; see wedding entertainment on Oʻahu. Companies use it for a dinner after a Honolulu conference or an incentive trip; see corporate events on Oʻahu. The performers come to your venue on your date, and the program is timed around your dinner, toasts, and remarks.
If you only want your group to learn some hula, you do not need a lūʻau at all. Private hula lessons on Oʻahu 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 your hotel, 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 allow a private event and outside performers, which event room or lawn you will use, whether there is a covered alternative, who the venue coordinator is, and what sound, lights, tables, and chairs it supplies. For a Waikīkī hotel, give us the hotel, the event room or outdoor space, your date, an approximate guest count, and the property coordinator.
Our private lūʻau on Oʻahu
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 Oʻahu.
If your group is staying in Waikīkī but the event is elsewhere on Oʻahu, such as Ko Olina or the North Shore, send both addresses and plan how guests will get there before you set the start time. Guest transportation is not included unless it is written into your arrangements. See private lūʻaus on Oʻahu.
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.