There are many different luaus to choose from on Maui, but if you’re staying on the south side of the island, we recommend booking a sweet and romantic table at the Feast at Mokapu luau at the Andaz Maui at Wailea Resort. The luau is Maui’s most luxurious authentic luau and is perfect for couples looking to connect against the backdrop of an electric sunset and inspiring performances.
It rose above and beyond all our expectations for a phenomenal luau. The extraordinary setting, inspired performances and tasty food made for a perfect connection with Polynesian culture and a whimsical date night to remember. If you’re looking for an evening of fun, education and romance, we highly recommend booking The Feast at Mokapu.
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A group of wildly talented musicians from the Tihati Band serenaded us as a beautiful hula dancer performed soothing movements that invoked the energy of the cotton candy sunset framing her on the stage.
As we sipped our handcrafted cocktails and breathed in the warm salted air at sunset, we paid a visit to a couple tables set up at the back of the luau offering pre-show activities like temporary Hawaiian tattoos, Hawaiian barkcloth (kapa) making and wood-carved printing.
These activities were explained in detail by some of the luau performers and offered an educational context and connection to the ancient Hawaiian culture that we were about to experience at the celebration.
Another pre-show activity we happily took advantage of was visiting the luau’s professional photographer, who offered complimentary mini photo-shoots against the stunning backdrop of Wailea Beach. These photos made a perfect memento of the evening and a picture more than worthy to frame in our home or put on our annual holiday cards. If you write a review of your photographer online (QR code provided), they’ll even mail professionally printed copies of your photos directly to your home as a permanent keepsake.
One aspect that sets the Feast at Mokapu apart from other luaus in our 2023 best luaus feature is the 3-course tasting menu brought directly to your table. The first course included a variety of salads and poke made with farm to table seasonal fruits and vegetables grown on Maui.
The second course offered a range of surf and turf from fresh-caught local fish to Maui grazed cattle and the kalua pig dug up hot from its imu (underground oven). As some members of our party had dietary restrictions, they offered special alternatives like tofu and seasonal roasted vegetables with gluten free gnocchi in sundried tomato sauce.
The third course was a combination of three desserts including strawberry coconut haupia (Hawaiian custard), a lilikoi (passionfruit) tart and flourless chocolate cake.
One thing is for sure, we did not go hungry at this luau. The first course was far and away our favorite, as it was refreshing and delicious. However, we were left wanting for a little more in the second course as the food came out cold and lacked the nuances of flavor compared to the first course of the evening. Despite the luau being a far more intimate affair than other luaus on Maui with what looked to be around 100 guests (a stark contrast to large luaus with upwards of 500 guests), the second course menu oddly tasted mass produced for the amount of people in attendance. Thankfully, the dessert course made up for what was missing in the entrees, and we left overall satisfied.
The entertainment was the crowning highlight of the Feast at Mokapu. All the performers and production value were spectacular. The MC of the evening was so impressive and engaging, at one point someone asked if she was lip syncing.
Each hula performance was presented between the different courses of dinner, so we were able to fully engage and focus on the oral history of ancient Polynesians settling and birthing a new culture in the Hawaiian islands. The performances highlighted the epic journey from Tahiti in search of land, daily life on ancient Maui, including how men hunted and fished (and wooed the ladies), and the evolution of ancient (hula kahiko) to modern (hula auana) hula dance, which included performances by the dancers and band with traditional Hawaiian instruments. Each dancer brought fiery energy to the stage. The costumes were impeccably matched by the sound and lighting design, creating an exciting ambience that enveloped the audience.
The performances were so fantastic, we wished that there had been a playbill on the table with the performer’s bios on it so we could get a personalized sense of who each of these artists were and where their training and artistry developed.
The finale of the show was an exciting fire knife dance by a three-time world champion fire knife dancer. As the drums pounded in electrifying rhythm, the audience was enraptured by the fire knife dancer’s swift, precise moves and engaging stage presence.
The hula show at the Feast at Mokapu was so well-done, it could have been on a stage in Las Vegas. But without the background of the Maui sunset, the white noise of ocean waves melting into the shore and the warm evening air kissing our skin, it would have missed all the elements that tied together the fantastic and romantic sensory experience of this luau.
NOTE: Hours of operation and menu are subject to change without notice due to weather, seasonality of food, etc.
Transportation is not included.
| Time | Every Sunday & Tuesday 5:30pm - 8:30pm 1 November, 2019 - 31 January, 2020 5:00pm - 8:00pm |
| Duration | 3 Hours |
| Location | Wailea |
Please view the cancellation policy and restrictions.
Customers will receive a full refund or credit with 24 hours notice of cancellation. Customers will also receive a full refund or credit in case of operator cancellation due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances. Contact us by phone to cancel or inquire about a cancellation. No-shows will be charged the full price.
Please be aware that these bookings are subject to confirmation. If this is a same-day or next-day booking, there is a reasonable chance this will not be confirmed. For bookings that are confirmed, there will be no cancellations or refunds.