Our 1st Hawaiian Luau In 20 Years; Have They Changed That Much?

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Before our trip to Hawaii, I asked an important question. Should we attend a luau? 

We’d already been to one on our honeymoon and got the basic experience. We saw a pig cooked in an imu. We heard the stories of how the Hawaiian islands were populated over the centuries and even got a newlyweds dance on stage.

OMG, were those two so young and naive in 2002, or what?

We’ve learned a lot since then. Not including how to avoid a tourist trap. However, we also learned that there’s a level of cheesiness that we’re willing to accept, even enjoy.

That’s why we decided to attend another Hawaiian luau on our 20th Anniversary trip. Of course, we did more romantic things like having dinner at Roy’s on our anniversary and revisiting Morio’s Sushi Bistro from our 10th anniversary trip.

But on our first night on Oahu, we wanted to see a luau. Which one should we see?

There are several luau dinners on Oahu, including the ones at the resort hotels on Waikiki. While these might have been an option if we were staying in the area, we ended up staying at our Disney timeshare in Ko Olina.

I looked at several luaus on Oahu and I finally decided the one we’d enjoy the most was Chief’s Luau. Why did I pick this one over the others? Mainly because it sounded the most fun and because the fire dance finale sounded like the spectacle we’d love to see. Being from Orlando, we didn’t mind that the luau was held in the local Wet n’ Wild waterpark after it closed for the evening. Looks can be deceiving and amazing experiences can be found in unexpected places.

Tickets for Chief’s Luau aren’t cheap and I paid through the Chase Travel Portal redeeming Ultimate Rewards points for 1.5 CPP. I paid 10K Ultimate Rewards points for tickets which would have cost $155 each.  I’m glad to report that we had no problems with our booking through the Chase portal.

Chief’s Luau
400 Farrington Hwy Wet ‘n’ Wild Hawaii, Kapolei, Oahu, HI 96707

Upon entering the Wet ‘n’ Wild parking lot, we were led to a check-in area. We booked the Royal Experience (which now costs $215, up from the $155 we paid just 1 year ago) so we were shown to an exclusive desk where we received our extra drink tickers and a welcome beverage.

From there we were led to our seats. As part of our premier package, we were seated the closest to the stage.

As part of the pre-show activities, they asked who was from the farthest away. Being from Florida, and showing my drivers license to prove it, we were awarded two frozen drinks in pineapples.

Our preferred seating package also offered us first access to the buffet line. Sharon chose the line where you could select your dining options.

I was in the drink line at the time, which was the longest line of the evening, so I went to the “Everything” line. It looked a lot like a plate lunch you’d get at a fast food restaurant.

One thing I had the option to try was poi. It had been 20 years since I tried it (at that luau during our honeymoon). Maybe my taste pallet had matured.

With the consistency of thin yogurt and the taste of wallpaper paste, I didn’t finish it.

Shortly after dinner, the show started and it went along the lines of a typical luau.

Nothing that would set this apart from the typical luau. But Chief’s Luau is no regular luau.

In 1993, Chief Sielu became the first World Fireknife Dance Champion. He has hosted luau’s in Oahu for decades until building this space at Wet ‘n’ Wild in 2017.

Many aspiring fireknife artists train with Chief Sielu and it’s no surprise that the show’s ending is a fire dance. However, this is no usual firekinfe dance. It’s one done by several world champions at the same time.

To be honest, it was six of the most impressive minutes of performance that I’ve ever seen.

Sure, there are some luaus where you’ll find better food or stronger drinks. There are others where you’ll get a better sense of everyday Hawaiian life.

However, if you’re looking to be blown off your seat by a fire dance like you’ve never seen, pay the money and go see Chief’s Luau. You’ll never see a better nighttime show at a waterpark.

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