DISCLAIMER: I received free VIP tickets to attend KA WA’A – A Luau for myself and my family from Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa in exchange for my honest review. No monetary compensation was included, and our hotel room and incidentals, plus all other food and drinks during the rest of our stay at the resort were paid for out of my own pocket. As always, all opinions are my own. The featured image above is courtesy of Disney Aulani. 

If you’ve been following Eco Friendly Mama on social media, you probably noticed that I was recently in Hawaii celebrating my 10th wedding anniversary. I posted a lot of photos during our stay at the Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa on the Hawaiian island of Oahu.

We chose this beautiful resort to renew our vows and celebrate 10 years of marriage because it combines two of my favorite things in life: Disney and a sincere commitment to sustainability. You may have heard that Disney will be doing away with the use of plastic straws and stirrers at all of its resorts and theme parks worldwide by 2019.

The Aulani resort is included in that effort.

but I’d also like to point out that sustainability has been an integral part of the resort from its beginning. Aulani was the first resort in Hawaii to ever receive the LEED Silver certification, and has many eco-friendly features. I wrote a post (which you can read by clicking here) all about how this beautiful corner of paradise is both eco-friendly and family-friendly.

During our weeklong stay, we had the opportunity to attend KA WA’A, a fantastic luau that takes place there several evenings a week. Though Aulani previously had a luau-like show featuring hula dancers and Disney characters, KA WA’A is a top tier luau experience, complete with a Hawaiian style dinner buffet and live entertainment featuring Hawaii’s traditional arts and crafts.

KA WA’A showcases the reverence for nature and importance of sustainability that is intertwined with traditional Hawaiian culture.

Much like the heart of Te Fiti from Disney’s MOANA movie, which legend states will cause the world to deteriorate and be destroyed when in the wrong hands, the heart of the KA WA’A luau is its desire to inspire the audience to care for our planet and each other while still being a light-hearted show. KA WA’A manages to somehow be both supremely entertaining for children, and enlightening for adults. I absolutely loved it.

 

The Story

KA WA’A means “the canoe” in Hawaiian. The complete luau experience transports you through the history and culture of the islands, beginning with the very first ocean explorers who settled this palm tree paradise to the present day Aloha-shirt-wearing surfer crowd.

The tip of a canoe is an important image at the Aulani.

It’s the shape of the resort’s logo, which is echoed in the architecture of the Maka’ala lobby’s main atrium and the hotel’s arched rooftops. This canoe shape was also sprinkled throughout the KA WA’A luau, like hidden mickeys. (I’ll point some out in the photos below.)

The luau show isn’t just a series of hula dances strung together like orchids on a lei.

There are two narrators – Sister and her brother Noa. They provide a bridge between the acts, but also tell a story both about their life in present day Hawaii, and the tales of their ancestors. It’s like a master class in Hawaiian history and culture come to life, with song, dance, and even some humor sprinkled in for good measure.

The Setting

KA WA’A luau takes place entirely outdoors, on the Hālāwai Lawn. We are Disney Vacation Club members and used our points to book an Island Gardens view villa, knowing there was a chance we’d have a view of this area. By pure stroke of luck, we were assigned a location on the 3rd floor with an AMAZING view of the whole set up!

 

 

Here you can see the buffet tables for food and drink in the foreground, dining tables towards the center, and then the stage in the rear. The VIP tables were the first couple rows in the front, with the general audience sitting at the tables behind them.

We had an excellent view of all the action, and enjoyed lots of other perks during the evening to make this VIP upgrade supremely worth it.

There’s plenty of room to roam, so you never feel squeezed in at any point during the experience. Kids were able to play in the green space on the sides and rear of the area during dinner, and some even stayed back there to dance during the show.

Because this was a public space during non-luau times, the staff had to set up and break down these tables several times a week (though they stayed in place when the show occurred on consecutive nights). One morning we woke to find everything except the stage had been removed and a wedding canopy in its place.

I’d love to know who those lucky ducks were to get married in such a beautiful tropical location!

In the days before our luau night, we were able to sit on our balcony and enjoy the live music before the kids went to bed. That was a pretty awesome perk of booking this room type. Once we actually attended KA WA’A luau, we realized it’s even better up close. You miss a lot of the dialogue and details when you’re viewing it from afar. And of course, there’s all the delicious food.

We happened to visit the resort immediately following a level 4 hurricane. So we were worried that it would be raining that evening. I was told that given the island’s propensity for brief but frequent tropical showers (blink and you’ll miss them) they won’t cancel the show unless the ground is completely saturated. Thankfully, the tiki gods were kind to us. Not a drop of rain fell during our luau!

Check In

As VIP ticket holders, we had a special entrance to the luau next to the elevators on the ground floor. The general admission entrance was on the far end of the lawn. That meant a further walk from the center of the hotel complex. We had a minimal wait, and were given wristbands to denote that we were luau attendees.

 

VIPs received a special necklace upon their entrance. Women received a thick strand of tiny seashells, while the men folk received a necklace featuring kukui nuts and short sections of tiny seashells. All the kids received a wooden necklace featuring Maui’s magical hook from MOANA.

(Note that it’s not the same Maui hook necklace that comes with the makeover packages at Painted Sky: HI Style Studio. You can read my post about Aulani’s kids-only salon by clicking here.)

These necklaces are different from the ones you receive upon check in to the resort. They’re made from natural materials that are also durable. Unlike a flower lei, they make for nice eco-friendly souvenirs you can take home.

 

Photos

 

After you get lei’ed, you’re given an opportunity to take a photo with these two lovely kamaaina (Hawaiian for “local” or “child of the land”). We realized later that they were performers in the show! I believe the General Admission guests take a photo too upon entering, but not with the performers.

You can buy these and other photos taken by the official Disney PhotoPass photographer later during the show. If you’re staying at the resort, you can also buy them from the gift shop at any point before you check out. They are not included in the regular PhotoPass package but are a separate luau-only package.

 

Drinks

VIP guests also receive a complimentary mixed drink. Kids get island punch while adults can choose between that and a Blue Hawaiian.

 

 

 

General Admission guests can purchase their own drinks at the “cash” bar (you can also charge it to your room or credit card). Water is served at all the tables. But only VIP guests can order complementary non-alcoholic beverages throughout the evening from their servers.

Pre-Show Activities

While the main show starts at 6pm, the doors open a full hour beforehand to VIP guests, and a little later to general admission guests but still well before showtime. I highly recommend you arrive as early as you can because there’s a huge variety of fun pre-show activities to keep everyone entertained. You’re paying for this part of the experience, so definitely take advantage of it all!

 

 

In addition to music, there are multiple areas on the lawn where you can learn first hand about various traditional Hawaiian arts and crafts. This was a subtle way to impart the principles of sustainability upon every KA WA’A luau guest. The activities all used natural biodegradable materials.

And in teaching these ancient arts to visitors, they’re helping to keep these traditions alive.

These activities were free to all guests, and you could do them as much or as little as you wanted. Even better, there was slim to no wait to do anything!

On the two secondary stages in the center aisle, cast members were giving mini lessons in how to make flower bracelets. By the way, all the staff leading these activities were performers in the show! There were two bracelet styles available and you could do both if you wanted.

 

The other bracelet type was a single orchid flower and baby’s breath tied to a green tea leaf. Below is a photo from my Instagram of the hula dancer who patiently helped my son make one of these fragrant bracelets for me! There’s also a little story in that post about how the show inspired our own funny family version of recycling.

 

View this post on Instagram

One of our favorite moments from the KA WA’A Luau here at the @disneyaulani resort actually came before the show even started. . There were several kid-friendly free crafts and activities showcasing traditional Hawaiian cultural arts. This woman (who we later realized was also a hula dancer in the show) patiently showed our children how to tie fresh orchid flowers to tea leaves to make a bracelet. My son loves making things for me, and so he tied his creation directly onto my wrist. . We also enjoyed learning to play ukulele, getting temporary tribal tattoos, pounding taro into poi, and making woodblock paintings. It was like a fun hands-on lesson in traditional Hawaiian art. I’ll be writing a blog post all about our evening at this fabulous luau! . Later on during the show, the audience was encouraged to give their flower bracelet to someone else as a sign of their love. I gave mine to my husband, who then tried to give it to our son. But he said he had made it for me with love and wanted me to keep it. So it ended up back on my wrist in our own funny family version of recycling. And I felt very loved 💚🌺♻️ . . . #ad #disneypartner #disneysmmc #disneymom #ecoblogger #ecofriendlymama #disneyresort #aulani #aulanidisneyresort #disneyaulani #visitoahu #aulanidisneyresortandspa #disneyblogger #disneymphopeful #disneyvacationclub #dvc #dvcmember #travelblogger #travelstagram__ #blogwithheart #hawaiitag #momblog #mommyblogger #tinyglobetrotter #tinyglobetrotters #ecotravel #sustainabledesign #ecoinfluencers #luau #hawaii🌴

A post shared by Hilary Feldstein Ratner (@ecofriendlymama) on Sep 3, 2018 at 11:26am PDT

 

 

 

 

 

The Food

One of the easiest – and tastiest – ways of experiencing a new culture is through its cuisine! Because there’s an emphasis on sustainably-sourced, local, and seasonal ingredients, please keep in mind that the menu may change based on what’s available throughout the year. That said, all the food throughout the Aulani resort is delicious. So we had high hopes for this Hawaiian-inspired buffet and were not disappointed!

 

 

There were two identical sets of “adult” food tables and one “kids” table. Though it was buffet style, we were instructed to wait until our table was dismissed to get our food. VIP tables were dismissed first, so we had first crack at the food, and more time to eat before going back for seconds too.

If my memory is correct, all of the serving vessels and utensils were made from ceramic, metal, and wood. No plastic!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The kids table

 

 

Dessert

 

 

 

The Show

As the dinner portion was winding down, Sister began the show with a special guest, Moana!

 

 

 

Then the real dancing began! Between acts, Sister and Brother Noa had brief but meaningful dialogue about the origins of the Hawaiian people and the roots for many of the arts, instruments, and traditions shared throughout the evening. We also learned about the Portuguese settlers, ocean navigation, and even fishing and farming practices.

You really have to see the show to get the full effect. But here are photos of some of the captivating performances:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Post-Show

The performers all lined up at the main exit so you could talk to them and take photos together on your way out. This was a wonderful final touch to the evening. You felt like you’d become a part of their Ohana (Hawaiian for “family”) and received a personal goodbye.

I thought the KA WA’A luau was a really good balance of kid-friendly fun and in depth cultural exploration.

Everyone in our party, from my toddler to my mother, had a terrific time. I honestly feel it’s a must-do for any visit to the Aulani. You walk away from the experience with a full belly, feeling entertained and educated at the same time. And hopefully, if you are really paying attention, feeling more kinship with nature and a deeper desire to preserve the earth and its diversity of cultures.

To learn more about the KA WA’A luau, click here for the Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa website.

• Aulani
• Disney
• Hawaii
• Mickey Mouse
• Minnie Mouse
• Oahu
• organic food
• plastic straws
• sustainability
• sustainably-sourced