Waikiki Starlight Luau
Waikiki Starlight Luau
3.5
Monday
5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Tuesday
5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Wednesday
5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Thursday
5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Sunday
5:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Admission tickets
from
$185.00
What is Travelers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travelers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travelers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Top ways to experience Waikiki Starlight Luau and nearby attractions
The area
Address
Neighborhood: Waikiki
Reach out directly
Best nearby
Restaurants
1,546 within 3 miles
Attractions
395 within 6 miles
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
3.5
954 reviews
Excellent
313
Very good
180
Average
181
Poor
148
Terrible
132
Navigator192210
Simpsonville, SC4 contributions
Sep 2021 • Couples
So in a nut shell this should really be a separate rating for the show and ambiance Vs. The food and food service which fell on two opposite ends of the spectrum! The ambiance on the Great Lawn at the Hilton Hawaiian Village complete with the sunset in the backdrop was storybook perfect. The entertainers , host , musicians … just spectacular ! They are the only reason I didn’t voice any concern over the poorer aspects with anybody that night and since it was my wife and I celebrating our 25th Anniversary, I chose to let it go at the time. So entertainment /ambiance … anything non-edible … 5 out of 5 ⭐️ stars!!
The food wasn’t horrible but not worth what you pay. But I get ahead of myself . First impressions were up the dinner host team: grade C…. We paid for Premier seating which was closest to the stage and the guy rushed to sit us in the back of the premier seating which was about 6 feet away from the cheaper seats. We thought we had a good angle to watch anyway so we let it go. The service : big fat D-!!! I would give an F but since we did eventually have the food brought to us I guess I have to give a small credit. Our server was existent throughout the meal. We were last of the Premier seating to get served and no drink orders taken or refills. I had to go to the bar and stand and wait for drinks from two very rude bartenders, all the while others tables like the cheap seats behind us were getting waited on hand and foot! The food? D+ … there is better food at an Applebee’s or Outback. Finally show time and to add insult to injury , the very attentive waiter for the tables in front of us was the only waiter who was a little too attentive and so when all the other servers backed off , here he comes bopping
Back and forth in front of the stage through the whole show ! So everybody taking pics or video has him blocking most of their shots the whole show. Still a great show but food and service sucked. I have over
A decade and 1/2 of restaurant management and not even including my catering director experience so a lot of the times I know what they are going through so I can sometimes be the most understanding but I also can pick out an undisciplined staff going through the motions. Way too expensive for that!
The food wasn’t horrible but not worth what you pay. But I get ahead of myself . First impressions were up the dinner host team: grade C…. We paid for Premier seating which was closest to the stage and the guy rushed to sit us in the back of the premier seating which was about 6 feet away from the cheaper seats. We thought we had a good angle to watch anyway so we let it go. The service : big fat D-!!! I would give an F but since we did eventually have the food brought to us I guess I have to give a small credit. Our server was existent throughout the meal. We were last of the Premier seating to get served and no drink orders taken or refills. I had to go to the bar and stand and wait for drinks from two very rude bartenders, all the while others tables like the cheap seats behind us were getting waited on hand and foot! The food? D+ … there is better food at an Applebee’s or Outback. Finally show time and to add insult to injury , the very attentive waiter for the tables in front of us was the only waiter who was a little too attentive and so when all the other servers backed off , here he comes bopping
Back and forth in front of the stage through the whole show ! So everybody taking pics or video has him blocking most of their shots the whole show. Still a great show but food and service sucked. I have over
A decade and 1/2 of restaurant management and not even including my catering director experience so a lot of the times I know what they are going through so I can sometimes be the most understanding but I also can pick out an undisciplined staff going through the motions. Way too expensive for that!
Written September 30, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Juanita
3 contributions
Aug 2021 • Couples
From the beginning the ticket says 5:45pm everyone online waited 1 hr before they opened the area to seat everyone. Not sure how that is possible when they literally do the same show everyday. The dancers are AMAZING. What TOTALLY kills the show is the host. He likes the sound of his voice. My guess is he is the owner of the dance company or funding the show. At EVERY act he comes out gives a 10 minute speech on the history of each dance. It totally kills the vibe and the energy. I feel bad for the dancers. He should give an entire narration at the beginning of the show and that's it. If your looking for crowd engagement high energy luau this is NOT it and look for a different one I literally was falling asleep at my table when he came out. Wait staff was super and food was very good.
Written September 2, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mudita Shah
2 contributions
Mar 2021 • Family
This experience did not deliver its promise. The ticket stated that the location was on the roof but in the last minute it was changed to another location and no email update was sent. There was no buffet. There was very little in regards to vegetarian options. The show was simple. Countless people were able to watch the show without paying by simply hanging out near the lagoon. Dessert was not appealing. During these times it is the best that can be done and I understand that they are trying their best, but it may not be worth it.
Written March 21, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sandra W
1 contribution
Aug 2021
Not worth the cost. We paid $200+ per person for a family of six (parents with adult children and partners). Food was mediocre (overly salty pork, dry fish) at best. The actual "show" was too short. Due to forecasted rain, the luau was moved indoors to a banquet room killing the ambiance. The Hilton did nothing to the interior of the banquet room to make it feel more like a "luau."
Written August 31, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kevindstallworth
Elgin, IL3 contributions
Sep 2021 • Family
The luau was phenomenal! The tables were set up beautifully. My family enjoyed tasting authentic Hawaiian appetizers, learning how the pork and other meats are prepared, and eating a delicious dinner of pork, chicken, fish, and tasty sides. Refreshing drinks were served . The musicians were fantastic. The show, featuring Hawaiian and South Pacific cultural dances, historic facts and demonstrations, was performed with the utmost excellence. We enjoyed all of this in beautiful tropical weather with a gentle breeze and we saw a beautiful sunset as the luau went along.
My only suggestion is that, in the future, there should be more than one photographer as the guests enter, so that the line entering the luau can move faster.
Other than that, I HIGHLY recommend this luau to anyone visiting Hawaii for the first time. You will not have a full Hawaiian experience without going to this luau !
My only suggestion is that, in the future, there should be more than one photographer as the guests enter, so that the line entering the luau can move faster.
Other than that, I HIGHLY recommend this luau to anyone visiting Hawaii for the first time. You will not have a full Hawaiian experience without going to this luau !
Written October 3, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ScubaDivemaster8
Honolulu, HI11 contributions
May 2021
This is my 6th luau (3rd on Oahu & 3 on Maui). If you’re doing both islands I’d highly recommend feast @lele over and above any luau on Oahu. The cost alone is cheaper AND the drinks & food are way better. This luau didn’t have a diamond line for people who paid extra to sit in front. The kalua pig was cool looking but then they walked it through the whole audience of unmasked people. Our waiter wore his mask under his nose the whole time. If we get COVID in the next week we know where we got it from. The performers were awesome but if you care about your money going farther, invest it in Maui.
Written May 13, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
john D
Grass Valley, CA8 contributions
Jul 2021
Good show, but overpriced. We've attended five Luau shows over 20 years and this one was average. We missed the noteworthy Maori New Zealand warrior performances of previous shows...these were tepid, comparatively. We paid premium dollars for near stage seating and service, but were among the final tables to be served. And they ran out of leis for the final 50+ attendees. As a result they gave us extra drink coupons. There are only so many Mai Tais a person can drink in 2+ hours.....would have rather had a return of $100 or so for the $1K we paid for 5 people. Food was average for a luau, but was way, way too much quantity. Service was a bit below average as noted above and for the long line to get a second Mai Tai.
Written July 14, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Natalie M
1 contribution
Oct 2021 • Family
I have been to a few different luaus on a few different islands. This was by far the worst. I had to pay for my 20 month old and all he got to eat was a tiny plate of raw carrots, raw celery and grapes. The only thing he could eat were the grapes and after I cut them up. I gave him some of my food to try to fill him up. The food was absolutely horrible. The fish was inedible it was so dry I couldn’t even swallow it. The Kaliua pig was okay but nothing to write home about. The chicken was the best part and I do not like chicken. The salad was sub par, the macaroni salad was okay, the drinks with tickets and paid for were weak. The performance was hard to see if you were at a regular seating table. The stage was low so the farther back you were seated the less you could see. The waiter was nice but had too many tables and couldn’t get back to you for what you needed. Maybe a covid failure or maybe just a normal failure. I would never go back. Absolutely NOT worth the cost.
Written October 17, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JimmyO
Oahu, HI2 contributions
Jun 2021 • Family
This was an insulting experience. The show is staged on the great lawn, so all the other hotel guests simply stand and watch for free. In essence, my family and the rest of the dupes paid for everyone else to watch from the periphery or from their balconies. We paid for Gold Circle seating, and had thought these were reserved seats, which was a plus. Instead, we were seated in the very back, just in front of the drink bar, and the drink line formed on both sides of our table, surrounding us (and exposing us to infection). The food and drink were truly awful. I’ll eat just about anything (which is a personal flaw) but I couldn’t eat this. I don’t think you go to a luau like this expecting a gourmet meal, but this was an insult. The leis were nice, and the staff was smiling and pleasant. But this was low-brow, Mai Tai from a milk jug quality. And I paid big money for a worse seat than those who watched for free. Do NOT book this luau. You will be sorely disappointed. And that’s a shame for the Hilton.
Written June 18, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
meandtre
Grand Rapids, MI4 contributions
May 2022
Although the entertainers did a very nice job and the emcee was high energy, the overall experience was pretty average. We could've saved money and just stood outside of the area and enjoyed the show with other spectators and saved hundreds of dollars because the food was average as well.
In addition, I believe there could be a better system of checking people in. I'm unsure if it was due to a staffing shortage or not, however, there should've been at least 4 check-in lines to accommodate the number of patrons entering...just a suggestion.
Furthermore, a complimentary photo should be included, not an additional charge.
I do want to share that the servers/attendants were very attentive and did an amazing job.
I hope this proves helpful.
In addition, I believe there could be a better system of checking people in. I'm unsure if it was due to a staffing shortage or not, however, there should've been at least 4 check-in lines to accommodate the number of patrons entering...just a suggestion.
Furthermore, a complimentary photo should be included, not an additional charge.
I do want to share that the servers/attendants were very attentive and did an amazing job.
I hope this proves helpful.
Written May 28, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
How much do they charge for a picture? Do you pay cash or do they charge it to your room? I want to be prepared. Thanks!
Written April 8, 2023
I believe it was $40-45 and they have multiple ways of paying for it. I just paid for using my phone.
Written April 9, 2023
How long is the Luau? Starts at 5pm, what time is it over?
Written December 2, 2021
It ended around 8:30. It was totally worth every minute. It didn’t feel like it was that long.
Written December 3, 2021
I just rang and booked day before as I couldn't print out tickets from our accm. I agree it would depend on the time of year. although we were I off season it was packed!
Written November 7, 2018
Boa tarde, Moro no Brasil. Vou para Honolulu no final do Ano Ano e só poderei assistir o Show no dia 26/12/2018 ou talvez 27/12/2018 pois estou de passagem pela cidade. Como faço para adquirir o ingresso antecipadamente? As cadeiras são numeradas? Agradeço.
Written October 28, 2018
The Hilton has fireworks Friday nights. Can you see the fireworks from the Luau location?
Written April 12, 2017
The luau is not held on the rooftop on Fridays. Instead, there is something held on the lawn adjacent to the Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon. Not sure about the view from there.
Written June 26, 2017
明日ヒルトンのワイキキ.スターライト.ルアウを見に行く予定です、何かアドバイスお願いします
Written March 3, 2016
I've been reading the reviews, both positive and negative. Still uncertain that we would do this. We are staying at the hotel and the price is exorbitant for an evening of entertainment. Some people said they were given free tickets. How do we tap into that for a family of four? I wanted to have a true Hawaiian experience. If there are complimentary tickets to be had, please let me know how I can tap into them. We are going at the end of September.
Written July 20, 2015
The tickets that you are referring to could be the one that are given as an incentive to view the Hilton Grand Vacation. This would be your choice and could be what you have heard about.
Written July 22, 2015
Showing results 1-8 of 8
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing