Te Au Moana Luau at the Wailea Beach Marriott: Our Honest Review
Most of Maui’s famous luaus are in Lahaina and Kaanapali, which is a 45 to 60 minute drive if you’re staying in South Maui. The Te Au Moana Luau is the one you can walk to. It sits on the beach at the Wailea Beach Marriott, right on the coastal path that connects the Grand Wailea, the Four Seasons, and the Fairmont, with a west-facing view that puts the sunset directly behind the stage. It’s also a genuinely luxury luau. Table service instead of a buffet line, an open bar with local craft beers and cocktails, and a fire knife finale that our family still talks about.
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Activity Overview
We officially went to the Te Au Moana Luau in 2025. Unofficially, we sneak a peek at the luau whenever we stay at the Wailea Beach Resort.
This luxury luau is worth every penny. From the sunset location on the beach to the amazing food, this luau is the perfect addition to your South Maui vacation.
Here is everything you need to know before you book the Wailea Beach Marriott luau, including our honest take on whether the premium seating upgrade is worth it.
Te Au Moana Luau Highlights
- Where: Wailea Beach Marriott Resort, 3700 Wailea Alanui Drive, Wailea, Maui. Click for Google Map Directions: Te Au Moana Luau
- Duration: Approximately 3 hours
- Price (standard seating): $225 for ages 13 and up, $90 for ages 6 to 12, free for ages 5 and under
- Price (premium seating): $325 for ages 13 and up, $209 for ages 6 to 12, free for ages 5 and under
- Holiday pricing: Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve carry higher rates and special menus. New Year’s Eve includes a great view of the Wailea fireworks show!
- Operates: Most nights, though typically not Sundays, Tuesdays, or Wednesdays
- Included: Fresh flower lei on arrival, a three-course family-style dinner served to your table, unlimited portions, an open bar, pre-show cultural activities, an imu ceremony, live music, and a tour of the Polynesian islands’ dance and culture.
- Parking: Free self-parking at the resort. Valet available for a fee.
- Cancellation: Refundable until 24 hours before the luau
Why We Recommend the Wailea Beach Marriott Luau
Four things set this one apart from the island’s other luaus. If you’re looking for the best luau options, see our Best Maui Luaus or Erica’s Best Maui Luau for Kids.
You can walk to it. The luau sits on the Wailea beach path. The Grand Wailea and Four Seasons are less than a five-minute walk away, and the Fairmont and Hotel Wailea run shuttles. If you’re staying anywhere in Wailea, you’re not driving, not parking, and not arranging a ride home after an open bar. For anyone staying in Kihei, it’s about 10 minutes. Parking is free!
Compare that to the well-known West Maui luaus, which are 45 to 60 minutes each way from Wailea. That drive after a long dinner is the part nobody enjoys.
Dinner is served to your table. This is part of that luxury price tag, and it doesn’t disappoint. There is no buffet line. Dinner arrives family style in three courses, all you can eat, and you stay in your seat with your drink and your view. Our host/waiter was delightful, and the food is excellent. They cook a lot of it on location. Some nights, they fire up the grill with an executive chef.
The bar is open and premium. Tropical cocktails, local craft beers, and wine, all included. Not a two-drink ticket. And I never had to wait in line. If you’ve visited a big luau production, like on Oahu, you know waiting in line for drinks during the show is a buzzkill.
Check-in is staggered. A day or two before your date, you get a text with your table number and a specific check-in time. You don’t line up an hour early to fight for a good seat, because your seat is already assigned.
That last item is a luxury experience. We have waited an hour at a luau on the Big Island to get inside. Te Au Moana Luau has a great check-in experience. Everyone is smiling and getting right into the pre-show activities.
Premium vs. Standard Seating: Is the Upgrade Worth It?
This is the decision everyone gets stuck on, so here is the straight answer.
Standard seating is $225 per adult and includes the full three-course family-style dinner, the open bar, the lei, and the entire show.
Premium seating is $325 per adult and adds closer tables, plus an appetizer of potstickers and a dessert of local banana bread.
So you pay an extra $100 per adult for closer proximity and two additional food items.
We booked standard seating and didn’t regret it. As this is a small venue with a raised stage, we had a good view from the back row. The additional food items didn’t interest us.
But if you’re booking this luau for a special anniversary or honeymoon, then go big! The premium seating provides an intimate experience from the front rows. You can feel the heat from the fire-knife dancing, literally.
One drawback is that the tables are rounded, so we had to turn our chairs around. But that happens in standard or premium seating.
Two things worth knowing regardless of which tier you pick:
Tables are assigned by booking date. Whether you go standard or premium, booking earlier gets you a better table within your tier. If seat quality matters to you, booking three or four weeks out does more than the upgrade does.
The kids’ premium price is hard to justify. Standard is $90 for ages 6 to 12. Premium jumps to $209 for the same age range. That is a $119 increase per child for potstickers, banana bread, and a closer seat. For most families, standard seating booked early is the better value.
Ages 5 and under are free in both tiers.
What to Expect at Te Au Moana
Know before you go is one of our travel mottos. Here is how the evening runs.
The Schedule
Start times shift with the sunset, so check your confirmation.
- September 15 to February 28: Check-in and bar open at 4:30 pm, program starts at 5:00 pm, ends around 7:30 to 8:00 pm
- March 1 to September 14: Check-in and bar open at 5:00 pm, program starts at 5:30 pm, ends around 8:00 to 8:30 pm
The luau typically does not run on Sundays, Tuesdays, or Wednesdays. Build that into your Maui itinerary before you lock in other plans, because it catches people out.
Getting There and Parking
The address is 3700 Wailea Alanui Drive, Wailea, HI 96753.
Self-parking at the resort is free, and valet is available for a fee. Here is the part that surprises people: it’s a 10- to 20-minute walk from the parking area and resort lobby down to the luau site near the beach. Give yourself the time, and wear shoes you can walk in.
If anyone in your group has mobility challenges, note it on your booking and stop at the bell desk when you arrive. They provide complimentary transport down to the venue.
Driving times: about 10 minutes from Kihei, 25 minutes from the Kahului cruise port, and 45 to 60 minutes from Lahaina or Kaanapali.
If you are cruising, see our free Hawaii Cruise Travel Guide. If you still need wheels, here are our discount rental car rates.
The Food and Open Bar
Dinner is three courses, family-style, all you can eat, and brought to your table.
The menu leans into island staples: ahi poke, kalua pork slow-cooked all day in the underground imu, Hawaiian-style BBQ chicken, mahi mahi, and fresh greens and vegetables. Premium seating adds potstickers to start and local banana bread for dessert.
The open bar runs the whole evening with tropical cocktails, local craft beers, and wine.
The food was honestly excellent. The family-style was fun, as we could spin the items to get what we wanted. The food just kept coming and was all delicious. The whole family enjoyed the pork from the underground imu.
Dietary restrictions and allergies: answer the question at checkout so the kitchen can prepare in advance.
Picky kids: note it at checkout, and they will do chicken fingers and fries. High chairs are available on request.
The Show and the Imu Ceremony
The evening opens with pre-show cultural activities and live music, then moves into the imu ceremony, where the kalua pork is unearthed from the underground stone oven after cooking all day. It’s the most genuinely traditional moment of the night and worth getting out of your seat to see it. It will be in the back area.
From there, the show works through Hawaiian and wider Polynesian song and dance, held together by a host who explains what you’re watching rather than just introducing acts. It closes with the Samoan fire knife dance.
The MC was the kind who keeps it traditional: an amazing singer who shares history and culture rather than jokes. Personally, I prefer a more entertaining MC with jokes, but this is a classy luau, and the MC was pure class.
What to Wear
The dress code is casual. Aloha shirts and sundresses are the norm, and you will not feel out of place in nice shorts.
Two practical notes. It cools down once the sun goes behind the islands, so bring a light layer. And remember it’s a 10 to 20 minute walk from the parking lot, which isn’t the place for brand new sandals. See our Hawaii packing list for what we actually bring.
A freelance photographer is usually onsite taking photos available for purchase, so you don’t have to spend the show behind your phone.
I took a fun picture with my son, so we bought the photo package. I believe it was $50 but prices may have changed.
Who Should Book Te Au Moana
- Book it if you’re staying in Wailea, Kihei, or anywhere in South Maui; you want a real open bar and table service rather than a buffet line; you want the shortest possible trip home after dinner; or you’re traveling with a group that includes kids and grandparents.
- Consider a West Maui luau instead if you’re staying in Lahaina or Kaanapali, or you want the most culturally traditional experience on the island. We compare all of them in our guide to the best luaus on Maui.
Booking Tips
Book early. Two things depend on it. The luau sells out, and your table assignment is based on when you booked. Earlier booking means better seats within whichever tier you choose. We’d aim for three to four weeks out, and further ahead for holiday dates or peak season.
Party larger than 10? Tables seat up to 10. Book separate tables and use the Associated Bookings question at checkout so you’re seated together, or book once and leave a note on how you want to be split.
Holiday dates. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve run special menus at higher prices. New Year’s Eve has fireworks nearby, which makes it the best value of the three if you’re on Maui that week.
Planning the Rest of Your Maui Trip
Start with our Maui Travel Guide for everything else on the island, or skip the planning entirely with one of our Hawaii itineraries.
Not sure this is the right luau for you? We’ve been to a lot of them and ranked every one worth your money in our guide to the best luaus on Maui, organized by resort area.
Browse all our Maui tours and activities and see where we recommend staying.
- Best Molokini Crater Snorkeling Tour from Wailea
- Fastest, No-Nonsense Snorkeling Tour from Kihei to Molokini Crater
Te Au Moana Luau FAQ
Is the Te Au Moana Luau worth it?
It was for us! Maui has the best luaus in Hawaii and the Te Au Moana Luau keeps the bar high. Our favorite parts were the location, food and drinks, and the show. When you’re staying in Wailea, this is the luau you need to book.
Is premium seating worth the extra cost?
Premium is $100 more per adult and adds closer tables, a potsticker appetizer, and banana bread for dessert. Since tables are assigned by booking date within each tier, booking standard seating early often gets you a good table for far less. For kids, the premium jump from $90 to $209 is difficult to justify.
Where is the Te Au Moana Luau?
At the Wailea Beach Marriott Resort, 3700 Wailea Alanui Drive, in Wailea on South Maui. It’s on the beach path that connects most of the Wailea resorts, so many guests walk.
What nights does it operate?
Most nights, but typically not Sundays, Tuesdays, or Wednesdays. Check the booking calendar for your dates as they change.
Is there a buffet?
No, and that’s one of the best things about it. Dinner is served family-style to your table in three courses, all you can eat.
What’s on the menu?
Ahi poke, kalua pork cooked in the underground imu, Hawaiian-style BBQ chicken, mahi mahi, and fresh greens and vegetables. Premium seating adds potstickers and local banana bread. Note dietary restrictions and allergies at checkout so the kitchen can plan ahead.
Is the open bar really included?
Yes. Tropical cocktails, local craft beers, and wine are included for the evening in both seating tiers.
Is it family friendly?
Very. Kids 5 and under are free, and chicken fingers and fries can be arranged for picky eaters if you note it at checkout. High chairs are available on request.
What happens if it rains?
If bad weather is forecast, the event may move into a ballroom if one is available, or be canceled. Either way, you’re offered a reschedule or a refund.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
Yes, the facilities are ADA-compliant, and wheelchairs can be provided. Note any mobility needs on your booking and stop by the bell desk on arrival for complimentary transport down to the venue.
What is the dress code?
Casual. Bring a light layer for after sunset, and comfortable shoes for the walk down from parking.
What is the cancellation policy?
Refundable until 24 hours before the luau.
About the Te Au Moana Luau
Tihati Productions, a Hawaii family-owned company, produces Te Au Moana and has staged Polynesian shows across the islands for roughly 50 years. That longevity matters. The performers are professionals, the host actually explains the cultural context of what you’re watching rather than just narrating, and the evening is paced so the imu ceremony and the fire knife finale land properly instead of feeling rushed.
The name means “The Ocean Tide,” and the venue earns it. The stage sits between the audience and the water on a west-facing stretch of Wailea Beach, so the sun sets behind the performers.
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