Grand Hyatt Kauai Luau

Do not come for a wedding. Russell the little guy/​bartender gets overwhelmed and closes the bar because of it. Especially for weddings it’s not his night.

My 2 kids (ages 12, 15) and I had a wonderful time. I was a bit worried because I paid for the luau before seeing that it only has 3 stars on Unilocal.The only negative of the whole evening was waiting in the heat before going in. We were told to arrive at 5, and by that time the line was pretty long. We waited maybe 20 minutes, and then were seated. There were a lot of people in front of us in line and still we found seats front middle table. Great views overlooking the ocean. Delicious food and the show was even better. Just the right length, and plenty of humor from the MC. We’ve been to the Old Lahaina Luau on Maui several times and we enjoyed this one more.

We stayed at the Grand Hyatt and the hotel was great. The only disappointment of our 8 days was the Luau. For what you pay you would expect a lot more. Apparently they thought it was going to rain, so they moved it inside. SO there were not crafts for kids or activities as advertised. IT never rained and the food was not very good. We have been to other Luau’s and this was just not up to expectations.

I agree with one of the prior reviews that says that you might enjoy this more if this is your first luau. Unfortunately, we had been on Oahu before heading to Kauai and I went to a luau there that was awesome, much cheaper, and much better. The Grand Hyatt luau was a disappointment.
First of all, after taxes it’s over $ 100 per person. Yes, you do get bottomless drinks which include wine, beer, and Mai Tai’s. The Mai Tai’s were very watered down in my opinion. I had at least 6 – 7 and did not even catch a buzz.
The food was mediocre. My taro buns were good and my personal favorite is the pork at any luau. The pork was decent but not the best I’ve had. You can go back for food as much as you’d like. The dessert table is large and has options for anyone.
The show was not that good to me and had too much talking. The DJ was just okay, but he didn’t look Hawaiian and was wearing slacks rather than anything remotely native to the islands. And actually, there was a point in the show when the girls come up and model the sarongs to push you to buy one. It was very much a sales pitch which irritated me. The fire show was also not as long as I would have liked.
The waiters are nice and always keep your glasses full. We got to go to the outside show and the grounds were nice. It was also nice that it was on the hotel property.
Unfortunately, I don’t think it’s worth the price for the show, food, etc. I likely won’t be returning the next time I’m in Kauai.

This luau was great! PLEASE NOTE: I experienced the luau in the garden location — I’ve heard this is the best and the luau really suffers in the other two locations.
I loved the food — very fresh and the pork was the best. Unfortunately, no imu ceremony. But the rest of the show makes up for it.
The show was great! The hula girls were wonderful and then men too! Note: this is an MC dominated show, so if that’s not your thing, look elsewhere.
I really enjoyed the table service, since I’ve been to many other luaus and you have to wait in a long line for a single drink.
Overall, I thought this was a great experience and would definitely do it again!

Is it expensive? Yes at over $ 100, but everything is expensive in paradise. We were fortunate to attend the luau out on the grounds of the Hyatt. I definitely would not want to attend if it had been inside the ballroom. If you have flexibility in your schedule I would call the day of the luau and make sure it is outside that day. The Mai Tai were a bit watered down, but still tasted great. I had 5 of them. All other alcohol and food is unlimited, so get your eat and drink on! I have been to a few other resorts on this island and I must say the Hyatt quality overall for their restaurants and functions is quite good. This has been my second luau as an adult and this one was way better than the one on the top floor of the parking lot at Hilton Hawaiian Village in Waikiki. The dancers and music were good, the host was a little bit more of «lounge» singer than I’d prefer, but he still did a good job to keep things informative and fun.

Having been to several other luaus over the years, I’d call this one mediocre, and would recommend people look elsewhere if they want a great experience.
The good parts: The food was plentiful and tasty, the all you can drink mai tais were good (though weak), and the performers worked their butts off.
The less than good parts: We came to see a showcase of island dances, outfits, stories, food, and performances. And we definitely got some of that. But the format centered around the MC, and the rest was sort of a side show. We didn’t come to see an MC make speeches, sing songs, interact with the crowd, and generally hog the spotlight. (I don’t blame him, I think it has more to do with the format of the show, and the fact that he has to fill time while they use the same recycled performers to prepare for the next part of the performance.) Most of the people around us echoed the same feeling.
Another problem we faced was the event being indoors, and the tables being aligned in a way that we can’t see anything in front of us. We spent the majority of our time trying to see around the 30 people blocking our view, and missed a lot of what was going on. That was made worse by the fact that we got there very early to get good seats, only to find that EVERY one of the tables anywhere near the stage were reserved. The best we could do was more than halfway back. No need to show up early, folks, it won’t matter.
One reason we chose this luau was I thought I read in a previous review that it’s free for people staying at the Grand Hyatt. Nope! You pay what everyone else pays. Oh well.
Overall, the show was OK, and the food was good. But I wouldn’t recommend it if you’re looking for a great luau experience.

Our family of 16 (5 being kids) used this luau as our daughter’s wedding reception. And it was PERFECT! We had a small ceremony on Shipwreck beach, then photos and just walked on up to luau. We were welcome with drinks, entertainment was just enough to hold small kids attention and keep the adults entertained too. Plus our new son-​in– law was coaxed onto stage to perform. The service was stellar, never went without any beverages, the food was all great! Plus the coffee and dessert stations were off the charts! Thanks to the performers, wait staff, and the catering department!

I have been to several Luau’s over the years. This was very good and the food was also pretty good. But the show was «Awesome»

First time luauer here! Um we got stuck in the ballroom and that was tough and underwhelming.
Food was soooooo Dang good! I loved how the host went through the islands and shared a short story before each dance. They didn’t pull too many people out of the audience but definitely made sure they recognized where you’re from, etc. Good for kids as well!
Great dancers. Good host. Pray you go on a day it’s sunny all day ansdyou’re not stuck in the ballroom watching the gorgeous sunset.

If you are reading this your probably ⁵⁰⁄₅₀ on buying tix. You probably heard by now that it’s kept indoors most times. We just went on 6÷8÷14 and it was held outdoor in the garden.
Here’s my take:
Your on vacation. Have fun. People complain about the food not being the best. It was fine. It’s actually good. If your a food critic and want the best food then don’t come to a luau. There is plenty on the menu to enjoy. The Hyatt has the menu online.
As far as the show goes, It’s just that a show! At times it will be cheesy other times pretty cool like the fire dance. It’s worth the $ 100 tag because I’m sure you wasted enough money on other things like stupid souvenirs that will end up sitting in a junk drawer. Enjoy the show. Indoors/​outdoors it’s all good. If it means that much to you go to the Sheraton where they are more likely to have it outdoors
We preferred the Hyatt because we were staying there and can drink all we can! Are the Mai Tais watered down? Yah! And Soo what. Have six !! No one is stopping you. Or just have beer or wine
Ok I’m done here :)

No, just no. If there is any possibility that this will be held indoors due to rain cancel, just CANCEL. They have a a 48hr cancellation policy. It is not worth it to sit indoors to experience this. The food is decent, by no means excellent. The dancers and performers are great. I do not want to take away any admiration for their performance. The women know their hula, the men are great. The whole experience would have been fine if it had been held outdoors. Of course, the Hyatt cannot stop the rain. We customers can be sure to check the weather report and CANCEL if rain is forecasted.

I think that if this is your first luau, you might think it’s great just the way it is. I’ve been to other luaus that were better and much less expensive and I really wasn’t impressed by this one. The food was fine but not great, the performers were okay, though a couple of the men seemed to be filling in for regulars or something because they were a step behind the entire time. The alcohol was included in the price but selection was very limited and also watered-​down. My husband had 7 Mai Tais and wasn’t intoxicated in the least. Our waiter wasn’t very attentive and we had to go to the bar to get our own drinks several times. If this luau cost $ 50 instead of $ 100, I would say that it’s worth it. For the amount you pay, I think you should get more.

We had so much fun at the Luau!!! The entertainment was super good. The food was so good! I wish I could of eaten more. Of course the mai tais are flowing all night which can be dangerous. Bring your wallet because they have some local art and jewlery you can purchase. Along with beautiful leis. We have gone to this luau two times and has been really fun. The reservation people are also super nice. I messed up my reservation and they were super accommodating. My daughter who is 3 thought the hulas girls were amazing. she was mesmerized by the whole show.

Ok, first luau so take my review with a couple grains of salt as I have nothing to compare this to. Plus it was a corporate event so I paid nothing for it. If you’re still reading this review I would recommend paying the $ 100 for the experience. Yes it is dark and no you really can’t see your plate as well as being in a well lit dining room, but hey you’re eating at night and you’re eating outside. If you want floodlights glaring down on your table put in a comment card at the front desk
Food was great, not excellent but it’s an outdoor cookout so I certainly over delivers in that regard. Meat station, seafood and Salads makeup the majority of the food choices. Service is good.
I would go again and I would consider $ 100 a good value for an authentic dinner show serving a gourmet buffet.

The food was delicious. The desserts were all awesome. There were 6 choices.
The setting was indoors in a business conference room. I didn’t go to Hawaii to feel like I was at work. If they are always having Luaus indoors, then why don’t they put some effort in putting up some type of backdrop or decorations for the walls? There were none!
The dancers were great. I call it Chippendale’s of the Pacific.
I just didn’t like the setting. I didn’t feel like I was in Hawaii.

Was here for vacation. Decided to do the Luau despite the fact that I’ve been told they’re all the same and I’d been to two previously.
Setting: The Grand Hyatt in Kauai is a one-​of-​a-​kind resort. Initially, the luau was supposed to be held in one of the quads where people could enjoy the festivities underneath a clear star-​filled night sky. Unfortunately, it was raining which caused the hosts to push the show inside into their grand ball-​room which was still gorgeous. Rating: 3.5 stars
Entertainment: The show is always the same. Several men and women who do hula dances, slap themselves a couple of times. Some guy who plays with a stick on fire. Rating: 3 stars.
Food: You have your traditional roasted pig with poi. Still not a big fan of it. Nothing truly spectacular regarding the food except the fruit. All fruit on the islands of Hawaii is fantastic so again, nothing that really makes this luau stand out. Rating: 3 stars
Waiters/​waitresses: They’re pretty attentive in clearing off your table, making sure you always have a drink, etc. Always have a smile on their face. Rating: 4 stars
Drinks: They advertise the luau as an open bar. Unfortunately, there are no blended drinks. Alcohol is limited to spiked iced tea and fruit punch. Unsure of whether or not there was beer. I don’t recall any bottles on our table. Given that some of my party was expecting lava flows and pina coladas, this was a major disappointment. Rating: 2 stars
Recommendation: Try it if you’ve never been to one before, then go for it. But once you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all. The price tag is kind of high (nearly $ 100, if I can recall) which is the equivalent of going out to a really nice dinner at a 4 – 5 star restaurant.

It’s a silly tourist trap that everybody should do at least once, then talk about how it was kind of a ripoff.
For example: The price tag of nearly $ 100 each was ridiculous. The food was good and all you can eat, which is great, but the big plus is that the booze is all you can drink. After throwing down that kind of cash, we decided we’d get our money’s worth by keeping the drinks coming. And when a mai tai usually costs $ 14, it’s quite possible that we came close.
The show was entertaining enough, with an impressive fire dancer and an MC that was good at his job. However as the sun set, it became really dark out there, as there wasn’t any lighting around the tables. Eating dinner in the dark can be a tricky undertaking, especially after consuming $ 60 worth of mai tai.
Still, we did it, and we got a story to tell from it. Not a great story, but a story nonetheless.

I think my expectations of a luau were so high that it was not worth $ 95 a ticket. Prior to attending, many people mentioned luaus are good to see only once. Then, I started thinking, «Are luaus not as fun as portrayed on TV and the movies?» The concierge at the Grand Hyatt mentioned it was good, and I couldn’t say «no» to unlimited Mai Tais, wine, and beer.
The long tables wereset up that you get to meet people for different places, which was nice. Service was slow especially if you wanted another drink. Some food was better than others. The sweet potatoes and kalau pig were delicious. The poi wasn’t as bad as everyone says it is. Everything else was just 2 – 3 stars. There was good number of desserts that I tried a little bit of everything. The coconut desserts like the pudding and cake were the best. Even though it was a buffet, there was nothing was worth getting a second serving or over indulging.
The entertainment wasn’t was as good as I had anticipated. I thought the performances I’ve seen while staying at the resort were better. I personally didn’t like the host. I just didn’t really find him charming or funny. There wasn’t too much audience participation, which is what luaus are known for. The stand out performance was the fire dancer. Overall, the dance ensemble was small with usually no more than six people on stage. The show was like a tour of the pacific from Hawaii to Samoa. It was a bit cheesy at times with the shiny disco-​like hula skirts. It was predictable especially when the whole audience sang «Tiny Bubbles.» I guess the quality is what was expected for a show that recurs every Thursday and Sunday.
Attending a luau was on my list of things to do as a Hawaii first timer. I agree with fellow travelers that it’s good to experience once.

Simply put, not worth the $ 98 per person.
Good food: the teriyaki steak was delicious along with the desserts — pineapple upside down cake and coconut cake, buffet style, unlimited wine, beer and mai tais. but the show was such a snore! I nearly fell asleep through the hula dancing and fire act wasn’t impressive. Also, the luau they put on was indoors due to «weather restrictions» yet there was another restaurant with open outdoor seating and a live musical show going on at the Hyatt AT THE SAME TIME!