Diane, what didn't you like about Paradise Cove. We've been before but not in several years. And, my now 20 something 2 dd's really want to go to one.
Well, it has been a year now since we were there. I remember being disappointed in:
-The food, it was cafeteria quality and nothing special, blah. The complimentary drink we got when we arrived had been sitting out for a while and was quite watery. Additional drinks were pricey.
-The seating arrangement, they had way too many people at a time for their luau and you would have to pay a premium price to get close seats. It was so tight that some would feel claustrophobic, we were glad to be at the end of a row. Many people had their backs to the stage, so that would be no fun.
-The show, based on what I have learned from three trips to the islands, could be much more authentic and less show-y for entertainment value. In hindsight, I wish we had done the Luau at the Polynesian Cultural Center, which I heard was great. We were there for a day, but had already done the Paradise Cove luau. On our next trip, we might do the one at the PCC, but maybe only the Starlit Hui.
Here is what was good about Paradise Cove Luau:
-Proximity...very close to the Ko Olina resorts
-Right on the beach and ocean....I have heard that one of the luaus in Waikiki is on a rooftop, ugh
-Making a flower or headpiece with their craftspeople was nice and didn't cost extra.
-You can try out different things like spear throwing....great for younger kids, which we did not have with us as my daughter was 20 at the time.
You might want to enjoy the Starlit Hui at Aulani, and then decide if you really want to lay out $300 extra for the Paradise Cove luau.
There used to be a luau down two coves at the Marriott Ko Olina Beach Club that was on Tuesdays only, you might check into that one. We were not there on a Tuesday.
Best of luck..... you will be in Hawaii, so whatever you do will be fun! Wish I was there now!
