A luau on the Big Island at a glance
A lūʻau is a Hawaiian feast with music and cultural performances. Today's visitor luaus pair a dinner with a stage show, and many shows include traditions from other Polynesian islands as well as Hawaiian hula. On Hawaiʻi Island, the luaus you can book all take place on the Kona side.
The tickets differ mainly in what is included: dinner only, or dinner with an open bar, and how long it lasts. Current prices and dates are shown on the cards below.
Our picks: luau evenings
The show with live performances suits you if you come for the program, and the other two put the buffet and the bar first. All three are evening events, so plan the drive back.
Hand-picked tours, booked through Viator. Prices are indicative starting prices in US dollars (as of October 2026). Tap a tour for live availability and the current price in your currency.
Luau with buffet dinner and open bar
- Buffet dinner
- Open bar
- Luau ticket
A luau of two to three hours with a buffet dinner and an open bar, ticket included.
Check availability →Luau with live performances and dinner buffet
- Dinner buffet
- Live performances
- Open standard bar
Two to three hours of live performances and demonstrations with open seating and a full dinner buffet. The standard bar with beer, wine, mai tais and soft drinks is included.
Check availability →
Evening luau with dinner
- Luau admission
- Dinner
A 2.5-hour evening luau with admission and dinner included. Ask before booking which drinks are part of the ticket.
Check availability →Big Island luau tickets
Luau shows with dinner on the Kona side of the island, with live prices and availability.
Kona luau: what the tickets include
Three luau types, 2026.
Luau with buffet, open bar and show
One luau includes a full dinner buffet, an open standard bar with beer, wine, mai tais, fruit punch and soft drinks, live performances and demonstrations. It lasts 2 to 3 hours with open seating, so seats are not assigned in advance.
Luau with buffet and open bar
A second luau includes a buffet-style dinner and an open bar, also over 2 to 3 hours. The ticket covers entry to the luau; check the show program in the tour details.
Admission with dinner
A third ticket covers admission and dinner over about 2.5 hours. Drinks are not included, so plan to pay for them at the venue.
None of the three includes a hotel pickup. A luau in Kona, Hawaii, is easiest if you stay in Kailua-Kona or on the Kona coast and drive or take a taxi to the venue. The exact address comes with the booking.
Luau tickets compared
What each type includes in 2026.
| Luau type | Length | Dinner | Drinks | Seating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Buffet, open bar and show | 2 to 3 hours | Full dinner buffet | Open standard bar | Open seating |
| Buffet and open bar | 2 to 3 hours | Buffet-style dinner | Open bar | – |
| Admission with dinner | About 2.5 hours | Dinner | – | – |
For most visitors who want food, drinks and a show in one ticket, a luau with a buffet and an open bar is the simplest choice, because nothing extra needs to be paid at the venue. If you do not drink alcohol, the ticket with admission and dinner may be the better value.
Which Big Island luau to choose
These criteria help you pick the one that suits you.
What is included
Compare dinner and drinks first. An open bar changes the value of a ticket more than anything else. Read whether the bar covers cocktails or only beer, wine and soft drinks.
Seating
Open seating means first come, first served. If you want a set table, look for a seat category on the ticket or arrive early.
Length of the evening
The luaus run 2 to 3 hours. With children or after a long day on the road, the length and the drive back matter.
Children and diets
Child prices and menus are set by each luau. Check whether a child price applies and whether the buffet suits vegetarian or other diets before you book.
Location
All bookable luaus are on the Kona side. Choose one close to where you stay so the luau does not end with a long drive.
Where to stay →Food and culture at a luau
The imu is a Hawaiian earth oven. It is used, among other things, to cook kālua pork. Poi is made from pounded taro root. Not every luau shows the imu to guests, so do not expect an oven ceremony unless the program names one.
Hula is part of the Hawaiian culture presented at a luau. It is not a catch-all word for every Polynesian dance: many shows also present dances from other Polynesian traditions. Watch, applaud and follow the hosts if they invite guests to join.
A luau fits well after a day on the water, for example after a snorkel tour or a boat tour from Kona.
Hilo luau and the east side
If you stay in Hilo or Volcano Village.
There is no bookable Hilo luau; all luaus are on the Kona side. From Hilo airport to Kailua-Kona the drive takes about 1 hour 45 minutes, so a luau from the east side means a long drive back. If you split your stay, book the luau for the nights on the west side and plan the Hilo days around the waterfalls and the national park.
Luaus on other islands are covered in the guides for Maui luaus and Oʻahu luaus.
Big Island luau: frequently asked questions
Where are the luaus on the Big Island?
The bookable luaus are all on the Kona side of the island. The exact venue comes with your booking.
How long does a luau last?
The luaus run 2 to 3 hours, one of them about 2.5 hours.
Are drinks included?
Two of the three luaus include an open bar. The ticket with admission and dinner does not include drinks, so plan to pay for them there.
Is there a luau in Hilo?
Not that you can book. From Hilo airport to Kailua-Kona the drive is about 1 hour 45 minutes, so plan the luau for a night on the west side.
What is kālua pork?
Pork cooked in an imu, the Hawaiian earth oven. Poi is made from pounded taro root. Whether a luau shows the imu to guests depends on its program.