Luau

One activity that I recommend for everyone on Maui vacations is a luau.  A luau is a Hawaiian hula dancing show with Hawaiian dinner and drinks.

At practically every luau in Hawaii, you will pay one flat price and you will get an all-you-can-eat buffet dinner, a stage show with hula dancers, singers and Hawaiian music, and Hawaiian drinks such as mai tais.

Food at a luau generally includes kalua pork (tender shredded pork baked for hours in an oven in the ground), mahi-mahi (baked or grilled fish), lomi salmon (chopped cured-smoked salmon with tomatoes and onions), salads, fruit, taro rolls or breads, usually teriyaki beef and/or chicken, poi (don't ask), plus dessert (often including haupia, a Hawaiian coconut pudding).

So what are the differences between the various luaus available on Maui?  Which ones are best for kids and which are best for adults?  Do you need to book your luau in advance, before you get to Maui?  Which luaus offer discounted prices?

See below for a discussion of several of the specific luaus available on Maui, to answer all these questions and more.

Old Lahaina Luau   800-248-5828
Reviews most often rate this as the best luau on Maui.  It is only best for adults, not kids, and for those who want a more serious show that teaches some culture and history.  The Old Lahaina Luau has the most authentic Hawaiian show and food.  There are no fire dancers.  This is one of the most expensive luaus on Maui and the price is almost never discounted.  It is one of the only luaus with reserved seats, and it is often sold out, so you need to book as many months in advance as possible.  The closest seats are on mats on the ground, but most seats are in more comfortable chairs at tables.
Old Lahaina Luau website

Hyatt Luau   808-661-1234
The luau at the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort on Kaanapali Beach is the best luau for kids and families.  It's called "Drums of the Pacific."  It is more fun and less serious than the Old Lahaina Luau.  The show includes touristy songs, fire dancers, and kids are often invited up on stage for one of the numbers.  Seating is first-come first-served, so buying your ticket far in advance does not do you any good, but showing up early and waiting in line will get you in ahead of the crowd so you can choose a closer seat to the show.  Prices here are usually discounted, so shop around for the best deal.
Hyatt luau website

Feast at Lele   866-244-5353
This is about the most expensive luau on Maui, and is almost never discounted.  Unlike the usual buffet dinners, there are fewer people per table and the food is served to you at your table.  But I don't like this one.  My experience was that the food and show were at the same time, so it was hard to give full attention to either the dinner or the show.  Portions were small.  The cast was smaller than at other luaus, and they were harder to see because many of them were dancing behind the other tables instead of on a more elevated stage like at other luaus.
Feast at Lele website

Kaanapali Beach Luau   808-661-3611
This is the luau at the Royal Lahaina Resort Hotel.  It is similar to the Hyatt luau and is fun for the whole family.  It's often the least expensive luau on Maui because it is discounted by multiple activities sellers.  But it may be discontinued in the next year or so because the grounds where it is held will be taken over by the remodeling of the entire Royal Lahaina property.
Royal Lahaina luau website

Wailea Marriott Luau   808-879-1922
If you are staying on the south side of Maui (Wailea or Kihei) then this is the best luau for you, because it's much closer than all lf the above luaus that are on the west side of Maui.  At the Wailea Marriott Resort, but similar to the Hyatt luau.
Wailea Marriott luau website