Liliʻuokalani's Waikiki
Liliʻuokalani's Waikiki
A queen who once hosted a luau on this shore
In 1869, as a princess, Liliʻuokalani held a traditional luāu at Hamohamo, her own residence on the Waikiki shore, to entertain a visiting Duke of Edinburgh. The custom of marking an occasion with a luāu on this stretch of coast is, in that sense, older than any hotel standing on it today.
The last reigning monarch of Hawaiʻi
Liliʻuokalani reigned from January 1891 to January 1893 — the only woman, and the last sovereign, to hold the Hawaiian throne. The hula built around her in this show takes her as its subject rather than its occasion.
A composer as much as a queen
She wrote dozens of songs in her lifetime, among them “Aloha ʻOe,” still one of the best-known Hawaiian compositions anywhere in the world. A queen remembered for her music is, for a luāu built around hula, an unusually fitting choice of subject.
Waikiki before the hotels
Hawaiian royalty surfed this shoreline long before Kalākaua Avenue existed; decades later Duke Kahanamoku made the same break famous worldwide, and the swell still runs past the resort's lānai today.
Seven moments on the lānai
Seven moments on the lānai
The evening at the Waikiki Beach Marriott, from the lei at the door to the photos after the final number.
- At the door
A lei and a mai tai at the door
A shell lei goes over your head and a welcome mai tai into your hand as you're walked up to the third-floor lānai and your assigned table.
- Before the show
Watching a lei get strung
Lei-making demonstrations run at tables around the lānai before the show starts — close enough to watch the stitching stitch by stitch — alongside a temporary Polynesian tattoo if you'd like one.
- On the dinner & VIP tiers
Prime rib as the light goes
A Hawaiian buffet opens around a prime rib carving station as the sun drops, for everyone on the dinner or VIP tier.
- The show's centre
A hula for Liliʻuokalani
The night's centrepiece is a hula written in honour of Queen Liliʻuokalani, Hawaiʻi's last reigning monarch.
- Further in the show
The newer hula takes the stage
Where the queen's hula looks back, later numbers move into hula ʻauana — the guitar-and-ʻukulele style that followed it — carrying the story further into Polynesia.
- The finale
The night ends in flame
Fire knife dancing closes the show, performed by dancers drawn from the ranks of competitive fireknife championships.
- After the last number
Photos with the cast
The cast stays out after the finale for photos with anyone in the audience who wants one.
Which of these you get depends on your tier — the buffet and the VIP extras belong to the dinner and VIP options, not the show-only ticket.
Waikiki, the way it looks from here
Waikiki, the way it looks from here
The beach, the lānai light and the small details of a Oʻahu luāu evening.
On the lānai, on the table
On the lānai, on the table
What's physically in front of you on the night, tier by tier.
The lānai itself
The show runs on the Waikiki Beach Marriott's open-air third-floor lānai, with table assignments handed out at check-in rather than chosen in advance.
The buffet
On the dinner and VIP tiers, the Hawaiian buffet is built around a prime rib carving station, with kalua pork and the catch of the day among the dishes guests mention most.
What's poured
A welcome mai tai comes with every tier; the VIP option adds two further cocktails. Extra drinks and tips are not included on any tier.
Lei-making and tattoos
Lei-making demonstrations and a temporary Polynesian tattoo are part of every tier, not just the dinner options.
Three ways to spend the evening
Three ways to spend the evening
| Tier | What's included | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Show only | Lei greeting, welcome mai tai, lei-making demonstrations, a temporary tattoo and the full show through to the fire knife finale — no dinner. | Travellers who've eaten already and just want the hula, the queen's story and the fire. |
| Show + buffet | Everything in show only, plus a Hawaiian buffet built around a prime rib carving station. | Most groups and first-time visitors who want a complete evening in one booking. |
| VIP | Everything in the buffet tier, plus premium seating and two further cocktails. | Couples and small groups who want the closer tables and don't want to queue at the bar. |
Locking in your table
Choose your date and tier
The Pāʻina Luau itself and the other Oʻahu evenings we'd weigh it against, with its own GetYourGuide listing and its own booking page.
The Oʻahu evenings we'd compare
Before you go up to the lānai
Before you go up to the lānai
Finding the resort
The show is at 2552 Kalākaua Avenue, the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa. Check in on the third floor — table assignments are handed out there, not chosen in advance.
Which evenings it runs
Pāʻina runs on set evenings, not nightly, so check your dates on GetYourGuide before building the rest of the evening around it.
Parking
Self-parking at the resort is included and validated for the evening; there's no need to search for street parking on Kalākaua Avenue.
Getting there
No transfer is included on any tier — it's a walk, a short taxi or a rideshare from elsewhere in Waikiki.
What to wear
Resort-casual clothing suits the room; the third-floor lānai is open to the air, so pack something warmer for after dark when the trade winds pick up.
Reserving as a group
Book your whole party in one reservation so the table assignment keeps everyone together at check-in.
Read before you book
Read before you book
The Pāʻina luau, from the lei at the door to the final photo
How three hours on the Marriott's lānai usually unfold, moment by moment.
Read the notes →show, dinner or VIPShow only, the buffet, or VIP: choosing your Pāʻina tier
What each of the three GetYourGuide tiers actually adds, so you're not guessing at checkout.
Read the notes →the queenLiliʻuokalani's Waikiki: the queen the show's hula honours
Hawaiʻi's last reigning monarch, her own luau on this shore, and why a hula was built around her.
Read the notes →the danceFrom hula kahiko to hula ʻauana: the two styles in the show
What separates the older hula from the newer, and why a single evening moves between both.
Read the notes →logisticsFinding Pāʻina: check-in, parking and which nights it runs
The practical details for getting to the lānai with your party intact.
Read the notes →celebrationsBirthdays, anniversaries and group nights at Pāʻina
Planning the luau around an occasion, for a couple or a larger party.
Read the notes →FAQ
What guests ask before they book
What's included if I book the show-only tier?
A lei greeting, a welcome mai tai, lei-making demonstrations, a temporary Polynesian tattoo and the full show through to the fire knife finale — no dinner.
What does the buffet tier add?
Everything in show only, plus a Hawaiian buffet built around a prime rib carving station as the sun goes down.
What does VIP add on top of that?
Premium seating and two further cocktails, on top of everything in the buffet tier.
Which nights does Pāʻina run?
Pāʻina runs on set evenings, not nightly — check your dates on GetYourGuide before you plan the rest of the evening.
Where do I check in?
On the third floor of the Waikiki Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, 2552 Kalākaua Avenue. Table assignments are handed out at check-in.
Is parking available?
Yes — self-parking at the resort is included and validated for the evening.
Is the venue wheelchair accessible?
Yes, the listing is wheelchair accessible on GetYourGuide.
Can I cancel if our plans change?
Yes. Cancel at no charge any time up to a day before showtime, or reserve your table now and settle the bill nearer the date.