Our family started our Maui vacation with a visit to the Old Lahaina Luau! In this post, I will share a few notes on the food, parking, and show in general, but I can’t speak to any off-stage entertainment. We had a party of 16 people, and I was too distracted taking photos of my family to explore the grounds and what the luau offered. It seemed that a lot was contained or modified due to COVID precautions, but it was still a beautiful setup and we had an incredible waitress. Her name was Kona, and she was probably the best part of our visit.

Reservations

MAKE THEM FAR IN ADVANCE. This luau was booked out for 3 months when I tried to make a reservation, so they put us on a waitlist. A few days before our trip, they called to let us know they could accommodate us, which was great!

Website to Book: oldlahainaluau.com
Note: For parties of more than fourteen people, you can’t book online and have to call.

Seating Styles

There are two options for seating - standard table and chairs or low-seating style with floor cushions. You'll be in the front row if you get the latter option, but you need to have at least four in your party. Our table was in the last row in the back, but we had a huge group and needed actual tables to accommodate those who would have mobility issues sitting on the ground. They also had high chairs for kids and booster seats for the smaller kids. Even my 5-foot-tall mother got a cushioned booster to better watch the show.

The Food

Instead of a buffet, this luau is table service only and has a five-course meal. As someone who finds buffets a bit dodgy, I appreciated having everything brought out. However, instead of placing an order, every single thing on the menu is brought out. While it might be efficient, it does lead to a lot of food waste. You can see in the photo below that everyone received a plate with all three proteins (steak, chicken, and fish) they offered.

In terms of flavor, the food was fine. My steak was very dry, but they immediately fixed the situation and brought me a new plate. My husband really enjoyed his meal and his steak was cooked perfectly. Our waitress did a great job at explaining every single item that was brought out, and we all loved the cultural history lesson that came with it. I wish I took more photos of the food, especially of the dessert which was incredible.

Here is their full menu: oldlahainaluau.com/menu

The Drinks

All drinks, even the alcoholic ones, are included with the price of admission. It is an open bar, but it’s table service only like the meal. They don’t have a bar area you can walk up to and order drinks. Since the drinks are “free”, they’re not very strong, but we all thought they were pretty tasty. My favorite was the Pina Colada. If you’re looking to get a nice buzz, you might be disappointed with how weak the drinks are. As someone who is a lightweight, this did not bother me at all, especially since I wasn’t paying extra for them.

The Show

There is a lot of great dancing and storytelling in the show, and before the sun goes down, you get a gorgeous backdrop of the ocean directly behind the stage. All the music is live, and the stage area is set up so everyone can see regardless of where they’re sitting. My only note is the lack of any fire dancers! Turns out, fire dancing is not traditional in Hawaiian culture, which is why they do not include as part of their performances. I can completely understand their desire to keep to authenticity, but if you are someone who wants the excitement that comes with fire dancing, this might not be the luau for you.

The Parking

Parking is free, but it is very limited and does not accommodate larger vehicles. We arrived a few minutes at check-in, and there was no parking available. However, we found parking across the street in the shopping center and did not have to walk too far. If you’re like my family and always running late (it was my fault this time), avoid their designated parking area and instead pull into the shopping center on the other side of the street.

Other Notable Items

Upon arrival, everyone gets a fresh lei, which was a huge hit with all the kids, especially the girls.
If you’re allergic to shellfish like I am, you don’t need to worry about cross-contamination. They don’t have ANY shellfish items on the menu.
Before you leave, they hand out mini banana bread loaves. Save it for the next morning to enjoy with your coffee.
You can find more details posted on their factsheet here.