Oahu - Hawaii with Kids - page 153

Luau!
Regrettably, there's no commercial luau on Oahu that comes close to
Maui's Old Lahaina Luau, or Hawaii Island's legendary Kona Village
Luau. The two major choices on Oahu are Germaine's ( & 808/941-
3338; www.germainesluau.com) and Paradise Cove Luau ( & 808/842-
5911; www.paradisecovehawaii.com), both located about a 40-minute
drive away from Waikiki on the leeward coast. Bus pickups and drop-
offs in Waikiki are part of the deal.
Germaine's tries awfully hard and is a much more intimate affair,
but the experience is not as complete. The cost for Germaine's is $53
per adult, $43 for 14- to 20-year-olds, and $31 for 6- to 13-year-olds,
including tax and transportation. The shows are held nightly from 5:30
to 9:30pm.
Paradise Cove Luau, too, is a mixed bag, with 600 to 800 guests a
night. The small thatched village makes it more of a Hawaiian theme
park, with Hawaiian games, hukilau net throwing and gathering, craft
demonstrations, and a beautiful shoreline overlooking what is usually
a storybook sunset. Tahitian dance, ancient and modern hula, white-
knuckle fire dancing, and robust entertainment make this a fun-filled
evening for those spirited enough to join the corny audience partici-
pation. The food is safe, though not breathtaking: Hawaiian kalua pig,
lomi salmon, poi, and coconut pudding and cake, as well as more tra-
ditional fare. Paradise Cove is extremely popular because of its idyllic
setting and good entertainment quality. Tickets, including transporta-
tion and taxes, are $60 for adults, $50 for ages 13 to 18, $40 for ages
4 to 12, and free for those 3 and under. Shows are held nightly from 5
to 8:30pm.
A delightful (and powerful) addition to the Waikiki music scene is Hawaii's
queen of falsetto, Genoa Keawe, who fills the lobby bar of the Waikiki Beach
Marriott, 2552 Kalakaua Ave. ( & 808/922-6611 ), with her larger-than-life
voice. You'll find her here from 5:30 to 8:30pm every Thursday; the rest of the
week, except Monday, other contemporary Hawaiian musicians fill in.
Brothers Cazimero remains one of Hawaii's most gifted duos (Robert on
bass, Roland on 12-string guitar), appearing every Wednesday at 7pm at Chai's
Island Bistro ( & 808/585-0011 ) in the Aloha Tower Marketplace. Also at
Chai's: Robert Cazimero plays by himself on the piano on Friday at 7pm; and
Jerry Santos and Olomana perform on Sunday and Monday at 7pm. In the
past couple of years, Chai's has emerged as the leading venue for Hawaiian enter-
tainment. But if you're here on May 1 (Lei Day), try to make it to the special
concert the Brothers Caz give every year at the Waikiki Shell—it's one of the
loveliest events in Hawaii. Locals dress up in their leis and best aloha shirts, the
air smells like pikake and pakalana, and if you're lucky you'll see the moon rise
over Diamond Head.
Impromptu hula and spirited music from the family and friends of the per-
formers are an island tradition at places such as the Hilton Hawaiian Village's
Paradise Lounge ( & 808/949-4321 ), which, despite its pillars, serves as a large