We took our time to pick which luau we wanted to go to while visiting, deciding that Toa Luau was the best choice for us. We were excited by it’s location in Waimea Valley, which is a must-see on its own so make sure to get here with plenty of time as you get free access before the luau, and the description of it being as authentic as possible. We made sure to contact them about a vegetarian option for food as we both are and they accommodated our diets better than I could have ever expected. We were provided zucchini with taro sauce, taro slices, and mushrooms alongside what we could get from the buffet.
The luau begins with a cultural demonstration that visitors are encouraged to participate in. It really makes you feel welcomed when you’re working on cleaning food for the performers to prepare for themselves and making small leaf crowns for each other. Everyone is encouraged to interact with each other and the performers, giving a great feeling of community. Cousin Billy, the luau host, makes sure to check in on everyone and have a laugh, making everyone feel like family.
The performances take you throughout Polynesia, visiting multiple islands and cultures, culminating with an impressive fire dance. We left completely impressed with the entire luau and will definitely come back when we visit Oahu again.