Luau or nice dinner in Maui?
 

I can't decide if I should go to a Luau during my Maui honeymoon.
We're staying in Wailea and only planning one day trip to the west side of the island. We're trying to decide between the Old Lahaina Luau or dinner at Pacific'O after a day of snorkeling/exploring the west side.
On the one hand, I'm afraid the Luau will be cheesy and the money better spent on a nice dinner.
But most everyone I talk to says I should experience a luau at least once and that it's a lot of fun.
Thoughts?
Thanks!

You could do both... I think there is a luau in Wailea at the Renaissance.

The luau is a lot of fun, and Old Lahaina supposedly is the best. We did a luau on Oahu and I can't remember the name of it. Food quality is not even close to a good restaurant, but it's like everyone says, you've got to do the luau one time. If you know you are going back, I would skip the luau on your honeymoon and go to a great restaurant.

Feast at Lele! www.feastatlele.com

It's run by the same folks that do the Old Lahaina Luau and features the chef from Pacific 'O and I'o. You get to experience a song and dance from 4 different islands (including Hawaii) and delicious food from those islands. The location is superb, right on the water, it's intimate (you have your own table), and the entertainment and food were top-notch. A romantic, entertaining and enjoyable evening...I highly recommend it!

Bogart -
The Feast at LeLe sounds wonderful, except I'm a vegetarian and don't eat fish. Based on their menu, I don't think I could eat much.

At the Lahaina Luau, it looks like there are a few more veggie options because it's a buffet.

If I ate fish, I think the Feast of LeLe would have been a good option.

Ya know, I would call and see if there is anything they can do/modify to accomodate you. Also, the portions were enormous. I'm thinking that you may actually have enough to eat.

good luck with whatever you decide!

I went to the Old Lahaina Luau on my honeymoon & definitely thought it was cheesy. If I could do it again, I would have gone to a nice restaurant instead. And my husband felt pretty ripped off b/c the luau was not inexpensive. That's my opinion.

Follow up question to Thyme, Do the people serving the food etc, explain what kind of fish by name that they are serving at Feast at Lele or Old LL, in case someone is allergic to some types of seafood? Is there a menu/website?
:?

They explained everything that they served at the Feast. The menu is printed on the website as well.

www.feastatlele.com

Sorry JohnD, I just realized for the fish course it does not list the specific type. I seem to remember that they told us though. I'm sure you could find out by calling.

We ate twice at the Marriott's restaurant Va Bene (which is fantastic) during the luau which was right on the other side of the vegetation. We got to hear the music and goofy jokes but we also ate great food. We didn't get to see the dancing but you can check out free hula on the Tiki Stage at the Kaanapali Beach Hotel from 6:30- 7:30PM every night.

It were me, I would opt for a special, pricey, romantic dinner. If you are staying in Wailea you can stroll down the walking path that connects all the hotels and watch the entertainment at the Outrigger luau for free 4 nights a week.

Thanks for lele link bogart! Also have to check out Vivi's interesting outrigger suggestion-mahalo.((y));)

I'm with Vivi. On our first trip to Hawaii so, so, so many years ago we went to our first and last Luau. It was called Germaine's on Oahu. It was fun and sort of on the beach, watered down drinks, lame food, fire twirling half naked men jumping around, loads of color...you get the picture. Since then we by pass all "Luaus" in favor fine dining. Last spring we were with our kids in Maui and were toying with Old Lahaina Luau just for their sake (oh, ok the half naked men too but I digress)_We drove by and saw all these people milling about and then sort of herded in. I guess that would be fun in a large group, but it is just not for us. We decided to take the kids to the free keiki hula show at the Lahaina Cannery Mall and that was great. The smallest of our two could not sit through the whole show, bored to tears, so we strolled the mall while his sister and dad watched. There are lots of opportunities to see the beautiful dancing and music of Hawaii all over the island, perhaps check with visitmaui.com for this kind of thing. Aloha

old lahaina luau is the best of the bunch but still a luau.

do yourself a favor and hit the ma'alaea waterfront restaurant or even better Mama's Fishhouse in Kahalui on the otherside of the airport.. great seafood at both. Both are on the way back from Lahaina to Wailea

Old Lahaina is NOT the best Luau. The food was infested with flies and consequently NOBODY on my table or tables next to mine got up for seconds. It is seriously overrated and overpriced and overcrowded. The show was slow and boring.

We never had a burning desire to go to a luau and avoided them on past trips to Hawaii. Always perceived them to be pricey versions of local dinner theater. We'd always felt we could get better meals elsewhere, and, we've had great meals on Maui. Nevertheless, we are going to experience Old Lahaina Luau next month, as our young, jaded children determined that it did not sound too boring.
I researched the luaus thoroughly. OLL is an astonishing success, whose rise was chronicled in a recent issue of Hawaii Magazine. It is consistently voted by Maui Magazine readers as best on Maui. Fodor's, Frommer's, Zagat's, the New York Times and countless other publications gush about the event (again, which is breathtakingly pricey, especially for teetotaling children-and adults). We reserved months ago, and, there were already 150 people ahead of us. In spite of that overall success, there is a small but vocal minority who were disappointed by their experience with OLL, and, their apparent all-consuming life mission is to trash it on this (and who knows what other) forums at every single opportunity. I suspect OLL will flourish.

Well, you'll see for yourself what success it is when you actually experience it. Don't miss the fly infested food. Contrary to what you might believe I think people that trash OLL because they really believe others, like Feast at Lele is better (which is I believe owned by the same owner as OLL)

If you want a luau, why don't you try the one at the Renaissance in Wailea. That way you can have some cocktails and you don't have to worry about the hour plus drive back from Lahaina. There was a buffet, all from the Renaissance kitchen (I don't know about vegetarian options -- but there were many different dishes). Also don't miss dinner at Mama's Fish House in Paia, by far the best meal we had in Maui. Also, any of the Roy's restaurants are fantastic.

Here is another thought. Try Mama's Fish house. This is one of the best restaurants on the island with elegant dining on the beach. Do try to get there. You will love it! Aloha.

Isn't it a state law that all tourists must do one Luai? We did OLL, get it under your belt as a been there done that, it was a hoot, but you will never do it again. I just think it is a bite the bullet thing. Then you can truly enjoy the island. If you try to get out of the luau, you are messing with the gods, and a price will be paid eventually. It's a one shot deal....you could gamble a good dinner, but well????.....good luck!!!!
It's the same thing with leis, gotto doit, even if you buy them, the first time. Other trips when you get a deal on a condo, well once again, the gods are happy, and you've been there, done that...........Best wishes, and eat at Spago!!

We went to the Old Lahaina Luau for our 1 year anniversary trip and had a great time. Usually we don't like doing as the tourists do, but geez, we ARE TOURISTS after all. It was fantastic, and not cheesy at all like we thought it might be. Great unlimited drinks and we had traditional seating on the floor just next to the stage which was the BEST! People with back problems can surely argue that point. The food was really good too. The dessert was just OK, so we went out for dessert afterward at David Paul's next to the Lahaina Inn where we were staying. Have a great time and DON'T MISS the luau. I think you'll regret it.

Have dinner at Pacific'o, watch the sunset and the luau performers practising on the beach in front of Pacific'o. Way better food and a short performance at the same time. I highly recommend Pacific'o for fod and beachfront location.

Skip the luau! My husband and I debated this same question and ended up going to it and regretted it. Some people like them and we had friends tell us we had to experience it, but I found it to be very tacky and boring- I wanted to leave about 10 minutes into the show. In my opinion you get better Hawaiian entertainment at many of the beachfront lounges and restaurants. Spend your time and money having a romantic dinner with your new husband.

Don't go for the haute cuisine-it's not there (though I enjoyed seconds of the crab salad). Don't go for audience participation-there is none, except an opportunity, completely voluntary, to dance with your partner offstage(principally newlyweds).
Go for the first rate theatre and hospitality, Hawaiian style. My children loved it, as did their parents.
Happy to report we experienced OLL right before Thanksgiving. No flies. Just warm smiles swirling throughout the grounds.