Royal Hawaiian Luau: BEST oceanfront Waikiki luau

BEST Waikiki Luau. Waikiki, Hawaii. This is hands-own one of my FAVORITE luaus! Over the past 10 years, I've gone to this luau MANY Times.

This luau was so much fun! And, I loved that it was nestled right in Waikiki.

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Our Experience:

Know Before You Go:

• Island: OAHU
• Duration: 5:00pm-8:00pm (3 hours)
  5:00pm Check in
  5:15pm Act I. Welcome to Ancient Hawaii, Activities (45 min)
  6:00 Act II. The Royal Feast (1hr)
  7:00pm Act III. The Helumoa Story Unfolds, show (50 min)
• ‘Imu Ceremony (Pig Roast): No
• Buffet or Table Service: Table service

If you're looking for a luau experience in Waikiki, the Royal Hawaiian Luau is the perfect option. Located in the iconic Royal Hawaiian Hotel, this luau offers a unique experience with its signature pink color and oceanfront view. In this article, we'll cover everything you need to know about the Royal Hawaiian Luau, from the menu to the seating and the entertainment.

What to Expect

The Royal Hawaiian Luau offers a unique experience within the oceanfront ROYAL HAWAIIAN HOTEL – known for its signature pink color and oceanfront view. The luau is held twice a week, on Mondays and Thursdays. Check-in is at 5pm. The dinner is served at around 6pm and the show starts at 7pm.

Love this luau!

The dress code is resort casual. It's a little bit dressier which is nice.

The Royal Hawaiian Luau is the perfect option for those looking for a luau experience in Waikiki. With its signature pink color and oceanfront view, the luau offers a unique experience with delicious food and traditional Hawaiian entertainment.

I personally loved it because I liked that it was a bit dressier than other luaus I had been to. The food was delicious. The oceanfront view was gorgeous. Royal Hawaiian hotel is also a 4 star property so it was NICEEEE. The cocktails and mocktails were tasty and had nice fruit garnishes – some luaus I've been to served drinks but the presentation of the drink wasn't as nice. I also liked that we were served with real plates and silverware. Some luaus serve you on paper plates – similar to a backyard style reception with plastic cutlery. The presentation was definitely 5 stars – something I would expect from a luau at the Royal Hawaiian hotel.

If you want to check out the hotel, they also have a cute restaurant right beside the luau called “The Mai Tai Bar” – and it serves, of course, MAI TAIS. Arguably, some of the best (and strongest) mai tais on the island.

Options

The seating is private tables, separated by six feet (NOTE: This was written in December 2021 and may have changed since then), and can accommodate anywhere from two to ten people. Regular seating runs about $225 per person, while the premium seating is an additional $25.

The premium seating is worth it. You'll be in the first 2 rows.

The Menu

The menu is set and includes a variety of dishes. It's a 3-course meal that you get served at your table (instead of a buffet line)You also get three drink tickets, which can be used for Mai Tais, wine, beer, or non-alcoholic drinks.

NOTE: The menu is subject to change. As of now (February 2, 2023), this is their most updated menu:

First Plate

• Poi from the root of the taro plant
• Spicy Ahi Poke: Hawaiian salt, sweet soy, sirracha aioli, tobiko
• Watercress Salad: Sumida Farm watercress, tofu, sesame dressing, ginger
• Roasted Eggplant: Lemon miso dressing, chili threads
• Saimin: Ginger scallion sauce, kamaboko, farm egg

Second Plate

• Steamed Island Fish: Luau sauce, shaved onion, sesame brittle, pickled chili
• Chicken Lau Lau: Chicken steamed with taro leaves
• Kimchi Fried Rice: Jasmine rice, kimchi, Portuguese sausage
• Hawaiian Smoked Meat: Stir fry smoked pork, pickled onion, oyster sauce
• Soy Sake Braised Short Rib: Natural jus, crispy garlic

Dessert

Local Style Haupia Pudding: Dark chocolate layered dobash, cinnamon crumbles, toasted coconut

The show features traditional Hawaiian hula and Aloha throughout the years.

Tips:

• When you come in to get seated for the luau, make sure you avoid the left-hand side, as it is close to the restaurant and you can hear people talking and the music from the bar.
• If it looks like it's going to rain, try to stay close to the palm trees, as they will provide some protection from the rain.
• When we went to the luau, it started to rain near the end of the show. The Royal Hawaiian staff are quick to respond to the rain, and they provide pool towels to keep guests dry.

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