Since Feb. 23, the Hilton Hawaiian Village has been offering guests a completely overhauled luau experience.
Moving from its previous lagoon location to the resort's refurbished Rooftop Garden, the property's Waikiki Starlight Luau promises patrons "the only outdoor luau in Waikiki with nearly three hours of spectacular entertainment and dining under the stars."
Weekly shows now run Sundays through Thursdays and begin about 5:30 p.m. The evening gets started with a traditional lei greeting and a cocktail reception, during which guests are encouraged to enjoy interactive games and activities, including a traditional coconut carving table and a pineapple toss.
After a few drinks, it's on to the conch-shell blowing contest and then the evening's first group hula lesson. Trips to the buffet follow an explanation of the cuisine. Dishes like roast suckling pork, marinated huli huli chicken, roasted sweet potatoes, lomi lomi salmon and coconut haupia custard cake are just a few of the options.
Then it's time to sit back and enjoy the show. Tihati Productions puts on a performance featuring traditional Polynesian dances from Tahiti, New Zealand, Samoa and Hawaii. The show's climax is a four-man Samoan fire-knife routine that concludes with a flaming human pyramid.
Tickets begin at $95 for ages 12 and up and $47.50 for ages 4 to 11; kids under 3 are admitted free. For more information, call (808) 941-5828 or visit www.hiltonhawaiianvillage.com.