Ali'i Luau at the Polynesian Cultural Center on the Island of Oahu, Hawaii: Luau Review

The Ali'i Luau at the Polynesian Cultural Center is easily the grandest of all the luaus on the island of Oahu in Hawaii...but it is also the least fun. Here is a review of the Ali'i Luau at the Polynesian Cultural Center on the island of Oahu in Hawaii.

The Polynesian Cultural Center calls their Ali'i Luau the most authentic on Oahu, and that's all well and good. Authenticity is one thing, fun is quite another. And the Ali'i Luau at the Polynesian Center lacks what all other luaus on the island of Oahu offer. The service of alcohol. Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not saying we can't all have great fun without alcohol. (Though at times it certainly helps.) What I'm saying is that I'd like to be able to make the decision for myself. Yet at the Ali'i Luau, the Polynesian Cultural Center has made the decision for us. Why? Because the facility is owned by Mormons. I say, keep your religion to yourself and serve me a nice, strong Mai Tai.

The 2008 price for the Ali'i Luau has increased to $83 per adult, $59 per child. This includes tours of the park with shows and activities. Of course, the Polynesian Cultural Center is more than just the Ali'i Luau, and other packages are available. Don't feel too badly, however, if you and your family decide to skip the entire place during your stay on the island of Oahu. There is so much else to do in paradise: swimming, snorkeling, hiking, kayaking, scuba, and seeing Pearl Harbor, just to name a few.

The Polynesian Cultural Center is located up North Shore in La'ie, which is approximately one hour from Waikiki. The price of the luau does include a shuttle to and from Honolulu. The Ali'i Luau starts at five p.m. The luau does indeed sell out fast, so you should book as early as possible, especially if you are visiting during the high season, June through August or December through January. You can visit them at their web site at polynesia.com, or call 808-293-3333 for more information.

The food at the Ali'i Luau is very good, comparable to that of other luaus on the island. The show is probably the best on the island, certainly the most elaborate. And the setting - the Polynesian Cultural Center's seven recreated villages - is pretty magnificent. If the idea of a religious group imposing their restrictions on you doesn't bother you, then by all means, choose the Ali'i Luau at the Polynesian Cultural Center. If it does, choose another, and enjoy a tall, cold Mai Tai with your Kalua Pig.