Lahaina, Maui This luau on Maui always receives top honors in this category and is at nearly 100 percent capacity each year. First developed in 1986, it was created to provide a more culturally sensitive presentation in Hawaii's tourist entertainment economy and is today considered a leader in the industry. Pre-show activities for luau party guests include an opportunity to meet the artists and discuss history with them. With Hawaiian music adding to the magical setting under the stars at Hawaii Lawn, guests can enjoy a buffet dinner with traditional Hawaiian fare and contemporary favorites prepared by chefs at Sheraton Kona Resort & Spa at Keauhou Bay.
The cultural journey begins with demonstrations of Hawaiian crafts and games, followed by the traditional imu ceremony. Guests enjoy a sumptuous buffet while hula dancers and musicians entertain themselves. After dinner, the main 45-minute show begins as dancers take to the stage to share the ancient Hawaiian legend of Kalamaku (son of the new earth) and the incredible and perilous journey of the Polynesians from Tahiti to Kauai. Sheraton Kauai Resort's 'Auli'i Luau is located on the sands of crescent-shaped Poipu Beach and is Kauai's only beachfront luau.
Visitors can connect with Kauai's rich history and culture, traditional culinary foods and tropical delights with the blue Pacific Ocean and bright orange sunset as a stunning backdrop. A Guide to Attending Luaus on Kauai Visit Kauai Kilohana Plantation and Luau Kalamaku. For authentic Hawaiian food in a relaxed, homely atmosphere, visit Haili's Hawaiian Food. The Kapahulu Avenue restaurant has been in operation since 1948, when Mother Haili began serving simple, traditional Hawaiian food at Ward Farmers Makert.
The most popular menu items include lunches such as Big Kahuna served with kalua pork, laulau, long rice with chicken, lomi lomi salmon, poke, haupia (a dessert based on coconut milk) and poi. The restaurant also mixes and serves traditional shoyu and limu (seaweed) poke. You'll leave Haili's Hawaiian Food with a full belly and a smile on your face. For the best Hawaiian food, prepared simply and honestly, a must-see on Oahu is Helena's Hawaiian Food.
The James Beard Foundation award-winning restaurant was created by Helen Chock in 1946 and today is run by her grandson Craig Katsuyoshi. The small restaurant, located on North School Street in Honolulu's Kalihi Valley neighborhood, offers authentic Hawaiian food prepared with traditional recipes that haven't changed since the restaurant opened seven decades ago. The most popular dishes, ordered à la carte or as part of a set menu, are homemade pipikaula ribs, kalua pork, fried fish and squid luau (a dish of seafood, coconut milk and taro leaves). You'll want to come back the next day.
Island Breeze, located in the Courtyard Marriott King Kamehameha's Kona Beach Hotel on the Big Island, is one of the best luaus in Hawaii for several reasons. Guests at Paradise Cove Luau are greeted with a mai tai and have free time to explore the Hawaiian village with its traditional arts and crafts, try their luck with traditional games and learn about fishing techniques with nets. The Waikiki Starlight Luau presents the women's and men of Tihati Productions in the round, where each seat promises a great view. If you want to enjoy authentic Hawaiian music, dance, sing, tell stories or do crafts, you don't have to go to a luau.
If you're looking for a slightly cheaper, family-friendly luau on Maui, this is your best bet, conveniently located along beautiful Ka'anapali Beach on Maui's west coast. Oahu's West Coast setting offers beautiful sunsets, while interactive pre-show activities such as Shower of Flowers, Hukilau on the Beach and Imu Ceremony make Paradise Cove Luau an interactive experience for the whole family. The seats, which are definitely designed to help you make friends with your neighbor, are intimate with luau talents parading down the aisles. It's one of the cheapest luau in the state, but you'll still be able to experience all the typical traditions, including a festive and colorful show.
The talent of Germaine's presents the Polynesian traditions of similar luaus, but its dance takes it to a higher level. Aha Aina's luau menu includes poi, poke, kalua pork, steamed mongchong, kalbi ribs, fresh fruit and dessert. As this is a Honolulu luau, courtesy shuttle from local hotels is very convenient to use and a total advantage if you plan to enjoy some free mai tais. Each luau is unique because of its own location and set of artists, but some are certainly more touristy than others.
The Paradise Cove luau begins with an imu ceremony, in which a day-long roast pig is unearthed from a Hawaiian underground oven. And if you're feeling adventurous, there's an opportunity at the end of the luau to dance on stage with the talented artists. And since you can find luaus on all four major islands, it's easy to choose one that best suits your location. You'll enjoy the experience more if you hear about the luaus and their history like a Hawaiian banquet before you go.
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