Maui Luaus

[Rhonda922]

What luaus have you been to on Maui? I'm in the planning stages for our trip later this year and I can't make up my mind. Everyone talks about the Old Lahaina luau. I came across another one online, at least I THINK it is a luau, called the Feast at Lele. I'm not sure what to go with. I sure could use some help!

 

[Honu]

Are you bringing kids? Old Lahaina is best for kids/families/groups. Lele is more a couples kind of thing. The Luau at the Marriott in Wailea is another that is good for families. Old Lahaina has the best show though.

 

[Rhonda922]

Are you bringing kids? Old Lahaina is best for kids/families/groups. Lele is more a couples kind of thing. The Luau at the Marriott in Wailea is another that is good for families. Old Lahaina has the best show though.

It'll just be DH and I.

 

[Disney-Kim]

We were just in Maui in November and ate at the Old Lahaina Luau. It cost us $400 for 4 people. and I am sorry but we honestly hated it.
We thought the food was the worst food we have ever tried to eat. most of it was too raw or fishy. We are open eaters and like to try new things but the food was enedible. We ate the bread and the salad. thats it.
The other people at our table felt the same way. So thats 8 people.
The show is good but a little slow. We thought it was a HUGE waste of money and were extremely disappointed.
on the other hand...I can suggest a restaurant we ate at twice that had the best shrimp we have ever had in our lives.

Buzz' Wharf restaurant is by the Maui aquarium. its a steak/seafood place. Not overly fancy. They serve Tahitian shrimp. You can only get the shrimp from a small island in Tahiti called Caledonia. They taste like lobster. The absolute best best dinner we had. We ended up going there twice.

Ruth's Chris steakhouse was also fantastic.

Good luck with your decision. We were 4 adults in our late 30's and have enjoy eating out and will spend a lot to enjoy a great meal. The luau was not worth our time or money. WDW's luau was 5* cuisine in comparison.

 

[Honu]

Yep, the food at luaus is overall, pretty bad. Lele is a little better, but the menu is not for everyone. You go for the show. We never go unless we have kids with us. I'd rather spend the money on a nice meal elsewhere.

 

[Rhonda922]

My co-worker has been to Hawaii many times. She told me about the Old Lahaina luau -- she told me to eat before we go! I just want the experience of going to at least one while we are there.

 

[adamak]

I have been to both Lele and Old Lahaina. If it's just the 2 of you, definitely do Lele. I prefer Lele alot more because :
(1) service are much better and more attentive.
(2) Lele is more intimate, you're not sharing a table with bunches of strangers. I saw some other tables where a honeymooning couple was seated next to bunches of frat boys. They're totally not enjoying themselves.
(3) Lele is not a buffet, you're served courses of meal and entertainment in between. OL is buffet, you eat first, then show comes later. If you get to eat first (according to where you sit), you'll have to wait a long time after you're full before the show starts. Alternatively, if you're going to eat last, you'll get rushed.
(4) Lele's show is much less 'setup'. I feel I learn more.

I found that Luau is overrated and way too expensive. Just like Time Square in NYC, you just have to do it once to get it over with. There is a restaurant next to Old Lahiana (I forgot the name) which shares the same kitchen, serves the same food during the day, and much cheaper (and way better). You may wanna consider that.

 

[nwdisgal]

Straight from Da' Chefs on Maui who like Old Lahaina Luau. The one at Marriott Wailea is nice too. Hyatt is good. You can't go wrong with any of them, so why not go to them all.

 

[Rhonda922]

Hmm, I still on the fence. I do like the whole setup of the Lele. I saw the menu online so I'm a little hesitant to go to either one but I'm sure we'll arrive at the luau nice and full anyway and just pick. I keep wondering if we'll be a little embarrassed at the Lele if they're bringing the food and we just keep putting it to the side because we don't like it. I'll feel bad if they keep bringing plates and they see that we're not interested. This as opposed to the buffet at the Old Lahaina where we can sort of pick and choose what we want.

 

[nwdisgal]

To be quite honest, I would pick the show and menu format that you like the best. There may be some differentiation between food quality, but not enough to matter much. Chefs can have off nights - Lahaina Luau has them, as well as the next luau place. The chef at Lahaina Luau is well known and highly regarded locally. Plus, they've won some awards at Taste of Lahaina, etc. I've heard good things at Lele, Marriott, Hyatt. Everyone has their own favorite. Also, remember that local style food like poke (the raw fish) can be an acquired taste and poi :crazy2. I prefer some of the Asian/Fusion type food - like you would get at Roys and Sansei. There's a lot of subjectivity to food tastes. Go with the type of food you like.

In fact, you don't even have to do the full fledged luau to take in the culture. I don't know if they still have it (because Marriott's going through a renovation), but you used to be able to go sit poolside at Marriott's Kumu Grill in Wailea and watch traditional Hawaiian guitar and a Hula show poolside at night. The setting was beautiful (poolside with sweeping views of the ocean). The menu is A La Carte, with reasonably priced dinner sections and they have a bar area too. Some people just went there for drinks and appetizers, others had full course meals, and some were just there for dessert. Their main hula dancer is Native Hawaiian and was raised with the culture and taught by some of the best local hula teachers of the time. She shares a lot with the people in the audience, including inviting kids in the audience to come up and dance with her. I think they have a show every night at dusk - or they used. You should call Marriott Wailea to find out for sure, because that whole area is going through major change. Another thing to check out if you can, is Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar. They were playing it up at Kapulua (another area going through renovation and new ownership, so call before you go). Slack key is very local style and famous musicians, such as the pianist George Winston had some hand in the movement. Willie K is another famous local musician. He plays at Hapa's.

 

[KarenAylwood]

I went with my family to the Old Lahaina Luau a few years ago and absolutely LOVED it. All of us did. There was a couple sitting with us who had a great time as well.

 

[DawnCt1]

We picked the Hyatt the first time (time share gift deal, ) and the Marriott the last time. Between the two we liked the Marriott the best. Good entertainment and our DSs, no matter how old they are, like fire dancing, which is not a part (I don't think) of authentic Hawaiian luaus. I liked the food at both events, except the poi, but then, no one really likes poi.

 

[bekkiz]

I was at the old Lahina Luau on NYE a few weeks ago, with a group of 60 people (it was a wedding related activity.)

Now I like luau food, so maybe I'm weird. I skip the poi and the poke, but all of the grilled meats and the purple sweet potatoes are sooo good! All 60 of us had a great time. The open bar was really fun, and the drinks were great. DH was a little dissapointed there were no fire guys, but I was told that OLL likes to stay traditionally Hawaiian, and the fire guys are Samoan or Togan or something.

That said, the maui Revealed (which is an AWESOME guidebook if you still need one) really like the Feast luau for couples, esp with the private tables etc.

 

[DawnCt1]

I was at the old Lahina Luau on NYE a few weeks ago, with a group of 60 people (it was a wedding related activity.)

Now I like luau food, so maybe I'm weird. I skip the poi and the poke, but all of the grilled meats and the purple sweet potatoes are sooo good! .

I like luau food too. Even the lomi lomi. In fact, everything but the poi.

 

[Kahana-ri]

What luaus have you been to on Maui? I'm in the planning stages for our trip later this year and I can't make up my mind. Everyone talks about the Old Lahaina luau. I came across another one online, at least I THINK it is a luau, called the Feast at Lele. I'm not sure what to go with. I sure could use some help!

We loved Old Lahaina. The food was excellent and the dancers are beautiful. Its has a wonderful family feel.

We also have gone to Fest of Lele which is amazing in its own. Fest of Lele is more intimate. Instead of a buffet style the bring the meal in courses. This luau was very romantic.

When we were Maui in June we tried the luau at the Marriott. This was nice, food was good and more of a family setting. I would say however, when one of the hotels holds a luau, it doesn't seem as personal.

 

[Dznypal]

we've been to Hawaii 3 times and have to luaus each time

twice on Maui--the first time was the Marriott which we all loved--my whole family was there so there were 20 of us!!!! what a blast!!!

the next was at Kauai which also alot of fun this one was at the Hyatt DD sixteen s I had the MC annouce it !!! she thought it was fun until they had one of the dancers give her a b-day kiss and they gave her a beautiful oranment made of shells!!!

two years ago we were again on Maui (DS got married there sooo romantic

I cant remember the name since it wasnt at a chain hotel It was in the Whalers Village

Whichever you choose you cant go wrong they are all fun

we really enjoyed the food

except the poi but we just had to try it