If you are interested in seeing a Hawaiian luau show while staying in Kailua-Kona, there are several hotels in the area that hold luaus on a regular basis. During our visit to the Big Island, we decided to attend the "Origins" luau held at the Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa. At the time of our visit, the "Origins" luau had not been up and running for very long so we really did not know what to expect.
The Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa is a large, oceanfront hotel that (as its name suggests) overlooks Keauhou Bay on the western coast of the Big Island. The manicured grounds of the hotel include a free form pool, a lava rock garden and a beautiful lawn where functions such as the "Origins" luau are held.
My family and I attended the "Origins" luau on a Monday night. At check-in, we were greeted with beautiful fresh flower leis made from purple orchids. Since we were among the first to arrive and had opted for the preferred seating option, we were able to get an excellent table right near the "stage". As we waited for the other guests to arrive, we enjoyed unlimited Mai Tais and ate fresh pineapple. For dinner, the hotel served a variety of items including octopus, marlin and salmon poke, cooked tuna sushi rolls, prime rib, purple sweet potatoe, broiled mahi mahi, Kalua and Lau Lau pork, and poi. We tried most of these dishes and found them to be quite good.
Part way through the meal, the start of the lu‘au show was announced by the sound of a trumpeting conch shell. This marked the beginning of an entertaining show full of Polynesian-style dancing and singing, hosted by the famous Hawaiian singer Danny Couch. Although there were times when it felt more like you were in Vegas than in Hawaii, the show was an enjoyable experience overall. Among the highlights of the lu‘au were the Samoan fire dancers who mesmerized guests with their remarkable talent. These performers were agile, had amazing stamina and really knew how to play with fire!
Tips:
* If you are looking for an "authentic" luau, this is not the show for you. The dinner was very nice and the performers put on a great show but it is unlikely that this show would be mistaken for traditional Polynesian entertainment.
*When purchasing tickets for the "Origins" luau, it should be noted that there are two seating options to choose from. The regular seating option includes buffet-style service ($65) while the preferred seating includes tableside, family-style service and an open bar ($80).
*After the show, check out the Crystal Blue bar located on the Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort & Spa grounds. In the evening, the hotel uses lights to attract wild manta rays to the shore. Watching the manta rays as they glide gracefully through the water is just amazing. This alone would make the short trip from downtown Kailua-Kona to the Sheraton worth while!