Front section
Cultural activities, buffet dinner, Polynesian show, shell lei and three Mai Tai or soft drinks per guest, closest to the stage.
View this listing ↗Why a mall courtyard works
A market with a royal past
Land that passed from a king to a queen
The ground under today's International Market Place once belonged to King Lunalilo, Hawaiʻi's first elected monarch, who left it to Queen Emma. The marketplace still sends its revenue toward The Queen's Medical Center, the hospital Emma and King Kamehameha IV founded.
The banyan tree that survived the rebuild
A century-old banyan tree anchors the courtyard. Showman Donn Beach worked out of a treehouse built into its branches when he opened the original International Market Place in 1956. Preservationists kept the tree standing through a full demolition and rebuild, and the centre reopened around it in 2016.
Lūʻau, from a broken taboo to a Waikiki buffet
Hawaiians once ate under kapu rules that kept men and women apart at meals. King Kamehameha II broke that custom in 1819 by eating publicly with women, and the open feasts that followed took the name lūʻau. The word first appeared in print in 1856, describing the wedding celebrations of King Kamehameha IV and Queen Emma.
Kalākaua Avenue, outside the door
The street the International Market Place sits on is named for King Kalākaua, the 19th-century monarch whose reign helped turn Waikiki's old royal surfing grounds into the hotel strip visitors walk today.
Six chapters, one courtyard
Six chapters, one courtyard
The evening in the order most guests move through it, from the International Market Place entrance to the last fire pass.
- I
Through the market place
You walk in off Kalākaua Avenue and down to the Queens Court on the first level, under the open-air centre's canopy and the old banyan tree.
- II
A hula lesson before dinner
Cultural activities open the evening, including a hula lesson, before the tables are called for dinner.
- III
A shell lei at check-in
Every guest is given a handmade shell lei at check-in, included with every section of seating.
- IV
The buffet opens
Kalua pig with cabbage, teriyaki chicken, a gluten-free Japanese vegetable curry and more come out buffet style, served on disposable dishware.
- V
The Polynesian show
The cast performs a Polynesian show built around hula, moving through the Queens Court as you eat. Guests often mention looking up partway through to see mall shoppers on the floors above watching for free, a quirk of a luau staged inside a shopping centre.
- VI
The fire knife finale
A fire knife dance brings the show to its close, the night's last and most physical number before the courtyard empties back into the market place.
Queens Waikiki Luau runs on set evenings — check your dates on GetYourGuide. Your voucher shows the check-in time.
Hula, leis and the Mai Tai
Hula, leis and the Mai Tai
The buffet, the show and the drinks that come with every section, drawn from the wider hula and lūʻau tradition this evening sits inside.
On your table and in your section
On your table and in your section
What comes with every ticket, and how the three sections differ.
The buffet
Teriyaki chicken, kalua pig with cabbage and a gluten-free Japanese vegetable curry anchor the hot dishes, with stir-fried noodles, steamed rice, a garden salad with mango or Italian dressing, macaroni salad and Hawaiian sweet bread alongside. Dessert is fresh cut fruit and macadamia nut brownies, all served on disposable dishware.
Front section
Closest to the stage, with three Mai Tai or soft drinks per guest alongside the buffet, show and shell lei every section gets.
Middle section
The same buffet, show and shell lei, with two Mai Tai or soft drinks per guest.
Back section
The same buffet, show and shell lei further from the stage, with one Mai Tai or soft drink per guest.
The shell lei
A handmade shell lei greets every guest at check-in, regardless of section.
Dietary needs
The Japanese vegetable curry on the buffet is gluten-free. Other dietary options aren't detailed on the booking listing, so it's worth flagging specific needs with GetYourGuide or the venue ahead of your date.
The three sections on this listing
The three sections on this listing
| Section | What's included | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| Front section | Cultural activities, buffet dinner, Polynesian show, shell lei and three Mai Tai or soft drinks per guest, closest to the stage. | Guests who want to be right up front for the hula and fire knife finale. |
| Middle section | The same buffet, show and shell lei, with two Mai Tai or soft drinks per guest. | Most guests balancing view and price. |
| Back section | The same buffet, show and shell lei further from the stage, with one Mai Tai or soft drink per guest. | Budget-minded guests happy to watch from further back. |
Compare the front, middle and back sections on this same listing ↗
Pick your Oʻahu evening
This listing on GetYourGuide
Queens Waikiki Luau and a few other Oʻahu evenings on GetYourGuide, each opening its own listing page.
More Oʻahu evenings on GetYourGuide
Before you walk over
Before you walk over
Finding the Queens Court
Queens Waikiki Luau is held in the Queens Court on the first level of the International Market Place, 2330 Kalākaua Avenue, Honolulu.
Getting there on foot
Because the show sits inside Waikiki's own shopping centre, most guests walk over from their hotel rather than arranging a shuttle.
Transport and parking
Transport isn't included in the ticket, and parking at the International Market Place is paid separately.
Choosing a section
Front, middle and back sections share the same buffet, show and shell lei — the difference is how close you sit to the stage and how many Mai Tai or soft drinks come with your seat.
Bring ID
The venue asks every guest to bring photo ID.
All ages
The show is open to all ages, so it works for family groups as well as couples and friends travelling together.
Read before you book
Read before you book
the night in order
Queens Waikiki Luau, from the door to the fire finale
How the evening at the Queens Court usually unfolds, from check-in to the last fire pass.
Open the guide → front, middle or backChoosing your section at Queens Waikiki Luau
What changes between the three seating sections on this listing, and what stays the same.
Open the guide → where to goFinding the Queens Court inside the International Market Place
The exact spot inside Waikiki's open-air shopping centre, and how most guests get there.
Open the guide → what's on the tableThe Queens Waikiki Luau buffet, course by course
Every dish on the buffet line, and what to know if you have dietary needs.
Open the guide → the courtyard's pastInternational Market Place: from a king's gift to a Waikiki market
The royal history and the 2016 rebuild behind the courtyard where Queens Waikiki Luau is staged.
Open the guide → groups and familiesFamily nights and groups at a Waikiki courtyard luau
Why a luau inside a shopping centre works for mixed-age groups, and what to know before you book for a crowd.
Open the guide →FAQ
What to check before you go
What's included in a Queens Waikiki Luau ticket?
Every ticket covers cultural activities, a hula lesson, a handmade shell lei, the buffet dinner and the Polynesian show with its fire knife finale, plus Mai Tai or soft drinks in a count set by your section.
What's the difference between the front, middle and back sections?
All three get the same buffet, show and shell lei. Front section seating sits closest to the stage with three Mai Tai or soft drinks per guest, middle section gets two, and back section gets one.
Where exactly is Queens Waikiki Luau held?
In the Queens Court on the first level of the International Market Place, 2330 Kalākaua Avenue — an open-air shopping centre in the middle of Waikiki, an easy walk from most Waikiki hotels.
Is there a gluten-free or vegetarian option on the buffet?
The buffet includes a Japanese vegetable curry that is gluten-free. Other dietary needs aren't detailed on the GetYourGuide listing, so it's worth raising them with GetYourGuide or the venue ahead of your date.
Is the show suitable for kids?
Yes, the venue lists the show as open to all ages.
Can wheelchair users attend?
Yes, this listing is marked wheelchair accessible on GetYourGuide.
Can I cancel if my plans change?
Bookings on this listing can be cancelled free of charge up to 3 days before your date.
Do I need to arrange transport or parking?
No shuttle is included — most guests simply walk over, since the show is held inside Waikiki's own International Market Place. Parking at the centre is paid separately if you drive.
A hula and fire knife dinner show inside the International Market Place, close enough to walk from your Waikiki hotel.
Reserve Queens Waikiki Luau ↗This is the lowest section's starting price per person. GetYourGuide totals the exact fare for your party, section and currency as you check out.