Paradise Cove Luau...

The first main thing we did in Hawaii was go to the Paradise Cove Luau. This luau ran like a well-oiled machine. There were hotel transfers by coach, with running commentary and participate games (which I don't really like) the whole bus ride there and back. Paradise Cove Luau is located right near the Disney Aulani resort, by a few resorts about a 45 minute drive out of Waikiki. Tickets were pretty expensive (if I recall correctly, $89 for the lowest tier, which we got), but there was plenty of food and two small alcoholic drinks included.

After arriving, you followed a 'puu' - a shell being blown into - around the site to see different attractions. Here a lady in her coconut bra dances to a man playing guitar. 

The beach was a small cove where you could go for a short canoe ride.

Colourful birds on display.

More birds.

Sarong tying demonstration.

Man climbing a tree wit a bag of flower petals clenched between his teeth for the 'shower of flowers', meant to welcome everyone.

The flowers being showered. This guy was pretty high up!

Man catching the fish for the dinner, apparently!

Casting the net into the ocean.

After the fish were caught, hula dancers and fire holders came out.

The chief of the luau watches over the kalua (pig in sand pit being roasted) while more dancers dance.

After the pig is pulled out of the pit, it is displayed to the crowd on a stretcher before being walked off to the kitchen, apparently to be pulled apart and served at dinner in a mere 20 minutes! While we were watching this performance I ran into a girl I used to work with - fancy the chances of sitting next to someone on the other side of the world in a crowd of maybe 500!

After a buffet style dinner (plenty of food and tasty) the show begun, with lots of dancing.

More dancing.

A fire twirler. Our seats were a bit farther back so my shots of this weren't great. However I don't recommend spending extra on the better seats, as some were just as far away as ours.

Dancing from different cultures.

Overall, the luau was an enjoyable experience. Everything was highly polished and I'm sure not at all traditional, but the entertainment, food, and activities were all well done and enjoyable. I'd recommend it as a one off if you haven't been to one before.

Have you ever been to a luau? Anything similar in any other Polynesian country? Or any other cultural ceremonies elsewhere around the world? Did you enjoy it or feel like it was a bit of a tourist trap?