Luau Kalamaku on Kauai: Which Ticket Is Worth It?
5 min read
Most visitors should book the standard Luau Kalamaku with Buffet Dinner & Show. It is one of the most-reviewed experiences in our Kauai listings, with 1,008 reviews and 4.5, and it costs €159.46. The higher tickets change where you sit, and with the VIP ticket what you eat and drink, not the show itself.
What the evening consists of
Luau Kalamaku takes place at Kilohana Plantation, on the Kaumualii Highway in Lihue. The three buffet tickets describe the same programme: a lei greeting, a craft fair, the unearthing of the pig from the imu, dinner, and a main show of about 45 minutes that tells of a voyage between Tahiti and Kauai, with hula, live music, fire-knife and fire-poi dancing; the VIP page describes the same show after a lei greeting, champagne toast and seated dinner, so check its booking page if the craft fair or the imu matter to you. The standard booking lists about 3.5 hours in total.
The four tickets compared
| Ticket | Duration | From | Rating | What changes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luau Kalamaku with Buffet Dinner & Show | 3.5 hours | €159.46 | 4.5 from 1,008 reviews | Buffet and open bar, standard seating |
| Elevated Seating, Dinner & Show | 3.5 hours | €167.43 | 4.4 from 10 reviews | Raised seats with a better view of the stage |
| Premium Seating, Dinner & Show | 3.5 hours | €184.64 | 4.5 from 23 reviews | Seats close to the main stage |
| VIP Manor House Dinner & Luau Show | 4 hours | €210.75 | 4.7 from 90 reviews | Four-course seated dinner, champagne toast, premier seating |
What the standard ticket gets you
The buffet includes poi, salads, kalua pork baked in the imu, seasonal fish, teriyaki chicken, noodles, fruit and desserts such as haupia and pineapple upside-down cake. The open bar is part of the ticket, as is the lei greeting. Tips appear in the same list as the included items, and the listing does not make clear whether they are covered, so bring cash or a card in case. All four pages state that the menu includes gluten-free, vegetarian and vegan options and changes with the season.
Check dates and prices for the standard luau
When an upgrade makes sense
Choose seating if the show is the reason you are going, or you are travelling with children who will want to see the fire dancers. The Elevated Seating ticket and the Premium Seating ticket keep the buffet and open bar and sell the position. Both have few reviews so far, so judge them by the description rather than the rating. The Premium page states that check-in is at the front ticket office next to the manor house, which opens at 4:45 PM.
The VIP Manor House Dinner swaps the buffet for a four-course dinner at Gaylord’s Restaurant, followed by a torch-lit walk to the luau pavilion. It suits anyone who wants a seated meal without a buffet line; note the child pricing below. The page lists a choice of dishes in each course, such as shrimp phyllo, fresh catch or short ribs. It lists one complimentary drink rather than the open bar, and it has no child price: guests aged 2 to 17 pay the adult rate, and children under 2 go free but get no meal and no seat.
Practical points
The plantation train ride is not part of the price on the standard, premium or elevated pages and is sold as an extra option. Hotel pickup and drop-off are offered as paid add-ons on some options, so check which option you select. All four pages carry the wheelchair-accessible label without further details; confirm your needs with the operator before booking. The listings give free cancellation up to 24 hours ahead.
Our recommendation
Book the standard ticket unless seating matters to you. If it does, pick one of the two seating upgrades, and choose the VIP dinner only for the sit-down meal. The full list of evening experiences is on our Kauai luau and sunset tours page.
