general or vip
Choosing your seat tier
What actually changes between General admission and VIP seating, and who each one suits.
Check dates ↗General vs VIP, side by side
| General | VIP | |
|---|---|---|
| Gate time | Roughly 15 minutes after VIP | Earliest entry — 5:15pm or 5:30pm by season |
| Table position | Second row back or beyond, by booking time | Assigned by booking order |
| Buffet, bar and show | Full access | Full access |
What VIP actually buys you
VIP adds an earlier gate, fifteen minutes before General, plus the perks shown at booking. The buffet, the open bar and the show are the same for both tiers.
What General still gets you
General admission is the same evening — the imu, the full buffet, the open bar and the whole show — from a table further back, seated from the second row on depending on how early you booked.
Booking time decides your table, either way
Within each tier, seating is pre-assigned by booking time rather than by who shows up earliest on the night. Book early within General and you'll sit closer to the front of that section; book early within VIP and the same applies.
When VIP is worth it
The earlier VIP gate matters most for an anniversary, proposal or milestone, since you're settled at your table before the lawn fills.
When General is the better fit
For a family evening or a first luau, General covers the same show, food and bar for less. Book early either way, because tables in each tier are assigned in booking order.