The Old Lahaina Luau, Maui:
an Absolutely Enchanting Evening!

The Old Lahaina Luau in Maui was our favourite out of ALL the luaus we've ever been to! We've been to luaus on 3 of the Hawaiian Islands, and this one beat them all!

When we entered the luau grounds, our host greeted us with a fresh flower lei and a mouthwatering tropical cocktail. We were even escorted to our front row seats!

How did we get our hands on FRONT ROW SEATS?

There are 2 reasons for this:

1) We booked our Old Lahaina Luau, Maui experience WELL in advance.

2) We elected to sit on the traditional mat seating. All of the traditional mat seating is located right in front of the semi-circular stage!

I highly recommend the mat seating, as it makes the luau feel that much more authentic. And, did I mention you get the BEST SEATS IN THE HOUSE?

A tip for my fellow women out there: I'd advise against wearing a skirt... shorts or pants will be much more practical for this type of seating!

To be honest, I don't think you could get a BAD seat even if you tried! The grounds are large enough for all of the seating to be well spread out around the stage area, so even if you're not in the front row as we were, you'd still have a great view of all the action! Of course, if traditional mat seating isn't your thing, you can opt for the standard table and chair set-up.

We had some time before the show started to explore the luau grounds.

As we wandered around, we found islanders demonstrating traditional arts and crafts. We also saw an islander tending to the Kalua Pig (the main course!) in the traditional Hawaiian underground oven. My mouth watered in anticipation of the feast that was to come!

At last, dinner was served! Buffet-style of course! As we worked our way through the buffet line, we were happy to see that the food was well labeled (so you knew what you were eating!). The food was both plentiful and delicious! I couldn't help but pile my plate high! I think that almost anyone would be able to find selections that they would like.

If you enjoy tropical cocktails, you'll be pleased to find out, as we were, that the Old Lahaina Luau, Maui offers an open bar, with a premium selection! AND, they are NOT stingy with the alcohol!

When our host found out that we were from Canada, he enthusiastically explained that every Canadian he had ever met "KNEW HOW TO DRINK!" When he brought me my next Mai Tai, I took a sip of my drink....

And nearly choked!

It was WAY too strong!! I tried to cover up my reaction, as I knew that by being so generous with the alcohol, our host was only trying to be nice and all... But eventually, I had to come clean and confess that I JUST COULDN'T DRINK IT! Luckily, our host was happy to fill my request for a replacement drink that had more mix and LESS alcohol! I was clearly NOT going to live up to our host's impression of Canadian drinkers, as I prefer my drinks on the weaker side.

Throughout dinner and dessert, we enjoyed animated conversation with our table-mates... and then, with our bellies full, and unable to eat another bite, we were more than ready to enjoy the show!

The show tells its story through hula, chanting, singing and music! It takes you through the Polynesians arriving in Hawaii, the arrival of the missionaries, and continues up to modern times. There weren't any fire dancers at this show, but I can honestly say that the show is SO GOOD that we didn't miss them!

Now that you've read about MY favourite luau, I'd love to hear about yours! Share your story here!

Tickets, Rates, and Bookings

If you're interested in going to the Old Lahaina Luau in Maui, you can get more information on available tickets, prices, and bookings on the Barefoot Tours site. (Link will open in new window.)

When you get to their site, just go to the left side of the screen under "Maui," then choose "Luaus" from the drop-down menu for their complete listing of luaus, descriptions, and pricing.

There are several reasons why I feel comfortable recommending the Barefoot Tours site:

• They're a reputable local Maui company who has been in business for over 30 years.
• They have an excellent low price guarantee!
• They offer a wide selection of activities and tour operators, so I feel confident that you will find what you're looking for!

Lastly... just for the record... although I do make a small commission if you book from Barefoot Tours, (Link will open in new window.) I would never send you to a company that I wouldn't trust with my own Maui vacation bookings!

More articles of interest:

1) Find out why we think a vacation to "The Valley Isle" just wouldn't be complete without a Maui luau!

2) Lahaina, Maui: The Little Town That Could!

3) Our Top Things to Do On Maui for Relaxation

Go to Homepage from Old Lahaina Luau