5 Best Performing Arts Venues in Maui, Hawaii

Held annually between mid-June and early July, this international festival attracts big-name celebrities who visit Maui for cinema and soirées under the stars around Wailea and at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center in Kahului. The not-to-be-missed outdoor Celestial Cinema in Wailea turns golf greens into a spectacular theater under the stars.

Many consider this to be the best luau on Maui, and most agree that it's certainly the most traditional. Sitting either at a table or on a lauhala (mat made of leaves), you dine on Hawaiian dishes such as pork laulau (wrapped with taro sprouts in ti leaves), ahi poke (raw yellowfin tuna salad), lomi lomi salmon (traditional diced side dish), and haupia (coconut pudding). At sunset, the historical journey touches on the arrival of the Polynesians, the influence of missionaries and, later, the advent of tourism. Talented performers will charm you with beautiful music, powerful chanting, and a variety of hula styles, from kahiko, the ancient way of communicating with the gods, to auana, the modern hula. You won't see fire dancers here, as they aren't considered traditional. This luau sells out regularly, so make reservations before your trip to Maui.

Grammy-winning musician George Kahumoku Jr. hosts this program on Wednesday, as well as some Saturdays, which features a rotating lineup of the island's finest slack-key artists as well as other traditional forms of Hawaiian music. The setup at Aloha Pavilion is humble, but you'll enjoy these beloved musicians in an intimate setting.

The name, which means "ocean tide," is a nod to the breathtaking backdrop for this luau at Wailea Beach Resort. The tasty family-style dinner covers all of the luau staples including a variety of desserts, and there's an open bar. Longtime local entertainment company, Tihati Productions, seamlessly intertwines ancient Hawaiian stories and contemporary songs with traditional hula and Polynesian dances, concluding with a jaw-dropping, solo, fire-knife dance.

This hub of all highbrow arts features everything from hip-hop and reggae performances and Hawaiian slack-key guitar shows to international dance and circus troupes. The complex includes the 350-seat McCoy Theater, the 1,200-seat Castle Theater, the Schaefer International Gallery, and the elegant Yokouchi Pavilion, used for outdoor concerts. There's also a courtyard café for preshow dining and drinks.