Island Breeze Luau in Kailua-Kona, HI

Delightful, insightful, educational and historic. The Island Breeze Luau in downtown Kailua-Kona has it all. Fantastic from beginning to end. Beautiful location right on the ocean. The staff are absolutely a joy to be around. The food is onolicious! Excellent Luau!

Booked this luau several months in advance. It was Ironman week, the busiest week in Kona. We got dressed, and went to the”Luau Garden.” No one there. Not a soul. We waited, then walked into the lobby of the Marriott hotel. Management was already besieged with complaints. Apparently this highly unreliable fly-by-night luau company just decided to change locations. Oh- and they never bothered to let anyone know. A previous reviewer posted his emails, and I can confirm that the EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED TO US! They changed locations and did not email or call or let us know. And the other location is far away and on Ironman week the roads around the Marriott were closed. So we wasted our money on this. Please don’t waste yours!

Read the “about” section of Island Breeze Luau. It’s says verbatim - it will be at Marriott Kamehameha. And when you buy tickets. They say on the ticket it’s at the Marriott Kamehameha. And when they email you it will remind you it’s at the Marriott Kamehameha. But when you show up, it’s empty, and only then do you find out it’s actually NOT there. It’s actually 45 minutes away. And no one bothered to call or email or let you know. This RUINED our trip. The people on the phone were horrible and rude and totally unconcerned. When a tourist visits Hawaii, we plan a luau to be our big event. This company is horrible. And even their promotion on Trip Advisor is misleading. No, actually is a flat out lie. Avoid this company until they can figure out exactly where the luau will be. Big fat thumbs down!

I planned my in-laws anniversary trip a year in advance. They actually honeymooned in Kona 50 years ago, so I recreated as much of that trip as I could. Purchased the extremely expensive VIP tickets for the 4 of us, and then bought same for 6 others to surprise them at the luau. ( at $155 Each!) so I spent $1550 on this event! We were staying at the Marriott King Kamehameha. Luau was going to be on the large luau garden area behind the resort. Hotel management even walked us down to show us the location. It really is quiet beautiful. On Saturday - The day before the luau we got a confirmation email reminding us of time, date, location. The morning of the luau we received essentially the same email reminding us “tonight’s the night.” I called to confirm arrival time since we had VIP tickets and since we would be meeting another group of guest to surprise my in-laws on this huge 50th anniversary surprise. The lady (with Island Breeze) confirmed, even telling me a story about how the Marriott Kamehameha location is the best because they bring the Hawaiian Ali’i over in a canoe. She happily said “be ready to take lots of pictures.” We went shopping. Bought new clothes. Even a nice anniversary outfit from Hilo Hatties for my in-laws. I had ordered many expensive leis. I’d really done this night proud. So, 5:30, we walk over to the luau garden. Empty. Not a soul. We walk back to lobby and are told- “well they are supposed to be there...?” They give me the number to Island Breeze. I call 5 or 6 times before someone answered, telling me “oh we changed it to the Sheraton.” (25 minute drive at best.) I explained it would have been nice to know this. This woman actually berated me telling me they had called and emailed and left me a voice message on my answering machine. But of course I have an IPhone, and can verify no one called me EVER from island breeze, and certainly HAD NOT left me a message. I also explained that I DID have the emails and the clearly stated location as the Marriott Kamehameha. Note: I have enclosed the email I recieved on Saturday night. It arrived at 9:41pm - and as clearly can be seen- it conforms the Marriott Kamehameha location. (Island Breeze denied this- but fortunately I saved the email.) Obviously I was a little angry. She told me she would “fix this” and told me she’d call me right back. Ten minutes later she calls and in a syrupy sweet and clearly snarky voice tells me “it’s all good. We’ve exchanged your tickets for next Sunday.” Yes that was her solution. Just stay on vacation another week, reschedule all of your lives, fly everyone home and then back again in a week, and twiddle our thumbs for seven days. By now it was 6:15. The luau was started and we were still at least half hour away. So, a big Thank You to island Breeze. The luau was going to be the highlight of my in-laws 50Th anniversary trip - and you ruined it through sheer pathetic incompetence and gross unconcern. And yes they refunded my money. But that’s it. No apology. No concern. And nothing even close to the spirit of Aloha that they sickeningly preach. I can not, and would not, recommend this horrific luau experience to anyone .

We concluded our trip with this luau and the forecast was dry weather. Due to hawaiian weather we ended up in the rain. They handed out poncho's and nevertheless we did enjoy the show which was great! But considering the cost of a ticket. The show was cut short and the food went wet and soggy. The bar didn't stay open till the given time although it was dry after the show.