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What is the best luau in Hawaii?
If it’s your first trip to Hawaii, no doubt, a Hawaiian luau is on your must-do list. I’m sure you’re asking yourself, “what is the best luau in Hawaii?”
Even if you’ve been to Hawaii multiple times, there are plenty of different luaus to check out.
Today I will talk about the ten best luaus in Hawaii, on Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island. From an authentic Hawaiian luau to a luxury luau with celebrity sightings, there’s a Hawaii luau for everyone.
I always recommend booking in advance, as popular luaus do tend to sell out. For your convenience, I have included links to Viator, where you can book your luau. In most cases, the luau will be fully refundable up to 24 hours before arrival.
DO I NEED A RENTAL CAR in Hawaii?
This should come as no surprise, but you’ll need a rental car to explore the many scenic drives in Hawaii.
I recommend Discount Hawaii Car Rental. They have the best rates and free cancellation. You can pick up your car at any of the airports in Hawaii. You won’t pay until you pick up your vehicle, and cancellation is free.
If you want to find the best flights to Hawaii, I recommend signing up for free alerts with Scott’s Cheap Flights.
What is the best luau on Oahu?
1. The Polynesian Cultural Center Ali’i Luau
The luau at the Polynesian Cultural Center is my #1 recommendation for the best luau on Oahu. I would say it’s in the top two of the best luaus in Hawaii, along with a Maui luau that I’ll mention soon. You can save 10% by booking directly.
I always recommend learning about Hawaiian history and culture on your Hawaii vacation. The Polynesian Cultural Center is a great place to do just that. The Ali’i Luau is Oahu’s most authentic luau, taking guests back in time to learn about Hawaiian history and serving traditional luau fare.
If you’re staying in Waikiki without a car, make sure to add transportation when you book this Oahu luau as it’s not close to Waikiki.
2. The Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Starlight Luau
If you’re staying in the Waikiki area, the Starlight Luau at the Hilton is a great choice. The Waikiki Starlight Luau offers a buffet with a modern twist on traditional luau foods.
More things to do in Waikiki
This Waikiki luau is one of the best things to do in Waikiki; check out more of the best things to do in Waikiki here.
Located at the beautiful Ko Olina Resort, Paradise Cove Luau is another top pick on Oahu. Guests enjoy the dance and music of several Polynesian cultures, including Samoa, Tahiti, Aotearoa, and of course, Hawaii.
There are so many Oahu luaus I had to create a separate post to share more of them. Check out the best luau in Oahu for more.
Things to do on Oahu
If you’re looking for even more things to do in Oahu, I’ve got you covered!
What is the best Maui luau?
The Feast at Lele Luau is, in my opinion, the best luau on Maui. It’s put on by the experts who run the Old Lahaina Luau, but it has more of a fine-dining feel. The Feast at Lele is an oceanfront, 5-course meal and is a fantastic choice for those with food allergies or individual preferences.
The menu is the real star of this Maui luau. While some of the Maui Hawaii luaus on this list make up for “okay” food with a great show, the Feast at Lele offers both a fantastic dinner and show. The Feast at Lele is not only my #1 recommendation on Maui but also one of the best luaus in Hawaii.
The most popular luau on Maui, the Old Lahaina Luau is an excellent choice for a luau on Maui. Some would even say it’s the best luau in Lahaina. It is located on its private luau grounds behind the Cannery Mall in Lahaina.
The Old Lahaina Luau strives to offer an authentic Hawaii luau, and it does not disappoint. Guests who love learning about history and culture will genuinely enjoy this luau.
The trendiest luau in Hawaii
Located at the trendy and celeb-favorite Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort, the Feast at Mokapu is a high-end luau that can’t be missed.
This luau offers the luxury you’d expect from the Andaz and is one of the more expensive luaus on this list of the best luaus in Hawaii. That being said, the fantastic food and experience are worth the cost!
The Andaz Maui is also on the list of the best honeymoon resorts in Hawaii.
Whether you’re staying at the Andaz Maui or not, this Maui luau is a must!
7. Hyatt Regency Maui Drums of the Pacific
If you’re staying on Ka’anapali Beach on the West Side of Maui, the Drums of Pacific Luau at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa will be the most convenient luau for you.
The Drums of the Pacific Luau takes you on a journey through the islands of Polynesia and features exotic flavors of native Hawaiian cuisine.
There are so many great luaus on Maui, I have a blog post covering the top 10 Maui luaus.
Things to do in Maui beyond a Maui luau
Now that you’ve picked a Maui luau, here are some more things to do on Maui:
- The 10 best Maui tours
- 15 Free things to do on Maui
- 50 things to do in Maui
- The 7 Best Things to do in Maui
What is the best luau on Kauai?
8. The Smith Family Garden Luau
The Smith Family Garden Luau consistently ranks as one of the best luaus in Hawaii and the best luau on Kauai. This family-run Kauai luau features an Imu Ceremony, cocktails and music, a traditional luau feast, and finally, The Rhythm of Aloha show. Show-only tickets are also available if you aren’t interested in the food.
Guests enjoy a buffet at Luau Kalamaku, but the real star of the show is the performers. Luau Kalmaku features over 50 dancers and musicians, including an award winner fire-knife dancer.
The dancers share the ancient Hawaiian legend of Kalamaku and the Polynesians’ incredible and dangerous journey from Tahiti to Kauai.
You don’t have as many Kauai luau options as you do on some of the other islands, but either one of these is an excellent choice for a Hawaii luau. If you’re looking for more things to do on Kauai, here are some of my recommendations:
- 10 best adventure activities on Kauai
- Best Hikes on Kauai
- 10 best things to do on Kauai
- 25 things to do on Kauai
What is the best luau on the Big Island?
You might be surprised that more of the best luaus in Hawaii are not on Hawaii Island. Unfortunately, there’s only one luau that I can recommend on the Big Island of Hawaii.
The Island Breeze Luau is an incredible Big Island luau that takes place at the Sheraton Kona Resort & Spa at Keauhou Bay. Guests will enjoy Hawaiian music and a dinner buffet prepared by the Chefs at the Sheraton Kona.
Even if you don’t have many choices for a Big Island luau, there are plenty of other things to do on the Big Island!
- Where to find sea turtles on the Big Island of Hawaii
- The 7 Best Things to do on the Big Island
- 25 best things to do in Kona
The 10 best luaus in Hawaii
No matter which island you’re visiting, this list of the best luaus in Hawaii should help you find the perfect luau for your vacation. If you’re looking for more Hawaii travel tips, check out some of my popular posts:
- 20 things you should never do in Hawaii
- Why to consider a Hawaiian island cruise
- 100 things to do in Hawaii
- How to survive a long flight
- 7 best Hawaii tours
- 10 things you NEED to know before going to Hawaii!
The best Hawaii luau
I hope this list of the best luaus in Hawaii helped you decide which luau is on your must-do list. If you’re visiting multiple islands, maybe multiple luaus are in order?!
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Where to find sea turtles on the Big Island of Hawaii
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