Review: KA WA‘A Luau at Disney's Aulani Resort in Hawaii
If you are heading to Hawaii, you might be dreaming of attending a luau. Here is everything you need to know about the KA WA'A - A Lū'au at Disney's Aulani Resort to help you make your decision.
KA WA'A Luau at Disney's Aulani Resort
If you are visiting Oahu, Hawaii, and you wish to attend a luau, you have probably already started your research on which one is best for you. In fact, it is highly possible that you have already added KA WA'A - A Lū'au on Oʻahu at Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa to your short list.
KA WA'A is one of several luaus offered on Oʻahu. It is held nightly at Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa in Ko Olina.
Disney describes the Luau as an exhilarating and enchanting journey through Hawaiian history. I (Kate) agree it is certainly more than just a party; it is a cultural celebration.
If you are curious about Luaus, you have come to the right place. Here is everything you need to know about the KA'WA'A Luau at Disney's Aulani to decide whether it is the right Luau for you and your travel party!
For context, I attended the luau with my husband, our 9-year-old girl, and our tween boy. All of us enjoyed it. It had something for everyone.
Location
As I mentioned, this is the Luau at Disney's Aulani Resort on Oah'u. So, if you are staying at the resort, selecting it as the luau you attend is almost a no-brainer.
It is just so convenient to enjoy a day at Aulani's beautiful beach and pools, get ready in your hotel room, and then wander over to the Hālāwai Lawn, where the Luau is held. And it is even easier to head straight back to your room for a good night's sleep after a fun-filled evening of food, drinks, and culture.
Even if you are not staying at Aulani, you can attend the KA'WA'A Luau. It is a very quick walk from the neighboring Four Seasons and Marriott hotels. And you may even find it is worth the trip from hotels elsewhere on the island.
Know Before You Go
Before you get too attached to the idea of the KA'WA'ALuau at Disney's Aulani Resort, you should know a few details. This way, if there are any deal breakers, you can move along in your research.
For one thing, there are no floral leis given out. Instead, guests receive nut leis. So, if floral leis are important to you, select a different luau to attend. Ka'wa'a does offer floral bracelets/anklets.
Additionally, there is no pig roast or anything of that nature at this luau. The absence of the pig was part of the appeal for my (Kate's) family. However, if you were hoping for that experience, you will want to research other luaus.
How Much Does the Aulani Luau Cost
The Luau at Disney's Aulani resort is quite expensive. A family of 4 will spend over $700 easily.
General seating is $200 plus tax for ages 10 and up and $129 plus tax for ages 3-9. Preferred seating is $229 plus tax for ages 10 and up and $149 plus tax for ages 3-9.
VIP Package vs. General Admission
You might wonder if the VIP Package for the Luau at Disney's Aulani is worth it. I personally purchased the VIP seating for my family because for us this was likely a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I wanted it to be the best possible experience.
There are only 3 differences between General Seating and Preferred Seating. Preferred seating includes early check-in, a complimentary digital download of the event, and priority up-front seating. Seating is assigned for Preferred. For General Admission, guests are seated as they arrive.
We had seats near the front, and our view was very good. I can't say how the view was from general seating to compare it personally, but everyone I spoke with seemed happy with it. From what other guests told me, it is possible that lining up early for general admission would land you seats just a few feet away from the VIP seating, but there are no guarantees.
Pre-show Demonstrations
The Luau begins with pre-show demonstrations and activities. After check-in, your hosts will welcome you with either a kukui nut lei or a replica of Maui's hook to wear.
You and your travel party will also have a photo with some of the cast of the Luau before the show begins. The digital downloads of your photos are complimentary if you have the VIP Package.
Enjoy pre-show activites at the Luau.
VIP ticket holders are shown to their seats first, about 10 minutes before general admission ticket holders. Once you find your seat, you can sip on welcome drinks or begin enjoying the preshow demonstrations and activities.
These activities include flower arranging, which, in this case, is essentially creating bracelets. The bracelets are an important part of the Luau, so be sure to make yours or to grab a premade one from one of the Cast Members.
You can also participate in pounding taro and ukulele lessons. And, if you wish, you can let one of the Cast Members tattoo your arms (don't worry, it is not permanent).
Once you have had a chance to enjoy the cultural activities, the luau begins. It all starts with a welcome introduction and a beautiful chant.
Food
Your hosts will release adults one table at a time to visit the buffet dinner. The meal includes a huge spread of food, and a lot of it is very good!
The menu may change seasonally, but on the night we visited, there was a Lau'ai, or salad, selection. The green salad had Waipoli lettuce, cherry tomatoes, taro & guava croutons with a papaya seed dressing. But there was also Taro Macaroni Salad, Lomi Lomi Salmon, Ahi Poke, and Poi available.
Entrees included fish, grilled chicken, braised pork, and a carving station with prime rib. Our fish that evening was Ono, but the offering will depend on the evening. The beef the evening we attended was particularly delicious and was certainly one of the highlights of the menu.
Sides included Steamed Short Grain Rice, Okinawan Sweet Potato Puree, and Seasonal Stir-Fry Vegetables, and sweet rolls.
Dessert offerings included Macadamia Nut Brownie, Haupia (Coconut Pudding), Guava Cake, Passion Fruit Cake, and Fresh Fruit. As is the case with many Disney buffet desserts, none of them were particularly memorable. The pineapple was the star of the show, which is unsurprising considering it is one of the things Hawaii is known for.
Kids Meals
For my little one, the kids meal was one of the highlights of the evening. She can be a relatively particular eater, but she thoroughly enjoyed the meal.
The buffet is not included for children. Instead, kids receive a Bento Box full of food for their meal.
The box contains mac and cheese, chicken tenders, seasonal stir-fry vegetables, and shredded braised pork. The event staff will bring more of any dish the children ask for as often as they like.
Dessert for children was a special duo: a Moana Chocolate Mini Cupcake
and a Guava Cake. Children can get extra desserts as well if they wish.
And, another delight is the kids' fruit cup. It is topped with a special Mickey-shaped marshmallow.
Beverages
The luau includes unlimited trips to the bar with 4 signature cocktails. These are Ka Wa'a Sunset (Coconut Rum, Passion/Orange/Guava Juice, and Grenadine); Tropical Punch (Coconut Rum, Pineapple Juice, Grenadine, and Dark Rum); Mai Tai (Light Rum, Sweet & Sour Mix, Pineapple Juice, and Dark Rum); and Blue Hawaii (Light Rum, Sweet & Sour Mix, Pineapple Juice, and Blue Curacao).
Beer and wine are avaliable as well. And, of course, there are also unlimited soft drinks, tea, coffee, and fruit juices.
Luau Performance
The performance itself is what the luau at Disney's Aulani resort is all about. It is filled with dancing, music, and storytelling.
Overall, it is a performance that takes guests on an enchanting journey through Hawaiian history. It teaches about the island's deep cultural roots in canoe (waʻa) exploration, which brought the first ancient explorers to the shores of Ko Olina.
There is even fire toward the end of the show, so be sure not to miss that! And Mickey and Minnie even pay a visit to the stage for a dance number or two.
It was fun for adults and children alike. Most of the action takes place on the main stage, but performers also appear in the middle of the event space so everyone presumably has a decent view.
Will Children Enjoy the Luau at Disney's Aulani?
If you wonder whether children will enjoy the show, that all depends on your particular children. You know them best. It is a long production, and it lasts about 3 hours from the time you sit down to the time you depart.
That time does include dining. It also includes a few parts early on that involve audience participation where everyone stands to dance.
My own children found it engaging. They would both attend again if they ever had another chance. However, we did notice a few little ones got antsy, and their families ushered them out a bit early.
If your children enjoy stage performances with music and dancing, they will enjoy the luau. If they have never been to a live on-stage event and you aren't sure whether they enjoy performing arts, it will be harder for you to predict whether they will enjoy the show.
To test this, you could try showing them a video of a Luau on television. If they can't sit through that in the comfort of their own homes, they probably aren't ready to sit through the live Luau.
And, if you know your children don't like stage shows at all, this is something you should probably skip. It is not a situation where you can hand them an iPad or a phone if they are having a hard time sitting through it because once it is dark, the staff strictly enforce no lighting to preserve the experience (not even phone screens, not even light-up ear headbands).
Honestly, it is too expensive to put yourself and them through something that they will not like. You can help them learn about culture through one of Aulani's complimentary tours instead.
Final Thoughts
Overall, the Luau at Disney's Aulani Resort is definitely worth doing at least once, especially if you have never been to a luau. If you would rather have a show that includes a pig roast and a floral lei, this is not the one for you.
But if you are looking for storytelling that honors the island itself sprinkled with a little Disney magic, you will enjoy KA WA'A - A Lū'au at Disney's Aulani Resort.
Want more Aulani? Here are 10 reasons you will LOVE Disney's Aulani Resort.
Have you ever attended KA WA'A - A Lū'au at Disney's Aulani Resort? Did you enjoy it? Let us know in the comments. And feel free to ask questions if there are details you still need to know.
