The evening, act by act
A show the resort calls Voyages Across the South Seas, built around sunset on a lawn that looks out past Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon to the beach that carries his name.
- Doors open
Gates open with a welcome Mai Tai
The Great Lawn opens with a welcome Mai Tai in hand and live island music while your party finds its seats; your voucher shows the check-in time.
- Next
A group hula lesson
Before the main show, the cast walks the whole lawn through a short group hula lesson.
- On the buffet line
The Hawaiian and island feast
Every seating tier is called to a buffet built around Hawaiian and island dishes made with locally sourced ingredients.
- The show begins
Hawaiian melodies and Polynesian chants
Live music opens the stage portion of the night, chant and song carrying the evening from a quiet start into the full show.
- Voyages Across the South Seas
Samoan, Tahitian and Hawaiian dance
The cast moves through dances of Samoa, Tahiti and Hawaiʻi, tracing a voyage across the South Seas in costume and movement.
- The finale
A fire knife finale
Flames close out the performance on the lawn; the resort's fireworks over Duke Kahanamoku Beach follow on Friday nights only.
Gates open ahead of the show; your voucher shows the check-in time and gate for your date.
On the buffet line
On the buffet line
What's on offer changes with your seating tier; the buffet itself is Hawaiian and island cooking made with locally sourced ingredients, served all-you-can-eat.
A welcome Mai Tai
Every paid tier starts with a Mai Tai at the gate, part of the price of entry rather than an extra.
Golden Circle: one more drink
Standard seating adds one alcoholic beverage on top of the welcome Mai Tai, plus the full buffet line.
Diamond Premier: two more drinks
The venue's premier seating adds a second beverage on top of the welcome Mai Tai, alongside the same Hawaiian and island buffet.
Dietary requests
Alternative menus for dietary restrictions and allergens are available if you contact the venue directly ahead of your date.
What isn't included
Tips and hotel transfers aren't part of any tier's price.
The lawn, the lagoon and the man it's named for
The lawn, the lagoon and the man it's named for
The swimmer the beach is named for
Duke Kahanamoku grew up on this stretch of Waikiki and went on to win five Olympic swimming medals across three Games between 1912 and 1924, including back-to-back golds in the 100-metre freestyle. He later carried surfing to the world through exhibitions on his swimming tours, served as Honolulu's sheriff for over two decades, and a statue of him has stood on Waikiki Beach since 1990.
From Kaiser's Hawaiian village to the Rainbow Tower
Henry J. Kaiser opened the Hawaiian Village Hotel on this site in 1955; Conrad Hilton bought half of it in 1961 and Hilton has run it ever since. Its best-known landmark, the 1968 Rainbow Tower, carries what's said to be the world's largest and tallest ceramic-tile mosaic on its face, over 16,000 tiles across 26 by 286 feet.
Waikiki's quieter, western end
The resort sits at the Ala Wai Harbor end of Waikiki, a walk from the dense hotel strip along Kalākaua Avenue. Waikīkī itself means roughly 'spouting fresh water', after springs that once fed wetlands here, and the district served briefly as the Hawaiian Kingdom's capital in the 1790s before its beach became a getaway for royalty.
Seating on this listing
The seating options on this GetYourGuide listing
| Seating | What you get | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Golden Circle | Standard seating with a welcome Mai Tai, one more alcoholic beverage and the full Hawaiian and island buffet. | Couples and groups who want the whole evening at the standard tier. |
| Diamond Premier | The venue's premier seating, with a welcome Mai Tai plus two more beverages and the same Hawaiian and island buffet. | Anyone who wants an extra drink included with their evening. |
Compare the Golden Circle and Diamond Premier seats on this same listing ↗
Sorting the practical bits
Before you go
Which nights it runs
The Starlight Luau runs on set evenings, not nightly — check GetYourGuide to see which dates are open. Your voucher shows the check-in time for your date.
Finding the Great Lawn
Hilton Hawaiian Village is at 2005 Kālia Rd, at the western, Ala Wai Harbor end of Waikiki. The lawn overlooks Duke Kahanamoku Lagoon, a short walk from Duke Kahanamoku Beach.
Parking
Self-parking at the resort's Mid-Pacific Conference Center is validated for up to four hours with your luau ticket.
Seating for groups
Seating is first come, first served on arrival; parties of ten or more can request a reserved table directly from the venue by email ahead of the night.
Friday fireworks
The resort's fireworks run on Friday nights only, so don't count on them — most dates close with the fire knife finale alone.
Getting there
Tips and hotel transfers aren't included in any tier, so budget a taxi, rideshare or the resort's own parking if you're driving over from elsewhere in Waikiki.
Notes for the night
Notes for the night
The Starlight Luau, gate to finale
How a night on the Great Lawn usually runs, from the welcome Mai Tai to the last dance.
Read this note → the man behind the nameDuke Kahanamoku, and the beach the fireworks light up
Why a stretch of Waikiki sand and a lagoon at this resort carry one swimmer's name.
Read this note → picking a tierGolden Circle or Diamond Premier: choosing your seat
What each seating option on the GetYourGuide listing actually buys you, and who it suits.
Read this note → one night a weekFriday nights and the fireworks over Duke Kahanamoku Beach
Why only Friday nights end with a fireworks show, and how to book for it.
Read this note → the resort behind the lawnHilton Hawaiian Village: from Kaiser's village to the Rainbow Tower
How a 1950s hotel on this shoreline grew into one of Waikiki's largest resorts.
Read this note → bringing a groupPlanning a family or group evening on the Great Lawn
Seating, parking and dietary notes for bringing more than a couple to the Starlight Luau.
Read this note →FAQ
Before your night on the lawn
Will we see fireworks at the show?
The resort's fireworks run on Friday nights only, so don't count on them — on any other date the evening closes with the fire knife finale alone. If fireworks matter to your group, look for a Friday date on GetYourGuide.
Which nights does the Starlight Luau run?
The Starlight Luau runs on set evenings, not nightly. Check GetYourGuide to see which dates are open for your trip, and your voucher shows the check-in time once you've booked.
What's the difference between the seating tiers?
Both tiers include entry, the Hawaiian and island buffet, a welcome Mai Tai and the group hula lesson. Golden Circle adds one more drink on top of the Mai Tai; Diamond Premier, the venue's premier seating, adds two more drinks instead of one.
Is a welcome drink included?
Every paid tier opens with a welcome Mai Tai. Golden Circle adds one further alcoholic beverage and Diamond Premier adds two, on top of the buffet access each tier carries.
Do we need to arrange parking?
Self-parking at Hilton Hawaiian Village's Mid-Pacific Conference Center is validated for up to four hours with your luau ticket.
Can a big group sit together?
Seating is first come, first served, but parties of ten or more can ask the venue directly for a reserved table by emailing ahead of the night.
Is the Great Lawn wheelchair accessible?
Yes, the listing marks this show as wheelchair accessible.
What if our plans change?
GetYourGuide lets you cancel this booking without charge any time up to 24 hours before your night, and reserving your seats now doesn't mean paying until closer to the date.
Book your night
Choose your night
Open the listing on GetYourGuide to see which dates are open, choose your seating tier and check the fare for your party.
More of Oʻahu after dark on GetYourGuide
A resort-lawn luau on Waikiki's quieter western shore, with a feast, a hula lesson and fire under the stars.
Reserve your seats on the lawn ↗A per-person starting fare for Golden Circle seating; the checkout screen on GetYourGuide totals up your whole party in whichever currency you pay with.