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Hiva Pacifika

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BeTheBuddha
BeTheBuddha
First Reviewer
5 out of 5
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1
Review
4
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Editor Pick

Hiva Pacifika

  • August 8, 2007
  • Rated 5 of 5 by BeTheBuddha from Los Angeles, California
Hiva Pacifika

Most ads and guidebooks claim that the Smith’s Garden Luau is the best on the island, but I beg to differ. I was lucky enough to go to both luaus on my trip and I have to say the Hiva Pacifika Luau at the Resort Quest Hotel was the better of the two. Hiva Pacifika was the one recommended by our concierge and the cost was approximately $60 (average for luaus).

Once you check in, head out to the pool area where you get "lei’d" by one of the welcoming party and your group picture taken (to be later sold to you after dinner). Enjoy maitais, rum punch, or well drinks while you are serenaded by a Hawaiian band as you overlook the calming ocean. Two well-buffed Hawaiian guys bring out the pig that has been roasting all day for your viewing pleasure (and boy did it smell good). Then a couple of the dancers demonstrate some typical Hawaiian dancers before you are escorted over to the tented area where the buffet is set up and dinner is served. (Check out video I took at youtube. Do a search for "Hiva Pacifika BeTheBuddha".)

The luau is currently housed in a tented arena as the original site burned down and is being rebuilt.

Buffet includes the kalua (no, not the liqueur) pig, and kalua turkey (made me think of Thanksgiving) prepared in an authentic imu (underground oven). Fresh fruit (pineapple, papaya, cantaloupe), bean sprout salad, sweet potatoes, beef teriyaki, and rice are among the offerings on the buffet. Rice pudding and coconut "Jell-O" are part of the dessert offerings.

After everyone gets a chance to gorge on the food, the show begins. The Hiva Pacifika luau features more traditional Hawaiian/Polynesian dances while Smith’s showcases dances of all Asian nations. I liked this set up better because the stage was closer and easier to see than the one at Smith’s (see that review). The MC sang the Hawaiian Wedding song while one of the beautiful dancers danced to the music. At the end of the show (approximately one hour) everyone is hoarded outside to see the fire dancer – up close and personal. Once he’s done it’s a free-for-all for pics with the dancers and the MC.

If you go to one luau on Kauai, I would go to Hiva Pacifika.

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