We are a true activity company; we do not promote timeshare sales in any way.

West Maui Luaus

To help you sort through the luau choices, we recommend that you attend a luau on the side of the island where you are staying. This page lists West Maui luaus which work best for clients in Lahaina, Kaanapali, Kahana, Napili, and Kapalua.  If you are staying in Kihei, Wailea, Makena, Maalaea, Kahului, Paia, or Haiku visit our South Maui Luau page.

Show Dates:

The Wailele Polynesian Luau at the Westin Maui Resort and Spa has been designed to bring traditional and authentic dances, songs and colorful costumes to visitors to our island. Guests will embark on a vibrant and exciting journey to the Polynesian Islands where dance was considered not just as a form of entertainment, but as a means of telling stories.

Situated on the ocean side of the resort's Aloha Pavilion, the lush tropical greenery with the soothing sounds of waterfalls and a breathtaking sunset form the perfect backdrop for an evening of entertainment complemented by a delicious Hawaiian meal in an elegant setting. Executive Chef Bart Umidi and his team of highly experienced chefs have created a four course dinner that will be presented family style, just like in the olden days. There will be a free flow of drinks and cocktails such as Mai Tai, Blue Hawaiian, the signature Westin Sunset, red and white wines, beers, including Tahitian beer, sodas, and fruit juices. Sit back and enjoy the evening ... with full table service and a relaxed pace as the show unfolds in between dinner courses.

The show itself boasts the only 5-member fire knife dance performance in Maui with one of the members, Tavita, as a third generational fire knife dancer. Catch spell-binding Fiji and Maori performances with the choreography and dance moves carefully supervised by Fiji and Maori chiefs. The show will also include dances and songs from: Hawaii, Tahiti, New Zealand and Samoa – a truly authentically-presented Polynesian revue!

New for dates in 2008: A premium seating option in the first three rows of tables is available for a $15 per person upgrade fee. This guarantees you have excellent seats for the show!

First Course: Pupus (appetizers)

Ahi poke with limu, lomi lomi salmon, pipi kaula (smoked beef), dried mango, and taro chips

Second Course: Salad

Haiku salad greens, kamuela tomato, Kula onion, hearts of palm, Tahitian lime dressing, taro rolls, and butter

Third Course: Main Entree

Seared Island I'a (fish, taro leaf and ginger butter, kalua pua'a (pork), poi, fire roasted teriyaki beef, toasted sesame, Molokai sweet potato, and rice

Fourth Course: Dessert

Haupia, macademia nut tartlet, kona chocolate cake, and pineapple caramel cake

Premium open bar ... all drinks included

Beer, Mai Tais, Blue Hawaiians, Westing Sunsets, Seagram's Vodka, Tanqueray Gin, Castillo White Rum, Johnny Walker Scotch, Crown Royal Whiskey, Indigo Hills Chardonnay, Indigo Hills Merlot, sodas, juices, iced tea, milk, and a keiki (child's) signature luau drink called the "Jackson Chameleon" made with Sierra Mist and Honeydew Melon Syrup.

Editor's Review: We are so excited to offer this new luau experience to our clients! My wife and I attended on 11/1/2007 and we were astounded with the overall quality of the experience. This is a great luau for people who want something that is a step up from your classic luau buffet line. The food was absolutely impeccable and bridges the gap perfectly between the traditional "luau motif" and fine dining. The show is colorful and energetic as evidenced by the photos in the slideshow above. They aren't offering a premium up front upgrade at this time, but that isn't important here ... at maximum capacity this luau is less than HALF THE SIZE of the other luaus on Maui in terms of the number of guests per evening. The bar mixes up a great Mai Tai ... the same quality you would find at a restaurant or bar elsewhere at the resort (only you don't have to pay $9.25 a piece for them ... they're included in the price of the show.)  This luau is a tiny bit more expensive than most others, but it is very much worth the little bit extra for the quality that they deliver. Kudos to the food and beverage staff at the Westin ... this luau has raised the bar FIVE NOTCHES higher than any other on Maui!

 

Sheraton Kaanapali Sunset Luau
General Admission Reserved Seating Adults $82.56 $92.16 Children (6-12) $41.28 50.88 Infants (under 5) Free $9.60

This luau is held Monday and Wednesday evenings year-round. During summer months of June, July, and August this luau is held Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings

Experience a true paradise setting at the Sheraton's beachside luau grounds, and witness the nightly Black Rock cliff diver after he lights the torches at sunset. Enjoy a luau feast including fresh grilled steaks, Macadamia nut sautéed Mahi Mahi, and of course the Kalua pork cooked in a genuine underground oven. The Tihati cast members will lead you through an exciting and colorful presentation of the cultures of Hawaii, Tahiti, Fiji, Rarotonga, New Zealand, and Samoa, including the spectacular fire knife dance.

Premier Seating in the first two rows of tables is available for a $9.60 surcharge. We highly recommend this option. It is really nice to be able to walk into the luau grounds a few minutes before the show starts knowing that your seats are reserved for you up front! Overall this is our favorite Maui luau! 

 

Royal Lahaina Luau
General Admission Reserved Seating Adults $71.95 $86.95 Children (6-11) Free $15.00 Infants (under 5) Free FREE

This luau is typically done 7 days a week during summer; Rest of year they are closed on Saturday nights.

Children FREE (1 per paying adult; additional children are $41)

No Hawaiian vacation would be complete without attending a luau, a beachside feast and hula show, and the Royal Lahaina Luau is an excellent choice. The main course is the kalua pig, cooked all day in the underground imu oven. The all you can eat buffet also includes smoked turkey, a delicious island-style mahi mahi, grilled steak, shoyu chicken,  and a huge vegetable and salad bar. This luau is the most kid-friendly ... they even have a "keiki food bar" with hot dogs and chicken nuggets. The open bar keeps the Mai Tais flowing from the moment the gates open until the conclusion of the show, which traces the development of hula through the ages. The show concludes with a spectacular Samoan fire knife dance. This luau is also a great family value, as children under 11 are free ... one per paying adult. 

The Royal Lahaina offers a "premier seating option" up front and center. This package includes early admission to the Beachcomber VIP Lounge which opens at 4pm for an open bar and snacks. Just before the luau starts you will be escorted to your front and center stage seats. The cost of this upgrade is $15 per seat for adults and children ages 6 and older.

Buyer Caution: Our discounted rate for the Royal Lahaina Luau is 15% off the list price. There are other companies who sell this luau for less money, but every one without exception is a company that markets timeshare presentations. They use cheap luau tickets to get you in their door and then try to talk you into attending a sales presentation while you are on Maui. Our only goal is to help you have a good time while you are here. Timeshare sales is BIG business here on Maui, but one in which we've chosen not to participate.

 

Hyatt Luau - Drums of the Pacific
Our Price Adults $86.00 Teens (13-20) $51.00 Children (6-12) $39.00 Infants (5 & under) free

These rates are $10 per person off the list price. 

Activity Tips

A luau is a must-do event for the first-time Hawaii visitor. Personally, I never get tired of good food, open bar, sunset views, and Hawaiian music and dance. 

The most important thing about attending a luau is WHERE YOU SIT!!! You are much better off sitting up front at the second best luau than sitting in the back at the best luau. Read that again and let it sink in!  If you are ordering at least a few weeks before your vacation, go with PREMIER reserved seating at one of the luaus that offer that option (The Maui Prince, Wailea Marriott, and Sheraton Luau are a deal with only a $9.60pp surcharge ... the Royal Lahaina and Westin charges $15 per seat). It is really nice to be able to walk in the luau grounds a few minutes before the show starts knowing you've got great seats. It beats standing in line for an hour ahead of time, especially when you are on vacation!

The Sheraton's oceanside luau grounds have hosted a luau on Mondays and Wednesdays in 2007 and it has been very well received by our clients.  The tables are as close to the sandy beach of Kaanapali as you can get (luaus aren't actually held on the sand ... below the high water mark is public property). The Sheraton Luau includes the torch lighting and Black Rock cliff diver as part of the show. My wife and I attended this luau just after it opened and were really impressed. It's a nice setting, the show is engaging and energetic, and the food was good. This is the only luau I've attended that had a BBQ grill in the line and were cooking the steaks right on the spot. Of course they also do the traditional imu with the pig cooked in the ground. Best of all, they offer the smart people like you who are planning ahead the opportunity to get reserved seats for only $9.60 more! This luau is only offered on Monday and Wednesdays.

We are equally excited to announce the the introduction of the Wailele Polynesian Luau at the Westin Maui Resort and Spa! This is the perfect luau for people who want to experience luau cuisine but want something that is a step up from the typical luau buffet. This is the first luau we've attended where the steak literally melted in our mouths! I have often said that luaus aren't fine dining ... and most luaus are so similar that if you blindfolded me and set plates of food from 5 different luaus in front of me, I couldn't tell which plate was which. The Westin is different. Their food stands out from the rest and it IS SO GOOD it is approaching fine dining quality. This luau is also an exception to the "you gotta get up front seats" rule ... this luau is less than half the size of most other luaus and offers a more intimate setting. They are adding a premium seating option for dates in 2008, so if you really want to make sure you've got excellent seats it is worth the $15 per person upgrade. We hope they add more nights and keep up the amazing dinner and show they are now offering! WELL DONE!!!  

The Wailea Marriott offers a nice luau four nights a week. They too offer the reserved front table seating option. Their luau grounds has the best ocean view of any luau in Hawaii! Their show is brand new and features a great blend of chanting, ancient hula, and contemporary hula, and the fire dancer at this luau is ABSOLUTELY the best we've seen anywhere. He is the only person to ever win three consecutive world championships at the definitive fire knife dancing contest. This luau is so good it might be worth the drive for those of you who are staying in West Maui. I would recommend doing it in connection with an afternoon of sightseeing in the Wailea / Makena area. You can read more about this luau on our South Maui Luau Page.

The Hyatt Regency Luau at Kaanapali offers an energetic show and one thing families with teens really appreciate at this luau is that they offer a TEEN RATE (the only Maui luau that has this). It only makes sense ... a luau includes an open bar for adults over 21 ... beer, wine, Mai Tais, etc. Why should 13-20 year olds pay the same rate as adults? They do at every other luau ... but not at the Hyatt. Down side here to this luau is that you can't see the ocean at all from any table. The luau ground is almost completely surrounded by wings of the hotel, and the view of the ocean is blocked by a very tall row of shrubbery. It seems odd to be so close to the ocean that you can hear it, but to have your view intentionally blocked. We think it is to prevent people on the beach sidewalk from standing there and getting  a free view of the show.

The Royal Lahaina Luau is a good choice (and affordable) for families. They are offering a "premier seating" option with early entrance to the VIP Lounge at the Beachcomber bar ... the cost of this upgrade is $15 per seat for adults and children age 6 and older. This luau has a little more of a "local flavor" and they've done quite a grand finale with their Samoan fire dance at the end of the show. In addition to the main double fire knife dancer they also have two other kane with single fire knifes and several wahine twirling fire poi balls. It's a great photo op at the end of your evening!

On-line Luau Reservations