The torches that have welcomed generations of visitors to Paradise Cove Luau at Ko Olina are about to dim for good. For 47 years, this has been one of Oahu’s most enduring cultural experiences. It will close on December 31 as the land’s owner, the James Campbell Company, moves ahead with redevelopment plans in 2026. The decision will affect 172 employees and mark the end of a long chapter in Hawaii’s visitor history.
Final show date: December 31, 2025
Years in operation: 47 (1978-2025)
Employees affected: 172
Landowner: James Campbell Company
Alternative luaus: Chief’s Luau, Polynesian Cultural Center, Germaine’s
Among those who feel the loss most deeply are longtime visitors who made memories there that became part of their own Hawaii story. Tammy B., who first came as a TWA flight attendant in the 1980s, told us she met her husband at Paradise Cove “when nothing was out there.” She still visits often, usually flying Hawaiian, and said the thought of the closure feels like losing part of the island she knew. Her words echo a shared feeling among longtime visitors who have watched West Oahu change from open and quiet to developed and restricted.
When Paradise Cove opened in 1978, Ko Olina was just an untouched coastline. There were no lagoons, no golf course, and no resorts. Over time, the resorts came, the road widened, traffic arrived, and Paradise Cove became one of the last public-facing experiences in a largely high-end, private resort corridor.
For nearly five decades, Paradise Cove was more than a show. It was where visitors discovered aloha in person, through a mix of sunset light, ocean breeze, and island storytelling. For many readers, it wasn’t just the best luau on Oahu, it was the one that felt most real.
Why Paradise Cove stood out among Hawaii luaus.
Readers often described Paradise Cove as a bridge between old Hawaii and the new. Unlike resort luaus, it welcomed everyone with free shuttles and open-air grounds that stayed simple even as Ko Olina’s resorts grew up right around it.
Ernie S. told us that he and his wife headed straight from their wedding ceremony to Paradise Cove eight years ago. They’ve been back five times since, calling it “a totally immersive experience.” Joe B. said he’s attended more than a dozen times and always upgraded to the better package, adding, “For us, this was the best luau on the island.” Lizzie recalled the nearby secret beach, where she once reminded visitors to give a resting honu its space. That moment, she said, reflected what the luau stood for — a respect for place that was never scripted.
What Paradise Cove ticket holders should do now.
Paradise Cove’s final performance is set for December 31, 2025, with no new reservations accepted for after that date. Guests holding tickets for 2026 are advised to contact Paradise Cove directly to request refunds. Staff are expected to begin moving on to other venues early next year, though details are still being finalized.
Other Oahu luaus are already seeing more interest. Chief’s Luau in Kapolei remains a strong alternative with a similar west-side sunset setting and vibe. The Polynesian Cultural Center on the North Shore offers larger-scale, more scripted performances tied to its cultural villages. Germaine’s Luau near Ewa Beach continues to operate with its own oceanfront seating and shuttle pickup. Each gives a different view of Hawaii’s storytelling traditions, but Paradise Cove’s oceanfront setting at Ko Olina will be difficult, if not impossible, to replace.
What’s next for Paradise Cove’s workers.
The James Campbell Company has yet to announce specific redevelopment plans for the site, stating only that work will begin in 2026. Whether any of the existing cultural infrastructure will be preserved remains unclear. Local leaders are urging support for displaced employees and for continued cultural programming in the Ko Olina resort area.
While the beachfront path below the luau site is open to the public, parking is very limited and access can be restricted when the lot fills up or resort access is controlled.
This closure also raises a broader question for Hawaii’s visitor economy. As longtime attractions disappear, just what will replace them? Independent luaus like Paradise Cove once gave visitors a more genuine introduction to Hawaiian culture outside of hotels. Their decline mirrors a larger trend toward resort-managed experiences, where high pricing and access limit who can attend.
A tradition that shaped how visitors saw Hawaii.
For nearly five decades, Paradise Cove offered something rare in Hawaii travel: open-air hospitality deeply connected to place. That is abundantly clear from the impassioned comments we received. It became the backdrop for weddings, honeymoons, family reunions, and countless first visits. The people who danced, sang, cooked, and greeted guests there turned what could have been a simple cheesy show into something long-lasting.
Paradise Cove’s closing marks another shift in how Hawaii shares its culture with visitors and raises questions about what West Oahu will offer in its place. For now, those who loved it have until December 31 to say goodbye.
Have you experienced Paradise Cove or another luau that left a truly lasting impression? Please share your memories with us below.
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Paradise Cove Luau is special to our family started coming here when my kids were little and they got to experience their dad getting picked to throw the fishing nets out and do a dance. In 2020 brought my grandkids here and in November of 2025 came here at request of my son who is now 40 to revisit so he could remember being here with his dad. His dad passed 12 years ago. It brought back good memories! So sad it is closing. The shows were amazing. Loved hearing the Hawaiian Wedding song performed! Thanks for many years of entertainment.
I remember $10 military nights! My husband’s whole unit would go!
So what are they going to replace it with? More hotels? We had our daughter’s wedding there, and the dinner show was the reception. 15 years later some of our guests are still talking about the wonderful show and the entire event. Really, I’ve been there enough but every time we visit Hawaii with friends, we bring them to Paradise Cove Luau. Sad day indeed.
This is tragic but a long time coming. But don’t be sad!!!! Germaine’s luau is pretty good. Lots of fun. Great dancers, good drinks, pretty good food. Right on the water. Just go there.
I remember first going in the late 80’s – nothing was around it. Did a hands on fish net toss in the lagoon. It felt like a real village along the shore. Been back 3 other times. I will miss it.
Luaus are an overrated, overpriced tourist trap, but people romanticize them because they develop emotional attachment related to some significant personal event, like this article describes. Ticket prices are a highway robbery disguised as “special packages”. Yes, the dancers are usually good, but the food is mediocre at best and overall poor value for the money. For a lot less you can see one of the better Cirque du Soleil shows in Vegas, or go see a free show at Ala Moana.
If your goal, however, is to learn about the Hawaiian culture go to Bishop’s or Iolani or HoMA which are a great learning experience, but majority of tourists skip them or don’t even know they exist.
You’ll miss those tourist traps when they are gone. I remember the reek of the Dole pineapple factory when crossing the bridge as a boy. I came back and the reek had disappeared and a Dole pineapple tourist trap stood in its place. Oddly, I missed that reek, and it made me sad. I came back years later, and the Dole tourist trap was gone, and I was miserable again. Putting all that aside, take into consideration what’s happening in the islands; white clouds are covering the blue skies. I even miss the original International Market Place.
I remember the pineapple water tower & bringing friends and family to the packing plant. Free pineapple slices & juice, coming our of the spigots!
I knew a dancer for years who danced at Paradise Cove. The best luau on Oahu’s westside. Very sad.
The Toa Luau at Waimea Falls and the Nutridge Luau in the hills above Honolulu are both authentic small intimate luaus that counter the large hotel experiences trend. They are both somewhat recent additions. If you are in Ko Olina though, where Paradise Clove is located, they are less convenient. On the Westside you still have Germaine’s, Chiefs Luau, Fia Fia and the luau at the Disney Aulani.