Here at Best of Maui Activities, we love luaus! Attending a Hawaiian luau is more than just a dinner event—it’s a window into Hawaii’s rich history, warm hospitality, and vibrant aloha spirit. There are many luaus on offer across Maui, each offering a blend of food, music, and Hawaiian traditions. While it is wonderful to have this choice, it can make picking the right one for your vacation more challenging! That’s why we’ve put together this quick guide to help you choose the best luau on Maui.
What is a Luau?
Firstly, what actually is a Hawaiian luau?!
Typically held outside during early evening on well manicured lawns amongst plumeria bushes, a Hawaiian luau is a celebration of the islands’ rich culture from start to finish.
Luau guests are warmly welcomed with a fresh lei around their neck and a tropical cocktail to enjoy. Dinner is a traditional Hawaiian feast, with an array of delicious foods on offer. Then, for entertainment – live Hawaiian music and hula performances fill the air, creating a vibrant atmosphere. It’s all set against the backdrop of a Maui sunset.
How do I choose the best luau on Maui?
There are so many to choose from, how can I make the right choice? It can be overwhelming when you’re presented with lots of good options, so we are giving you just 3 tips which we think are useful to consider when making a choice about which luau to attend as part of your Maui vacation.
1. Personal taste
You’ll get brilliant food, music and dancing at all the luaus we offer on Maui but you will find some differences between them so go with what appeals to you! Some luaus offer cultural experiences as part of the evening such as witnessing the Kalua Pig unearthing in the Imu (underground oven) or participating in hula dancing. Other luaus offer unique finales like the cliff dive at the Maui Nui luau. Pick the experience to suit your tastes.
2. Budget
Luaus can range in price, starting from $150 per adult, so consider your budget for the evening. Typically you’ll find ticket prices for children will be less than adults.
If you are looking to make your experience extra special, most luaus offer an option to upgrade your ticket to premium or VIP seating. This usually means a front row seat to the performances and first-class table service for drinks. Benefits do vary so take a look at the individual luau descriptions.
3. Location
One practical thing when choosing a luau is location. As they are typically early evening events it might be most convenient for you to pick a luau in the same area of Maui as your accommodation. Some hotels even run their own luaus.
There are many venues across Maui which host luaus but the majority are found on the West and South shores of the island. These tend to be the popular spots for tourists.
To make this easy for you, we’ve divided the luaus on our website into Kihei and Wailea luaus in South Maui and Kaanapali and Lahaina luaus in West Maui.
If you have any questions about which luau is the one for you then our friendly agents are always happy to help. You can use the live chat on our website or call us on 1-808-867-9000.
We hope you take time to enjoy a luaus on your Maui vacation. They really are the perfect activity to do with family and friends to create lasting memories.