The Old Lahaina Luau limits itself to authentic Hawaiian food, crafts, and hula dances. So there are no Samoan fire-knife dancers or other exciting acts that don't originate from Hawaii.
For some vacationers, especially those with children, this is the reason to pass on this luau. For other vacationers, this is the best reason to select this luau.
The show gets high ratings - according to the Frommer's Maui travel guide... authenticity, intimacy, hospitality, cultural integrity and sheer romantic beauty have made this Maui's top luau.
The show is mostly women doing the hula, then men doing the hula, and then men and women doing some more hula.
Rather than a single hula dancer like many luaus, a group of hula dancers will perform on the Theatre in the Round type stage, which has good elevation and visibility from all sides.
Be careful about getting the premium front row seats around the circular stage. They are also authentic Hawaiian - you use a low table and sit on a pillow (this is called Hawaiian mat seating). This can either be great fun because you are right at the stage looking up at the hula dancers, or a challenge if you are not as limber as you used to be.
All our reviewed Maui luaus present hula auana - the graceful modern hula performed to the accompaniment of songs and Western syle musical instruments such as the ukulele, double bass, and guitar and steel guitar.
The Old Lahaina Luau does a good job of also featuring hula kahiko - an ancient style of hula performed to the accompaniment of chants, drums and other percussion instruments.
Both types of hula are in the video at the bottom of this page.
Old Lahaina Luau Cost & Schedule
Cost is about $95 for adults and $65 for children 12 and under.
Schedule. The luau is held seven nights a week. The luau grounds open for crafts, drinks, and the imu presentation (when the kalua pig is removed from the traditional underground stone and sand oven) between 5:15-5:45PM. The luau begins at sunset and ends around 8:15-8:45PM.
Reservations recommended. Combine the popularity of this show with the relatively small audience size, and the result is a long waiting list for tickets. So either get your tickets before you arrive on Maui, or check for available nights as soon as you arrive.
To get the current exact cost and schedule for the Old Lahaina Luau, or to make reservations, click here to go to the barefoot tours website. Click on Maui, then Luaus, then select Old Lahaina Luau.
Or call 888-820-2097 to call Maui and talk to a Maui luau expert at Barefoot Tours right now (they're on Hawaii time). Tell them Randy Willis sent you.
Old Lahaina Luau Menu
The food is served buffet style. To avoid long lines at the buffet like at some luaus, your host lets you know when your table can go through the buffet line. This does decrease wait time in the line, but some visitors feel like they are back in school again.
• Ahi Poke Fresh raw ahi (yellow fin tuna) with green onions & Maui onions
• Poi Made from boiling & mashing the root of the taro plant
• Fresh Island Fruit & Banana Bread
• Assorted Island Desserts Chocolate Mac Nut Brownie, Maui Macadamia Nut Tart, Lilikoi Mousse Chocolate Cups, & Coconut Haupia
Location and Parking
The luau is held oceanside in north Lahaina. There is some parking on the grounds, with most parking across Front Street in the parking lot of the Lahaina Cannery Mall (this is the mall where the Safeway grocery store is located)
Close by. The Aloha Mixed Plate oceanside restaurant, one of our favorite lunch stops, is next to the luau grounds (it is run by the same ownership group). Lahaina Cannery Mall is across the street.
Hula dancing includes hula auana - the graceful modern hula and hula kahiko - the ancient style of hula performed to the accompaniment of chants, drums and other percussion instruments.
To view a video of the show, click on the PLAY button in the image below. Both the the ancient style of hula -
hula kahiko - and the graceful modern hula - hula auana - are featured in this video.
Other Maui Luau Pages
Watch some freeMaui hula shows, or find the right luau for you without blowing your budget.