With many luau offerings on the island of Oahu, we wanted to find one that would give us as authentic an experience as possible, without a lot of kitchy junk. Tao was the right choice, and the fact that the tickets included entry to the gorgeous Waimea Botanical Gardens was the icing on the cake. Be sure to arrive early enough to walk the lovely paved trail to the waterfall, where you can swim if you wish. There are changing rooms there.
Back to the luau - the entire three hours (plus) were great. There were demonstrations of food preparation, crafts, and the emcee was great - used humor to keep everyone engaged while sharing a lot of Polynesian culture and history.
The food was fantastic and plentiful. Pulled pork, chicken, salads, rolls,and fresh tropical fruit. A delicious dessert from Ted's Bakery, an island icon. You won't go away hungry, that's for sure.
Best of all were the dancers! This was no fake "hula show." These dancers were the real deal, and the traditional costumes were amazing. When they did the Maori war dance, it was easy to see how scary that would have been for any potential enemy. The women dancers were very talented - the entire show was awesome.
Another great thing about this luau is that it is limited to only 200 guests, seated at tables for ten, which makes for a much more intimate experience than many other island luaus, which accommodate twice as many people.
Highly recommended!