My husband and I will be taking our first trip to Maui to celebrate our 10 year anniversary. We are not sure if we should do a luau or not. Many people from this site have said that Feast at Lele is the best but it is quite pricey and the menu sounds a bit strange. We are staying at the Renaissance in Wailea and I hear they have a decent luau. Should we go to the one at our hotel so we can get the "luau experience" or is Feast at Lele really worth it? Also, noticed the Royal Lahaina Luau offers a luau/Atlantis submarine deal. That luau looks very cheesy. Is it? I would very much enjoy the sub ride but if the luau is awful I would rather just take the ride without the luau. Not sure if I should go with a less expensive luau and use the money saved on a great meal at a great restaurant. Any suggeations would be helpful.

My thinking is that if you are going to do a luau...do a GOOD luau. Anything else is going to seem really cheesy and sub-par, so why bother? The Feast at Lele was GREAT when my husband and I went. The performers were top notch and the food, while unusual, was good. If you don't like seafood or can't stand to try new things, I wouldn't recommend it, though. We were really glad that we did it. I felt that they put a historical spin on it to make you appreciate the tradition behind the dancing, rather than just shaking some coconuts.

I just attended the Feast at Lele on Friday night. My boyfriend and I were really happy we did it. It was well worth it in our minds - very romantic and enjoyable all around. The food is brought in courses as the show progresses, paralleling their historical visits to different islands. They bring small portions of each so you can try a little of everything - there was a lot of seafood (scallops, mahi mahi, shrimp & avocado), yes. Everyone who works there is so professional and very friendly. At the end of the show our three waiters who were assigned to our table (each party has their own table at this luau, which was a real plus for us) came over to shake our hands and thank us for coming, as did the luau performers. We were really happy with it all-around. We also liked the fact that there were only up to 150 people at this luau, unlike Old Lahaina and others. It gave it a much smaller feel. Remember though that gratuity is not included. I think with gratuity we paid about $235 - $240 for the two of us. It definitely worth the relaxing atmosphere, good food, beautiful sunset, wonderful performers and the knowledgable waiters.

Do the one at the hotel. My experience is that the food is very medicore at best, buffet style, and the show is just ok. If you do a search for 'luau' on this site you will get many more opinions. The price you pay can be better spent at one of the fine resturants on Maui.

Feast at Lele is the very best of the many I have attended over the years. I think you will find it a memorable event if you give it a try. I plan to go again in March.

ribar5 - you've definately got the wrong luau. The feast at Lele is one of the few that is NOT buffet. One thing not mentioned above is that the alcoholic drinks are free, plentiful and there is a great selection. This is important to consider if you're going to be driving back to Wailaia within an hour or so of the feast's end.

We went to the Royal Lahaina Luau and I wouldn't waste my time again. The only thing we got out of it was a good picture of my husband and myself (that we had someone take) and being able to say we've been to a luau. Now we won't be wasting our time at any more. But we aren't the touristy type anyway. If you are going to take some of your precious Maui time to attend a luau at least go to a decent one.