We are taking a family vacation to Maui. In-laws have a timeshare and this is a vacation 5 years in the making. We have a luau on our list of musts to do. We think we have it narrowed down to two. The Old Lahaina Luau and the Royal Lahaina Luau. Samantha Brown from the Travel Channel rated Old Lahaina as the best. Reviews are great overall. The Royal Lahaina gets good reviews with excellent reviews for kids, but not so great for food. Old Lahaina does not have fire dances just truly authentic Hawaiian dances. Royal Lahaina boasts fire dances as well as bringing kids on stage to teach them how to do the hula. My kids are super picky eaters but I DO NOT want that to matter when choosing a Luau. Price is high for both, although Royal is a litte cheaper. 108 vs 98 per adult 65 vs 50 per child. Yikes! Especially when I know my kids are never going to eat! Lol We are looking at this being a once in a lifetime trip for us as a family. I think we are leaning towards the Royal, but only because the kids are invited to go on
stage to dance. That would be something all of us would remember forever. Distance from hotel is also not playing a factor. My
girls are 6 & 9 (not yet but birthdays are both in a couple of weeks). Any feedback would be great, but would love to hear from moms that have DONE a luau on Maui and can put in their two cents in on a specific luau that they enjoyed or did not like.
I went to Royal 9 years ago. Was a great experience! I'm a vegetarian, so food wasn't what I was going for, and don't remember eating much, but do remember having a great time and meeting some new friends. I believe there were discounts too, so keep an eye out when you go! Have the best time!!
Well, will your kids, actually be willing to get up on stage?
If they would not get up on stage, then, that aspect of it would be useless.
And, are ALL kids in the audience chosen to go up on stage??? Or not?
Traditional Hawaiian dancing, ie: the Hula, IS Hawaiian dancing.
"Fire" Dancing, is not typically Hula, dancing. Per Hawaiian Dancing.
Fire dancing, is a known Samoan tradition. They are famous for this. Not Hawaiian per say. Hawaiian culture does "Hula" dancing.
These are 2 completely distinctly and different, Polynesian cultures.
The Fire dancing is done because, it is very visually showy.
The traditional Hula is also. These are 2 completely different dance styles.
The "Hula" is NOT "fire dancing."
And Fire Dancing, is not the "Hula."
Per food: If it were me, I would opt for the good Luau food. And the traditional Hula dancing.
But the other one, per the kids and their participation, would be fun. IF the kids were the type that would participate. Thus, you can get photos of them doing it.
Real Luau food, is authentic Hawaiian food.
Some others may have more foods which are made more for mainstream palates. Thus, the rating of the foods, can really vary.
And, most Tourists, are not used to Hawaiian Luau food. It is good. But, it is a culturally different, food. But because most Tourists are not used to "Hawaiian" Luau food, they either will think it is good. Or not. Because their palates are not used to real Hawaiian Luau food.
So, the question is: would YOU know, if the Luau food was good or not?
Unless you have had Hawaiian food before, you would not know if it is good or not. Per the Samantha Brown, review.
A fun part of traveling & visiting Hawaii, is trying the various local foods we have here. Including Hawaiian foods.
And some like it or not.
Some Tourists come here, and still, go to eat at McDonald's for example. Some others, will go and eat the various ethnically diverse foods we have here. We are known for our very diverse ethnic foods.
But either way, picky eating kids, probably will not eat. Because it is not what they are used to.
The Luau prices you stated, are typical. Average. The norm.
I would go for the Royal Lahaina and the fire dances! I went to Hawaii the first time as a second grader, and it's one of the things that really sticks out in my memory. I've also been to a few as an adult, and quite honestly, we stay away from Luaus at this point. The food is never great (the pig is good -the rest is not) at any of them, so you really want to concentrate on the show! I was at the Royal Lahaina luau in 1999 and it the entertainment was good -and the pig was good. As I said, the rest of the food is not so hot.
My husband went to Hawaii for the first time with me in 2004, and we skipped a luau and went to the Surf, Sand and Stars night at the Four Seasons Kona on the Big Island. THAT was amazing food if you're ever on the Big Island -absolutely AMAZING and half the price of a luau -even at the Four Seasons!
We went to a Luau at Lahania and I believe it was the Royal. it was fantastic. Kids did not get on stage, our daughter was with us. We enjoyed the show. It was held right on the beach area, you sit on the ground, etc. Loved it.
When we were at Disney, the Luau at the Polynesian years ago, was very authentic and much like the Hawaiin Luau. The Dosney one is much more commercial now.
Loved Lahania and the luau there.
I can't speak to kids at a Luau, but Old Lahaina was great. There is enough food for the non-adventurous palate, so the kids should be able to find some food. It was a great show.
Go for the memory and not the food!
We DONE a luau - and the one we done was OLD LAHAINA.
Awesome.
It was our wedding reception - we had about 12 people attend (so we had one big table). There were several several tables of buffet food - so feel free to have the traditional hawaiian ali-gop-fish (totally making that up - no offense to a beautiful culture and language), or you can have the traditional pig roast. And they have burgers and hotdogs for the less adventurous.
Old Lahaina was 'all you can drink'. For being an alcoholic, they were great at keeping my "virgin" fruity drinks coming all evening. However, should one "be" an active alcoholic - they make you get up an get your own refills so you aren't going there to get smashed.
The entertainment is awesome - something for the whole family. And they do make a big deal of the fact that they are "authentic". These are the same dances from 500 years ago - before the tourists arrived.
I would rate this as VERY family friendly, WIDE food selection and FRIENDLY atmosphere (people in attendance didn't have ripped t-shirts or a cigarette behind their ear).
PM me if you want more info - we spent 2 weeks on Maui. Highly recommend the tourbook "Maui Revealed". Author anonymously tours everything and lives on the island for like 2 years. Don't keep the book visible on vacation though - the locals all hate this guy b/c he tells the tourists about all the non-touristy things to do and places to go.
We weren't there with our kids -we were celebrating our 25th wedding anniv. We did the Old Lahaina luau and loved it - right on the waterfront. They invite you to the pit to see how the pig was roasted - you can take pics - they explain everything. You can pose for pics afterwards with the dancers. The food is served buffet so you can choose your portion sizes. Might ask for a family table - they do serve alcohol. No alcohol served at the Polynesian village one on Oahu (done by the Mormons). I took great pics, enjoyed the education about the people of Hawaii, enjoyed the sunset - the luau is right on the water - lovely location.
I think they would enjoy the luau. I am a person who values good food - I love to cook and have a degree in dietetics/nutrition - I thought the food was very good at Old Lahaina.
Ditto Dad On Purpose...
The kids are never there about the food, it's always about the entertainment for them.
Definitely choose the Old Lahaina one, it's the most authentic, being outside, and the boats come in from the water. If the kids get bored they can still play on the beach.
And afterwards, you can stroll down town.
