Smaller Crowd, Better Experience at Nutridge Luau in Honolulu

A trip to Hawaii just didn’t seem complete to us if we didn’t partake in a traditional luau. So it was very surprising to us that the cruise line that we were traveling on didn’t offer one as an excursion. While it meant we had to do some planning on our own, it turned out to be a fantastic circumstance. We’ll explain why we thought Nutridge Luau Honolulu was the best option.

Cruise ship excursions tend to book large tours, able to handle the large number of passengers onboard. That totally makes sense, but would have excluded such a wonderful and intimate experience like we experienced at Nutridge.

During our research, we found that the number of attendees at luaus frequently is between 300 and 500 people. Certainly you can have a great time, no matter the size of the party, and that could be the case for us too. But in general for us, size does matter and the closer to a personal experience the better for our family. 

Why Choose Nutridge Luau Honolulu

Nutridge has a capacity of about 80, meaning that you’re not competing for a view with hundreds of other people. You’re not having to wait in long lines for a chance to participate in some of the activities available. Bottomline for us, it meant a more personal and intimate experience at a first rate facility.

The scenery going to and surrounding Nutridge is another asset that sets them apart from a luau offered by a hotel or resort. Nutridge Estate was a macadamia nut farm back in the day, on the hills overlooking Honolulu on Oahu. 

The winding road to the Nutridge Estate provides peeks of the city of Honolulu below. A quick tip – as you drive up, go past the entrance to Nutridge and go to the end of the road to Pu’u Ualaka’a Wayside Park, a state park that is a fantastic place for photos, to enjoy panoramic views and watch the sun sinking into the water.

What to Expect

The offerings at the luau are everything you would expect. You are greeted by the staff with a kukui nut lei. While it wasn’t a big deal for us, we’ve been asked multiple times about drinks being available. Yes, they offered free alcoholic drinks as you enter, plus they have a fully stocked bar available throughout the four hours you are at the luau.

The staff does a great job of making you feel welcomed. They have a routine that they go through which is kind of cheesy, but nonetheless is fun and helps set the tone for a fun evening. They provide a full array of things to do throughout the evening, with good pacing to keep you attention. Explaining Hawaiian traditions, and storytelling of local legends gives you an education while being entertained.

It is an immersive experience, with opportunities for you to get into the action should you choose. There are several activity stations for you to try your hand at various crafts and games. Our favorite was the opportunity to throw a spear at a target.

Nutridger Luau Menu

The luau experience also includes food. Nutridge provides a farm to table dinner experience as a part of the price of admission. Their menu is very traditional, which can be a stretch for some people. They will try to accommodate any dietary restrictions, but need advanced notice. Traditional shredded pork and pulehu chicken along with a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables help round out the menu. 

With the spectacular views, smaller crowds, intimate and personal experience, you might expect this to be a budget breaker. And actually, the price is less than many of the other luau experiences we researched. If you have your own transportation, current adult pricing (21 and older) is $169 per person, Youth (13 – 20 years old) is only $120 and children (3 – 12) are $110. If you use Nutridge’s transportation, it is $20 more per person. If you check their website, you might even find a 10% off code. Should you decide to drive yourself to Nutridge, be aware that parking is a little tight. It is certainly manageable, but some cars were blocked in on the night we visited. 

Check in for the luau is 3:45PM. They say that the luau starts at 4PM, though our experience was that the gates did not open up until after 4:15PM, so don’t feel rushed to get their right at the start of check in.

We’re not saying you won’t have a great time at a larger luau put on by one of the island hotels or resorts, or at some of the other locations offering. Our experience was that less people equaled more fun. Nutridge was an amazing experience, seeing the Hawaiian traditions of hula dancers, storytellers, fireknife dancers and more.

If you’ve been to a Honolulu luau, let us know. We’d love to compare notes in case we find ourselves back in the islands looking for a new adventure. For us, we found Nutridge to be a great experience, worthy of the ranking we’ve seen as the best luau in Waikiki.

Planning some time in Honolulu or Hawaii? Check out some of our other Hawaiian advertures to help plan your vacation.