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Paradise Cove Luau to Close Dec. 31 After 47 Years

Paradise Cove Luau shoreline lawn and stage at Ko Olina at golden hour, palms and calm water framing the scene, Paradise Cove Luau closing 2025
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4 min read

Key points

  • Paradise Cove Luau will hold its final show on December 31, 2025 after a 47 year run
  • Landowner James Campbell Company is redeveloping the site as The Cove, with dining, retail, and an oceanfront amphitheater
  • Draft and final EIS documents describe a roughly 11 acre project footprint and a target of about 484 jobs
  • Local reporting cites an estimated $135 million project cost and a projected opening in early 2027
  • Ticket holders for 2026 dates should contact the venue or their point of purchase to arrange refunds

Impact

Last Chance To Attend
Reservations remain available through December 31, 2025, expect high demand for year end dates
Refunds And Rebooking
If you hold 2026 reservations, contact Paradise Cove or your seller promptly for refunds or alternatives
Ko Olina Options
Consider other luaus in West Oahu or Honolulu if preferred dates sell out during the wind down period
Construction Timeline
Expect intermittent closures of the current grounds in 2026 as site work begins
Future Venue
The Cove plans include a new amphitheater hosting a commercial luau once construction is complete

Paradise Cove Luau on Oahu's leeward coast will end a 47 year run on December 31, 2025, as its landowner moves ahead with a full site redevelopment. The venue says it will operate through year end, then close to make way for The Cove, a new entertainment, dining, and retail complex planned for the same waterfront parcel at Ko Olina in Kapolei. The operator and landowner framed the final season as a chance for kamaaina and visitors to say aloha before construction begins.

Paradise Cove, Ko Olina

Local coverage confirms the last night of shows is New Year's Eve 2025, with the landowner, James Campbell Company, advancing permits and entitlements for the project. Reporting also notes about 172 employees affected by the change, alongside job fairs and placement support during the wind down.

Latest developments

State filings show a Final Environmental Impact Statement for The Cove was published in January 2025, describing a redevelopment of roughly 10.85 acres at the current luau site. Project materials outline an oceanfront performing arts amphitheater, restaurants, retail space, cultural programming areas, and a daily commercial luau once the new venue opens. The FEIS and developer release cite a jobs impact on the order of 484 full time positions when the project is operational.

Media reports place the project budget at about $135 million, with an opening targeted for early 2027, subject to permits and build schedules. City documents reflect progress on shoreline and Special Management Area approvals needed for demolition of existing structures and new construction across multiple buildings.

Analysis

For near term travelers, the headline is simple, the luau continues to run through December 31, 2025, then closes. If you want Paradise Cove specifically, book sooner rather than later, because demand typically spikes when a long running attraction announces an end date. If your plans are for 2026, contact your original point of purchase to confirm a refund or a move to another luau while construction proceeds. Independent reporting and venue communications have flagged that post 2025 reservations will not be honored at the current site.

For West Oahu and Ko Olina stays, expect the shoreline parcel to transition into a construction zone at some point in 2026 after year end operations conclude. That can bring periodic traffic controls on Aliinui Drive and changes to pedestrian access on the edge of the resort zone, especially during heavy equipment staging or utility work. The city's permit docket and state filings are the best places to track timing, since the developer's schedule will be gated by approvals, procurement, and site prep.

From a cultural programming standpoint, the plan is not to eliminate a luau at Ko Olina, it is to replace the legacy grounds with a purpose built amphitheater that can host a commercial luau and other performances. Capacity and staging will likely differ from today's format, since the FEIS describes fixed seating and integrated back of house instead of open lawn layouts, which should improve production control and reduce weather sensitivity once complete. Those design choices are visible in concept summaries tied to the EIS process.

Final thoughts

Paradise Cove Luau's sunset run has been part of the Ko Olina experience for decades, and the close on December 31, 2025 marks a clean pivot to The Cove. Travelers booked for early 2026 should verify refunds and alternatives now, and guests who want a last visit in 2025 should lock dates promptly. The redevelopment's documentation points to a modern amphitheater and a commercial luau returning at the same shoreline once construction is finished.

Sources

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