The buffet and show cruise, step by step

What is on the buffet menu?

An Alaea salt crusted USDA Prime roast beef with au jus, fish of the day with coconut curry sauce, BBQ chicken and yakisoba, with island sides and desserts.

• Sides: mashed potatoes, steamed rice, local macaroni salad, Pacific Rim bean salad, pineapple and coconut, tomato and cucumber, Caesar salad.
• Desserts: chocolate macadamia nut brownies, coconut cake, guava chiffon cake and pineapple banana bread.
• Bread: poi rolls.

It is all you can eat. The menu is the operator's published one; it can change.

Is there food for vegetarians and vegans?

Yes, but plan ahead: vegan dishes are marked on the buffet, and a grilled vegan garden patty is available with 24 hours' notice.

Alternative entrees (fish, chicken or vegan) can be ordered at least 24 hours ahead by calling the operator. One guest wrote that the buffet choices were limited for her vegan partner, so do order the alternative.

Which drinks are included?

One signature Mai Tai, plus Kona blend coffee and tea; everything else is bought from the bar.

Alcohol is only served to guests 21 and over, and staff may ask for photo ID. Payment on board is cashless: Visa, Mastercard, Discover and JCB. Guests report that American Express and cash are not accepted.

What is the Moku Ola show?

"Moku Ola - Voyage of Life" is the ship's own Polynesian show: the story of Hoku's journey of self-discovery from Hawaii to Tahiti, Samoa and Aotearoa, told in dance, costume and music.

The operator bills it as the largest cast on island waters. The evening also opens with a pier-side hula welcome, has live Hawaiian music during dinner, and ends with a dance pa'ina, a party where the deck becomes the dance floor. Guests regularly name the dancers as the highlight.

How does the evening run?

Hula at the pier, a Mai Tai as you sail, the buffet as the sun sets, then the show and the dance party.

• From 4:45 PM: check in at Pier 8, Aloha Tower Marketplace; dancers welcome you on the pier.
• 5:30 PM: the ship sails past Waikiki toward Diamond Head; collect your Mai Tai.
• Around sunset: the buffet opens and live music plays. Step out on deck for the sunset itself.
• After dinner: the Moku Ola show and the dance party.
• 7:30 PM: back at the pier (about 8:20 PM on Fridays, after the fireworks).

Where will you sit?

At a table in one of the ship's dining rooms; the decks outside are open to walk around.

If you are booking separately from friends, call the operator after booking to ask to sit together. The Celebration Plan ($37 per person, minimum two) adds a private window table. The operator advertises an air-conditioned main deck, and guests report that levels without air conditioning get hot during dinner, so dress light under a layer.

Celebrating? The buffet cruise is an easy way onto the Star for birthdays and family groups.

★ 4.6 · 2 hours · from $139

Explore the buffet and show cruise → Tour details

Is the ship stable, or will you get seasick?

The 232-foot Star of Honolulu has three types of stabilizers, but some evenings are still choppy.

The crew hands out herbal ginger capsules on request. The captain can change the route for sea conditions, and certificated waters reach beyond Diamond Head to the Kahala Gold Coast. One guest in October 2026 called it a rocky ride; another described the boat as nice and stable.

Who is the buffet cruise best for?

Families, groups, older travelers and anyone who wants dinner, a show and the sunset in one easy evening.

The ship has ramps and two elevators, strollers are allowed, and children 3 to 11 pay less. One guest brought her father for his 93rd birthday. If you want a quiet dinner for two, look at the Nova tier or a small boat instead: see the price guide.

Frequently asked questions