Your TL;DR Guide to military-family friendly activities Waikiki, Oahu
TL;DR: The Hale Koa Hotel Luau is a unique luau with a fusion of military and Polynesian culture. This luau is only for those with a U.S.A. military i.d. and their guests. With no tax and various activities prior to the actual show, this luau is great for families with children and those hoping to learn a little bit about Polynesian culture. While the food is only okay, the true star of the show is the dancing and interactive atmosphere that focuses on celebrating Polynesian culture, military personnel, and the crowd (with a section dedicated to birthdays, marriages, and honoring the troops).
- What Makes the Hale Koa Unique?
- What to Expect at the Luau: Timeline of Events and Special Activities
- Unique Aspects: Blending USA Military and Polynesian Culture
- Planning Your Own Trip: The Logistics
- From the blog
Luaus can be a bit of a tourist-y experience. And while they’re never on my “must do” list, I am more than happy to tag along if someone I know is going.
Recently, I had the chance to see the Hale Koa Hotel Luau. “Hale Koa” in Hawaiin means “house of the warrior” – very fitting for a military-specific activity. And while I’m not a newbie to the Luau scene, the Hale Koa Luau was a unique experience.
Read on for what I learned and what I think you should know before attending this event yourself!
What Makes the Hale Koa Unique?
Situated on the beach in Waikiki, the Hale Koa Hotel is a special resort for military personnel and their guests. Most of the facilities, restaurants, and events are exclusively for military folks, their dependents, and registered guests, giving the entire resort a very special community atmosphere.
It’s one of the few places where everyone actually chats in the elevator with strangers and give out their extra items (almost like a large, extended family). For the more introverted folks here, that may sound awful, but (I say this as one of you) it was actually incredibly sweet and comforting to see genuinely happy and welcoming faces as you went about your day.
The Hale Koa Hotel hosts its own luau. The luau, like everything else at the hotel, is for registered hotel guests and those with a military I.D. (reservations required ahead of time). Others are able to get tickets, but they MUST be accompanied by someone who fits the criteria above.
What to Expect at the Luau: Timeline of Events and Special Activities
Typically, at a luau, there is a variety of food and a show featuring different Polynesian dances.
The Hale Koa Luau included a little bit of this – plus some extra.
The Luau opens at 1700. When you first enter, you are given a shell lei and offered a POG (passion fruit- orange-guava juice) or cocktail.
Guests are encouraged to stay away from their tables and participate in the various activities on the lawn, while the band plays. The dancers set-up several spots where guests can make a lei bracelet, braid a palm leaf headband, and learn a little ukulele.
After some time, the band and a dancer lead a group of volunteers in an introductory hula lesson. While everyone is gathered around the dancing group, they have one of the performers scale the coconut tree and share a little bit about Polynesian culture.
Once he climbs back down, the sound of conch shells direct guests to the other side of the lawn around the underground oven where the pig is cooking.
And then, around 1800 or so, guests are directed to their tables, for dinner and the show to start.
At this point, I was expecting the dancing to begin, since that’s typically what I’ve seen. Instead, we listened to the host sing, the band play, and the performers shared a little bit more about Polynesian culture.
It wasn’t until dessert was served, closer to 1845/1900, that the dancing started. The actual food is only okay – the chicken and sweet potato were my favorite. You also have access to water, hot coffee, and hot tea throughout the event. There is a bar open in the back for additional beverages – for purchase.
I’ll touch on the rest of the show in the next section!
Unique Aspects: Blending USA Military and Polynesian Culture
Luaus are a celebration of and an appreciation for Polynesian culture. What makes the Hale Koa’s so unique is that military aspect. The performers were Polynesian, the music and dancing were Polynesian, and appreciation for this was on display the whole night.
The show also recognized the military personnel and the luau continued on with the hotel’s community-focused culture that I experienced in the Hotel’s hallways. With a special section celebrating birthdays and marriages, there were smiles all around.
Towards the end of the show, the host acknowledged all the service members and their loved ones, with a special tribute to those who have fallen. During this final song and dance, the audience members were encouraged to hold candles in honor of those who have passed.
I’ve never been to a Luau that blended these two different cultures together before and the experience felt incredibly special.
Planning Your Own Trip: The Logistics
Now, if you meet the admission criteria and are interested in attending, you may want to know a few logistics before planning your trip.
Read on below for some quick information – and feel free to let me know in the comment section if your question isn’t answered by the below! I’ll do my best to find an answer for you or direct you to the right source.
At a Glance
Hotel Address: 2055 Kālia Rd, Honolulu, HI 96815
Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday at 1700
Price: $120 or lower (reservations required – see here)
Luau Location: In between the two pools
Parking: $8 with validation (parking structure is located across the street; lobby drop-off allowed if needed)
Suitable for Children: Yes (I suggest arriving closer to 1730 so you can do the activities but don’t have to spend as much time waiting around on the lawn)
Accessible: Yes (call (808) 955-0555 to request your specific needs)
Dietary Restrictions Accommodated: Call (808) 955-0555
Tickets: Print or use e-ticket on your phone
Dress Code/Atmosphere: Casual and festive (Aloha attire welcome, but not required)
When to arrive: A line begins to form a little before 1700. The line does move quickly, but you can definitely arrive after 1700, but before 1740 and still have plenty of time to try out the activities before dinner is actually served.
The Hale Koa Luau was a special experience – one I’m glad I was able to participate in. If you are military-connected and looking for something special to do in Waikiki, I highly recommend looking into attending this event on your next trip!
Do you enjoy going to luaus? What’s the best luau you’ve attended?
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