If you want to take a journey into Hawaiian and Polynesian culture while enjoying fantastic food and drinks, the Maui Nui Luau is the way to go. The performers put on the show along the waterfront at the Sheraton Maui Resort, giving you amazing views in every direction. Their riveting stories, songs, and dances promise to keep you fully enamored from start to finish. On top of that, the all-you-can-eat meal, open bar, and friendly service make for a truly memorable experience.
To enjoy the show, you need to make reservations well ahead of time. They book the tables from front to back in order of the reservations received. So, the earlier you book your spots, the better your seats will be. Although they used to offer cocktail-only reservations in the past, only all-inclusive family seating is available at this time. You need a reservation for every person in your party, but there’s no charge for kids five and under.
Upon arriving at your reservation date, everyone in your group will get either a fresh flower lei or a hand-carved wooden necklace. You’ll also get a professional group photo taken right then and there, which you can buy as a print or digital delivery. If you get the print, it’ll be ready after the show. After your photoshoot, your server will lead you to your assigned table and take your drink orders. You can order as many drinks as you like from the open bar, so take full advantage of the opportunity.
The all-you-can-eat buffet is a relic of the past, but you’ll still get your fill of amazing Hawaiian classics throughout the show. Your meal will start with a delicious salad before they roll out the plate dinner fare. If you’d like more of any dish, just let them know and they’ll bring it out. By the end of the show, you’ll get a dessert plate with three tantalizing selections.
As the food flows to your table from all directions, the show will play on center stage. A traditional imu, or underground oven, ceremony kicks things off, so you can see how they prepare the kalua pig. Then, the performers showcase traditional Hawaiian and Polynesian dances to the sounds of drums, chants, and songs. The awe-inspiring fire knife dance serves as the grand finale and ends the performance with a bang.
During the show, you’ll enjoy:
Drinks from the Open Bar
Your tickets include full access to the open bar from the start to the end of the show. Mai tais, pina coladas, and other tropical drinks are definite fan favorites. But you can get wine or beer instead if you’d like. Non-alcoholic beverages are available as well, so just let your server know what you’d like, and they’ll bring it out.
Classic Hawaiian Plates
The meal always starts with a fresh salad made with local greens, but that’s just to whet your appetite for the classic Hawaiian plates. Kalua pig is the way to go if you want to experience the magic that happens in the imu. Otherwise, you can go with fried rice, noodles, Huli Huli chicken, and seafood galore.
Sweet Treats
At the end of your meal, you’ll get a sampler plate of delicious desserts to savor. The sweet treats rotate out depending on what the chef has in mind. You can usually count on something chocolatey plus a tropical fruit-based concoction and a wild card to finish it all off.
Arriving during the winter months? Dress in layers or bring a jacket because it can get quite chilly on the waterfront. Also, bring a pair of sunglasses and a wide-brimmed sunhat no matter what time of the year you arrive. The sunlight bouncing off the ocean gets rather bright at times. On that note, slather on reef-safe SPF 50+ sunscreen before you arrive as well.
Insider Tips:
-Ask to have your parking ticket validated at the end of the show.
-Don’t be surprised if they cancel the show due to poor weather conditions. Even a bit of rain can make things unsafe for the performers. Sometimes, they will move the show indoors rather than cancel. Either way, they’ll let you know ahead of time.