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Visiting Maui without taking in a luau should be illegal -- you can’t spend all that money to fly to Maui and stay at a fantastic resort and not go to a luau!  Period.  The luau has turned into the last vestiges of Hawaiian culture.  ALL the best luaus are sold out way way in advance of the luau.  You can not wait until you are on Maui to book them -- they are sold out by then -- you’ve been warned!

Many folks see crazy cheap prices for all kinds of luaus -- I can assure you that is exactly what you will get -- cheap luaus that will disappoint you.  I’ve been to many luaus and the expensive ones are 10 times better than the cheap ones.  There is NO such thing as an “excellent cheap luau” -- they are just cheap and a waste of your money and time.

As you probably know, the only place on the planet you can truly attend a luau is in Hawaii, and arguably, the very best luaus to be found in the state are on Maui, so if your going to do a luau, you should do it right here. The other thing that I should mention at this point is that if your going to decide to book a luau on Maui, you should probably consider doing it right now or as soon as you possibly can, long before you actually arrive on vacation, because some of our very best luaus (not all but some of them) actually are sold out weeks and even months in advance. I know it seems incredible, but it is the absolute truth. Even if the luau is not sold out, the sooner we make a booking for you the better the seating arrangement will be for you and your family when you attend.

Open Bar: the two recommended luaus have a 3-hour open bar -- drink yourself silly with premium drinks.  Ask for all the top brands of liquor for your drinks.  Just about any other luau give you one (1) free drink as you enter then opens a bar tab for you to pay at the end.

Premium seating: sign up early and you will get premium seating at these two fine luaus.  Many other luaus want big bucks for you to get a premium seat.  These two fine luaus assign seats based upon when the tickets are purchased -- the earlier the better the seat!

20% Tip/Gratuity: these two fine luaus have the gratuity built into the ticket price.  All the other luaus don’t and that amounts to 15% -- 20% more of a charge.

Total Cost: Buy a cheaper luau then add in the bar tab plus the 20% tip plus the premium seating and they will cost way way more than these two luaus which are the best on Maui and perhaps all the Hawaiian islands.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=INGc6cyDyDg

There are two luaus that are both #1 on Maui and owned by the same company:

Feast at LeLe

Feast at Lele

Situated along the beach in historic Lahaina Town, just 10 minutes from the Honua Kai Resort & Spa. Guest are greeted with a fresh flower lei and a mai tai. A sit down, five course dinner featuring cuisine of Hawaii, New Zealand, Tahiti, Samoa and Dessert as well as a premium open bar are included throughout the evening. Each course is accompanied by dramatic Polynesian entertainment from each island, that combines modern interpretations of the traditional song, dance and cuisine of four Pacific Islands.

The Feast at Lele is certainly one of the best luaus you will find in the state of Hawaii. This luau is very personalized, holding only about 150 persons, and the demand for these seats is often very great. This is one of the very few luaus you will find that seats your individual group at its very own table and has table service instead of a buffet. The food is served at your table to coordinate with the South Pacific culture that is appearing as entertainment on stage. Each serving then will accentuate specialty dishes available in that specific culture. You will do a cultural round-robin of the Pacific island nations and experience each one at a time. Everything is about personalization at this luau from your drinks to the fresh flower lei you receive when you first arrive, to the seating and to the delicious dinner. If you don’t mind spending a little extra to experience some of the very best, then the Feast at Lele may just be for you.

The tables are set up right on the sand beach and you can drink all the tropical drinks you can think of in 3 hours.  Many luaus don’t include an unlimited 3-hour open bar -- this one does.  Tipping is built into the price -- so for other luaus you need to add in 20% more for the tip -- not this one.

MENU
Executive Chef James McDonald Presents a Celebration of Polynesian Cuisine.

Traditional Polynesian staples, Banana, Taro and Sweet Potato chips served with a Tropical Ginger and Ogo Seaweed Salsa.

First Course from Hawaii
Imu Roasted Kalua Pig
Pohole Ferns and heart of Palm Salad
Fresh Island fish with Mango Sauce
Poi

Second Course from New Zealand
Sea Bean Duck Salad with Poha Berry Dressing
Kuku Patties -- Maori fishcake with mussels, salmon and scallops
Harore Kumara -- Roasted mushrooms, sweet potato and garlic

Third Course from Tahiti
Fafa -- Steamed Chicken and Taro Leaf in Coconut Milk
E-Ioata-Poisson Cru
Scallops on the Shell -- Baked Scallops

Fourth Course from Samoa
Supasui -- Grilled Steak
Palusami -- Breadfruit with Taro Leaf and Coconut Cream
Shrimp and Avacado with Lilikoi

Fifth Course Desserts
Carmel Mac Nut Tart topped with fruited Coconut Pudding (Haupia)
Hawaiian Chocolate Truffles
Exotic Fruits

Feast at Lele Bar Menu
Mai Tai - Light and dark rum, with orange and pineapple juice
Pina Colada - Light rum, coconut cream and pineapple juice
Banana Madness - Rum, pineapple juice, coconut cream, banana and irish liquor
Lava Flow - A pina colade with banana and strawberry swirl
Island Ice Tea -- Mango Ice Tea with juices and orange liquor
Blue Hawaii - Light rum, pineapple juice and blue curacao
Planters Punch -- Light rum, orange juice, sweet & sour, soda with a dark rum float

Beers
Heineken
Steinlager
Hinano (Tahitian beer)
Kona Pacific Gold Ale
Budweiser
Bud Light
Coors Light
O’Doul’s (non-alcoholic)

Wines
Chardonnay
White Zinfandel
Sauvignon Blanc
Cabernet
Merlot
Pinot Noir
Sparkling wine

Liquors
Smirnoff Vodka
Gordons Gin
Jose Cuervo Tequila
Bacardi Rum
Grants Scotch
Jim Beam Whisky

There are NO discounts available on Maui -- none, zip, zilch -- from anyone.  This, to me, and Old Lahaina Luau are tied for 1st place in luaus mainly because all the drinks are included and so is tipping.

You must book early -- you can’t wait until you are on Maui to get a good seat -- click here to book NOW!

Old Lahaina Luau

Old Lahaina Luau

For over 25 years the Old Lahaina Luau has been has been the most well known and respected luau to be offered in Hawaii. The luau is often sold-out many weeks in advance. If you’re coming to the islands for a visit this is a “must book early”. Although the seating is excellent from any vantage point if you want to sit closer to the stage, or even sit traditional style with legs folded and near the front, your seat placement is dependent upon the date it was booked so this is an additional reason to book early. And will it be worth it? A case could be made, in fact a very good case could be made that the Old Lahaina Luau is not just the very best luau on Maui but in all likelihood the very best luau in all of Hawaii.

Old Lahaina Luau is the traditional buffet type luau with all the adult beverages you can drink in 3 hours.  They give you a list of their specials -- about 20 of them.  I’ve personally tasted all 20 and they are all good.  They make the best Mai Tais I’ve ever had.

Old Lahaina Luau Menu

The food is served buffet style. To avoid long lines at the buffet like at some luaus, your host lets you know when your table can go through the buffet line. This does decrease wait time in the line, but some visitors feel like they are back in school again.

• Kalua Roast Pork Laulau (steamed pork wrapped in luau leaf)

• Chicken Long Rice Shredded chicken, Maui onions, ginger & rice bean noodles in broth

• Island Style Chicken Chicken marinated with guava sauce garnished with fresh pineapples & toasted sesame seeds

• Stir Fry Vegetables Zucchini, Maui onions, carrots, broccoli, sugar snap peas, and baby corn

• Local-Style Fried Rice Fried rice with green onions, peas, & sesame oil

• Sweet Potato Warm sliced Big Island sweet potatoes

• Island Crab Salad Crab, shrimp and water chestnuts

• Taro Salad Taro and spinach folded in coconut sauce

• Pohole Salad Fern shoots, Maui onions & tomatoes served in a vinaigrette sauce

• Lomi-Lomi Salmon Tomatoes, Maui onions, & salted salmon

• Ahi Poke Fresh raw ahi (yellow fin tuna) with green onions & Maui onions

• Poi Made from boiling & mashing the root of the taro plant

• Fresh Island Fruit & Banana Bread

• Assorted Island Desserts Chocolate Mac Nut Brownie, Maui Macadamia Nut Tart, Lilikoi Mousse Chocolate Cups, & Coconut Haupia

If you want to read more about these two fine luaus click here.

You must book early -- you can’t wait until you are on Maui to get a good seat -- click here to book NOW!

Just 10 minutes from the Honua Kai!

Mai-tai in hand, a sumptuous buffet awaiting, accompanied by gentle waves lapping the nearby shore in the “magic hour” of Maui twilight, visitors to the Old Lahaina Lu‘au quickly forget the jet plane they flew in on, and may feel like they’ve just stepped off a clipper ship or whaler.

Why not? The pageantry of Hawaii and Polynesia in dance,music and storytelling is about to unfold before their eyes, outdoors, the way it was done in the old days.

This blending of traditional food and traditional culture, with its respect for the land and sea and people of these islands has made the Old Lahaina Lu‘au the choice of thousands of visitors as the island’s best luau for the third year in a row—and the perennial winner in this category.

A “must” for visitors to the island, it’s almost as common to find Maui residents as repeat customers, sitting on the mats the old way, or at the long tables that turn strangers into families before the evening is over. While it’s an ideal experience for families here on vacation, local resident Romeo Butihi also points out, “The Old Lahaina Lu‘au is the best way to spend a romantic evening with that special someone!”

The Old Lahaina Luau is just 10 minutes from the Honua Kai; same with The Feast at Lele – both are owned by the same company.  You’ve got to experience one or both of these fine luaus while on Maui.

First Place:
Old Lahaina Luau
1251 Front St., Lahaina, Maui
808-667-1998.

Second Place:
The Feast at Lele
505 Front St. • Lahaina, Maui
808-667-5353

Third Place:
Drums of the Pacific at Hyatt Regency Maui
Kaanapali, Maui
808-667-4727

Every time we visit Maui we try a different Luau – you can’t visit Maui and not take in a Luau if you call yourself a traveler.  Every Luau is different and specializes in different things – that’s why you must visit a number of them to get the complete Hawaiian experience.  However, only choose one per visit – its like eating too much ice cream.

A luau is a Hawaiian hula dancing show with Hawaiian dinner and drinks.

A luau is a party put on by hotels and companies that specialize in doing Luaus.  The Luau takes place as the Maui sun sets and the tiki lights are lit – something you will remember for years to come.   Most Luaus are a flat fee per person and include:

• All-you-can-eat buffet dinner
• Stage show of hula dancers and perhaps fire dancers
• Hawaiian music with Hawaiian singers
• Hawaiian drinks

Included in most Luaus menu:

• Kalua shredded pork cooked underground in a Hawaiian pit for many hours
• Mahi-mahi – grilled or baked fish
• Lomi salm – cured-smoke salmon chopped with tomatoes and onions
• Teriyaki chicken and/or beef
• Salads and fruit
• Taro rolls and breads
• Poi – a purple looking paste that some folks just love and many don’t
• Deserts which normally include Haupia – a Hawaiian coconut pudding

Everyone gets a flower lei

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Old Lahaina Luau 800-248-5828
This is the #1 Luau in Maui – nothing else gets close.  However its really geared for adults and kids will find it a bore. Those who want a more serious show that teaches some culture and history, and has the most authentic Hawaiian show and food the Old Lahaina Luau is for you.

This is THE most expensive Luau on Maui and there are no fire dancers – which are not really Hawaiian anyway.  Forget discounts they are not available anywhere.  This luau is so popular that they are sold out months in advance during the holidays.  They have reserved seating and the closest seats are on mats on the ground, but most seats are in more comfortable chairs at tables.

If you want to Luau at this location please use the below link and check availability and sign up early.  It’s worth every penny.
Old Lahaina Luau website

Feast at Lele 866-244-5353

The owners of the Old Lahaina Luau own the Feast at Lele and they are completely different.  I like the Feast at Lele since its just like a restaurant on the beach that serves a Luau.  There are 4 folks per table and the table and chairs are actually on the Lahaina beach – its cool.

This is about the most expensive luau on Maui, and is almost never discounted.  We have been to this Luau and it is worth every penny – it’s fantastic.  Lahaina used to be known as Lele and hence the name of the Luau.

Many Luaus seat 400 guests but this Luau has a limit of 150.  The food is very authentic to many Polynesian islands not just Hawaii.  This has got to be my favorite Luau on any of the Hawaiian Islands.

Feast at Lele website

Hyatt Luau 808-661-1234
The luau at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort on Ka’anapali Beach is the best luau for kids and families bar none; it’s called “Drums of the Pacific.”  Compared to the Old Lahaina Luau it’s more fun and less serious.  The show includes fire dancers, touristy songs, and kids are often invited up on stage for one of the numbers.  Buying your tickets way ahead of time means nothing since seating is first-come first-served on the night of the Luau; this means showing up early and waiting in line will get you in ahead of the crowd so you can choose a closer seat to the show.  Prices here are always discounted, so shop around for the best deal.
Hyatt luau website

Kaanapali Beach Luau 808-661-3611
This is the luau at the Royal Lahaina Resort Hotel; it’s similar to the Hyatt luau and is fun for the whole family.  This is THE least expensive luau on Maui because it is discounted by multiple activities sellers.  But it may be discontinued in the next year or so because the grounds where it is held will be taken over by the remodeling of the entire Royal Lahaina property.
Royal Lahaina luau website