michellesU8169PJ
Jul 2019
Looking to fill your afternoon? This is the place! Your Lua reservation includes entrance to the gardens and waterfall hike (which you could easily spend hours wandering). We only have ourselves a little over an hour to see and swim in the waterfall before the luau activities started and we wish we would have had more time because the gardens looked gorgeous! It was a one mile paved path to the waterfall which I think we only found tiring because we had done the Manoa falls hike earlier in the day. Easy walk on a wide paved path made it great for the whole family. Give yourself at least an hour and a half before the luau. Then...the luau....Amazing!!! We started with receiving a lei and being led through the grounds by a personal guide as he showed us our table, explained the evening itinerary, and showed us to the area for cultural activities. We could try weaving headbands as well as try our hand at traditional meal preparation (opening coconuts, shaving coconuts, preparing breadfruits and green bananas, and roasting cacao beans which became a delicious espresso like hot chocolate drink later). We then watched them prepare a dinner over a rock fire and climb trees. We then participated in a traditional welcome ceremony which was followed by our delicious buffet meal of pork, rice, pasta salad, garden salad, Hawaiian rolls, fruit, and dessert. We chose the silver seats and had NO problem seeing or being part of the action as the staff is very attentive throughout the evening conversing with you and engaging you in every activity. You feel like family by the end of the night.the luau did a fantastic job of illustrating the traditions of many of the different island cultures and, of course, the fire dancing was incredible. Loved the drumming and the family of singers - incredible musicians! They keep it small (noore than 200 guests) so there really isn't a bad seat in the house! It felt genuine and intimate and was truly a win. It sounds like the staff was mostly family or college students, so make them your luau choice! You won't regret it!