The 5 Best Luaus on Maui by Location (2023)

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With the experience of taking guests to mediocre shows and amazing performances, we’ve curated our list of the five best luaus on Maui, separated out by location. Each of these luaus offers good 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 very far in advance.

Before we dive in, a quick note on pricing: we include prices here but we’ve seen prices surge and change pretty 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 luaus directly:
West Maui: Book the Old Lahaina Luau or the Feast at Lele
South Maui: Book the Feast at Mokapu, the Te Au Moana Wailea Beach Resort, or The Luau at the Grand Wailea
Bonus: 68 things to do with kids on Maui

Best Luaus on West Maui – Lahaina and Ka’anapali

Old Lahaina

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:

• Five-course menu including imu roasted pork, Maui style fish, BBQ chicken
• Seating choice of table and chairs or traditional seating
• Premium open bar
• Flower lei and tropical drink greeting

Why we love it: The location of this show can’t be beaten. Combined with the good food and pre-show activities, this luau is a big luau experience with a small, intimate feel.

Location: Lahaina, Maui
Length: 3 hours
Price: $229

Feast at Lele

Another option in Lahaina, the Feast at Lele offers a different experience than you’ll find at most luaus. This is more of a dinner show, where each food course is paired with stories and dancing from the island. For example, the first course is traditional Hawaiian food with a show of traditional Hawaiian songs, dances, and chants. The second course is focused on food and entertainment from Aotearoa, present-day New Zealand.

There is less interaction compared to what you’ll find at other luaus (for example, no walking around to view the underground oven or imu) but the focus is on a truly enjoyable dinner show.

Highlights include:

• Five-course menu by Chef Adrian Aina
• Beachfront luau — excellent sunset spot
• Open bar
• Private seating for your party
• Flower lei and mai tai greeting

Why we love it: we love the sunset views and the table service with fine dining.

Location: Lahaina, Maui (Lahaina was originally called Lele)
Length: 3 hours, starting time varies with sunset
Price: $193

Best Luaus in South Maui – Kihei and Wailea

The Feast at Mokapu

Located at the Andaz 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 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 hotel 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: $290

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 really does create 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 mixed reservations at the tables, so you won’t be dining with your party alone. 

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
• Pig roast in an underground oven (emu)

Why we love it: This is a premium-priced luau and it actually feels premium. The location, size, service, and food are top-notch. 

Location: Wailea Beach Resort, Wailea
Length: 3.5 hours
Price: $265 for standard and $295 for premium

The 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 really takes the cake for us is that you have a table just for your party. So if that’s important to you, this is a luau to consider!

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: 2.5 hours
Price: $265 standard seating, $325 premium seating

Maui Luau FAQs

Best Maui Luaus on the Beach

There are technically no luaus directly on the beach on Maui because every beach in Hawaii is public. But there are some amazing beach-front or ocean view luaus that offer stunning views, especially at sunset. For the best beach-front luaus, we recommend Old Lahaina Luau and Feast at Lele. 

Are luaus worth it on Maui?

It depends on what your expectations are. Luaus can be a great experience that is 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 to just enjoy an evening show, you’ll probably love a luau.

But if you’re on the fence, here are some reasons most people end up feeling 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 the best meal you have on the island. If you expect a gourmet meal for the 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. 

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, if given the choice, going to a luau on Maui is a better option. Not only does Maui have excellent luaus to choose from (all 5 on this list!), but they are also very conveniently located. On Maui, you can find great luaus where most people stay, in Lahaina/Ka’anapali or Wailea, so you don’t have to travel too 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 north shore of the island. If you’re staying in Waikiki, the drive to the luau will take you approximately an hour. If you’re staying in Ka’anapali on Maui, the drive to Old Lahaina Luau will only take 15 minutes.

Check out the list of our favorite luaus on Oahu and the other Hawaiian islands. 

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 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. 

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. For example, a luau will always include poke, poi, kalua pork, Lomi lomi salmon, and lau lau. Learn more here about these dishes.

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

Luau entertainment

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

Here are luau traits to pay attention to when booking:

• Price – luaus range from $115 to $280 plus taxes and fees. Most luaus will cost you $180 per person. Prices have increased this year.
• 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 buffet service.
• Drinks and Cocktails – in our experience, table service luaus include an open bar with cocktails, beers, 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, small grass lawn at your resort, amphitheater performance at a luau venue, 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 and Outlets of Maui for free shows on Maui
• Shops of Wailea on Maui is relaunching a free concert series starting July 29th. See Grammy award-winner Kalani Pe’a for free!
• We have 68 things to do with kids on Maui if you need more ideas for the family!

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.