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Tiki torches burning along a rocky shoreline at sunset

Līhuʻe & the Coconut Coast

Kauaʻi Luaus, Compared

An imu-roasted feast, hula, and fire knives. Kauaʻi’s luaus differ more in setting and show style than in price.

See our picks Compare all 4
  • 4 tours compared
  • 4 with free cancellation
  • Live prices from Viator

A luau pairs a feast, with kalua pig roasted in an imu (underground oven), with music and dance from Hawaiʻi and across Polynesia, usually ending with the Samoan fire-knife dance.

Kauaʻi’s choice comes down to two areas. Luau Kalamaku is on the grounds of Kilohana plantation outside Līhuʻe and is staged as a theatrical show in the round. On the Coconut Coast, Luau Ka Hikina and the Wailua Nui Luau are oceanfront east-side shows near Kapaʻa and Wailua Bay.

Luaus rate lower than Kauaʻi’s boat and air tours on Viator, so the setting and the style of show you prefer matter more than the stars.

Our picks

The right tour for how you travel

We compared every listing on itinerary, group size, reviews, and price. These are the ones we’d book.

Luau Ka Hikina with Dinner & Lei Greeting (tour photo) Most cultural 2 hours 25 minutes to 3 hours

Luau Ka Hikina

Luau Ka Hikina with Dinner & Lei Greeting

4.59(856 reviews)

Luau Ka Hikina, 650 Aleka Loop, Kapaʻa

Free cancellation

From$183.25
Check availability

Booked securely on Viator

Why: Hula kahiko directed by kumu hula Leilani Rivera Low, an oceanfront Coconut Coast setting, and a hosted open bar until showtime. The best-rated luau here.

Luau Kalamaku with Buffet & Show (tour photo) Biggest show 4 to 6 hours

Luau Kalamaku

Luau Kalamaku with Buffet & Show

4.32(1,837 reviews)

Luau Kalamaku at Kilohana, 3-2087 Kaumualiʻi Hwy, Līhuʻe

Free cancellation

From$186.52
Check availability

Booked securely on Viator

Why: A theatrical show in the round at Kilohana with an imu unearthing and hula lesson, plus optional plantation train-ride and hotel-transport packages.

Wailua Nui Luau at Hilton Garden Inn (tour photo) Walk from Wailua 3 hours

Tihati Productions Ltd.

Wailua Nui Luau at Hilton Garden Inn

4.54(151 reviews)

Hilton Garden Inn Kauai Wailua Bay, Kūhiō Hwy, Kapaʻa

Free cancellation

From$175
Check availability

Booked securely on Viator

Why: An oceanfront luau on Wailua Bay at the Hilton Garden Inn, with an imu ceremony, fire-knife dance, and free validated parking.

Side by side

Kauaʻi Luaus: every option side by side

  • Most cultural

    Luau Ka Hikina with Dinner & Lei Greeting

    Luau Ka Hikina

    Length
    2 hours 25 minutes to 3 hours
    Rating
    ★ 4.59
    From
    $183.25

    Families on the east side who want a culture-focused luau

    Check dates
  • Biggest show

    Luau Kalamaku with Buffet & Show

    Luau Kalamaku

    Length
    4 to 6 hours
    Rating
    ★ 4.32
    From
    $186.52

    Groups who want a theatrical fire show and optional island transport

    Check dates
  • Walk from Wailua

    Wailua Nui Luau at Hilton Garden Inn

    Tihati Productions Ltd.

    Length
    3 hours
    Rating
    ★ 4.54
    From
    $175

    Wailua and Kapaʻa visitors who want a walkable resort luau

    Check dates

  • Luau Kalamaku + Manor House 4-Course Dinner

    Luau Kalamaku

    Length
    4 hours
    Rating
    ★ 4.43
    From
    $259.69

    Couples who prefer a sit-down dinner before the show

    Check dates

Ratings, review counts, and from-prices are live from Viator and refresh daily. Prices are per person unless the listing says otherwise and change with the date you pick. Booking links go to Viator, where availability and cancellation terms are shown before you pay. We may earn a commission if you book, at no extra cost to you. Affiliate disclosure.

Ratings across review sites

How each tour rates on Viator and Tripadvisor

Viator lists reviews from its own travelers and from Tripadvisor. Here they are separately, so one site can’t hide a weak score on the other.

Tour ratings by review site
TourViatorTripadvisorAll reviews
Luau Ka Hikina with Dinner & Lei GreetingLuau Ka Hikina4.64532 reviews4.50324 reviews4.59856 reviews
Luau Kalamaku with Buffet & ShowLuau Kalamaku4.431,189 reviews4.13648 reviews4.321,837 reviews
Wailua Nui Luau at Hilton Garden InnTihati Productions Ltd.4.5294 reviews4.5857 reviews4.54151 reviews
Luau Kalamaku + Manor House 4-Course DinnerLuau Kalamaku4.59147 reviews4.0362 reviews4.43209 reviews

Figures from Viator’s partner API, refreshed daily. Google reviews aren’t included.

More options

Also worth a look

Luau Kalamaku + Manor House 4-Course Dinner (tour photo) 4 hours

Luau Kalamaku

Luau Kalamaku + Manor House 4-Course Dinner

4.43(209 reviews)

Luau Kalamaku at Kilohana, Kaumualiʻi Hwy, Līhuʻe

Free cancellation

From$259.69
Check availability

Booked securely on Viator

Kilohana or the Coconut Coast?

Luau Kalamaku is inland at Kilohana, a historic plantation estate on Kaumualiʻi Highway outside Līhuʻe, about midway between Poʻipū and Kapaʻa. Its upgrade package swaps the buffet for a four-course dinner at Gaylord’s with premium seats. Luau Ka Hikina (Kapaʻa) and Wailua Nui (Wailua Bay) are oceanfront on the east side, the easy picks if you’re staying on the Coconut Coast.

Hotels in East Side

The central, good-value base on the Coconut Coast

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What’s included

  • Dinner: all four include dinner, a buffet at three of them and a plated four-course meal with the Kalamaku Manor House package.
  • Drinks: Kalamaku and Ka Hikina host an open bar until the show begins; Wailua Nui includes alcoholic drinks for guests 21 and over.
  • Access: all four list wheelchair and stroller access.

FAQ

Questions people ask before booking

What is the best luau on Kauaʻi?

At our last check, Luau Ka Hikina was the best-rated Kauaʻi luau on Viator, with a culture-focused show directed by a kumu hula. Luau Kalamaku is the biggest production.

Are drinks included at Kauaʻi luaus?

Luau Kalamaku and Luau Ka Hikina include a hosted open bar until the show starts. The Wailua Nui Luau includes alcoholic drinks for guests 21 and over. Check each listing for details.

Can I get transportation to a Kauaʻi luau?

Luau Kalamaku sells optional hotel-transport packages, which must be reconfirmed 24 hours ahead. The other luaus expect you to drive; Wailua Nui offers free self-parking with validation.

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Luau Ka Hikina with Dinner & Lei Greeting

From $183.25

Check availability