Lounge and Luau

11/27/2024- Day 4 of our Hawaii Vacation

Pool then party

Since we spent the prior 3 days traveling around the island, our goal was a relaxing day at the resort. We started off on the beach, playing in the water for a bit before moving to the pool. Instead of fighting for a lounger at the crack of dawn and’ ‘reserving’ it with a flip flop that ends up being stolen. We rented a cabana, this can get pricey, but we find it is worth it for our family to order food and relax in comfortable chairs. Our resort had a slide for the kids and 3 different pools for them to enjoy. I had the best pineapple lemonade, and my mother-in-law had a fresh fruit served in a pineapple. Lunch was from Duke’s Beach house; I took a risk with ahi tuna tacos and the kids had burgers. We hung by the pool until about 3:00 pm. Then we needed to get ready for the Luau.

Our Evening at the Luau

Admittedly, I had mixed feelings about a Luau. There are opinions about authenticity of the event, pricing for a show and which show is the ‘best’. We wanted to spend an evening together as a family, try some local foods but also include kid friendly options like chicken nuggets and we wanted to see hula/fire dancing. Keeping all this in mind, the group settled on the Wailele Luau at the Westin. It was minutes from our resort, they had reserved table seating, an open bar and fresh flower Lei greeting. The luau takes place in an outdoor venue with the sunset as the backdrop.

The Seating

Preferred seating is worth the upcharge. We had 2 tables in the front row which gave us unobstructed views of the show and priority access to the buffet. The Westin Luau offers a lavish buffet featuring a variety of Hawaiian and Polynesian dishes. From Kalua pork, fresh island fish to delectable desserts There is a kid section with plenty of options to choose from, ensuring everyone can partake in the feast.

The Show

The performers were so talented! We truly enjoyed the performances, and I appreciate how they showcased the various cultures of the Polynesian islands. There was a point where they invited the audience onstage to learn a traditional Hula dance. Stella and Ford both jumped on stage to take part. As the night progressed a man climbed a coconut tree with his bare hands and feet! The show lasted a full 2 hours with constant entertainment while taking us on educational journey. At the end I realized that the music for the show was sang live by 4 people at the front! Every person was important to the show and made a great experience for all. I definitely recommend attending this one if there is room in the budget.