Top 10 Luaus in Maui

One of the most popular activities to experience in Hawaii is a luau.

An evening of traditional Hawaiian cuisine, live music, hula dance, and Polynesian culture is at the top of the list for all visitors to Maui. On Maui, there is a variety of luaus from which to choose and each one is unique in its own way. Some can book up to 500 people per night, and others have a max of 50 guests.

Best Luau in Maui

Depending on what all they would like to do, see and eat, guests will have an exceptional selection of venues to enjoy some live Hawaiian entertainment. Read through our list of the 10 Best Maui Luaus below, and welcome to the warm and friendly shores of Maui Nui.

01

Pride of Maui
Sunset Luau & Dinner Cruise

Pride of Maui’s Sunset Luau Dinner Cruise is an excellent way to maximize your vacation time while you are here on Maui.

Obviously, attending a luau on Maui is one of the most popular things to do in all of Hawaii. When you pair that with a sunset dinner cruise aboard a spacious and stable catamaran, you can take part in more than one incredible Maui activity at the same time. What’s more, when you book a Sunset Luau Cruise during Maui’s Winter months (roughly December-March), you will have the chance to see some whales during Maui’s most magical hours.

Onboard a Maui Sunset Luau Cruise, guests can sail Maui’s waters with 360-degree panoramic views of the ocean. They will also love the show put on by Polynesian dancers, and an open bar stocked with tropical cocktails, Napa and Central Valley wines, and local micro-brewed beers. The Pride of Maui boasts an expert crew who knows how to treat their visitors to a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity on Maui.

The Maui Sunset Luau Cruise menu starts off with an Island Fruit Display and Assorted Cheeses with Artisan Crackers. Dinner offerings include Island-style Baby Back Ribs, Shoyu Chicken, Coconut Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Stir Fry Vegetables, and Maui Gold Pineapple Slaw. Make sure that you save some room for the Tropical Desserts!


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Sunset Luau & Dinner Cruise
02

Te Au Moana Luau

The Te Au Moana Luau is held at the Wailea Beach Marriott Resort in South Maui. In the ancient Hawaiian language, Te Au Moana means “the ocean tide.” This Maui luau is an homage to all of the Polynesian cultures that are tied together throughout Oceania.

The entertainment at this Hawaiian luau is so beautiful, graceful, and awe-inspiring. The story weaves through ancient Hawaiian history and folklore, and touches on fishing, gathering, voyaging, and earth elements. Presented by Tihati Productions, this is a show that displays a wealth of knowledge and respect for Hawaiian culture.

At the Te Au Moana Luau, guests will enjoy a flower lei greeting and pre-show activities, traditional Hawaiian cooking with an Imu Ceremony, and all of the lavish song and dance.


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03

The Feast at Mokapu at Andaz

The Feast at Mokapu is the most luxurious luau on Maui. It takes place at the Andaz Maui in Wailea, on the Southside of the island. The Feast at Mokapu is Maui’s newest luau and is the best choice for those staying in Wailea and Kihei, with its easy access and valet parking.

Guests of the Feast at Mokapu will enjoy a Polynesian cultural and culinary journey in the most beautiful space in Wailea. This Maui luau takes place on the lawn of the Andaz Maui Resort, right next to one of Maui’s best beaches, Mokapu Beach. The Feast at Mokapu offers both premium and classic seating, but no matter where you sit you will enjoy a breathtaking Southside sunset. It is the perfect backdrop to the most authentic luau in all of Maui.

This exclusive event starts out with your choice of handcrafted cocktails and fine dining. The award-winning culinary team prepares the best traditional Hawaiian dishes at Andaz Maui. The Poke is exceptionally fresh, and the Kalua Pork just melts in your mouth. Sit back, relax and enjoy the three-course authentic Hawaiian feast. Sip on a hand-crafted Mai Tai and take in a gorgeous Maui sunset.

The show includes interactive Hawaiian storytelling and will take guests on the historic journey of the Polynesians who first settled on Maui. The show is full of traditional music and dance and has a fantastic fire dancer finale that will keep guests on the edges of their seats.

The Feast at Mokapu is both family-friendly and the perfect choice for those looking for an intimate luau while in Maui. This is a smaller Hawaiian luau and is one of the most romantic ones on Maui. It’s one of the top activities that couples will not want to miss.


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04

Myths of Maui Luau

The Myths of Maui Luau is held right on the oceanfront at the Royal Lahaina Resort. This is such a beautiful Maui luau show. It tells the ancient Hawaiian stories and folklore that come specifically from the cultural history of the Island of Maui. It also showcases aspects of more Polynesian cultures from places like Tahiti, New Zealand, and Tonga. It has been happening here since the early 1970s.

Myths of Maui includes some great complimentary cocktails and a show that features Hawaiian hula, Polynesian dance, and an exciting fire knife finale. The evening kicks off with the traditional Imu Ceremony. This is the unearthing of a pig that is cooked in an underground oven.

The dinner menu is a traditional Hawaiian feast. There are assorted salads, lomi-lomi salmon, poi, Hawaiian dinner rolls, vegetables, Molokai sweet potato, steamed rice, Asian-style chicken, Kalua pork (from the Imu), beef and fresh fish. They also offer a special kids menu and there is an assortment of desserts like the coconut haupia. The meal here is served as an assisted buffet.

For those who enjoy tiki cocktail culture, Myths of Maui serves up many traditional tropical drinks like Mai Tais, Blue Hawaiis, and the Hana Hou.


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05

Drums of the Pacific Luau

The Drums of the Pacific Luau is held at the Hyatt Regency Resort in Ka’anapali. This is a fantastic luau and it has earned a reputation for the best fire dancing performance out of all the luaus on Maui. The entertainment takes place on a beautiful stone stage and it feels a bit more like a theatrical performance than a traditional luau.

Upon arrival, general seating guests are greeted with a shell lei, and VIP tables are greeted with a fresh orchid lei. All guests are welcomed with their choice of a Mai Tai or a tropical fruit punch.

General seats are not assigned pre-arrival, so if you would like to sit closer to the stage, it’s highly advised that you get here early. There’s a pre-show Hawaiian hula performance with live music, and the dinner is an enhanced plated dinner with desserts served tableside.

There are more than a few stand-out items on the menu. Check out their kalua pork, macadamia nut encrusted Mahi Mahi, medallions of Molokai purple sweet potatoes, creamed taro leaf with coconut milk, and fresh ahi poke. They also offer a keiki buffet for the kids with some more basic choices like chicken nuggets and penne pasta.


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06

Maui Nui Luau

The Maui Nui Luau takes place at The Sheraton Maui Resort at Black Rock. The evening starts off with the blow of a conch shell and an exciting cliff dive from Black Rock. The setting offers some gorgeous views of the coastline and outer islands, and the overall experience is just amazing.

The Maui Nui Luau perfectly tells the magical stories of Polynesia with song, hula dance, and more. It takes place on the beachfront and there is a three-course dinner served tableside. Guests will love the fresh flower lei greeting, traditional Hawaiian cooking, Imu Ceremony, Hawaiian games, and Polynesian crafts.

The menu at Maui Nui Luau is full of traditional luau fare and locally sourced ingredients. Some favorites to start off with include the Waipoli Greens, Pohole Fern Salad, Cucumber Namasu, and the Poke. There is also the Steamed Opakapaka (Hawaiian Snapper), Molokai Potatoes with a Coconut Butter Glaze, Kalua Pig, and Teriyaki Steak. Make sure to try some of their variety of mouthwatering desserts.


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07

Wailele Polynesian Luau

The Wailele Polynesian Luau is located at the Westin Maui Resort & Spa in Ka’anapali. Guests can book either general or premium seating but either way, the feast is just delicious. It is held outdoors in a lush garden setting, where guests will enjoy live music and performances that highlight some of Hawaii’s demi-gods like Pele, the fire goddess.

There’s a wide array of Polynesian entertainment put on throughout the show, and it comes to an end with an amazing fire-knife dance performance.

When it comes to the menu, the Wailele Polynesian Luau is first rate. There is such a stunning array of traditional luau favorites that are each taken up a notch by all of the locally-grown ingredients that they use.

The main course features kalua pork, Huli Huli chicken, steamed i’a (fish), dry mein noodles, Molokai sweet potatoes, and other tasty favorites. Pupus (appetizers) include lomi-lomi salmon, pipikaula poke (peppered dried beef), Kula greens, Maui Gold pineapple, and more. For dessert, there are so many delicious options like lilikoi (passion fruit) cheesecake and pineapple upside-down cake.

The keiki (kids) menu has a mixed greens salad with ranch dressing, cheeseburger sliders, chicken tenders, macaroni and cheese, fresh tropical fruit, and chocolate chip cookies.

Complimentary shuttle service is available from the Westin Ka’anapali Ocean Resort Villas, Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa, and The Westin Nanea Ocean Resort Villas.

 


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08

A Grand Wailea Luau

A Grand Wailea Luau takes place in South Maui at the Grand Wailea Resort & Spa. This is one of the most fun and incredible luau shows in Maui, hands down. With all of the opulence and outstanding service for which the Grand Wailea is known, guests are sure to enjoy a well-produced show and a fabulous luau feast. The setting is just so picturesque and inviting, and guests will love the beautiful views of the South Maui sunset.

Upon arrival, guests are welcomed into an evening of wonder with a traditional Imu Ceremony and tropical cocktails. It’s a family-style luau, and the cuisine is served at the table.

The luau feast here at the Aha’aina Wailea is so delicious. The menu is full of high-quality Hawaiian foods, and the presentation is first-class. Some items to write home about are the Ahi Poke, Maui Paniolo Grilled Flank Steak, and the Traditional Kalua Pig.

This is a first-rate luau show that is as culturally informative as it is beautiful. It truly honors the traditions of the Hawaiian ancestors.


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09

Old Lahaina Luau

Right in the heart of Lahaina, the Old Lahaina Luau, which reopened in 2024, is one of the most popular luaus in all of Maui. It’s very authentic, and it has been operating since 1996. Visitors can often book Maui activity packages that will include discounted tickets to the Old Lahaina Luau.

This is quite a large luau and it’s perfect for the whole family. They offer both communal picnic-style tables and more conventional tables with chairs. You can expect for there to be around 500 guests in attendance on each night of the week.

Upon arrival, guests are greeted with a fresh flower lei. Pre-show activities include local vendors for Maui souvenir shopping and an opportunity to start the evening off with a tropical cocktail or other premium drinks from the bar.

The menu at the Old Lahaina Luau is a traditional Polynesian feast. They have kalua pork, Lau Lau, Maui-style fish, grilled steak, chicken long rice, and island-style chicken. Guests will also love the taro, sweet potatoes, local-style fried rice, taro leaf stew, pohole fern salad, lomi-lomi salmon, a delicious island crab salad, some local style desserts, and more.

This luau is no longer a buffet, nor is there a walk-up bar. Guests are now served at their tables.


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10

Gilligans' Island Maui Luau

Presented by the Gilligans Bar & Grill folks, Gilligans’ Island Luau in Kihei offers a unique and immersive Hawaiian cultural experience.

Taking place at the Maui Nui Golf Club, this luau captures the essence of the islands’ rich culture with a delicious luau feast and a journey through Hawaii’s history and heritage.

Upon arrival, guests are greeted with a warm Aloha and traditional lei, setting the tone for a beautiful South Maui evening. The luau showcases an array of Polynesian performances, including an evolution of Hawaii with Hawaiian hula, musicians and drummers, Tahitian hula dancing, and an anxiously awaited Samoan fire dancer finale.

The authentic Hawaiian feast provided by Gilligans is second to none. The luau menu is prepared with locally sourced ingredients and features a full-on Hawaiian buffet-style dinner. Guests will surely savor the Kalua pork, teriyaki chicken, panko-crusted mahi mahi, hummus with vegetable crudites, Lomi Lomi salmon, Molokai sweet potatoes, Hawaiian sweet rolls, tropical desserts, and so many more mouthwatering options.

Gluten-free and Vegetarian options are also available; guests need to make a note in their reservation. Gilligans’ Luau also offers a VIP option for those who want to skip the line, have priority seating, and enjoy perks like that.

Discover a lesser-known South Maui luau and enjoy the island’s soul through its tasty food, Polynesian culture, and local hospitality.


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Mahalo for reading through Pride of Maui’s list of the Top 10 Luaus in Maui. There are just so many incredible Hawaiian cultural activities to experience when you come to the Valley Isle. What’s your favorite luau in Maui?

Alexandra Mitchell

Alexandra is a marketing professional with a passion for writing about travel to the Hawaiian Islands, vacation rentals, and luxury real estate. She exposes readers to glimpses of 'Old Hawaii,' new destinations to explore, local events, and all the best things to do on Maui.