Sea Life Park Hawaii (41-202 Kalaniana’ole Hwy, Waimanalo Beach) is surrounded by the vast ocean and majestic Koolau Mountains. Locals also purchase annual passes to visit with their families to swim with the dolphins and see the sea lion show.
I thought it was more of a children’s facility, but this is where the luau show began, expressing Hawaiian traditions. Luau is the Hawaiian word for a banquet. In the days of the Hawaiian Kingdom, birthdays and anniversaries of royalty were celebrated with a grand luau. The luau I experienced this time was more fun than I expected, so I would like to introduce it to you.
The venue is about 30 minutes by car from Waikiki. The scenic drive along the east coast of Oahu is so beautiful that it will impress you 100 times over, and you can hike to the Makapu’u Lighthouse (lighthouse), which offers a 360-degree view of the ocean, and Sea Life Park Hawaii, located across from Makapu’u Cape, which is also known for whale watching in the winter. The park also offers a panoramic view of the Pacific Ocean.
The door opens at 5:00 p.m., when the sea is still shining blue. We were given leis to wear around our necks, and on the way to the venue, we watched honu (sea turtles) leisurely drying their shells.
When you see the Tiki Bar, that is the entrance. Two drink tickets (or one ticket depending on the type of ticket) are included, so you can start with a Mai Tai, local beer, wine, or any other drink of your choice at the Tiki Bar.
Visitors can enjoy a Polynesian cultural experience at the venue until 6:00 p.m., when the dinner buffet begins.
Lei (wrist and ankle) making, coconut leaf weaving, Polynesian tattoos, ukulele lessons, throwing nets, and ulumaika, which is considered ancient Hawaiian bowling, are all available for everyone to try and play with.
A rare imu ceremony is also held. Imu is a traditional Hawaiian cooking method in which a hole is dug in the ground, stones are placed on top, and the food is slowly steamed and roasted. This time, we were able to see the traditional ceremony of cooking a whole pig and then digging it up. Although we could savor the taste of the food at dinner, it was complicated by the sight of it, but we decided to take it with care, remembering that it was an important foodstuff in the past.
Hula lecture on stage. The audience quickly gathered in front of the stage to hear the words, “Who wants to try dancing? The crowd quickly gathered in front of the stage to experience the hula.
While enjoying these activities, 6:00 p.m. came around, and it was time for dinner. You can enjoy a dish filled with traditional Hawaiian flavors to your heart’s content. The luau’s unique style is to have everyone eat together side by side at a long, horizontal table.
The menu included kalua pork, teriyaki chicken, fresh fish from nearby waters, chow mein (noodles), steamed vegetables, vegetable curry, salad, poi, purple sweet potatoes, lomi lomi salmon, pineapple, bread, rice, and cake – this is traditional Hawaiian food! were gathered together. Coffee, tea, and fruit punch were also included.
At 19:00, as the sun slowly sets, the Polynesian show finally begins. A holagai sounds amidst the silence, and the flames are divided to mark the beginning of the ceremony.
From there, there is no time to catch your breath, as the dances represent the cultures of each of the Polynesian islands. Hula, Tahiti, Samoa, Hawaiian hula, and Tonga. ……
During the course of the performance, the stage and audience interacted with each other, the audience joined in the dance, and the venue became one. Finally, the fire knife dance, a Samoan culture, was performed in full. The audience was excited by the powerful dance, which was a perfect climax to the show, and it was the hottest time of the show.
The finale will be held at 8:00 p.m. when the stars twinkle in the night sky.
While hula shows and luaus can be experienced in Waikiki and other places, the grandeur of an ancient Polynesian show in a magnificent natural setting is on a different scale. The cast members have won many awards and are said to be of the highest quality.
Even after the spectacular party was over, we Hawaii residents were still basking in the afterglow, saying to each other, “That was amazing! A luxurious day at Sea Life Park during the day and a luau at night may be just what you need.
According to the website, luau tickets range from $119 to $214 per adult, depending on seating and services, and are listed as $109 and up for ages 13 and up, $99 and up for ages 4 and up, and free for ages 3 and up.
© Source travel watch
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