Luaus are part of Hawaiian culture, and any trip to Aloha City is incomplete without an entertaining Luau experience.
For all first-time visitors, Luau is a Hawaiian feast with lively music and vibrant performances depicting Polynesia’s culture.
They offer the best opportunity to try authentic Hawaiian cuisine, mai tai drinks, entertainment, and get along with the locals.
When you look for the best Luaus in Hawaii and Oahu, you will come across two most popular options – Paradise Cove and Chief’s Luau.
While both shows are immensely popular and offer diverse scenes and shows, visitors are often conflicted between the two.
Hence, we will compare and contrast these two most popular luau to help you choose the one that best suits your preferences.
Vacatis Recommendation – Paradise Cove or Chief’s Luau, Which is Our Favorite
As we enjoy an engaging experience, breathtaking scenery, humorous hosts, and an authentic Hawaiin buffet, we recommend you try both Paradise Cove and Chief’s Luau.
Both are very popular and top options for tourists, but they offer unique experiences that cannot be had elsewhere.
Paradise Cove is set in a serene beach setting and adds a punch of scenic beauty to your Margarita.
There, you can try traditional Hukilau and canoe rides, interact with parrots, and play traditional Hawaiian games on the seashore.
On the other hand, Chief’s Luau is interactive and vibrant, and visitors often claim to have had an unforgettable experience of a lifetime.
Led by the world fire knife dancer champion, Chief Siely, you can enjoy top-notch entertainment that engages all visitors and does not offer a minute to get bored.
If you can only visit one of these two, your choice will come down to the ultimate experience you prefer.
For a calm seaside Hawaiian retreat, visit Paradise Cove, whereas if you choose a fun and energetic night, then opt for the iconic Chief’s Luau.
Visitors who are still divided over the feasts should read ahead as we compare Paradise Cove Luau and Chief’s Luau on various criteria and pick the ultimate winner.
Paradise Cove vs Chief’s Luau Ticket Prices
Both Luau offers various packages from basic to deluxe experience with priority access and prime seating.
The standard Luau ticket for Paradise Cove costs $150 for adults over 21, and the standard Chief’s Luau ticket is available for $140.
The Orchid Paradise Cove Luau ticket costs $210, and the top-tier Deluxe Luau tickets cost $240, including transport for adult visitors.
Similarly, the paradise experience of Chief’s Luau costs $177 and the Royal Experience is priced at $244 for all adult visitors. These tickets do not include transport.
While the standard tickets cost almost the same, the Paradise Cove packages include transport and entry, making them cheaper.
Where Can you Enjoy the Best Food and Drinks – Paradise Cove or Chief’s Luau
Food and drinks are an essential part of any Luau experience.
It is common for guests to be welcomed with Mai Tais, tropical cocktails and mixed drinks as soon as they check-in.
Paradise Cove and Chief’s Luau are no exceptions.
Paradise Cove Luau will welcome you with a complimentary Mai Tai or a cup of POG (Passion, Orange, Guava) juice.
Once you are in, there are two bars that serve various drinks, such as Laval Flow, Strawberry Pina Colada, and Beer.
Similarly, guests are welcomed with Mai Tai, beer, wine and fruit punch.
Once you enter, there are cash bars in Chief’s Luau where you can get Mai Tais, Wine, Beer, Soda, and more.
After the cultural shows in the venues, the guests are called for a buffet dinner.
The luau buffets offer traditional dishes, communal seating and a festive atmosphere. We recommend that you do not expect gourmet food.
The usual Luau buffet includes Kalua pig, fish and chicken dishes, other traditional Hawaiian dishes, and desserts.
Chief’s Luaua is the post for an authentic Luau buffet.
Their menu includes Taro and assorted rolls, white rice, sweet potatoes, slow-cooked Kalua Pork, Roasted Guava BBQ chicken, Asian-style island Fish, Poi and lomi lomi salmon.
You can also get vegetarian chow mein, fresh fruits, braised vegetables, and desserts.
They offer special vegetarian, dairy-free, gluten-free and peanut-free menus to accommodate wider dietary requirements.
While Paradise Cove Luau offers a similar menu, it also includes continental dishes.
You can try their salad bar, Macaroni Salad, hot coffee, and tea.
While comparing the food and drinks, Chief’s Luau is our pick for visitors who wish to enjoy authentic Hawaiian Cuisine or for guests with dietary requirements.
On the other hand, if you wish to try a blend of Hawaiian and continental cuisine, Paradise Cove Luau is a better option.
Which Show is More Entertaining – Paradise Cove or Chief’s Luau
Luaus are primarily attended for cultural shows and entertainment; a Luau experience is a fail if it is not entertaining.
Hence, it is important to pick a show that is more entertaining and suitable for you.
When you enquire about Hawaii’s most engaging and fun luau, locals will suggest the Chief’s Luau.
Chief’s Luau is known for its spectacular shows and popular crew members.
After you check-in, the team engages visitors in basket weaving, headband making, hula dancing, coconut harvesting, and even showing them traditional fire-starting methods.
The show involves Samoan dance, haka warrior dance, hula dance and more.
The chief welcomes guests to the stage to dance with his team; surprisingly, more people are willing to participate in the activities.
While few might find such interactions uncomfortable, the chief ensures everyone is well-settled and does not feel awkward.
The show’s highlight is the Fire Dance by the chief and his team.
If you wish to watch Fire Dance in Hawaii, there is no better place than Chief’s Luau.
The chief holds the World Fire Knife Champion title, and his team has performed internationally.
While most luaus have an Imu ceremony, during which the cooked Kalua pig is unearthed, Chief’s Luau only offers a small show of the ceremony.
Paradise Cove offers a full demonstration if you wish to participate in the ceremony.
They have a specialized Imu amphitheatre where you can learn more about this ceremony in detail from the locals.
At Paradise Cove Luau, you can play Hawaiian games, take pictures with parrots, watch tree climbing, canoe and shop from local vendors.
After your buffet, you can enjoy live Hawaiian music and hula dancing.
To conclude, Chief’s Luau is more entertaining and engaging.
However, if you do not wish to interact with the stage and want to see a full Imu ceremony, Paradise Cove is your best match.
Paradise Cove or Chief’s Luau – The Atmosphere
Paradise Cove Luau lies on a private beach in Ko Olina, whereas Chief’s Luau is held in a private area of Wet ‘n’ Wild Theme Park.
Hence, we can say that they offer a very different atmosphere from each other.
Paradise Cove Luau occupies 12 beachfront acres, and the best part of the location is the stunning sunset.
There, you can enjoy tropical Hawaii without much of an artificial setting, listen to birds, and walk on the beach.
On the other hand, Chief’s Luau is set in front of a big man-made water fountain to create a tropical setting.
You will find Hawaiian offering a beautiful tropical backdrop to the show.
Chief’s Luau is also more personalized and less crowded.
Paradise Cove has 400 guests per show, but the huge production size makes it spacious and comfortable for all the visitors.
Timings
At Paradise Cove, guests are welcomed at 5 pm and dinner is served at 6.30.
You will be given an hour to walk around the private beach and enjoy activities.
Following the dinner, there are a variety of shows and the experience ends at 9 pm.
Paradise Cove is open throughout the week.
On the other hand, Chief’s Luau is open from 5.30 pm to 8.15 pm and closed on Tuesdays.
Guests are welcomed at 5 pm and dinner and shows start at 5.30 pm.
The show runs for approximately three hours.
Location
The Paradise Cove Luau and Chief’s Luau are popular Luaus of Oahu.
The Chief’s Luau is located within a private area of Wet’n’Wild Theme Park, which adds a tropical twist to the setting.
It is located 45 in Kapolei, 45 minutes from Waikiki.
Address: 400 Farrington Hwy, Kapolei, HI 96707, United States. Get Direction.
The Paradise Cove Luau lies on the Ko Olina beach, 7 minutes from Chief’s Luau.
It is one of the few Luaus located on a beach.
Address: 92-1089 Aliinui Dr, Kapolei, HI 96707, United States. Get Direction.
The region is well connected by shuttles, and it is easy to find an Uber ride to Chief’s Luau.
You can also easily drive around Oahu to reach the Luaus. However, the traffic can be heavy during tourist months.
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Final Verdict – Chief’s Luau or Paradise Cove
While it is difficult to choose a clear winner, Chief’s Luau and Paradise Cove Luau are great in their own ways.
Paradise Cove Luau is larger and grander than Chief’s Luau in terms of production and sheer size.
However, Chief Luau’s crew is tremendously talented and hands down one of the best performers.
It is rated as the most entertaining Luau.
Chief’s Luau is the best option for those who prefer a medium-sized crowd and a personalized experience.
The biggest advantage of Paradise Cove is its scenic beach location, where you can enjoy an amazing sunset and a tropical setting.
It also offers a wide range of menus catering to a much larger crowd.
If you prefer to try authentic Hawaiian cuisine and unique dishes, then Cheif’s Luau is the spot.
Hence, we could say that Paradise Cove Luau is more touristy and scenic, with a wider menu that is suitable for guests from all over the world.
On the other hand, Chief’s Luau is authentic, entertaining, personalized and the best spot for a complete Hawaiian Luau experience.
Featured Image: paradisecove.com , FatCamera from Getty Images Signature(Canva)