Polynesian Cultural Center on Oahu? - Beyond Tiki

T thejab Grand Member (1 year) Tradewinds Apartments, Alameda, CA Joined: Mar 25, 2002 Posts: 2992	T thejab Posted posted on Fri, Dec 26, 2003 12:45 PM On 2003-12-26 10:15, Tiki Chris wrote: what are the better luaus? Germaine's and Paradise Cove luaus are the 2 main ones on Oahu. Germaine's ($49,http://www.oahu-hawaii-luau.com/) is a smaller luau, while Paradise Cove ($60, http://www.paradisecove.com/) might have 500 or more people there any given night. Both include bus trasportation from Waikiki to the sites in the price. The differences between them and the one at the PCH are: They are at oceanfront locations during sunset while the one at PCH is just in a large lawn area next to a building. I was disappointed with the luau setting at PCH. Alcoholic beverages are not served at PCH and are at the other luaus (both include 3 Mai Tais or other alcholic drinks in the price). The entertainment at the PCH luau was pretty basic (compared to the main show which was great), but the other luaus have a full show including fire dancers. I have not been to the other luaus so I can't vouch for them and can't compare the food to the food at the PCH which was OK but nothing special. Actually, the best luau buffet food I've had was at the luau buffet in Las Vegas at the Fiesta casino on Monday nights. The Las Vegas newspaper had an article on it recently: The menu is overseen by executive chef Harris Okashige, a native Hawaiian, who says the 20 or so dishes are replicas of the favorites he grew up with on the islands. The seafood includes ahi tuna, crab and moonfish, and is flown in Monday mornings. The casino also imports handmade lau lau, which is spinach wrapped with pork, butterfish and chicken. Menu items also include lomi lomi (a cold salad with diced salmon, tomatoes and green onions) and taco poki (raw seafood such as squid, tuna or crab marinated in soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger and garlic, and served cold). There is also Portuguese bean soup, ono yams and shrimp onohui (fried battered shrimp with coconut). The pork, Okashige adds, is first wrapped in ti leaves before it's roasted, then shredded and mixed with cabbage, much the same way they prepare it on the islands. According to several travel books the best luaus are the Old Lahaina Luau on Maui and the Kona Village luau on Hawaii but I have not tried these personally.

On 2003-12-26 10:15, Tiki Chris wrote:
what are the better luaus?

Germaine's and Paradise Cove luaus are the 2 main ones on Oahu. Germaine's ($49,http://www.oahu-hawaii-luau.com/) is a smaller luau, while Paradise Cove ($60, http://www.paradisecove.com/) might have 500 or more people there any given night. Both include bus trasportation from Waikiki to the sites in the price. The differences between them and the one at the PCH are:

They are at oceanfront locations during sunset while the one at PCH is just in a large lawn area next to a building. I was disappointed with the luau setting at PCH.

Alcoholic beverages are not served at PCH and are at the other luaus (both include 3 Mai Tais or other alcholic drinks in the price).

The entertainment at the PCH luau was pretty basic (compared to the main show which was great), but the other luaus have a full show including fire dancers.

I have not been to the other luaus so I can't vouch for them and can't compare the food to the food at the PCH which was OK but nothing special. Actually, the best luau buffet food I've had was at the luau buffet in Las Vegas at the Fiesta casino on Monday nights. The Las Vegas newspaper had an article on it recently:

The menu is overseen by executive chef Harris Okashige, a native Hawaiian, who says the 20 or so dishes are replicas of the favorites he grew up with on the islands. The seafood includes ahi tuna, crab and moonfish, and is flown in Monday mornings. The casino also imports handmade lau lau, which is spinach wrapped with pork, butterfish and chicken.
Menu items also include lomi lomi (a cold salad with diced salmon, tomatoes and green onions) and taco poki (raw seafood such as squid, tuna or crab marinated in soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger and garlic, and served cold). There is also Portuguese bean soup, ono yams and shrimp onohui (fried battered shrimp with coconut). The pork, Okashige adds, is first wrapped in ti leaves before it's roasted, then shredded and mixed with cabbage, much the same way they prepare it on the islands.

According to several travel books the best luaus are the Old Lahaina Luau on Maui and the Kona Village luau on Hawaii but I have not tried these personally.

Post #66517 by thejab on Fri, Dec 26, 2003 12:45 PM