Closed Sun, Wed, Thanksgiving & Christmas
Are drinks included with a lūʻau ticket?
Almost always, yes — beverages come with dinner at established lūʻau; what varies is the kind. Alcohol-free venues like the Polynesian Cultural Center include tropical juices, punch, and soft drinks (the Aliʻi Lūʻau also currently greets guests with a fresh smoothie). Resort lūʻau typically bundle a welcome cocktail and either an open bar or drink tickets, with premium tiers pouring more. Read the inclusions line on any ticket — 'beverages included' and 'open bar' are different promises.
The drinks line on a lūʻau ticket tells you what kind of evening the venue is selling. The Polynesian Cultural Center's choice is deliberate: no alcohol anywhere on the property keeps the environment family-first and culture-first, and the beverage program leans into it — juices, punch, sodas, water at the table, plus that arrival smoothie. Families, non-drinkers, and guests who've endured a rowdy adjacent table at other venues consistently list this as a quiet advantage. Anyone whose picture of a lūʻau includes a mai tai should know before booking, not at the table.
At hotel and resort lūʻau, alcohol is usually part of the package math: a welcome mai tai, then open bar, drink tickets, or a cash bar depending on tier — and 'premium' tiers often differ from standard mostly in pour policy and seating. Two universal tips: hydrate like you're outdoors in Hawaiʻi (you are — water glasses refill free everywhere), and if drinks matter to your budget either direction, price the package accordingly: an open-bar tier you won't use is wasted money, and a cash bar you didn't expect is a surprise bill.
How to read the beverage fine print before booking
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Find the exact phrase: 'Beverages included,' 'welcome cocktail,' 'open bar,' and 'cash bar available' are four different products — match the words to your wants.
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Know the dry venues: The PCC is alcohol-free by policy — a feature for many groups, a factor for others. Decide with eyes open.
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Price tiers by pour policy: At resorts, tier upgrades often buy bar access more than food — calculate whether your table will use it.
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Count the non-drinkers: Kids and non-drinking adults subsidize open-bar pricing — a juice-inclusive venue may be priced fairer for your group.
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Water is always free: Whatever the tier, hydrate — an outdoor evening after a beach day earns it.
See what's included at the Aliʻi Lūʻau
Lei greeting, fresh smoothie, buffet with beverages, and live entertainment — the Polynesian Cultural Center's inclusions are listed plainly on its packages page.
What to expect at the table
At the PCC: juices, punch, soft drinks, and water with dinner, no bar anywhere on property. At resorts: a welcome cocktail and tier-dependent bar service, with non-alcoholic options always available. Everywhere: refills of the included beverages are generous.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Does the Polynesian Cultural Center serve alcohol?
No — the Center is alcohol-free throughout. Beverages at the Aliʻi Lūʻau are tropical juices, punch, soft drinks, and water.
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What is the welcome drink at the Aliʻi Lūʻau?
Currently a fresh tropical smoothie with the lei greeting — check the official page for current inclusions.
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Do resort lūʻau include unlimited cocktails?
Some tiers do; others cap with drink tickets or run cash bars. The tier description states it — read before assuming.
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Can I bring my own drinks to a lūʻau?
No — outside beverages aren't permitted at commercial venues, and alcohol-free properties like the PCC enforce the policy at entry.
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Are refills free?
For included beverages, yes at established venues — juices, sodas, and water flow with the meal.