We will be in Maui during the first week of November. Should we go to a luau or eat dinners at local restaurants? Can anyone recommend the best luau on Maui? Also, what's the best moderate priced restaurant between S. Kihei and Lahaina?

Thank you for your answers!
Linda

Linda,

In Lahaina are BJ's Chicago Pizza and Cheeseburger's in Paridise. Kimo's is there also but slightly more than the others but it's a great place for a drink and watch the sunset at least. Just north of Lahaina is the Hula Grill in Kaanapali right on the sand. Moderately priced for lunch and very casual then as well. You can even wear you swimsuit since the tables are surrounded by sand. If you want to splurge I would recommend any Roy's. He is the master IMHO and you can find them on Maui, Kaui, Oahu and the Big Island (also in Carmel CA and Seattle) Can you tell I am fan? I especially like the Blackend Ahi (especially in Hawaii) also other local fish such as Ono. Have fun. Feel free to email for more details.

Aloha,

--Russ

I can't really recommend the luau since the Hyatt one we went to was a disaster. The food ranged from not bad to solidly mediocre. I understand the Lahiana luau is very popular, but I would not go to one again. (We even complained at the Hyatt but with no satisfaction). The restaurant recommendations above are good ones. We really enjoyed the Hula Grill for a moderate priced place. Roy's was excellent but not moderately priced. Even though not moderately priced, you should not miss the Hailemaile General Store for lunch or dinner. This place is only on Maui and that's a loss to the rest of the globe. Have fun, skip the luau and use the considerable savings to go to Hailemaile.

Also went to the Hyatt luau and it's corny and over-priced. Agree with both responses for restaurants. Longhi's (Front St. - Lahaina) is good for Italian.

Linda-
We just returned from a fabulous trip to Maui! I think that everyone should attend luau at least once. We went to the Marriott luau. The food was so-so, but the entertainment was very enjoyable and educational. I heard that the Old Lahaina luau was great too, but when we got there the locals said it was more of a traditional romantic type setting and since we went as a family- we opted for the Marriott- and were very pleased!
We also ate at Bubba Gump's in Lahaina- it was great food and fun atmosphere- if you liked the movie! the prices were very reasonable for their shrimp and lobster dishes too.
Lahaina is a very cute clean town- I enjoyed just walking thru it shopping and browsing around.
I'm sure exactly when you are leaving, but I hear they have a wonderful parade and festivities there on Halloween night in case you are interested. I would be ahppy to share any more info any way I can. Feel free to email me.
HAve a wondferful trip!

We went to the old lahaina laua as well - pretty good time, although something you only do once in my opinion. My wife went in July and although we found that a moderately priced restaurant is a relative term in Hawaii, one thing to look for is the half-off specials at some places (i.e. Avalon - great food by the way) if you come in early (between 5-6 or so)

Have a great time!

You are in for the vacation of your life. Maui is the most beautiful and romantic island in Hawaii. I attended the Marriott Luau and the Old Lahaina Luau. The food was about the same at both (good but not the best meal in the world). It was worth it just to see the shows! Two different luau...the Old Lahaina Luau is based more on their heritage...the Marriott Luau is more of a modern day luau & has more audience participation. If you are interested in a casual meal (hamburgers, tc.), after doing some shopping in Lahaina, go to Cheeseburger in Paradise to eat & watch the sunset. It doesn't get any better than that. If you want to talk more, send me an email...if not, forget your troubles & enjoy yourself!

Linda: We just returned from Maui and went to the luau at the Aston Wailea. It was great--for more details see my response to Jim's message. The restaurants are pricey. One tip--do NOT eat at the Ukulele Grill in Kihei. It was probably the worst meal we had there and not cheap either. We, too, ate at BJ's pizza in Lahaina (had the kids with us) and it was very good. $50 for the 4 of us. The Sunday brunch at the Westin (Sound of the Falls)in Kaanapali was fantastic and, compared with the restaurants, actually a good deal at $24.95. E-mail if you need more info! Have fun!

I also recommend the Aston Wailea luau as the best of 3 I have attended on Maui. It is a gorgeous seaside setting, and when I was there they had a champion fire eater. Also fun for kids as they have all the young ones join the dancers on stage to learn the hula. My granddaughter loved it!

I also recommend the Aston Wailea luau as the best of 3 I have attended on Maui. It is a gorgeous seaside setting, and when I was there they had a champion fire eater. Also fun for kids as they have all the young ones join the dancers on stage to learn the hula. My granddaughter loved it!

I also recommend the Aston Wailea luau as the best of 3 I have attended on Maui. It is a gorgeous seaside setting, and when I was there they had a champion fire eater. Also fun for kids as they have all the young ones join the dancers on stage to learn the hula. My granddaughter loved it!

Perhaps this doesn't happen anymore, but at the restaurant at the Napili Kai resort at Napili Bay they used to present Hawaiian dancing and music at least one night per week. It was not done up to be touristy - as I recall, most of the dancers were serious students at a local school dedicated to preserving Hawaiian arts and traditions. It was very nice. The restaurant is virtually on the beach - very pleasant. Also at that end of the island of Maui is Pineapple Hill. Nice food - not cheap - but nice surroundings in an old Pineapple plantation house. A little bit different.

Re: the last message. Each night at the Hyatt right before sundown, there is a torch-lighting ceremony followed by hula music and dancing near their open air bar. This is really quite nice and relaxing. It's wonderful to sit a stone's throw from the ocean watching a beautiful sunset with this soft music playing. A honeymooner's paradise.

Russ: Excuse my Net ignorance but what does IMHO stand for?

I highly recommend the luau at the Aston Wailea. I've been to three luaus on Maui, and this one was the best. The food was surprisingly good, as was the entertainment.

IMHO means "In my humble opinion".

Helayne,

I just discovered that IMHO means "In my humble opinion".