FAQs

Choose your ticket based on your preferred seating, dining access, and included amenities.

VIP includes priority entry and early dining access, preferred premium seating, two signature welcome cocktails, table-side cocktail service during the pre-show, a professional keepsake photo, and the Kaula performance.

Standard includes the island buffet, one welcome drink, standard seating, a lei greeting, pre-lūʻau activities, and the Kaula performance.

Cocktail and Dinner Only includes one welcome drink, outer-ring seating, pre-show activities, and the Kaula performance. Dinner is not included.

For a private cabana with bottle service, see the Ocean’s Edge Signature Reserve.

VIP guests enjoy an enhanced experience, including:

• Two signature welcome cocktails
• Preferred seating
• Cocktail service at your table during the pre-show
• Early access to dining (eat-first privileges)
• A professional souvenir photograph

Every ticket includes the pre-show cultural activities, live entertainment, and the Kaula performance.

VIP and Standard tickets include all-you-can-eat dinner from local partners at our island buffet. Cocktail and Dinner Only tickets include a welcome drink and the show.

Retail items, additional beverages, and upgraded experiences may be available for purchase online or onsite.

Yes. Cocktail and Dinner Only includes the pre-show activities, one signature welcome cocktail, outer-ring reserved seating, and the Kaula performance, without dinner.

Yes. You are assigned a table based on your ticket type. For the best views, choose VIP.

Tables seat eight guests each, and larger parties are easily accommodated.

To be seated with guests from another reservation, let us know by 10 AM on the day of your show.

VIP offers the closest and most centrally located seating available.

Every section is designed to provide a clear view of the production. Standard and Cocktail and Dinner Only sections are positioned farther from the centre of the performance area.

Kamaʻāina — Hawaiʻi residents receive 30% off with promo code HILOCAL30. Have your valid Hawaiʻi state ID ready at check-in. The discount applies to the reservation holder and up to three additional guests.

Military — active service members receive 20% off with promo code MAHALO20. Have your valid Active Duty Military ID ready at check-in. The discount applies to the reservation holder and up to three additional guests.

Kūpuna / senior — guests 65 and over receive 10% off with promo code KUPUNA10. The senior discount applies to all guests on your reservation.

For kamaʻāina or military groups of more than four, call 808.897.2906.

Group discounts start at 15 or more tickets.

Contact our Group Sales Manager, Chris Weber, at cweber@kilohana.com before purchasing, so the group can be seated together and available rates confirmed.

Cocktail and Dinner Only admission may be available for onsite purchase when the performance has not sold out. Onsite sales close 15 minutes after doors open.

VIP, Standard and Ocean’s Edge Signature Reserve tickets are not sold at the door and must be reserved in advance.

Cash is not accepted for admission. Call 808.897.2906 to confirm space before you arrive.

Yes. Seats are limited and may sell out, especially during weekends, holidays, and peak visitor seasons.

If you haven’t booked ahead, call our reservations team at 808.897.2906 to check for last-minute availability — seats may be available by phone that can’t be booked online.

Of course. Call reservations at 808.897.2906 and let them know you’re booking for someone else. Gift cards are also available through the reservations team.

Ticket upgrades may be available when space remains in the requested section.

Contact the reservations team before the performance date. Guests are responsible for any difference in ticket price.

Yes. You can arrange a private show, or rent Ocean’s Edge for private parties, corporate events and celebrations.

Contact our Group Sales Manager, Chris Weber, at cweber@kilohana.com.

Kaula is story-driven — a joyful cultural and spiritual journey through Tahiti, Samoa, and Hawaiʻi, focused on family and the ties that bind us all together.

Alongside music and hula, the show features Tahitian and Samoan dance, acrobatics above the stage, and audience interaction unlike any other show.

The focus on kaula (the ties) continues off the stage, too, with locally sourced food and drink and local touches throughout the venue. Even the tables were built in Honolulu by local craftsmen.

You can eat when you want. We don’t dismiss your table to take a spot in line — when you’re hungry, head over to the island buffet and get what you wish. It’s all you can eat, when you want it.

Ocean’s Edge at Ko Olina was built in 2026 and features the latest in projection, sound, and lighting — and the sunset on the beach.

The complete experience is approximately three hours.

Summer (June 1 – August 31)

• 6:00 PM — Check-in, the buffet and cultural activities open
• 7:00 PM — Pre-show hula on stage
• 7:30 PM — Main show begins
• 8:30 PM — Show concludes

Winter (September 1 – May 31)

• 5:30 PM — Check-in, the buffet and cultural activities open
• 6:30 PM — Pre-show hula on stage
• 7:00 PM — Main show begins
• 8:00 PM — Show concludes

Times may change for special events. Refer to your confirmation for the schedule on your date.

The evening begins with a lei greeting and live Hawaiian music.

Guests can explore activities such as lei making, hula lessons, weaving, drumming, net throwing, trivia, and friendly competitions. Wandering performers and cultural demonstrations continue throughout the dining period.

Activities may vary by performance.

Kaula draws from the stories, music, movement, and cultural traditions of Hawaiʻi, Tahiti, and Samoa.

Each chapter is developed with cultural guidance and presented through live performance, theatrical design, and storytelling.

Yes — and a husband-and-wife fire-knife team is part of our cast. You can learn more about their story at the show.

Fire-knife dance is not part of Hawaiian culture; we feature it to honour the Samoan roots that the characters in our story share. We kindly ask guests to avoid flash photography during the fire performance.

Yes. Audience participation is included throughout the pre-show experience and may also appear during the production.

Participation is encouraged but voluntary. Guests who prefer to observe may enjoy the experience without joining an activity.

Yes, photography is welcome — be sure to tag us @KaulaLuau.

We kindly ask guests to avoid flash photography during the fire-knife performance. For safety and show integrity, drones are not permitted.

The primary narration is presented in English. Hawaiian and other Pacific languages are woven throughout the music, chant, dance, and cultural elements of the production.

Guests can follow the central story through movement, music, staging, and visual performance.

Yes. We love celebrating meaningful moments at Kaula.

Let us know at least 24 hours in advance so we can plan your special day.

Kaula is for those who believe in connection — a story woven through generations. Everyone is welcome. Wherever you are from in the world, or if Hawaiʻi is your home, Kaula shares aloha in a fun, educational, and engaging way.

Hawaiian Council is a non-profit organization with a mission to enhance the cultural, economic, political, and community development of Native Hawaiians.

Through Kaula, Hawaiian Council helps tell Hawaiʻi’s stories in its own voice, with proceeds supporting housing, education, workforce development, and cultural perpetuation.

Kaula is presented at Ocean’s Edge in Ko Olina, on the west side of Oʻahu, beside Ko Olina Marina at Lagoon 4.

92-100 Waipahe Place, Kapolei, HI 96707 — open in Maps

No. We are in a brand-new venue, Ocean’s Edge at Ko Olina. Get directions.

Yes. Parking is free in designated lūʻau parking. Follow onsite signs and staff instructions when entering the property.

Yes. Optional round-trip transportation between Waikīkī and Ko Olina is $30 per person, added during your online booking. Your pickup point and time will also be in your confirmation.

Summer pickup times (June 1 – August 31)

Winter pickup times (September 1 – May 31)

Please be at your pickup point by the guest report time.

If you don’t need the bus in both directions, please let us know in advance. There are no discounts for one-way trips.

No. There is no public transit to Ocean’s Edge at Ko Olina.

Unfortunately, no refunds are available for missed pickups.

If you will not make your pickup time, call us immediately at 808.897.2906 to see if you can change to another pickup point.

If you take our shuttle, your nearest pickup point and time will be in your confirmation.

If you’re driving yourself, plan to arrive about 15 minutes before the time on your ticket to enjoy the surprises waiting before you even check in.

Ko Olina is a destination resort working in partnership with Hawaiian Council to deepen visitors’ connection with Native Hawaiian culture, arts, and traditions.

Set within the resort, Kaula is framed by sweeping Pacific sunset views — where the setting becomes part of a story woven through generations. Read the full history at koolina.com.

We do not have secure luggage storage. Please leave suitcases and other large belongings at your hotel, vacation rental, or vehicle before arriving.

Dinner is included with VIP and Standard tickets. Cocktail and Dinner Only does not include dinner. Every ticket includes at least one welcome beverage.

Kaula uses an open dining format rather than releasing every table into one buffet line.

Guests with dinner admission visit the buffet whenever they are hungry and enjoy the meal at their own pace.

You can eat when you want at Kaula — when you’re hungry, not when you’re told. The buffet opens at:

Summer (June 1 – August 31) — 6:00 PM for VIP guests, 6:15 PM for Standard guests

Winter (September 1 – May 31) — 5:30 PM for VIP guests, 5:45 PM for Standard guests

It stays open until 15 minutes before the show starts. Eat as much as you want, when you feel like it.

Kaula’s island buffet is grilled over Hawaiian kiawe wood, led by Executive Culinary Lead Chef Luis Castro. It includes kiawe-grilled ribeye, ono, island-style ribs, huli huli chicken, poi, lomi lomi salmon, rice, seasonal fruit, potato salad and Hawaiian rolls with lilikoi butter, with haupia and poi crunch for dessert.

See The Menu for every dish, with dietary labels. Menu items may change with seasonality and availability.

Yes. The menu includes vegetarian and gluten-free dishes, and each one is labelled on The Menu.

We prepare our dishes with care and aloha. Some items may include shellfish, seafood, nuts or dairy and are made in a facility with those items. Dietary labels are listed for each dish on The Menu.

Guests with severe allergies should contact the team at 808.897.2906 before purchasing tickets.

Standard and Cocktail and Dinner Only tickets include one welcome beverage, alcoholic or non-alcoholic.

VIP tickets include two welcome beverages, and the Ocean’s Edge Signature Reserve includes bottle service.

Additional bar beverages are available for purchase throughout the evening. You may be asked to show ID to be served alcohol. See the bar list on The Menu.

Yes. Kaula welcomes guests of all ages, from keiki to kūpuna, with interactive cultural activities, storytelling, and performances the whole family can enjoy together.

Parents should use their judgment if a child is sensitive to loud music, darkness, or fire effects.

Yes. Request one with the “High Chair Requested” checkbox when booking, or email info@luaukaula.com at least 24 hours before your lūʻau. All special seating is first-come, first-served and can’t be guaranteed.

Keiki 0–3 are seated on a space-available basis and may need to sit on your lap on sold-out nights. To guarantee a seat for a child three or under, book a Child ticket.

Infant tickets do not include a drink or meal. If a meal or drink is wanted, select a Child ticket.

Yes. Kaula is presented at an open-air oceanfront venue, running from sunset into the evening.

We recommend festive aloha attire — comfortable, expressive, and weather-appropriate. Think island elegance: breathable fabrics, aloha prints, dresses, slacks, and sandals.

We are right on the beach, and the ocean breeze can be chilly after sundown, so we highly recommend a light jacket.

Your ticket, a camera, and a light jacket to stay comfortable in the ocean breeze.

Yes. The venue is ADA accessible, including seating, pathways, and restrooms.

ADA transportation must be requested at least 72 hours in advance, and an ASL interpreter at least one week in advance. Call 808.897.2906.

Yes. Wheelchairs, mobility devices, and strollers are welcome. Staff can assist guests with accessible routes and seating.

Trained service animals are welcome in accordance with applicable accessibility requirements. Contact the team before arrival when specific accommodations are needed.

Yes. Restrooms are available onsite, including accessible facilities.

Summer (June 1 – August 31) — check-in closes at 6:15 PM, and no admission is permitted after 7:00 PM.

Winter (September 1 – May 31) — check-in closes at 5:45 PM, and no admission is permitted after 6:30 PM.

If you’ll arrive after check-in closes, call us at 808.897.2906 and we may be able to arrange someone to meet you at the gate.

If you purchased directly from us, you can manage or cancel your reservation online up to 24 hours before your reservation time (72 hours for the Ocean’s Edge Signature Reserve) using the link in your confirmation. If you can’t change it online, call 808.897.2906.

We process refunds within 24 hours of your request; depending on where you booked, it may take up to two weeks for the credit to appear. No-shows cannot be changed or refunded.

If you purchased from one of our partners, their cancellation policy applies, and it may be stricter than ours.

The show operates rain or shine as long as it is safe for our guests and performers. We are in one of the driest locations on the island, so even if it rains in Waikīkī, it may still be dry at Ocean’s Edge.

Should we cancel before the show, we will contact you by the email and phone number on your reservation and offer to rebook you on another night or refund your purchase.

We also work with partner lūʻau that have indoor options. Seating with them is very limited, and this option is not available for some bookings made through third parties.

No. Your name is usually enough to check you in. If not, show your confirmation on your phone and we’ll take care of the rest.

You may be asked to show ID at check-in to match your name with your reservation, to apply a kamaʻāina or military discount, or to be served alcohol.

Yes. Cash is not accepted for admission. Bring a credit or debit card for additional beverages, retail items and other purchases.

No. There is no smoking or vaping on the buses or anywhere on the lūʻau grounds.