The evening, stop by stop
The evening, stop by stop
A luau built around sunset on Kailua Bay, from the shell lei at the gate to the last flame on the water's edge.
- Check-in
A shell lei at the gate
Show your ticket at the Royal Kona Resort and a traditional shell lei goes on before you're shown to your seat.
- Golden hour
A lawn above the bay
Oceanfront seating looks straight down the lava shoreline of Kailua Bay as the sun drops toward the water.
- The buffet opens
An all-you-can-eat spread
Grilled rib eye, fresh fish, Kailua-style pork and cabbage, huli huli chicken and more come out as Mai Tais and other drinks start circulating at the tables.
- The drums start
Music, song and dance
A live Polynesian revue carries the evening forward in rhythm as the sky over the bay keeps changing colour.
- The stories unfold
Island by island
Dancers move through the music and chants of the South Pacific, the stage lit against a darkening ocean.
- Fire on the water's edge
The Samoan fire-knife finale
The night closes with a Samoan fire-knife dance — Siva Afi — blades wrapped and lit, spun along the shoreline rail.
The listing shows two different check-in times — your voucher carries the one that applies to your date, so check it before you leave the hotel.
Kailua-Kona after dark
Kailua-Kona after dark
A fishing village that became a resort coast
Kailua-Kona is the largest town on the Big Island's west side, grown up along a shoreline that was a small fishing village within living memory. The hotels and resorts along Aliʻi Drive now line much of the bay, and the Royal Kona sits right at the water's edge.
A king's old capital on this bay
Kamehameha I ruled from Kailua-Kona before he finished uniting the islands in 1795, and the settlement later served as his kingdom's capital. Ahuʻena Heiau, his restored temple platform, still sits right on the water a short walk from the resorts.
Warm, dry and built for an evening outdoors
The Kona coast is routinely among the warmest spots in the United States in January, with a dry, semi-arid climate and around 19 inches of rain a year — part of why an open-air oceanfront evening works here most nights of the year.
Where the lūʻau itself began
The lūʻau as we know it traces to 1819, when King Kamehameha II broke the kapu system of separate dining by eating publicly with women at a feast — the moment Hawaiian tradition marks as the first lūʻau. The word itself comes from lūʻau stew, a taro-leaf dish served at those early gatherings.
General or VIP seating
General admission or VIP seating
| Seating | What's included | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| General admission | Oceanfront buffet seating, the open bar and shell lei greeting, with the full Polynesian show and fire-knife finale. | Anyone who wants the whole evening without paying for a closer seat. |
| VIP seating package | Premium center-stage seating with priority buffet access, plus a kukui nut lei and a souvenir tiki mug to keep. | Groups and couples who want to be close to the stage and skip to the front of the buffet line. |
Before you go
Before you go
Your check-in time
GetYourGuide's listing shows two different gate times for this luau — go by the one printed on your voucher rather than guessing, and plan to arrive on time.
Parking at the resort
If you're not staying at the Royal Kona Resort, parking is available on site on a first-come, first-served basis; validation is $5 at check-in, by debit or credit card only.
If the weather turns
Heavy rain moves the evening indoors at the resort; if the luau itself has to be called off outright, guests are offered a refund or a rescheduled date.
Sitting with your whole party
If your group is booking across more than one order, call the venue ahead to arrange seating together — tables otherwise fill on a first-come basis as guests arrive.
Getting there
The Royal Kona Resort sits on Aliʻi Drive above Kailua Bay, on the edge of downtown Kailua-Kona.
Photos of the night
Souvenir photos from the evening are offered for purchase; there's no obligation to buy one.
Read before your evening
Read before your evening
The Voyagers of the Pacific Luau, from the gate to the fire finale
How a 2.5-hour evening above Kailua Bay unfolds, from your shell lei to the last flame on the shoreline rail.
Read this guide → course by courseWhat's on the buffet at Voyagers of the Pacific
The all-you-can-eat spread and open bar that come with every seat, plus the dietary options on offer.
Read this guide → the settingKailua-Kona after dark: the town behind the bay
What the resort coast above Kailua Bay used to be, and why the evenings here run warm and dry almost year-round.
Read this guide → where it beganThe story of the lūʻau, from 1819 to tonight
How a single feast that broke an ancient taboo became the Hawaiian tradition behind every modern luau.
Read this guide → the finaleThe Samoan fire-knife dance that closes the night
Where Siva Afi comes from, and how a Samoan warrior tradition became the finale of Polynesian shows across Hawaiʻi.
Read this guide → practical notesPlanning your evening at Voyagers of the Pacific
Check-in times, parking, rain, dietary needs and sitting together — the practical side of booking this luau.
Read this guide →FAQ
Questions before you book a table
What time should we check in?
GetYourGuide's listing shows two different gate times for this luau — your voucher carries the exact one for your date, so check it there rather than guessing.
Is parking included?
No. If you're not a Royal Kona Resort guest, parking is available on site on a first-come basis; validation is $5 at check-in, by debit or credit card only.
What's included in the buffet?
An all-you-can-eat spread of grilled rib eye, fresh fish, Kailua-style pork and cabbage, huli huli chicken, coconut rolls, sweet potato-macaroni salad, poi and a seafood bar, with chocolate cake, lilikoʻi tarts and coconut panna cotta for dessert.
Are drinks included?
Yes. Mai Tais, wine, beer and soft drinks are complimentary and included with every seat through the evening.
What happens if it rains?
The resort moves the evening indoors if heavy rain is expected. If the luau itself has to be called off outright, guests are offered a refund or a rescheduled date.
Our group booked in separate orders — can we still sit together?
Call the venue ahead of your date to arrange it. Without that call, tables fill on a first-come basis as guests arrive, so separate bookings aren't guaranteed to be seated side by side.
Is the luau wheelchair accessible?
Yes, GetYourGuide lists the Voyagers of the Pacific Luau as wheelchair accessible.
Can we get vegetarian or gluten-free food?
Gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan options are part of the regular buffet. The kitchen doesn't take further special menu requests beyond those.
Book your evening
Pick your evening
Open the full listing on GetYourGuide to see dates, party size and the current fare before you reserve.
More evenings in Kailua-Kona on GetYourGuide
A lawn above Kailua Bay, a Hawaiian buffet and an open bar, and a Samoan fire-knife finale as the sun goes down.
Reserve your table on Kailua Bay ↗This is a starting fare for one guest. Pick a date on GetYourGuide and the total for your whole party appears in your own currency before anything is charged.