Old Lahaina Luau is a three-hour oceanfront Hawaiian luau at 1251 Front Street in Lahaina, Maui, and it is widely called the most traditional luau in Hawaii.
The evening pairs a four-course family-style dinner with a show of Hawaiian hula, chant, and live music, all facing the sunset over the Pacific.
Great Hawaii Tour brings you this Old Lahaina Luau guide, with 2026 prices, the menu, the show, and honest booking advice.
Key Points
- Old Lahaina Luau is Maui’s most traditional luau, at 1251 Front Street in Lahaina, on the ocean at the quiet north end of Front Street.
- Tickets cost $230.37 per adult and $140.31 per child (ages 3-12) in 2026, tax and service included; infants 2 and under are free.
- The evening runs about three hours, nightly, with check-in at 5:45 p.m. in summer and 5:15 p.m. in winter.
- Old Lahaina Luau serves a four-course family-style dinner, a fresh orchid lei, and an open premium bar, all included in the ticket.
- The show is Hawaiian hula only, with hula kahiko, chant, and live music, and no fire knife dance or dances from other islands.
- Old Lahaina Luau sells out two to three months ahead, so book the day your Maui flights are confirmed.
What Is the Old Lahaina Luau?
The Old Lahaina Luau is an oceanfront Hawaiian luau in Lahaina, Maui, that presents a traditional Hawaiian evening of food, hula, and storytelling, with no dances from other Polynesian islands.
The luau has run under its current cultural direction since 1986, in a custom-built oceanfront venue that is not attached to a resort.
When the August 2023 wildfire swept through Lahaina, the grounds survived with minor damage while the neighbourhoods on both sides burned.
The luau closed for just over six months so the team could support its community first, then reopened quietly and respectfully on March 12, 2024.
Today it holds a Travellers’ Choice award for 2026 and a 4.6 out of 5 rating from nearly 8,000 TripAdvisor reviews.
Great Hawaii Tour recommends Old Lahaina Luau as the single best luau on Maui for travellers who want Hawaiian culture first and a show second.
The Oceanfront Setting — Sunset Over Lanai and Molokai
The venue sits right on the water at the quiet end of Front Street, with tables only a short distance from the shore.
As the sun sets over the Pacific, the sky turns gold over the channel, and the islands of Lanai and Molokai sit on the horizon.
The open-air setting suits a romantic dinner as well as a family reunion, and the sound of the waves runs through the whole evening.
Arrive at check-in time to enjoy the lei greeting, the pre-show crafts, and the photo spots before dinner begins.
The Food — Four Courses, Family Style
Dinner at Old Lahaina Luau is served family style at your table, on real plates with real silverware, and it is the best-reviewed luau food on Maui.
The evening opens with the imu ceremony, as the kalua pig is unearthed from the underground oven where it slow-cooked all day.
The four-course dinner includes pua’a kalua (kalua pork), lomilomi salmon, poke, poi, and tropical desserts, with guava butter guests still talk about afterwards.
The premium open bar runs all evening, with mai tai, beer, and wine, plus non-alcoholic lilikoi drinks for younger guests and non-drinkers.
Before you leave, the team hands you a mini loaf of banana bread to take home, a small ending that reviewers mention again and again.
The Show — Hawaiian Hula Only
The show is the heart of Old Lahaina Luau, an award-winning production that traces the history of Hawaii through music and hula.
Dancers perform hula kahiko, the ancient style, alongside chant (oli), storytelling, and live ukulele and slack-key guitar.
Every dance comes from Hawaii alone, which is what makes this luau different from the resort shows that mix in dances from Samoa, Tahiti, and Tonga.
There is no fire knife dance at Old Lahaina Luau, and that is a deliberate choice, not a missing act.
If a fire knife finale matters to you, pick a resort luau instead, and be honest with yourself about which evening you actually want.
Cultural demonstrations and crafts run before the show, so the evening teaches as well as it entertains.
Tickets, Prices & Practical Information
Old Lahaina Luau has one price for everyone, and that price covers the whole evening, so there are no tiers to puzzle over.
Prices in 2026
Tickets cost $230.37 per adult (age 13 and older) and $140.31 per child (ages 3 to 12) in 2026.
Both prices include Hawaii tax and the service charge, so nothing is added at the end of the night.
Infants 2 and under are free, with no seat or plate, and Hawaii residents can ask about kama’aina rates by phone at (808) 667-1998.
Tickets are not sold through Costco, and the luau is not sold on Viator, so book direct on the official Old Lahaina Luau site.
Hours & Check-in
The luau runs nightly and lasts about three hours from check-in to the end of the show.
Summer check-in begins at 5:45 p.m., and winter check-in begins at 5:15 p.m., so the evening follows the sunset through the year.
Arrive at check-in time, not late, because the lei greeting and pre-show demonstrations are part of the evening.
Seating — Mats or Tables, Same Price
At booking you choose traditional floor seating, on cushions at low tables near the stage, or standard tables and chairs.
Both cost the same, and seating is assigned in booking order, so early bookers sit closer to the stage.
Traditional floor seating is the more authentic choice, and it books up to a year in advance, so decide early.
Booking — How Far Ahead
Old Lahaina Luau runs at nearly full capacity year-round and sells out two to three months ahead in peak season.
Book the day your Maui flights are confirmed, and start looking six to twelve months ahead if you want a specific date or floor seating.
Feast at Lele, the sister show from the same company, was lost in the 2023 fire and has not reopened, so do not plan around it.
Getting There
Old Lahaina Luau is at 1251 Front Street, Lahaina, HI 96761, at the quiet north end of Front Street.
Free parking is available on-site, and the venue is wheelchair accessible, with an outdoor setting that suits families and special occasions.
Great Hawaii Tour tip: wear casual resort wear and comfortable shoes, bring a light layer for the ocean breeze after sunset, and keep your camera ready for the sunset and the show.
Location Map
Old Lahaina Luau sits on the ocean at 1251 Front Street, at the north end of Front Street in Lahaina, Maui.
Open Old Lahaina Luau in Google Maps
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Old Lahaina Luau cost in 2026?
Old Lahaina Luau costs $230.37 per adult (age 13 and older) and $140.31 per child (ages 3 to 12) in 2026, including tax and service, with infants 2 and under free.
Is Old Lahaina Luau worth it?
For most travellers, yes: Old Lahaina Luau is the most traditional luau on Maui, with the best-reviewed food and show, and it sells out months ahead. The price is high, so book it only if a full cultural evening matters to you.
Does Old Lahaina Luau have a fire knife dance?
No. Old Lahaina Luau presents Hawaiian hula only, with no fire knife dance and no dances from other Polynesian islands. Travellers who want a fire knife finale should pick a resort luau instead.
What time does Old Lahaina Luau start?
Old Lahaina Luau runs nightly for about three hours, with check-in at 5:45 p.m. in summer and 5:15 p.m. in winter. Arrive at check-in time for the lei greeting and pre-show crafts.
How far ahead should I book Old Lahaina Luau?
Book Old Lahaina Luau two to three months ahead in peak season, and up to a year ahead for traditional floor seating. The luau runs at nearly full capacity year-round.
Is Old Lahaina Luau open after the Lahaina fire?
Yes. Old Lahaina Luau survived the August 2023 wildfire with minor damage, closed for just over six months, and reopened on March 12, 2024, at the same Front Street location.
Conclusion
Old Lahaina Luau is the luau to book when you want Hawaii itself, not a highlights reel of the whole Pacific, and the oceanfront setting, the family-style dinner, and the Hawaiian-only show earn its reputation.
It is not cheap, and it is not a fire knife show, but for a single special evening on Maui it is the hardest ticket to beat.
Plan the rest of your Maui trip with our Lahaina guide, our Kaanapali Beach guide, and our Island of Hawaii places to visit guide, and pair the evening with a Hawaiian Luau Experience at Paradise Cove on Oahu or the Grand Circle Island Tour from Waikiki if you island-hop.
Great Hawaii Tour recommends booking Old Lahaina Luau the day your flights are confirmed, because the best luau on Maui is also the one that sells out first.
