Ohana Luau - See Daytona Beach

A Night to Remember at Daytona's only Dinner Show!

Although I?ve eaten plenty of great dinners and seen a lot of interesting entertainment, I had never been to an event that combined the two. My last trip to Daytona Beach included an evening spent at Daytona?s only dinner show. Located inside the Hawaiian Inn, The Ohana Luau, offers the perfect dinner and a show experience. As I walked into the luau, I was immediately transported into an evening in Hawaii. A girl dressed in a hula skirt greeted me with an ?Aloha?, a lei, and a smile, automatically making me feel at home. The tropical music and dim lights also helped to create the relaxing atmosphere that Ohana Luau gives visitors.

Within minutes of being seated, I was offered tropical drinks and invited ?to take part in the first course of the evening?s meal. Included in the ticket price, the Ohana Luau offers a full buffet style meal complete with a salad course, main course, dessert, and drink. I started off my night with a salad, fresh fruit and a soft roll.

As I was making my way back to my table from the buffet, I stopped to talk to the bartender and luau performance coordinator to hear some of the history behind the Luau. The Ohana Luau has been a part of Daytona?s entertainment world since 1965 and prides itself on maintaining the traditional aspects that the show had when it first began years ago. Some of these things include using the original decorations around the room and making the food using historical family recipes.

Once all of the guests had arrived, a man dressed in a traditional Polynesian outfit ?announced that it was time for dinner. The dinner included a plethora of authentic and delicious dishes. I filled my plate with Teriyaki Chicken, Polynesian Pepper steak, fried rice, plantains, and grilled vegetables. As I ate, a Polynesian band served as live entertainment and a precursor to the show part of the evening.

As dinner came to a close, the show began with a few songs played by the band. The rest of the night was a combination of traditional Hawaiian and Polynesian songs and dances performed by both the band and hula dancers. The performances were very entertaining and continued to uphold the traditional feel that the atmosphere and food brought. To make the night even more exciting, the performers included a lot of activities that involved audience participation. One of my favorites included the on-stage hula lesson that gave guests a chance to learn a hula dance and perform it in front of the audience. Another memorable moment included a ?dance-off? in which the performers and audience members danced together on-stage while the audience cheered them on. The combination of both traditional performances and audience fun made for a unique entertainment experience.

The Ohana Luau was a night I will always remember. The luau transports the visitor back to a time when satisfaction could be found in a great dinner and a interesting performances. If you are in Daytona area and looking for a unique dining experience, Ohana Luau is definitely worth a visit.

~ Amanda Michael

Ohana Luau
Hawaiian Inn Hotel
2301 S. Atlantic Ave
Daytona Beach Shores FL, 32174
(386) 255-5411
Shows run Saturday nights with dinner beginning at 6:30 p.m., show starts at 7:30 p.m.

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