During our stop in the cruise port of Nāwiliwili in Kauai on our NCL cruise of Hawaii, we went on an excursion to the Luau Kalamaku and had a tour of the Kilohana Plantation by tourist train beforehand. It was a great day trip, and it let us enjoy some of the beautiful landscapes and cultural offerings of this part of Hawaii.
Choosing a Kaua’i Cruise Excursion
When we travel around the world, we enjoy experiencing the authentic culture of wherever we’re going. The Luau Kalamaku was very authentic, coming straight from Hawaii’s beautiful culture. It wove Hawaiian history and incredible talent into an outstanding performance. This luau is an activity all ages will enjoy!
A luau is a traditional Hawaiian party or feast that typically includes Hawaiian food, music, hula dancing, and other forms of entertainment. It often takes place outdoors, usually in the evening, and is a celebration of Hawaiian culture and hospitality.
Kilohana Plantation Train
Before dinner and the luau, we enjoyed an hour-long (5:00pm-6:00pm) train ride throughout the Kilohana Plantation. Along the way, the guide informed us about the plantation’s history and its variety of animals. We even stopped once to feed them!
The train took us by lush groves with traditional Hawaiian crops before we were brought back for an Imu ceremony. This is when an entire pig is cooked in the ground – which steams the meat until it is fall-off-the-bone. Vegetables are also cooked underground (much like the Māori Hangi in New Zealand and Fijian Lovo), and the taste is unlike anything we have tried before!
Feeding the animals
The fun train ride includes a stop to visit and feed the animals. Horses, cows, wild pigs, goats, sheep, ducks, geese, and donkeys can be seen all over the property, and you can feed some of them. Here, they are all treated like pets, many of them having names.
We were also guided on how to feed them. The horses can eat out of your hands, while the pigs don’t mind eating off the ground. All of them were very friendly, and hungry.
Lūʻau Kalamaku
This luau combined a theatrical performance with traditional live music. It was inspired by Hawaiian mythology, and there was lots of drums and fire dancing. The dancers were extremely talented, and the lighting, music, and acting all tied together beautifully.
Along with the pig from the Imu ceremony, there was a delicious selection of traditional-inspired dishes, such as salmon, tofu salad, fresh fruits, and macaroni and cheese. There were two buffets with identical food, so there was more room for the people in line to spread out. Groups were assigned to specific tables, where we enjoyed live music while we ate. Desserts and coffee were provided afterwards.
Experiencing a Hawaiian Luau – a must-do!
We highly recommend this cruise excursion to Luau Kalamaku and the tourist train. It is an experience everyone will enjoy, combining cute farm animals, Hawaiian culture, and scrumptious food. This was an activity that will stand out in our memories of Hawaii, and will hopefully leave an impression on you.
Let us help you plan your cruise trip to Hawaii,
with our full service Travel Agency!
Copyright © Endless Family Travels – all rights reserved. Photos and content cannot be used without express permission.
Endless Family Travels is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.
