Queen's Waikiki Luau is a 2.5-hour buffet dinner and Polynesian fire-knife show held in the open courtyard of International Market Place, from $109 in the back section. It suits visitors without a car who want a walkable luau that ends by 7:30 PM. The main drawbacks are the mall setting, no ocean view and poor sightlines from back tables.
Highlights
Priced by seating: back $109, middle $129, front $139 before tax, with 1, 2 or 3 mai tais or soft drinks respectively (operator site, October 2026).
Runs 5:00 to 7:30 PM with 4:30 PM check-in, on Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
Located at International Market Place, 2330 Kalakaua Ave, walkable from most Waikiki hotels; no transportation included.
Buffet listed on Tripster: teriyaki chicken, kalua pig with cabbage, vegetable curry, stir-fry noodles, rice, salads, sweet bread, fruit and mac-nut brownies.
Public scores split: Google 4.6 (4.4K), TripAdvisor 4.0 (347), GetYourGuide 4.2 (295) as of September and October 2026.
What to Expect
Check-in opens at 4:30 PM in the International Market Place courtyard, where you receive a shell lei and a table number; seats at each table are first come, first served.
From 5:00 PM there is about an hour of cultural activities, including a hula lesson.
The buffet dinner is served at 6:00 PM for about 45 minutes; lovebigisland.com reports some dishes running low for the last tables served.
The 45-minute Polynesian show starts at 6:45 PM and covers dances from several Pacific cultures, ending with a fire-knife dance.
The event finishes at 7:30 PM; the courtyard is open to the sky, so rain falls on the audience and the event runs rain or shine unless unsafe.
What's Included
Seating in the section booked
Handmade shell lei
Cultural activities
Buffet dinner
45-minute Polynesian show with fire-knife dancing
1 (back), 2 (middle) or 3 (front) mai tais or soft drinks
What's Not Included
Transportation
Gratuity
Additional drinks
Lei, drink or seat for lap children aged 0 to 2
What to Bring
Government photo ID to be served alcohol
A light rain layer in wet months; the courtyard is uncovered
Restrictions and Requirements
No outside food or drinks
No professional photography or tripods
Meals prepared by an independent caterer; allergen-free environment not guaranteed
Wheelchair accessible (VELTRA listing)
Cancellation Policy
Cancel or reschedule 1 to 9 tickets up to 72 hours before the 5:00 PM start for a full refund or free date change. Within 72 hours there are no refunds and rescheduling costs $30 per person. Groups of 11 or more tickets must cancel at least 7 days ahead for a full refund. If the operator cancels for unsafe conditions you get a full refund or a new date. Checked October 2026 on Greetwell.
Options available
Front Section
Middle Section
Back Section
Choose your option and see its price on the booking page.
International Market Place courtyard, 2330 Kalakaua Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815
Check-In
4:30 PM for a 5:00 PM start
Parking and Getting There
International Market Place garage with validation: first hour covered, hours 2 to 4 at $2 per hour, standard rates after 4 hours (Greetwell listing)
Ratings from every source we could find
Google
4.6
4,400 reviews
TripAdvisor
4.0
347 reviews
GetYourGuide
4.2
295 reviews
Google Maps — Summarized by Our Team
Waikiki luaus are a well-established, high-volume tourist category; general sentiment across similar venues favors Front section specifically for photography and stage interaction, while Back section is frequently recommended as solid value for budget-conscious groups.
Last checked 2026-09-15
Ratings and review counts are checked periodically and may not reflect same-day changes on each platform.
What the Reviews Say
We read 2 individual reviews in October 2026: 1 Google review republished on Greetwell (5★, August 2026) and 1 TripAdvisor review republished on Tripster (4★, January 2026). We also read Greetwell's aggregate review summary and a September 2026 lovebigisland.com write-up for recurring complaints.
What Reviewers Praise
Performers and show pacing(2 of 2 reviews we read)
Both reviews we read singled out the dancers, music and fire-knife finale, and one described service as prompt and well timed.
— TripAdvisor via Tripster, 4★, January 2026: a front-section guest praised the costumes, dance demonstrations and fire twirling and listed chicken, pork, mac and cheese, rice and dessert on the buffet.
What Reviewers Complain About
Mall setting and sightlines from back tables(0 of 2 reviews we read; reported in Greetwell's review summary and lovebigisland.com · operator issue · most recent: September 2026 (lovebigisland.com))
Secondary sources describe a lit shopfront backdrop instead of an ocean view, shoppers watching from balconies, and back-row seats that struggle to see over the stage. Neither of the 2 reviews we read raised these points.
— lovebigisland.com, September 2026: back tables have poor sightlines and the mai tais are described as weak, with stronger ones sold at the bar.
About the Operator in General
The spread between Google (4.6 from about 4,400) and TripAdvisor (4.0 from 347) as of October 2026 is wider than for most Waikiki luaus, which suggests expectations about setting and food matter more here than the performance quality.
Our Verdict
Tripreviewall's Take
At $109 to $139 before tax, Queen's Waikiki Luau is a fair pick if you are staying in Waikiki without a car and want an early-evening show you can walk to. Pay the extra $20 to $30 for middle or front seating; the one complaint pattern that appears across sources is sightlines from back tables. If you want a beachfront setting, a hotel luau such as the Aha Aina at the Royal Hawaiian is a different product at a different price.
Book This Tour If…
You are staying in Waikiki and want to walk to and from the luau
You have young children; it ends at 7:30 PM and is priced for all ages
You care more about the fire-knife show than the view
You can book the middle or front section rather than the back
Skip This Tour If…
You want an ocean or sunset backdrop; this courtyard faces shops
You are picky about buffet food; both TripAdvisor (4.0) and a 2026 blog describe it as standard fare
Only back-section seats are left and you are short or have children who need to see the stage
Rain is forecast; the courtyard is uncovered and the event runs rain or shine
Tips From Reviewers and Operator Notes
Arrive at 4:30 PM sharp; seats at each table are first come, first served
Bring photo ID or you will not be served the included mai tais
Use the International Market Place garage validation for cheap parking if you do drive
Go through the buffet early; one 2026 write-up reports some dishes running low for the last tables
Assessed by the Tripreviewall editorial team, last reviewed October 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Queen's Waikiki Luau cost?
Queen's Waikiki Luau is priced by seating section: $109 back, $129 middle and $139 front per person before tax, according to the operator's site in October 2026. Greetwell lists the back section at $120.68 adult and $98.53 child (ages 3 to 12) including fees, with lap children at $22.14.
What food is served at Queen's Waikiki Luau?
The buffet at Queen's Waikiki Luau, as listed on Tripster, includes boneless teriyaki chicken, kalua pig with cabbage, Japanese vegetable curry, stir-fry noodles, steamed rice, garden and macaroni salads, Hawaiian sweet bread, fresh fruit and macadamia nut brownies. The menu can change with availability.
How long is the Queen's Waikiki Luau?
The luau runs 2.5 hours, from 5:00 to 7:30 PM, with check-in from 4:30 PM. The schedule is one hour of cultural activities, a 45-minute dinner from 6:00 PM, and a 45-minute Polynesian show with fire-knife dancing from 6:45 PM.
What days does Queen's Waikiki Luau run?
Queen's Waikiki Luau is held on Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday evenings, according to the VELTRA listing and a September 2026 lovebigisland.com write-up. The operator's own site does not list days, and availability varies by season, so check the live calendar for your date.
Is parking available at Queen's Waikiki Luau?
Parking is available in the International Market Place garage with validation: the first hour is covered, hours two through four cost $2 per hour and standard rates apply after that, per the Greetwell listing. Most guests walk from Waikiki hotels, as no transportation is included.
Can I cancel my Queen's Waikiki Luau booking?
Bookings of 1 to 9 tickets can be canceled or rescheduled up to 72 hours before the 5:00 PM start for a full refund. Inside 72 hours there is no refund, and a date change costs $30 per person. Groups of 11 or more need 7 days' notice.
Contact
The operator's phone and email appear here after you check availability on one of their booking sites. Live prices and open dates are only shown there.
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This is the tour operator's own contact info, shared for general questions — not for bookings. Book through the booking links for real-time availability and the best price.
TripReviewAll is an independent review site and does not operate this tour. For changes to an existing booking, contact Queens Waikiki Luau directly.
