Best Maui Luau For Kids: 4 Shows The Whole Family Will Love
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When we decided to write a comprehensive review of the best luaus on Maui, we knew we would be going to a lot of luaus. Our kids are young, and I was a little worried about how they would handle a long show, luau buffets (and traditional Hawaiian food), and late nights.
Now that they’ve been to a dozen luaus, I can safely say they love them more than I ever expected. They watched shows in their entirety, our picky eater always found something to eat, and now they hold regular luaus at home.
While all luaus are kid-friendly, some stood out to us as better for kids than others. The best Maui luau for kids depends on what matters most to your family.
We spent a lot of time and money going to many different luaus in Hawaii, so hopefully this article can help you easily find the best luau for your family.
The Best Maui Luaus for Kids
Here’s a table to get you started with some of the most important details. I review each luau and its unique offerings in the next section.
Pricing tiers included above are relative to the luaus in this article and take into consideration the price for children’s tickets.
Please note that the South Maui Gardens Hula Show has been canceled due to unforeseen circumstances.
Family Tip 1: Read our Hawaii with Kids Guide for quick tips on bringing the family to Hawaii.
Family Tip 2: Are you a family of 5 going to Maui? See our Hotels on Maui for a Family of 5 for hotels and vacation rentals that accommodate five per room.
1. Old Lahaina Luau
This is my favorite luau in all of Hawaii, so I was thrilled that my kids loved it as well. Old Lahaina Luau has a stunning location in Lahaina, right on the water. Luckily, their venue was not affected by the Lahaina fire in August 2023.
The venue feels intimate, and there are no bad seats in the house. The performers were the best I’ve seen, and they offer full-service dining: all food and drink are delivered directly to your table. I will say that the food is really good, but there aren’t many kid-friendly options. My picky eater ate bread, rice, and kalua pork. But my not-so-picky eater ate everything and loved it!
There are pre-show activities, though I think they were a bit scaled down compared to some other luaus we’ve been to. Our kids participated a bit but were most excited by the Imu ceremony.
While this is our favorite luau in all of Hawaii, here’s why it’s great for kids:
- Family only table: Each party gets their own table, no matter what tickets you purchase, so you aren’t seated at a table with other people. That can be fun, but with kids, I like having our own table.
- Traditional ground seating option: You can choose to sit at a table and chairs, or you can opt for traditional seating at a low table on the ground. That was a hit with our kids! And those tables were closer to the stage, which was a win for viewing.
- Table service: A lot of the nicer luaus offer table service, which just makes things so much easier with kids. Table service is for food and beverages, so there is no waiting at the bar. And our server (also a performer) was so attentive.
I truly love this luau, and if you’re staying on the west side of Maui, it will always be my first recommendation.
2. Te Au Moana Wailea Beach Resort
I love the Wailea Beach Resort, and I can’t wait to go back to stay there. But during our last trip to Wailea, we were staying within walking distance of the Wailea Beach Resort (at this vacation rental) and decided to take our kids to the Te Au Moana luau.
I wasn’t thrilled about the price of the luau (everything is more expensive in Wailea), so I had high expectations heading into the night. The Te Au Moana met or exceeded all of my expectations. We all loved it so much!
We just opted for basic seating, and while we weren’t close to the stage, no one had difficulty seeing the show. We were seated at a table with another family with three kids, so while it wasn’t a private table, it was nice to have other young kids with us. The pre-show activities were really fun and got things off on the right foot. Our kids especially enjoyed stamping the bookmarks.
Food was served family style, and while we parents found it to be delicious, our kids were thrilled when they brought out “kids” food: chicken nuggets and fries.
And as we were leaving, our kids had the chance to take photos with the performers, which was a peak experience for our daughter.
Why the Te Au Moana is great for kids:
- Kids meal! If you have a picky eater, they will enjoy the nuggets and fries.
- Lots of space to roam: I love the grounds of this resort, and the luau is in an area where you can walk over to the pool or over to the ocean, and kids can get their wiggles out.
- Fire knife dancing: Our kids get really excited for fire knife dancing, so this is always a draw for them.
3. Aha’aina Grand Wailea Luau
We love the Grand Wailea because of its incredible pool. Our kids spend entire days in that lazy river and going down the waterslide without getting bored.
But their luau is also a draw for the hotel. The setting and view are pretty spectacular, just like the Wailea Beach Resort. And just like the Wailea Beach Resort, they offer some great pre-show activities that kids love, like bookmark stamping, lawn games, and temporary tattoos.
Your family will get their own private table, which can be helpful if you have young kids. And you can pay for premium seating, which puts you up in the first two rows, so you can easily see the stage.
Why the Aha’aina luau is great for kids:
- Great pre-show activities to keep kids engaged during cocktail hour
- Private tables just for your family or group
- No buffet line — the food is brought right to your table
Note: There is another great luau in Wailea, Feast at Mokapu at the Andaz. It almost made this list and is worth noting. You can get a private table and pay for premium seating, which is specifically in the first two rows.
Hi! I’m Erica,
Co-founder of The Hawaii Vacation Guide. I’ve lived on Maui and Oahu and travel the islands regularly with my husband Jordan and our kids, Henry and Edith. From planning unforgettable island-hopping adventures to paddling out on my SUP during whale season, I know what it takes to craft the perfect Hawaii vacation.
4. Maui Nui Luau at the Sheraton
The Maui Nui Luau is nice, but it doesn’t usually make my list of the best luaus on Maui. I won’t bury the lede here, the luau makes the best kid-friendly luau list because kids 5 and under are free.
That is a big savings if you’ve got little ones with you. While other luaus charge $140 – $170 per child, the Sheraton is letting you bring in your 5-year-old for free. It’s also a less expensive luau in general, so it’s an excellent option for anyone wanting to enjoy a solid luau for a little less money.
The location is great — just near Black Rock in Ka’anapali. There’s plenty of room for kids to run around. And the entertainment is wonderful. There’s a fire knife performance, which is always exciting for kids.
This is the only luau on my list here that has a buffet. The rest are table service. For me, it’s inconvenient to go through a buffet line with kids. But for the price, the inconvenience is worth it! The food was very good, though!
Why the Maui Nui Luau is great for kids:
- Kids 5 and under are free! Amazing!
- The location in Ka’anapali, in front of Black Rock, is beautiful.
- Activities and games before dinner were great for the kids and for us!
- Black Rock torch lighting and cliff jumping to kick off the performance is really unique.
Don’t miss these resources if you’re heading to Ka’anapali:
– Kaanapali Guide: 33 Answers to Kaanapali Travel Questions
– All Kaanapali Snorkeling Tours Reviewed! Yes, for turtles!
– All Kaanapali Sunset Cruises Reviewed! Pick Your Favorite
Bonus for Kids: Napili Kai Foundation Keiki Hula Show
I have not been to this show since having kids, but we plan to take them back here on our next trip. This isn’t a luau, but it’s a great option for anyone who doesn’t want to spend the money on a luau, but still wants to experience hula. Plus, the money from the nonprofit foundation goes to provide scholarships for high school graduates pursuing higher education.
The show is a keiki show — a performance with youth hula dancers. And tickets are extremely reasonable ($5 – $10). After the show, you can grab dinner at the Sea House at the Napili Kai. A really nice night out with an intro to luaus and hula for the kids!
Tickets are available at the door, but you can learn more about the Napili Kai Foundation show here.
Maui Luau for Kids FAQs:
Can kids go to a luau?
Yes, kids can go to a luau! Every luau we have been to is absolutely kid-friendly. From fun pre-show activities to kid-friendly foods, each luau does something to make kids feel welcome. There’s also been plenty of space at every luau for kids to get up and roam around without interfering with the enjoyment of the other guests.
Our daughter was 6 months old when we started attending luaus, and we’ve enjoyed them all. Of course, you know your kids best, and if you think they’ll have trouble enjoying the show, wait until they’re old enough that you can all enjoy it as a family.
What kind of food is served at a luau?
You’ll find a wide array of food at a luau, from chicken nuggets to lomi lomi salmon and everything in between. If you’re worried about picky eaters, at nearly every luau you’ll find staples like rice, bread, fruit, and a salad bar, so you should have no problem assembling a plate that will work for your kids.
Classic luau dishes you can also expect include:
- Kalua pork (aka kalua pig): traditionally a whole pig is slow-cooked in an underground oven and unearthed during the luau’s imu ceremony. The result is shredded pork, often compared to pulled pork
- Hulihuli chicken: seasoned grilled chicken
- Poke: raw fish
- Lomi lomi salmon: salmon fillet tossed with tomato, onion, and sea salt. It is reminiscent of pico de gallo and often served with kalua pork or poi.
- Poi: taro pounded into a paste of varying viscosity. You’ll hear it referred to as one-, two-, or three-finger poi.
- Lau lau: steamed ti or luau (taro) leaves filled with fish, pork, or, more recently, chicken.
Plus, your children will be pleased to know there are plenty of desserts!
Is there an affordable Maui luau?
Luaus are very expensive, and there really is a wide range of quality when it comes to the food, service, and atmosphere of a performance. On our list, the less expensive luaus are the Maui Nui Luau at the Sheraton and the Hula Show at South Maui Gardens.
While they’re not cheap, they’re less expensive than some of the high-end luaus, and they also offer a superb show and experience.
A few of these luaus made an appearance in our Best Hawaii Luaus video below. This video took several years to make and involved attending a lot of good (and some underwhelming) luaus to give you a good look at what to expect!
Our Things to Do articles are full of free activities, so explore what’s available in the area you decided to stay in:
– 65 Things to Do in Maui with Kids (By Age): Your Family Will Love Them
– 19+ Things to Do in Kaanapali: Hidden Gems, Snorkeling, more
– The 16 Best Things to Do in Kapalua and Napili
– 16 Amazing Things to Do in Upcountry Maui (+ Map)
– 15 Amazing Things to Do in Kihei: your South Maui bucket list
– The 14 Best Things to Do in Wailea (+ how to get to Molokini FIRST)
We give great luau advice, but that’s not all — we can also make your trip planning so much easier with our Wayfinder Itineraries. If you’re planning your trip with kids, do yourself a favor and let us handle the heavy lifting of planning.
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