Honest Review of Voyagers of the Pacific Luau: Is It Worth It?
Is the Voyagers of the Pacific Luau worth it?
It’s a nuanced answer: Yes & No…
✅Yes because: I walked away happy with the yummy food, unlimited drinks, sunset ocean views, and festive entertainment.
❌ No because: I wish there were more pre-show activities, I think the “professional” photo is a rip-off, and I’m not gonna lie: it’s NOT cheap.
If you’re planning a trip to the Big Island, there’s a good chance that attending a luau is on your bucket list. If so, I’d say Voyager’s absolutely delivered the luau experience most people are hoping for on a Hawaiian vacation.
In this comprehensive review, I’ll break down the details to help you decide if Voyagers of the Pacific Luau is the right fit for YOU and your next Hawaiian itinerary.
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Join a festive night of good food and fun performances!
Key Takeaways
- Great for first-timers – Voyagers of the Pacific delivers exactly the classic Hawaiian luau party experience most visitors are hoping for.
- Unlimited drinks included – The open bar is generous and the cocktail selection is wider than the website implies.
- Sunset ocean views from every seat – Even the last row has a clear sightline, thanks to the sloped ground and oceanfront stage.
- Arrive early for closer stage seats – Gates open at 4:30pm and tables fill up fast. Arrive by 4:30pm if proximity to the stage matters to you.
- Food is buffet-style with classic Hawaiian dishes – Kalua pork, teriyaki beef, island fish, coconut rolls, and haupia pudding are all on the menu.
- Family-friendly entertainment – Kids (and adults) get a poi lesson before the show, and the performances cover multiple Polynesian island traditions.
- VIP tickets come with a few extras – Kukui nut lei, souvenir tiki mug, pre-assigned seating up front (no need to arrive super early to claim a seat), and a photo included in the price.
- Budget over $190 per person – It’s a splurge, but if a luau is on your Hawaii bucket list and you can afford it, Voyagers is a good choice.
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Venue and Atmosphere
Check-In
I reserved my luau tickets the day before coming in January. However, I do know that they can sell out a few performances in advance, especially in the summertime, so I would book as soon as you know your dates just to be safe.
Voyagers of the Pacific is located on the grounds of the Royal Kona Resort in the space between their two buildings.
When you arrive, you’ll check in at the front tiki hut and get a wrist band. If you used the Royal Kona Resort’s parking lot, you will also get your parking validated here.
The first thing you’ll want to do is find your seat.
Rows of folding tables with waterproof tablecloths are arranged to create a communal seating area. Each row is made up of a few tables pushed together to form one long, family-style seating.
Once you’ve picked where you are sitting, if you get up from the table you can “claim your seat” by leaning the chair against the table so no one takes it.
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A (cheap) shell lei is placed on the table at every seat, so you might want to pick your seat based on the shell lei you like the best!
VIP seats get a kukui nut lei instead, as well as a souvenir tiki mug, and seats do not need to be claimed as they are pre-assigned.
The stage is set against an ocean backdrop, with a hut attached to the left where the live musicians played, adding to the festive atmosphere.
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Seating
General admission seating is unassigned so people arrive as early as possible to claim seats closer to the stage.
The gates open at 4:30pm, but by the time we arrived at 4:45pm, most of the tables were already full.
On the plus side, we weren’t standing in a long line waiting to enter. The downside was we didn’t get close stage seating.
We ended up in one of the last rows of tables BUT we were fortunate to snag an end seat, which gave us a clear line of sight to the stage without any obstructing heads at our table. The ground slopes slightly, giving even the last row a clear view of the stage, so being farther back didn’t detract from the experience at all.
VIP seats are right below the stage and are pre-assigned private tables per party.
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Take a Picture
To the left of the stage, there is a small corner down by the water with a plot of sand where luau photographers will take your picture with the ocean backdrop.
At the end of the evening, they sell the 4×6 printed photo for about $25.
If you have a VIP ticket, the photo is included in the price.
💁♀️ Tab’s Trip Tip: Honestly, you could capture a similar photo on your phone and print it later for less than a quarter at Walmart.
Culture Lessons & Arts
One of the dancers came out to teach kids (and adults) poi. Poi is a form of dance originating from the Māori people of New Zealand, where performers rhythmically swing tethered weights in the air. Traditionally, poi involves the use of balls on strings that are swung in circles and loops.
Only one little girl took advantage of getting a “private” lesson, but I had fun just watching them.
A couple of local artists were onsite, selling their work, including beautiful woodcarvings by one of them.
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Beware the Sun
There isn’t any shade at the tables, so for the first hour, until the sun sets, it was rather warm. I saw some smart ladies who brought paper fans with them.
But more important to note was how the sun, being at a low angle, was glaring and blinding.
You might want to bring a sun hat and/or sunglasses for this part of the day.
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Food and Drink
Unlimited Drinks
I loved that the alcohol drinks were unlimited.
As guests arrived and got settled in, waiters circulated the tables with trays of premade cocktails. If they didn’t have a drink you wanted, you could also ask them and they would bring it to you later.
If you missed the first pass, it might take 10-15 minutes before another tray came by.
Thankfully, we could also get drinks ourselves from the tiki hut open bar. I was surprised at the selection of included cocktails because the website only implied that it was only mai tais, standard well cocktails, beer, and wine that were offered.
Their cocktail list included:
- Passionfruit Punch*
- Mai Tai
- Screwdriver
- Margarita
- Bay Breeze
- Whiskey Sour
- Tequila Sunrise
- Scotch on the Rocks
- Vodka and club soda
- Rum and pineapple juice
- Gin and tonic
- Whiskey Coke
*My favorite cocktail on the menu
Wisely, these cocktails aren’t very strong. I am a bit of a lightweight and had five drinks throughout the night but it only felt like I had about two.
By the end of the evening, I did see a group of plastered people, but thankfully they didn’t disrupt the night. I do wonder how often they have to kick people out for being too unruly…
For non-alcoholic drinks, there was a table with self-serve large fruit punch bowls and icy cold bottled water. There was also probably sodas, I just don’t remember.
All-You-Can-Eat Buffet
Dinner was efficiently set up and ran relatively swiftly and smoothly.
The MC announced that dinner was served under the popup tent and tables would be released by the waitstaff.
VIP guests were the first in line at the buffet.
A nice perk of sitting toward the back was that we were among the first general admission tables to reach the buffet.
Inside the tent, two long tables were arranged with identical dishes, allowing us to serve ourselves from either side. So while outside the tent there were two lines, inside the tent it split into four lines, helping to keep everything moving quickly.
I wouldn’t say the buffet was extensive, but it was varietal with enough options.
Their menu included:
- Mixed Green Salad
- Sweet Potato-Macaroni Salad
- Waipio Valley Poi
- Local Pineapple
- Coconut Rolls
- Teriyaki Beef
- Kalua Pork & Cabbage
- Steamed Fresh Island Fish
- Stir Fry Vegetables
- Steamed White Rice
The dessert table was just outside the buffet tent. You could grab it now or come back later if you wished.
Desserts included:
- Coconut cake
- Hawaiian haupia pudding
- Fresh papaya
Although there isn’t an option to request special dietary needs, the menu incorporates a lot of gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan options already, so most dietary restrictions are already accommodated.
I was happy with the quality of the food. The meats were juicy and flavorful, the most important part in my opinion lol. And I thought the coconut bread rolls were unique.
I tried the poi because, of course, you have to. But while I really wanted to like it, I’m glad I only took a tasting size!
It was easy enough to go back for second helpings of dishes once everyone had been served.
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Entertainment and Performances
As the sun began to reach the horizon, guests began pulling out their phones en masse to capture the sunset. You’d think there was a celebrity sighting lol!
Male performers wove through the crowd, lighting tiki torches and performing a lively, celebratory dance onstage.
Following them, a solo hula dancer welcomed the evening and set the stage for the upcoming entertainment.
While we were still enjoying our dinner, a lineup of Polynesian dance performers took the stage, each representing different islands through traditional dance styles and vibrant costume changes.
The MC introduced each new performance so we knew which island they were representing and stories they were telling.
At one point, members of the audience were invited onstage to learn and perform a short dance in front of everybody. As expected, some hammed it up while others were mortified of being there lol.
In between one of the performances, the MC took time to recognize guests celebrating special occasions like birthdays, anniversaries, and honeymoons.
These announcements could be given to hosts as you entered the luau or if you called them ahead of time.
It made for a bit of audience bonding as we all clapped in celebration for each other.
The night ended with the ever exciting Samoan fire knife dance, fire-lit batons twirling this way and that way and even some fire eating! It was a perfect way to wrap up the evening’s performances.
Once the performance ended and people began leaving, we had the opportunity stand next to the stage for close-up photos of the dancers. However, getting on stage with them was not permitted.
After that, we headed into our hotel room at the Royal Kona Resort, which was great because we didn’t have to fight any traffic out of the parking lot or worry about who’s sober enough to drive.
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Is Voyagers of the Pacific Luau Worth It?
Let’s be real. Attending a luau is NOT cheap! With tickets running over $190 per person, it’s a hefty price for a night out.
As someone who values…value, I find it hard to say that the cost of a luau is worth the price.
Is it fun? Sure is!
Does it fulfill the Hawaiian luau fantasy for most visitors? To an extent, yes.
I know that a luau is high on many people’s Hawaii bucket list, but from a value perspective, it’s a bit difficult to recommend it solely for the food and performance.
However, if you have the budget and want to experience a luau, Voyagers of the Pacific is a solid choice.
And if you’re staying at the Royal Kona Resort, it’s a no-brainer to attend this one, as you can simply walk back to your room afterward, avoiding the need for a designated driver.
So, while I can’t call it a fantastic value, if attending a luau is on your list (and you won’t go into debt by going), this one is definitely worth considering!
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FAQs
What’s included in the ticket price?
General admission includes an all you can eat buffet, most drinks (including alcohol), shell lei, dancer teaching game, entertainment. VIP admission also includes a kukui nut lei, pre-assigned seating, tiki souvenir mug, first in line at buffet, and one photo per group.Premium Seating
How long does the luau last?
The luau goes from 5pm to about 7:15pm.
What’s the best time to arrive?
If you want the closest seating to the stage possible, arrive early. Gates open at 4:30pm and it fills up fast.
Are kids welcome, and is the experience family-friendly?
Yes! The buffet style makes it easy to pick and choose foods that children will eat and performers will give a fun dance lesson before the show. Plus kids’ admission is discounted.
What should guests wear?
There’s no specific dress code, but most people like to dress up. Hawaiian shirts are popular for men, while women often wear cocktail dresses or maxi skirts. However, shorts and a tank top are perfectly fine too. I’d recommend bringing a light cover-up, as it can get a bit chilly once the sun goes down.
What are the parking options?
You can get your parking validated for the Royal Kona Resort parking lot when you check in for $5 instead of the normal fee of (I think) $25. Otherwise, it’s walkable from many locations on Ali’i Drive.
How accessible is the venue?
The luau grounds are wheelchair accessible. The photographer will even come to your table if you can’t make it to the beach location.
Can you attend the luau without staying at the Royal Kona Resort?
Yes! All guests are welcome, you don’t have to be staying at the Royal Kona Resort.
What happens if it rains?
If you get rained out, depending on if the luau has started already or not, you will get a refund or partial refund. They may also move the luau indoors.
Is Voyagers of the Pacific Luau a tourist trap?
Yes, this luau is definitely a tourist trap. But that doesn’t make it a bad thing. The food, show, and atmosphere fulfill the classic Hawaiian luau party most people are looking for. It isn’t a local gathering, but you’ll still enjoy a fun night out.
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