Oceanfront lawns, a Pacific sunset behind the stage, a Hawaiian feast
and the fire knife dance. Here are the Wailea luaus side by side, so you book the
right night.
Independent guideNot affiliated with any resort or luau; we compare so you pick the right show
3 resortsLuaus on Wailea Alanui Drive
$225-$363Adult seats in Wailea, 2026
~3 hoursCheck-in to fire knife finale
4:30-5:30 PMCheck-in, show at sunset
Open barIncluded at every Wailea luau
24 hFree cancellation on Viator
Luau Tickets
Choose your Wailea luau tickets
Booked through Viator: instant confirmation, mobile ticket and free
cancellation up to 24 hours before the show. Ratings and review counts as shown on Viator & Tripadvisor, September 2026.
Luxury pick2.5 hours
The Feast at Mōkapu Luau at Andaz Maui
★ 4.4(242 reviews on Viator & Tripadvisor)
Instant confirmationMobile ticketFree cancellation to 24h
The upscale Wailea luau, on a lawn above Mōkapu Beach at the Andaz. Each course of a Hawaiian tasting menu is plated and served to your table, the bar pours handcrafted cocktails, and the show leans into storytelling, hula and fire. A professional photo is included.
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Multi-course Hawaiian menu from the Andaz executive chef
Instant confirmationMobile ticketFree cancellation to 24h
Wailea's big oceanfront luau on the Marriott's lawn, with the stage set so the sun goes down right behind the dancers. A three-course Hawaiian dinner comes to your table family-style, the open bar runs all evening, and the show ends with a Samoan fire knife finale.
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Three-course Hawaiian dinner, served family-style
Open bar: tropical cocktails, beer, wine, soft drinks
Flower lei, kukui nut lei or carved wooden necklace
Free self-parking (validate if leaving after 8:30 PM)
Instant confirmationMobile ticketFree cancellation to 24h
The budget pick ten minutes north of Wailea, on the Maui Nui Golf Club lawn with Haleakala behind you and the sunset in front. Buffet dinner, open bar and a hula journey through Hawaii, Tahiti and New Zealand, closing with a Samoan fire dancer. Smaller and more relaxed than the resort shows.
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Buffet: kalua pork, teriyaki chicken, mahi mahi and sides
Open bar: tropical drinks, beer, wine, soda
VIP option: priority check-in, front seating, kukui lei
Arrive at your check-in time, collect your table card and a lei or necklace, and find your seats on the lawn above the ocean.
4:30-5:30 PM
2Pre-show and open bar
Mai tais from the bar, live Hawaiian music, lei-making or hula lessons and the first sunset photos by the water.
~45 min
3The feast
Kalua pork from the imu, poke, lomi lomi salmon, poi and haupia, served to your table in courses or at a buffet.
~1 hour
4Hula at sunset
Ancient and modern hula and the dances of Tahiti, Samoa and New Zealand, with the sun dropping behind the stage.
~1 hour
5Fire knife finale
The Samoan fire knife dance closes the night under the stars. You are usually heading home by 8:30 PM.
~8-8:30 PM
Hula as the sun goes downThe luau feast, served to your tableThe fire knife finaleLei greeting and open bar
Plan Your Night
Plan your Wailea luau
Getting there, show nights, prices and what to wear - one tab each.
Wailea resorts: Te Au Moana (3700), the Andaz (3550) and the Grand Wailea (3850) all sit on Wailea Alanui Drive, within about two miles of each other.
Parking: free self-parking at the Wailea Beach Resort (validate after 8:30 PM) or valet for $55; the Grand Wailea offers valet.
From Kihei: 10 to 20 minutes by car; allow extra time on South Kihei Road at rush hour.
From Kaanapali or Lahaina: about an hour each way. West-side guests usually pick a Kaanapali luau instead.
Wailea luaus run on select nights, not nightly. Te Au Moana has typically played Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday; the Feast at Mōkapu Sunday and Thursday with some Tuesdays. Always check the live calendar.
Check-in is 4:30 to 5:30 PM depending on the season; Te Au Moana texts your table assignment and exact time.
Expect about three hours from check-in to the fire knife finale, ending around 8 to 8:30 PM.
Book 1 to 3 weeks ahead for summer and holidays; premium rows sell out first.
Official 2026 adult prices: Te Au Moana $225 standard / $325 premium; Feast at Mōkapu $283 classic / $363 premium; Grand Wailea $300 standard / $360 Aliʻi premium.
Kids 3 to 12: $90 at Te Au Moana, $140 at Mōkapu, $150 at the Grand Wailea (standard); 2 and under free where listed.
Official prices are before Hawaii tax; the Grand Wailea also adds a service charge. Holiday nights cost more.
The Viator tickets add free cancellation to 24 hours and USD checkout, useful if the weather turns.
Resort casual: aloha or linen shirt, sundress, shorts or light trousers. Te Au Moana asks for smart casual.
Flat sandals, not heels: you are on grass, and the walk from parking at the Marriott is long.
Sunglasses and sunscreen for the first hour, which is in full west-facing sun.
A light layer for after dark, when the trade winds pick up. More in the outfit guide.
Good to know before you go
FreeSelf-parking at Te Au MoanaValidate your ticket if you leave after 8:30 PM · valet $55
HalfKids 3 to 12Roughly half the adult price · 2 and under usually free on a lap
21+Open bar with IDEvery Wailea luau pours an open bar; bring photo ID
FrontPremium seatingFirst rows by the stage and earlier entry · about $60 to $100 more
RainWeather callsShows cancelled for weather are refunded · you get a text on the day
DietAllergies and dietsNote them when you book; the kitchens plan meals ahead
Where the Luaus Are
Wailea luau locations
One road, three oceanfront lawns
Wailea Alanui Drive, Wailea, HI 96753
Te Au Moana is at the Wailea Beach Resort, 3700 Wailea Alanui Drive; the
Feast at Mōkapu checks in at the Bumbye Beach Bar at the Andaz Maui, 3550
Wailea Alanui Drive; the Grand Wailea luau is at 3850. Gilligans’ Island
Luau is up the hill in Kihei at the Maui Nui Golf Club, 470 Lipoa Parkway.
Each resort lawn sits right above the beach and faces the sunset
Allow 10 to 15 minutes to walk from parking to the luau grounds
Need help walking? Ask about a golf-cart ride when you book
4.6★★★★★1,428 reviews Te Au Moana Luau · Viator & Tripadvisor, September 2026
★★★★★
This Luau is one of the best that I have been to. Excellent performance and the food was delivered to the tables and not on a buffet style as some do.
★★★★★
It’s a beautiful show. Plenty of food! The stage is set perfectly so the sunset is behind the dancers. Overall, we had a wonderful experience.
★★★★★
This was a last minute booking for us but it turned out to be one of the best things we did. It’s pricey but the yummy menu, great bar, wonderful program about the islands’ history, and other extras made it totally worth it.
★★★★★
Food was excellent, no poi in sight. Our family of 10 - 4 kids, 4 parents, 2 grandparents - all loved the food. Something for everyone. Entertainment excellent, good variety, nice pauses to enjoy sunset, great photo ops.
★★★★★
We enjoyed the performance, the food and the service in this luau. This is our first luau and I did a lot of research before I actually booked this particular luau. I’m glad I booked this luau.
★★★★★
It’s a VERY long walk to get to the venue from the parking lot... shuttles should be offered! The show could easily be an hour shorter if they cut out a few things... 2 hours would be much better than 3 in the blazing hot sun when it begins. The food was good.
★★★★★
When the other parties at our table didn’t show up and we were by ourselves they offered to upgrade us to one of the couples table up front. Food was very good except chicken and pineapple upside down cake were a bit dry. Music and dancing were excellent.
★★★★★
After attending and watching the larger, commercialized luaus, we wanted to avoid that and are so glad we found this option. We especially appreciated the more intimate setting and the cultural journey through the dancing, music and singing.
★★★★★
We got there and they bumped us to premium seats which were dead center right in front. So amazing. It was our 26th anniversary so it made us feel so special.
Quotes from verified Viator bookings on the listings above, with each reviewer’s own star rating. The overall rating is the Viator & Tripadvisor figure for Te Au Moana as of September 2026.
Staying in Kaanapali?
A luau closer to West Maui
Wailea is about an hour from Kaanapali each way. If you are based on
the west side, a beachfront luau there saves the evening drive.
Myths of Maui Luau in Kaanapali
★ 4.0 (1,260 reviews) · 3 hours · Mobile ticket
Staying on the west side? This oceanfront luau at the Royal Lahaina Resort in Kaanapali opens with a shell lei greeting, unearths the kalua pig from the imu, runs an open bar through dinner and finishes with a fire knife dance against the Lanai sunset.
Wailea has the most polished luaus on Maui: three resort shows on
oceanfront lawns within two miles, each timed so the sun drops into the Pacific
mid-evening. They are also the priciest on the island. Here is how they differ,
what you actually pay, and how to choose.
The three Wailea luaus in plain terms
Te Au Moana (“the ocean tide”) at the Wailea Beach Resort is
produced by Tihati, a family company that has staged Polynesian shows in Hawaii
for decades. It is the big, lively, family-friendly option: a three-course dinner
brought to your table family-style, an open bar and a program that travels across
Polynesia before the fire knife finale. The Feast at Mōkapu at the
Andaz is the boutique one: each course of a Hawaiian tasting menu is plated, the
cocktails are handcrafted, and the show puts storytelling first. The
Luʻau at Grand Wailea is the large resort production for around 400
guests, with family-style courses, an open bar and hula lessons.
The Wailea lawns face west, so the sunset is part of the show at every resort luau.
The price math, honestly
The resorts’ own 2026 adult prices for a standard seat are $225 at Te Au
Moana, $283 at the Feast at Mōkapu and $300 at the Grand Wailea, before tax;
premium front-row seats run $325 to $363. Children 3 to 12 pay about half. On
Viator, Te Au Moana starts at the same $225, the Feast at
Mōkapu at about $296 and Gilligans’ in Kihei at about $166 against
$159 direct. The small gap buys free cancellation up to 24 hours and one USD
checkout, which matters for an outdoor show in a place where rain can roll in.
If you are sure of your date and prefer the resort’s own booking system,
buying direct is always an option, and we link to it in the
comparison.
The one thing to check: the seat level. Standard or
classic seats usually share a table and sit further from the stage; premium
buys the first rows, earlier entry and, at the Andaz, a private table. For an
anniversary or honeymoon it is the upgrade reviewers praise most.
Family-style, plated or buffet?
This is the real difference between the shows. Family-style (Te Au Moana,
Grand Wailea) means platters come to your table course by course, so there is
no buffet line and seconds are easy. Plated (Mōkapu) is the most restaurant-like,
with smaller, better-composed portions; a few reviewers wanted bigger ones for
the price. Buffet (Gilligans’, most west-side luaus) is the most casual and
the cheapest. Every Wailea luau serves the classics: kalua pork from the imu,
poke, lomi lomi salmon, poi, sweet potato and coconut haupia.
The imu, an underground oven, is where kalua pork gets its smoky flavor.
Which one should you book?
With kids or a mixed group, book Te Au Moana: the
energy is high, the food keeps coming and the price is the lowest of the three
resorts. For a couple or a foodie celebration, book the Feast at Mōkapu,
ideally with premium seating. If you are staying at the Grand Wailea, its own
luau is the easy walk home. On a budget, Gilligans’ in Kihei delivers the
buffet, open bar and fire dance for about $60 less per adult. And if you are
based in Kaanapali, a west-side luau saves two hours of
driving.
Resort casual, flat shoes and a light layer: all you need for a Wailea luau.
Making the most of the night
Arrive at the start of your check-in window, get a drink and walk to the
water’s edge for photos while the light is gold. Wear flat shoes (the lawns
are grass and the walk from parking can take ten minutes), put on sunscreen for
the first hour, and bring a light layer for after dark. Mention allergies when
you book, and tell the staff if you are celebrating. Then put the phone away for
the fire knife dance; it looks better in person.
It depends on the night you want. Te Au Moana at the Wailea Beach Resort is the best all-rounder and the top pick for families: a big oceanfront show, family-style dinner at your table and a fire knife finale, rated 4.6 from 1,428 reviews. The Feast at Mōkapu at the Andaz is the luxury choice, with plated courses and the most storytelling. The Grand Wailea luau is the large resort production. All three are compared side by side.
How much does a luau cost in Maui?
In 2026 most Maui luaus charge about $160 to $360 per adult. In Wailea the official standard seats run $225 at Te Au Moana, $283 at The Feast at Mōkapu and $300 at the Grand Wailea; premium front-row seats cost $325 to $363. Children 3 to 12 pay roughly half, and 2 and under are usually free. Gilligans’ Island Luau in Kihei is the nearby budget option from about $159 direct. See the price math.
Is the Grand Wailea luau worth it?
It is a polished, large-scale show (roughly 400 guests a night) with a three-course family-style dinner and an open bar, and it was named to a USA Today 10Best luau list. At $300 standard and $360 premium before tax and a service charge, though, it is the priciest standard seat in Wailea, and reviewers are mixed on value. Unless you are staying at the resort, Te Au Moana gives a similar evening for less. More in our Grand Wailea luau guide.
Which Maui luau is the best on a budget?
In South Maui it is Gilligans’ Island Luau at the Maui Nui Golf Club in Kihei, about ten minutes from Wailea: from $159 direct or about $166 on Viator, with a buffet, open bar and fire dancer. You trade the beachfront lawn for a golf course with Haleakala views. Among the Wailea resort luaus, standard seats at Te Au Moana ($225) are the cheapest.
Are luaus worth it on Maui?
For a first trip, yes: a good luau packs dinner, drinks, a sunset and an introduction to Hawaiian and Polynesian music, dance and history into one evening. Think of it as dinner and a show with an open bar, not a bargain. If you mostly want the fire knife dance and great food, choose by dinner style; if you want culture first, choose the show with the most storytelling.
How long does a luau usually last?
About three hours. Wailea luaus check in between 4:30 and 5:30 PM, serve dinner around sunset and finish with the fire knife dance at about 8 to 8:30 PM. Te Au Moana runs 3 to 4 hours door to door, The Feast at Mōkapu about 2.5 hours of show and dinner, and the Grand Wailea about 2 hours 45 minutes.
What should I wear to a luau?
Resort casual: an aloha shirt or linen shirt with shorts or light trousers, a sundress or skirt, and sandals. Te Au Moana lists the dress code as smart casual. Bring a light layer, because the ocean breeze picks up after dark, and choose flat shoes: the lawns are grass and the walk from parking can be long. Our luau outfit guide has more.
What not to wear to a luau?
Skip high heels (they sink into the lawn), beachwear straight from the pool, and anything that mimics sacred Hawaiian dress, such as costume grass skirts or coconut bras. Heavy fabrics are a mistake too: the evening starts in warm sun.
Do you leave a tip at a luau?
Check your bill first. Some resort luaus add a service charge (the Grand Wailea lists one), in which case extra tipping is optional. Where there is no service charge, many guests tip their server or bartender for good table service, the same way they would at a restaurant. Tipping is appreciated but never required.
What is the most authentic luau in Maui?
The Old Lahaina Luau on the west side is widely considered the most traditional, focused on Hawaiian hula and chant. In Wailea, The Feast at Mōkapu leans hardest into storytelling and Hawaiian food, while Te Au Moana and the Grand Wailea cover the wider Polynesian story, ending with the Samoan fire knife dance.
Are luaus better in Maui or Oahu?
Maui luaus tend to be smaller, beachfront and timed to the sunset, and the Wailea shows sit on resort lawns right above the ocean. Oahu has bigger productions and more choice near Waikiki. For atmosphere, many travelers prefer Maui; for spectacle and volume, Oahu.
Why are luaus so expensive?
You are paying for dinner, an open bar, a cast of dancers and musicians, a staffed oceanfront venue and resort overheads, plus Hawaii’s high food and labor costs. Official resort prices are also listed before tax, and some add a service charge. Per hour, it compares with a nice dinner and a show.
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Luxury pick2.5 hours
