We were in a bnb across the street from the Mormon-run Polynesian Cultural Center which would've made their luau insanely convenient, but we opted for Toa Luau instead, based on two things. 1) previous reviewers seemed to think it was more authentic. 2) we were able to get a package that included admission the adjacent Waimea Botanical Garden, which sounded more our speed. We ended up thoroughly satisfied.
There's an element to all these shows, I gather, that recognizes the tourist clientele and so the hosts delivered their share of prerequisite jokes. But not too much of this. And there was a large exposure to Polynesian culture and history as the night unfolded that we really appreciated. The Luau performances were cut from a wide cloth with dances and songs from across the South Pacific. And of course, the entertainment value was all there, including the expected "fiery" finale. But moreover, by the end of the night, you really got the sense that it was important to these people -- many of whom come from the same family -- to keep alive key elements to their cultural past and share them with us. It felt good supporting this effort.
From a practical standpoint, the dinner show food was better than expected, as were the two included drinks. The cultural activities leading up to a demonstration of how traditional Polynesian meals are prepared were interesting. The tree climbers hammed it up a bit, but were good at what they do, and enjoyable.
The botanical garden (which you tour at your leisure for a couple of hours before the luau) was not in full bloom, but we still enjoyed it. The trail ends at a picturesque waterfall where some people who brought along bathing suits were taking a swim. There are also plaques along the way explaining the garden's history, including the many different types of hibiscus that were developed here.
If you're going to do a luau on Oahu, I would highly recommend this one. It checked all the boxes and was about as sincere a performance as you're going to get.