Waikoloa Beach Marriott Sunset Luau: Our Honest Review (and Why General Seating Was Enough)
We went to the Sunset Luau at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott and it’s now our pick for a Kohala Coast luau. Sunset over ʻAnaehoʻomalu Bay, a live band, an MC who can actually sing, and an open bar — here’s what to know before you book.
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Activity Overview
We’ve been to a lot of luaus across the islands, and the Big Island has always been the hardest one to recommend. The Sunset Luau at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott changed that for us. We attended this luau in August, 2026.
It has the best location of any luau we’ve done on this island, a live band and an MC who genuinely made us laugh, and an open bar, which is rare for a Big Island luau. We sat in General seating and never once wished we’d paid for Premier. Dive in for what to expect and how to book!
Waikoloa Sunset Luau Overview
- Location: Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, Kohala Coast (45 minutes from Kona). Click for Google Maps directions: Waikoloa Beach Marriott Luau
- Days: Mondays and Wednesdays, with Thursdays added in peak seasons (summer and holidays). Check the calendar at the buttons below for real-time availability.
- Duration: 3.5 hours (4:30 PM to 8:00 PM)
- Price:
- General seating: $209 for adults; $105 for ages 6–12; FREE for ages 5 and under
- Premier seating: $262 for adults; $158 for ages 6–12; FREE for ages 5 and under
- Included in the price: Open bar, buffet dinner, hula lesson, full Polynesian show, meet-and-greet with the cast, free self-parking
A big reason why we share this luau is the location. The luau is at Waikoloa Resorts, near the area’s best beach. Driving, or taking a taxi or Uber, to this luau is convenient for those staying at the Hilton Waikoloa Village, Mauna Lani Resort by Auberge, or in vacation rentals in Waikoloa. They have free parking for luau guests!
- Less than 5 minutes from other Waikoloa resorts (e.g., Hilton)
- 10-15 minutes from other Kohala Coast resorts (e.g., Mauna Lani, Fairmont, Westin Hapuna)
- 45 min from Kona
- 1 hr 30 min from Hilo
Sure, you could go to the luau at the Hilton Waikoloa Village, but it is a massive show. You will have a better night coming to this smaller luau.
We appreciate the support when you book using our buttons. They link to the luau at the best price and with the best customer service! This luau made our list of the best Big Island luaus.
Sunset Luau at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott: General vs. Premier Seating
The Sunset Luau is held on the lawn of the Waikoloa Beach Marriott, looking over ʻAnaehoʻomalu Bay (A-Bay to everyone who lives here).
The show takes you through Tahiti, New Zealand, Samoa, and Hawaiʻi through song and dance, and closes with a Samoan fire knife finale.
Two seating options, same show, same food, same bar.
General Seating
- $209 adults (13+), $105 ages 6–12, free for 5 and under
- First-come, first-served seating behind the Premier section
- Tables seat up to 10, so you may share with another party
- Full access to the open bar, buffet, and all pre-show activities
- This is what we booked, and we had a good view of the stage. More on that below.
Premier Seating
- $262 adults (13+), $158 ages 6–12, free for 5 and under
- Guaranteed center seating in the first three rows
- Special ice cream dessert served to premium seating
- Priority service at dinner
- Fresh flower lei on arrival
- Hawaiian macadamia nut gift box to take home
- Discounted souvenir photo ($30 instead of $40)
- Sells out first. If you want it, book early.
The Schedule
- 4:00–4:30 PM: Check-in
- 4:30–5:30 PM: Grounds open. Open bar, live music, casual hula, and a hula lesson if you want it. This is the sunset window, so don’t be late.
- 5:30–6:45 PM: Imu ceremony (unearthing the kalua pig) and dinner. There is an imu, but they didn’t have the ceremony during our luau.
- 6:45–8:00 PM: Show, followed by a meet-and-greet with the cast
- Note: the bar opens with the doors and closes at 7:30 PM, so get your last drink before the show starts. Arrive when the doors open to take full advantage, too!
The live band played through the pre-show and dinner, which made the whole evening feel less like waiting around and more like a party.
The live band was excellent! I appreciate a luau with a live band and good stage presence. They are part of the show. The Toa Luau on Oahu is a great example, too!
Our Experience at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Sunset Luau
We’ve done the big Oahu luaus and our favorites on Maui, and we went into this one expecting a decent resort luau. It was better than that.
[EMBED: video coming soon]
Want the full picture? Watch our video from the evening!
The reasons we recommend this luau are the following:
- They call it the Sunset Luau for a good reason! The lawn sits near A-Bay, and the sunset happens directly in front of you during the pre-show hour. On the Kohala Coast, that means a real sunset, not a hazy one. Get there at 4:30 sharp and grab a drink before the sun drops.
- The live band and MC carried the whole evening. This luau has a real band with a great stage presence, and the MC could genuinely sing and was genuinely funny. It set the tone for everything else.
- It’s not a huge luau, and that matters for General seating. At the big Oahu productions, standard seats can mean squinting at the stage from a distance. Here, the crowd is small enough that our General seating table had a good view of the stage and the sunset. We didn’t feel like we’d cheaped out.
- The fire knife finale was excellent. This is what everyone waits for, and it delivered. Fast, close, and loud.
- The open bar is a real bonus on the Big Island. Most Big Island luaus give you a drink ticket or two. Here it’s a full open bar with local beer, wine, and mai tais from the moment the doors open until 7:30. For a family of adults, that’s easily $60 or more of value per person.
- The performers were good. The journey through Tahiti, New Zealand, Samoa, and Hawaiʻi is the standard luau format, but the dancers here were sharp and clearly enjoyed the room.
Drawbacks on the Waikoloa Beach Marriott luau
- The luau is a bit far from A-Bay. We have a hard time calling this a beachfront luau, as it is a 2-minute walk to A-Bay. The luau sits next to the Marriott pool, so resort guests are walking into the area.
- Only available on Monday and Wednesday. If the Marriott Waikoloa luau doesn’t align with your dates, check out our other Big Island Luaus.
- It can get hot on the lawn. We recommend arriving early, but be prepared for the heat if visiting in late summer. There is little shade in the luau area.
Tips for General Seating
- Arrive right when the doors open for first-come, first-served seating. You will get the better seats for general seating.
- Try to sit facing the stage so you don’t have to turn your chair around. They have round tables, so folks in the front of the table have to turn around.
This is the view from our General seating table. We were happy with it.
The Food at the Sunset Luau
Dinner is a buffet that mixes traditional Hawaiian dishes with contemporary ones, so there’s something for adventurous eaters and picky eaters. Expect the kalua pig from the imu, poke, poi, lomi lomi salmon, and haupia alongside more familiar options.
I enjoy the traditional Hawaiian food like poi and kalua pig. Erica and our kids enjoy the pasta, beef, and fresh Hawaiian fish. For a luau buffet, the food did not disappoint. I went back for seconds, and so did other guests!
Dietary needs: the buffet is varied enough for most people, but if you have restrictions, note them at checkout. Vegetarians can request an additional dish like vegetable pasta, grilled seasonal vegetables, or tofu curry.
Kids: a children’s menu (mac and cheese, chicken nuggets, or a burger with fries) is available if you request it at booking. I wish we had done this!
Waikoloa Beach Marriott Sunset Luau FAQ
What days is the Sunset Luau held?
Mondays and Wednesdays, with Thursdays sometimes added during peak periods like holidays and summer. It regularly sells out, so book ahead rather than hoping to walk up.
How far is the luau from Kona?
About 45 minutes from Kailua-Kona, an hour and a half from Hilo, and under five minutes from the other Waikoloa resorts. If you’re staying at the Hilton Waikoloa or anywhere on the Kohala Coast, this is your closest luau. See our Kona vs. Waikoloa guide for what staying up here is like.
Is parking free?
Yes. Self-parking at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott is free for luau guests.
Is General seating good enough?
For us, yes. The luau is small enough that General seating tables have a clear view of the stage and the sunset. Premier gets you the front three rows, a lei, priority dinner service, and a gift box. If you’re celebrating something or want to guarantee a front seat, go Premier. If you just want a great evening, General is fine.
Can I be seated with friends who booked separately?
Tables fit up to 10 people. If you book separately, add a note at checkout asking to be seated together, and they’ll do their best.
What happens if it rains?
If rain arrives before the luau starts, it moves indoors to the ballroom. If it starts mid-luau, the show goes on outside, and they hand out ponchos. In practice, the Kohala Coast is one of the driest spots on the island, and this is rare. Don’t trust a generic Big Island forecast showing rain — that’s usually the mountains, not Waikoloa.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
Yes.
What should I wear?
Resort casual. Aloha shirts and sundresses are the norm. It’s on a lawn, so skip the heels and bring a light layer for after sunset.
Are leis included?
Premier guests get a fresh flower lei on arrival. General guests can sometimes buy one for $10 cash, with proceeds going to charity.
Can I take photos?
Yes, you can take photos of the show and with the cast afterward. We take a professional photo of your group on arrival, available for $40 (digital plus an 8×10), or $30 for Premier guests.
What’s the cancellation policy?
Fully refundable up to 48 hours before the luau.
Is the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Sunset Luau Worth It?
If you’re staying on the Kohala Coast, book it — it’s the closest luau, has the best sunset, and the open bar makes the price fairer than it looks.
If you’re staying in Kona, we always recommend the luau in downtown Kona: Island Breeze Luau.
Compare it to the other options in our best Big Island luaus guide, or see how it stacks up across the islands in our best luaus in Hawaii roundup.
About the Sunset Luau Waikoloa
The Sunset Luau is hosted on the oceanfront grounds of the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa on the Kohala Coast of Hawaiʻi Island. Hawaii Magazine voted it Best Luau on Hawaiʻi Island in its 2022 Readers’ Choice awards. The show features live musicians and dancers from across Polynesia, and the evening opens with a traditional chant and the history of ʻAnaehoʻomalu Bay.
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