Unbiased Review: The 7 Best Luaus on Maui in 2026 (by Location and Price)

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With the experience of taking guests to mediocre shows and outstanding performances, we’ve curated our list of the best luaus on Maui, separated by location. We’ve identified the best luau in each Maui resort area.

These Maui luaus offer delicious food and a great show in a beautiful setting. If you’re picking a luau on Maui, these are where you should focus. But plan early because the best luaus tend to book up a month or more in advance.

Before we dive in, a quick note on pricing: we’ve included prices here, but we’ve seen them change frequently. We’ll update prices regularly, but the price listed here may vary slightly from the current purchase price.

Spoiler Alert! Here are the quick links to book the Maui luaus directly.
Family Luau: If you’re traveling with kids, hop over to the Best Maui Luau for Kids!
Lahaina in West Maui: The Old Lahaina Luau is our favorite in all of Hawai’i
Ka’anapali in West Maui: Maui Nui Luau at the Sheraton Maui is the best Ka’anapali luau, thanks to its location, food, and performers.
Kapalua in West Maui: Tales of the Kapa Moe (Ohana Seating or Ali’i Premium Seating)
Wailea in South Maui: Book the Feast at Mokapu (and premium seating), the Te Au Moana Wailea Beach Resort, or The Luau at the Grand Wailea (and premium seating)
Best Priced Hula: Free hula shows at The Shops at Wailea on Mon, Tues, & Thurs.

Video! Best Luaus on Maui

We love to show and tell! Watch our video on the best luaus on Maui to get a better feel for the luau before you book. We’ve been to a lot of Maui luaus, and we are always booking more!

Best Luaus on Maui – Lahaina and Ka’anapali

Old Lāhainā Lūʻau

I don’t say this lightly, but Old Lahaina Luau is the best luau experience we’ve ever had. The setting, food, service, seating, and show blew us away.

Unofficially thought of as the best luau on Maui, Old Lahaina Luau delivers pretty much everything you could hope for in a luau. Located on the beach in historic Lahaina, Old Lahaina Luau has a spectacular location for its sunset show.

Highlights include:

• Four-course menu including imu roasted kalua pig, Maui style fish, BBQ chicken, kalo (taro), and sweet potato chips
• Seating choice of table and chairs or traditional seating (there is no bad seat, thanks to the size of the venue)
• Premium open bar with table service
• Flower lei and tropical drink greeting

Why we love it: This show’s location can’t be beat. Combined with the good food and excellent service, this luau is a big luau experience with a small, intimate feel.

Location: Lahaina, Maui
Length: 3 hours
Price: $229 + taxes and service fees

Maui Nui Luau at the Maui Sheraton – Ka’anapali

There are many Ka’anapali resort luaus to choose from. After extensive research and attending this luau, we recommend the Maui Nui Luau at the Maui Sheraton.

As you read our Ka’anapali Guide, you’ll know this is a popular area to stay in, with plenty to do. Kaanapali Beach is an underrated gem, and this luau is on the beach, in front of Black Rock. The views, performance, food, and atmosphere of the luau are all excellent.

This is also the best kid-friendly luau in Ka’anapali. Children five and under are free, and tickets are discounted for children six to 12 years old.

We were surprised by the quality of the buffet dinner! The locally sourced Hawaiian and western dishes were enjoyed by our whole family. I am picky about my poi and kalua pork, and the Maui Nui Luau did not disappoint.

Compared to other Maui luaus, especially in Wailea, the luau is reasonably priced. You won’t have the large crowds in a tight performance space like you do at other Kaanapali luaus.

Highlights include:

• Standard and premium seating are available. Book premium seating for a better view and the first chance at the buffet. You also get faster entry! We booked premium seating and found it worth it as the standard seating line was large. We enjoyed being the first in for drinks and pictures.
• The buffet dinner features traditional and contemporary local dishes, including ahi poke (raw tuna), wild fern salad, slow-roasted Kalua pork, island fish, and guava BBQ chicken. There is also an open bar all night and local sweets for dessert. Gluten-free options are available.
• Self parking only $2 (or $5 for valet) at the Maui Sheraton parking structure. You can also take the Ka’anapali Trolley or walk from your Ka’anapali Resort.
• Excellent dancers, including a fire-knife dancer. Audience participation and hula lessons are part of the show.
• Included in your ticket price are drinks, gratuity, and service charges.
• Activities! The pre-dinner activities were a lovely surprise. We enjoyed playing Hawaiian games, getting tattoos, decorating kapa, and hula lessons.
• The luau company (Tihati Productions) has been owned and operated by a local family since its founding 50+ years ago

Why we love it: The location on Ka’anapali Beach, in front of Black Rock, is ideal for the Black Rock sunset ceremony. This luau is on a grassy area with views of the beach and sunset, a better spot than concrete areas within the resort, like other Ka’anapali luaus.

The performance was also excellent, featuring storytelling, Polynesian traditions (tattooing and coconut husking), a live band (not always present at luaus), and, of course, excellent Polynesian dancing.

Location: Ka’anapali, Maui
Length: 3 hours
Price: $189 for Standard Seating and $218 for Premium Seating + taxes and service fees. Kids 5 and under are free! Discounted tickets for children 6 to 12 years old.

Booking Tips: Book early for the best seats (pre-assigned based on when booked) and earlier access to the buffet. If possible, booking earlier in your trip is ideal in case of a cancellation due to weather so that you can be rescheduled, especially during the wet season of November-April.

Tales of the Kapa Moe in Kapalua

Another option on West Maui is Tales of the Kapa Moe, located at the Ritz-Carlton Maui in Kapalua. This luau shares stories of some of Hawaii’s Gods and goddesses, told from a historical and ancestral perspective.

Highlights include:

• Ali’i (premium) and Ohana (standard) seating are available
• Buffet-style with a wide range of options: build-your-own ahi poke bowl bar, whole-roasted pig, beef short ribs, fresh fish, dessert station, and vegetarian/vegan/GF meals can be prepared upon request.
• A separate kid (keiki) menu with kid-friendly food like mac and cheese and chicken tenders.
• Excellent dancers, including a fire-knife dancer (which is from Samoa, not Hawaii, so it’s not included at all luaus)
• Drinks, gratuity, and service charges are included in the price
• Free self-parking at the Ritz-Carlton

Why we love it: The Ritz-Carlton excels at providing an authentic Hawaiian experience, thanks to its Hawaiian Cultural Advisor, Clifford Nae’ole.

Location: Kapalua, Maui
Length: 3 hours
Price: $249 + taxes and service fees

We love West Maui, so keep exploring with these resources:

• The 15 Best Things to Do in Kapalua and Napili
• Kapalua Bay Beach: one of the best beaches on West Maui
• Kaanapali vs. Wailea: Here’s How To Decide Where You Should Stay

Best Luaus on Maui – Kihei and Wailea

Here is our list of the best Maui luaus in South Maui! We include a free one, how do you like that!

Hula Show at South Maui Gardens (permanently closed)

February 2026 Update: South Maui Garden has been permanently closed. We have mentioned this luau in numerous videos, so we can’t leave it off this list! We are sad to see it go, but we have more glorious South Maui luaus below.

Polynesian Show at Shops at Wailea (free!)

This is a free hula show at the Wailea shopping center. Yes, it is free with no strings attached. But it is not a luau. You sit on the ground or get there early to get a bench.

It is a wonderful show by a local hālau (hula school) featuring dancers as young as three or four years old and live music. The MC does a great job, too, keeping the crowd entertained.

• Located in the performance area at The Shops at Wailea, Lower Valley, Lower Level.
• The show is on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:30 to 6:30 PM. Check the mall’s event calendar as show days and times have changed over the past year.
• The mall also has lei po’o making, ukulele lessons, coconut husking, and other cultural events!

The Feast at Mokapu at the Andaz Maui

Located at the Andaz Maui Hotel, it is hard to find fault with this luau. It’s a premium price (possibly the most expensive on Maui), but they do provide an exceptional experience. There are fun activities before the luau begins and then you settle in for the show. Somehow, it all feels very intimate. One thing to note is that they do mixed reservations at the tables, so you won’t be dining with your party alone. 

Highlights: 

• Premium and classic seating are available
• The unlimited bar for both ticket levels
• Complimentary photo
• Beachfront
• Pre-luau activities like fake tattoos and lei-making

Why we love it: If you’re looking for a luxury luau, this one is really special. The location at the Andaz Maui is magical, even after the sun goes down. While you’re at a hotel, this somehow adds to and enhances the vibe of the evening. 

Location: The Andaz Hotel, Wailea
Length: 2.5 hours
Price: $280 for classic seating, $340 for premium (+ taxes and service fees)

Te Au Moana Wailea Beach Resort

If you’re looking for a beautiful location, exceptional service, no buffet lines, and more, this luxury luau in Wailea has you covered. The Wailea Beach Resort creates a special atmosphere on a lawn overlooking the ocean. Food is served family style, and the show is staged with a stunning sunset backdrop.

One thing to note is that they do mix reservations at the tables, so you won’t be dining with your party alone. We dined with a lovely family from Southern California when we attended.

Highlights:

• Premium and standard seating are available (5 and under are free!)
• 3-course meal, a family-style so no buffet line to wait in!
• Excellent ocean-view location
• Open bar and a flower lei greeting
• Imu ceremony, where they roast a pig in an underground oven

Why we love it: This luau is premium-priced, and it feels premium. We enjoyed the location, sunset views, audience size, table service, and food. The drawback was with our standard seating; the view from the back wasn’t great. We could see the stage well, but it was a bit away.

Location: Wailea Beach Resort, Wailea
Length: 3.5 hours
Price: $215 for standard and $325 for premium

‘Aha’aina Luau at the Grand Wailea

This luau didn’t make our list of the overall best luaus in Hawaii (the competition was fierce), but it did make our list as one of the best luaus on Maui. With excellent service, a great location, and a solid menu, this is a good luau to consider. But what takes the cake for us is that you have a table just for your party. So if that’s important to you, this luau is worth considering!

Highlights:

• Keiki (kid) friendly food options
• Open bar
• Fire dancing
• Pre-show activities like ukulele lessons
• Family-style meals
• Ocean-view location

Why we love it: The luau offers private seating for parties, so you’ll be at your table alone with your party rather than at a shared table with other attendees. 

Location: Grand Wailea, Wailea
Length: 3 hours
Price: $300 standard seating, $360 premium seating (+ taxes and service fees)

The premium ticket includes seating closer to the stage.

Find a great place to stay on Maui:

• Where to Stay on Maui: Hotels and Vacation Rentals
• The 7 Best Vacation Rentals in Wailea and Makena
• The 10 Best Maui Resorts That’ll Make Your Kids Happy

Maui Luau FAQs

Best Maui Luaus on the Beach

Technically, there are no luaus directly on the beach on Maui because every beach in Hawaii is public. But some amazing beachfront or ocean-view luaus offer stunning views, especially at sunset. For the best beach-front luaus, we recommend Old Lahaina Luau and the Te Au Moana Luau. 

Are luaus worth it on Maui?

It depends on your expectations. A luau can be a great experience, a memorable part of your vacation. Or, they can be a disappointment and something you wish you hadn’t done. But the key is to know what you expect and what you’ll enjoy.

If you go to Vegas for the shows, then a luau is up your alley, so find your type and book early! If you’re not worried about the price and want just to enjoy an evening show, you’ll probably love a luau.

But if you’re on the fence, here are some reasons most people feel disappointed. For the high price, they expect that the food will be better. But these luaus cater to 100+ people, often buffet style, and include traditional dishes, so this probably won’t be your best meal on the island.

If you expect a gourmet meal for a steep cost and you don’t care as much about the entertainment, a luau might not be the right activity for you. But don’t worry, we’ve included some alternatives below. 

The most authentic luau to go to on Maui

The most authentic luau to go to on Maui is the Old Lahaina Luau. This luau is consistently ranked one of the best in Hawaii, and it incorporates many traditional elements, like mat seating, an imu, and pre-show activities. 

Best Maui luau for families 

While all luaus on Maui are family-friendly, there is one that stands out. I hate to be repetitive here, but Old Lahaina Luau is a great show for kids. Between the activities, the option for mat seating, the location near the beach, and the price point, this is your best option for a great family-friendly luau on Maui. 

Is it better to go to a luau on Maui or Oahu?

While both islands have great luaus, going to a luau on Maui is a better option if given the choice. Not only does Maui have excellent luaus to choose from (all on this list!), but they are also conveniently located.

On Maui, you can find fantastic luaus where most people stay, in Lahaina, Ka’anapali, Kihei, or Wailea, so you don’t have to travel far. 

While Oahu has excellent luaus, some of the best are located away from where most people stay, so you’ll have to spend extra time and effort to get to and from your luau. For example, Toa Luau is incredible, but it’s located on the island’s north shore. The Polynesian Cultural Center is famous for its luau, but it is also on the North Shore. If you’re staying in Waikiki, the drive to the luau will take you approximately an hour.

Check out the list of our favorite luaus on Oahu and the other Hawaiian islands. If you’re still undecided on which island to visit, you’ll love these comparisons: Oahu vs Maui, Kauai vs Maui, and Big Island vs Maui.

What to expect at a luau?

A luau has two main components: the feast and the entertainment. Most luaus follow the same format, which includes the arrival and pre-show entertainment, a dinner (buffet, family style, or plated), and then the main luau show. Luaus typically last 2-3 hours, though the Polynesian Cultural Center on Oahu is a full-day affair. 

Most luaus don’t just cover Hawai’ian history; they cover history and dances from the South Pacific, including Samoa, Tahiti, Tonga, Aotearoa (New Zealand), Fiji, and Hawai’i.

Traditional luau food

Luau food includes traditional Polynesian canoe crops and new dishes brought by missionaries, whalers, and plantation workers from all over the world. At a luau, you can expect to find:

• poke (fresh, raw fish cut crosswise into pieces)
• poi (mashed kalo, or taro)
• kalua pig (roasted in an underground oven, or imu)
• Lomi lomi salmon (cold salmon tossed with tomatoes and onion)
• Huli huli chicken (spiced chicken roasted while being turned)
• lau lau (pork with fish wrapped in a taro leaf)
• Chicken long rice (chicken soup served over rice)

One of our favorite parts is the unearthing of the pig from the imu (underground oven).

Explore more great food on Maui:

• 5 Best Maui Food Truck Parks
• Mama’s Fish House: Is the Best Time Lunch or Dinner?
• Don’t Miss the 15 Best Restaurants in Wailea & Kihei (by category!)
• Dinner on the Beach in Maui: Private Dining and Beachfront Restaurants

Luau entertainment

On the entertainment front, most luaus feature dancing from a mix of Polynesian islands. Fire-knife dancing is a Samoan tradition, not a Hawaiian one. It is fun to see the various dances from each Polynesian nation. But some luaus, like the Old Lahaina Luau, are strictly Hawaiian in dancing, food, and storytelling.

Here are luau traits to pay attention to when booking:

• Price – luaus range from $115 to $275 plus taxes and fees. Most luaus will cost you $180 per person.
• Hawaiian or Polynesian dancing – if you want to see fire dancing, then check out a Polynesian show.
• Food – the more expensive luaus will be table service, with some showcasing a chef’s skill. Larger luaus will be served buffet style.
• Drinks and Cocktails – in our experience, table-service luaus include an open bar with cocktails, beer, and wine. Large luaus will include drink tickets and a cash bar. Expect long lines at the bar for large luaus.
• Location – beachfront, sunset views, a small grass lawn at your resort, an amphitheater performance at a luau venue, and a parking lot at a waterpark are all possible locations to choose from.
• Activities – partake in coconut husking, a hula lesson, lei-making, spear throwing, and other cultural activities before or during the dinner show. The large luaus typically include a fun assortment of activities for you and your kids.

Luau Alternatives

If you are a first-time Hawaii visitor and can’t get into a luau, we say don’t sweat it. We have a list below of alternative cultural and entertainment activities. For a deeper cultural experience, try one or more of the following activities:

• Take a Hawaiian outrigger canoe ride
• Visit a museum, like the Maui Historical Society
• Hula dancing lessons are available at resorts and at shopping centers.
• Hula shows are available at most malls and outlet centers for free. We love going to the Shops at Wailea for free shows on Maui as well as their other events (like lei po’o making and coconut husking).
• We have 68 things to do with kids on Maui if you need more ideas for the family!
• If you’re looking for more ways to have an authentic experience during your vacation, we have you covered.

And if you are interested in all of our other favorite activities on Maui, be sure to check out our full list of Maui tours & activities. From sunrise on Haleakala to an amazing snorkeling trip. We cover the best of the best. 

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