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PRICE RANGE
$160.00 – $185.00
CUISINES
Polynesian, Hawaiian
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Gluten free options
meals, features
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About
The Grand Hyatt Kauai Luau - Poipu's best Polynesian review. Sumptuous Island-style buffet, tropical beverages, and a spectacular show.
PRICE RANGE
$160.00 – $185.00
CUISINES
Polynesian, Hawaiian
Special Diets
Vegetarian friendly, Gluten free options
Meals
Dinner
FEATURES
Reservations, Outdoor Seating, Buffet, Seating, Parking Available, Validated Parking, Valet Parking, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Wine and Beer, Free Wifi, Live Music, Waterfront
Contribute
3.5
562 reviews
Excellent
218
Very good
124
Average
100
Poor
64
Terrible
56
Maria Elena B
Virginia Beach23 contributions
Sep 2021 • couples
A bit disappointing cultural experience for the amount of money they charged for the luau .
It lacked Hawaiian authenticity & warmth , in comparison to the luaus I attended in Kona Hilton or koolina cove in Oahu . There was no basket weaving, lei making or coconut tree climbing , no parading of the roasted pig or any Hawaiian activities.
The featured dancers presented a beautiful show , the singer and her accompanying band were wonderful.
The food service staff were nice and helpful . The bartender was great . The food selection was ordinary. The steak , fish & chicken were extremely overcooked and therefore very dry . The salad was fresh and the tuna poke was delicious . The dessert was not that all impressive . Coconut & pineapple cake were dry & taste old .
The table set up was very nice - facing the stage . The event was to start 530 pm and ends 830 pm . Everyone got bored I’m
assuming at 730 pm & started leaving . The host and emcee tried to be funny and was very entertaining. Overall - for the money they charged for the meal , cocktails & show is way too much for what is worth .
Written September 12, 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.
Teresa P
7 contributions
Aug 2021 • none
I live in Kauai and attended the Grand Hyatt Luau with company. It is more expensive than the other luaus, but was the only one available for our dates. Because of Covid restrictions, the tables were spaced and everyone had private tables for their party. I loved that. Most luaus put you at a long table with 50 or more people. We all had a great view of the stage. There was music all night and the musicians and singers were excellent. The MC seemed unprepared and unprofessional. He forgot names and the words to the one song he sang. Not sure if he was last minute fill-in or just not prepared. The Grand Hyatt was also having trouble with the sound system that night. It was not loud enough.
Our waiter, Bernardo, was wonderful, and kept our glasses full and our plates removed. The meal was typical luau fare and we were allowed to go for seconds. The haupia had jello in it, so I didn't like that. I love haupia and wanted just that.
The hula dancers were excellent and came out at least 6 times in different costumes and danced different dances. They were so good, but the star of the show was the fire dancer at the end. He was amazing!! The best fire dancer I have ever seen.
I probably would not choose this luau because of the price, but the fire dancer made it worthwhile.
Written August 9, 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.
Nick M
2 contributions
Nov 2022 • none
The hotel grounds are exceptional. But I cannot say that for the food or the show. The latter was very average with exception of the guy dancing with fire. The food was already cold by the time our group was allowed to serve ourselves. There was an open bar with a few drinks, 2 varieties of red wine, a few beers and cocktails.
In summary, the event is expensive, the real price after all is about $222 per person. For that money one could have a better luau.
Written December 1, 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.
travelbug31970
Washington DC31 contributions
Dec 2019 • none
We attended the very overpriced Luau at the Grand Hyatt Kauai on Dec. 24. The Luau was moved indoors, due to rain. Of course, this was not there fault, and they did a good job of setting up rows of tables in the ballroom. However, the experience felt sterile and unpleasant. The dancers did a fine job on the small stage at the front of the room. The food was mediocre at best. The worst part was the waitress who physically shoved people aside to refill food platters. When someone said, "Merry Christmas," to cheer her up, she snapped back: "Yeah, some merry christmas! I'm 64 years old, and i have to work on Christmas Eve! Put that in the comments!!". So, in honor of her request, here it is! She went on to block our reentry into the dining area, shouting and pointing to a roast beef table, which we were not interested in. The value of the meal and entertainment were a fraction of what we paid.We've been to many Luaus around the Hawaiian Islands over the years, and even accounting for the weather, this was the absolute worst all around. I really think they should have offered a refund or raincheck, rather than trying to make this work indoors.
Written January 2, 2020
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.
Tara B
San Jose7 contributions
Feb 2020 • none
We've been to several luaus & the location really made this one extra special! Our teenage daughter & her friend were able to learn a dance on stage. The food was good & I really enjoyed the Kona Brewing beers included with the meal because mai tais are a bit too sweet for me. Lastly, be ready for the hefty price tag because the pictures they took were fabulous so we couldn't resist buying the downloads!
Written February 23, 2020
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.
asitis63
18 contributions
Jan 2020 • none
I don't think anything was left off the menu at this Luau and all of the food including all the Hawaiian items were delicious. Entertainment started as people began arriving with live Hawaiian music, and proceeded to hula dancing when the food was served, and ended with a fire knife dance that looked beautiful and dangerous. Some of the better drinks I had on this island visit were served at this luau. Our hostess and drink server Debbie was outstanding!
Written February 6, 2020
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.
Becky B
8 contributions
Oct 2021 • couples
This was akin to a luau someone threw together in their backyard. Food was mediocre. Entertainment was pathetic. I can’t blame the performers or staff, they did a good job for their skill set. But when you are playing over $400 a couple, expectations are higher. The value I would place on this would be about $50-75 a plate. Shameful and sheisty for a Hyatt production. When after 45 minutes of the elderly trio playing snoozetown music we asked our server what the deal was, he explained that due to Covid and the county government things have been downsized significantly. However, the price hadn’t. I guarantee you the performers and staff made little money while the Hyatt pocketed gobs. We were very disappointed in the caliber of the event - very low budget - the setting gave no indication that you were at a luau, no tiki torches, no history, no culture, no excitement. A forgettable experience.
Written October 28, 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.
Anonymous
4 contributions
Aug 2022 • none
A few friends/family members had told us that the Luau's offered on each island are not worth the price. My wife and I ended up booking this Luau since it was our first trip to the Hawaiian islands and we were staying at the Grand Hyatt Kauai. We are so glad we did and had the opposite opinion of the previous recommendations we received. Our waitress/bar tenders were excellent and I had a new Mai Tai waiting at my seat each time I left to get food or go to bathroom. Our waitress came by regularly to check on us and see if we wanted to try different drinks. The show was great and you could tell the host has been doing this for many years. We learned a lot about Hawaiian culture and enjoyed the live music. The food is served buffet style and I went up for extra servings of the Huli Huli chicken and pulled pork several times. My wife & I were able to meet several friendly people at our table and there were not too many children running around. Definitely get there early because they were serving before 5:30 and seats started to fill up quickly up front. We highly recommend booking this Luau at the Grand Hyatt Kauai if you have never done one.
Written September 4, 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.
MJ H
1 contribution
Nov 2021 • family
Save your money, and do not attend their luau. In fact, it didn’t even feel like a luau. In my opinion, do not even bother hosting a “luau”, Hyatt, if you cannot offer a true luau experience. The event was indoors, not even in an outdoor setting. It was like a theatre show with terrible lighting. The food was only decent, not the quality you would expect at a venue charging $200 per person. The pork and fish was good, but the steak was hard as a rock, and the chicken was bland. The drinks were good, but our poor server was running around with too many tables to adequately serve. They refused to put our family at the same table because we purchased our tickets separate, even though they could’ve easily slid the two tables together. It was clear that customer satisfaction is not their goal. Overall, I found this to be a boring, overpriced experience, and regret attending. Hyatt, you need to really evaluate your price for this subpar experience. Perhaps, if prices reflected the true quality of what was delivered, this review would’ve been better. Hyatt needs to appropriately advertise this mock luau so people understand that it’s not a traditional luau experience.
Written November 10, 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.
Dr_C_and_E
Orange County393 contributions
Oct 2021 • couples
Arrive early to walk around Grand Hyatt’s fantastic beach front property. Be sure check in for Luau by 5:20pm; they start seating people promptly at 5:30pm. (If heavy rain is in the forecast, Luau location might be in lower level “Terrace” restaurant; otherwise it’s normally held on lawn area to the West of the lobby.) Buffet food and open bar open immediately while music plays. Luau show begins after dessert. We’ve been to 8+ Luau Shows in various places (Hawaii, French Polynesia, Guam), so we had a good idea of what to expect. This Luau Show was adorable, intimate, and very family oriented. Highlight was 6-year old boy doing an independent luau dance with a storyline of growing stronger each day. It was really well done and endearing. Yes, Luau prices at Grand Hyatt are on the expensive side, but compared to other venues on Kauai (that have 4x more attendees), this event’s size and intimacy make it worth the price.
Written October 24, 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.
LMS
San Diego11 contributions
Aug 2021 • family
Really expensive for what you get. I've been to other luaus I enjoyed much more. And-- they put us inside in a banquet/conference room on a clear night?! Not the same authentic luau experience.
Pros: Food overall was pretty good for a buffet and drinks were unlimited. Dancers are always enjoyable to watch though I felt like the costumes and dances weren't authentic. Also several of them were out of sync and made mistakes which I'm going to say is a result of covid and just recently restarting these performances. Not that I expect perfect but for the kind of money we're spending (family of 5) I don't want to see an amateur performance either.
Cons: Held inside, show seemed short, costumes weren't as authentic, dancers were out of sync. Not worth the money spent at all. **Also just realizing that gratuity is added on top of the insane price already so we paid $208 per adult and $104 per kid which is just crazy for an indoor buffet and 1 hour show. **
Way overpriced. Hugely disappointed.
Written August 12, 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.
travelinanna1
Des Moines3 contributions
Oct 2021 • none
First and foremost it is important to me to state I believe the entertainment was doing it's best. I am an avid supporter of Hawaiians and preserving their culture and I understand and support luaus being pricey hoping the performers are handsomely paid.
That being said... I have been to Kauai at least a half dozen times and I've been to several of the luaus on the island. There were some enjoyable moments. However, overall... I believe your money is best spent elsewhere. It is critical if you plan on attending a luau or any other activity in Kauai and Hawaii that you plan as far ahead in advance for an optimal experience due to the pandemic and staffing shortages.
But at the end of the day, this luau did not meet expectations and I keep very realistic expectations. The food was not good, the drinks were "ok". The staff was very pleasant. They were hustling as much as they could to serve everyone at the luau.
But when you end up paying over $400.00 for two tickets you really should get an edible meal. It was clear that most of the attendees were not impressed with the food. The show was also very short with a limited number of performers and the performances could have been stronger. I know I will be back a number of times to Kauai, however, I will not be attending this luau. The Grand Hyatt is supposed to be one of the crowning jewels on the south short.... They should represent themselves better with their luaus. It almost felt shiesty.
Written October 7, 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.
Patrick W
Pooler73 contributions
Mar 2022 • none
We were so disappointed. This was our 1st time in Hawaii and our 1st Luau. It was held in a courtyard type area at the hotel. There were so very many more beautiful places at this beautiful hotel to have it. There was a huge grassy area close to the ocean for instance where a corporate group had a party days later! No ocean view at all. The food while not expecting too much, was horrible. The steak and chicken had the texture of an old tire. Really so tough that we gave up. I understand having an open bar will make an event more expensive and we don't really drink, but for the Hundreds of dollars we spent, the food could at least been edible and the location a lot nicer! The one great thing was the entertainment. The musicians were AWESOME! The dancers were Great!!! Unfortunately the overall experience left us extremely disappointed. Our next trip we will try to find another one! Also the guy who took care of our table had a habit of standing in front of many of us making it hard to see the show!
Written March 14, 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.
Michelle L
1 contribution
Feb 2023 • family
This was NOT a luau! Having been to a traditional authentic luau before, on Maui, I was sorely disappointed and upset that I spent $200 and 2 hours of my life. Even the MC called it a “Polynesian review”!
No Imu pig (full pig roasted in ground), they gave us pulled “kalua” pork, basic salad, pineapple, watermelon, coconut rice, some type of fish, poi, sautéed veggies, steak and chicken. The food tasted like I was at a generic basic wedding.
Even the locals say Gaylord’s is the best followed by Smith’s: unfortunately they were full. Call ahead before you leave on your trip and reserve the Luau, they don’t have it everyday.
Written February 26, 2023
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.
Christopher N
3 contributions
Feb 2023 • couples
For $250 per person we were expecting a pretty darn wonderful dinner and show. Nope. Decent — but not more then that — buffet of traditional Hawaiian food and good service but the evening felt more like a food line at a church picnic with an open bar. The entertainment was also decent —but not more than that— so overall we felt we seriously overpaid. And we’re Hyatt rewards members.
Written February 27, 2023
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.
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