There are a few options for luaus on this island, but Luau Makaiwa was the only one available on the Sunday that we went. It is located next to the Sheraton Hotel, under a tent. I liked that it was held on the beach! A professional photographer that took our photos before the event started and we ended up buying a print for $20. There were also a few activities for the kids as well. Too bad the fresh coconuts were not included in the price. There is open bar for two hours, so you can get as many mai tais as you want! I tried one, but it was way too strong for me. When they opened up the buffet, I couldn't wait to dig in. There was so much food to try! We had kalua pork, green coconut curry mahi-mahi, huli huli chicken, stir fried mix vegetables, kaffir lime scented calrose rice, sauteed vegetables, Kaua'i vegetable chow mein, poi, lomi lomi salmon, mahi mahi ponzu sauce, pineapple upside down cake, papaya and mango fruit too. Everything was pretty good, way better than expected. As for the entertainment, the dancers were very enthusiastic and fun. They even get some of the guests (like my friend) to go up on stage and teach you how to hula. The last act was the best! The server gave me a heads up to go outside before everyone else did. I was able to catch some good videos of the hula dancer that incorporated fire in his routine. Overall, the experience was fun and we had a great time. read more

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Our family has been to a lot of Luau's and Makaiwa's is definitely at the top of our list now! So glad we listened to Tom at "Activities of Kauai" and booked this Luau as it was definitely a highlight for us! The food was off the charts fantastic with ALOT to choose from. The pork was so tasty and the chicken also! They even had fish, which was great! And this was our first Luau with open bar! Watch out for the Mai Tais, they creep up on you . Now let's get to the entertainment. Grammy nominated artists all the way and it showed! The singing was magical, music entrancing and the dancers were on point! To sum it up, even with a smaller stage than I'm used to, you will not be disappointed! read more

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We booked our Luau prior to our arrival and were very excited. We walked over to Luau Makaiwa which was next to Courtyward Marriott Kauai Coconut since our condo was not far away. Check-in was at 5:15 at about which time we arrived. They were ready to check-in along with a few vendors set-up as well. There was someone there making lei's which we purchased. There was also jewelry & wood making vendors there. I bought a bracelet for my niece at one of the tables. Once we checked in, they seated us at our table. There were some nice people that we sat next to. They opened the bar which had Mai Tai's, Beer, Wine, and juice - very good. Everything was very timely in starting which I appreciated. There was an opening preview of what to expect, and our host was a very cool guy. All of the dancers were beautiful and danced very well. Musicians were great also. The food was also very good. We had poi, salad, bread, macaroni salad, vegetables, pork, chicken, vegetable lo mein, and a few desserts. We ate good this evening. During the show, we learned a lot about Hawaiian history and saw some beautiful dancing & entertaining acts. I loved the coziness of this luau, it wasn't huge which I was a big fan of because it felt more personal. I'd definitely recommend to others. read more

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Oh my gosh, this was fun! We arrived a little late so didn't have much time to shop the vendors but we did buy a fresh lei ($10) for me and then took the professional photos by the water. We never do this, but ended up loving the photo and purchased for $20. Yes, those things are touristy, but, we love the photo and it was worth $30 to us. (*Note- the leis are made to order. I was at the bottom of the list and had to borrow another lady's lei for the photos- just FYI if this is something that interests you) We thought the MC did a great job. He was entertaining and had a great voice. The musicians were phenomenal. And, the dancing was fun and well done. This was like a Polynesian Cultural Event so if you're looking for an standard luau, this may not be the event for you, but it was perfect for us. It was entertaining and lively, which we enjoyed. The food was good! Very much like being at a wedding with buffet style food, but it got the job done and was tasty. Salad was plentiful, which I love to put the tasty chicken, pork, and fish over. Pineapple upside cake, coconut haupia (?) and rice pudding were good for dessert. I had read reviews and knew the Mai Tai was the drink of choice and had my fill before they closed the bar down. This experience was laid back and fun. It was definitely on the less side of professionally catered so I wouldn't expect 5 star plated dinner service. But, as long as you are flexible about that, you'll have a great time! Enjoy! read more

Fun experience for a first timer. We had a great table & sat right in the front center table. Doesn't get much better than that. They offer professional pictures but my husband and I went off and took our own. It gets warm in the tent so if you're not used to heat, keep that in mind. Food is good - drinks are unlimited. Enjoy read more

Luau Makaiwa - Hawaiian Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

During my visit to Kaua'i, all the luaus were sold out. A concierge happened to find the last 3 tickets available to this luau. The cost was $103 per person, $80 if you go to their timeshare presentation. According to her, this luau hosted by the Marriott was the best luau on the island because it was the most traditional. I wish I had done my research on this luau before buying the tickets. When we first pulled up to the tiny parking lot, I saw a big white tent and said "oh no". We went rushing to the luau trying to arrive early to get good seats, but we arrived only to find out that we had reserved seating. I was really disappointed with the setting, especially when a big name like Marriott is hosting, I expected a nice big stage adorned with flowers and torches with a beautiful view of the ocean or a garden...but saw a small stage under a white tent with a view of the old hotel. The only things I liked about this luau were the open bar, the food was actually good, and we got a nice family picture taken. This luau had such a low-budget feel, the dancers were good, but I felt like I was at a recital than a luau. read more

Luau Makaiwa - The white tent just gives off a wedding feel to the ambience. - Hawaiian Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

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Amazing experience, good food, good service and friendly environment. The host of the show is funny and and had the crowd well entertained in between acts. Dancers are beautiful and danced so beautifully.. loved every moment of the show. read more

Luau Makaiwa - Hawaiian Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

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I would not recommend this place to anybody if you believe in what is right and what is moral. I came here for a family vacation with my old parents from Korea, my sister's family and her young kids. For a family that couldn't afford to travel together when we were young, this trip was supposed to be a gift. Two hours into the show and sitting, my hip injury was getting worse and so I decided to stand in the back to relieve the pain. In the back there were scores of people standing probably for similar reasons. But the owner accosts me saying "you know this is an invite only event right" and starts interrogating me for why I am there. I told him I was a guest and walked away. Another half an hour passes and I decide to take my mother for a walk but it rains so I am again standing around the entrance until the rain stops. He approaches me again (approaching nobody else but me - the only Asian in the bunch). He again says "where is your seat?" At this point I am confused and I asked why he is doubting me with mother there confused as well. He then starts going off on a rant saying "I can doubt whoever I want. I am the owner here. I can get you guys kicked out - do not tell me who I should doubt. Do you want to get kicked out?" with his voice rising and his face getting redder with rage. Again I say I am a guest who paid nearly $700 to have a memorable family moment but he continues to yell so I go back to my seat feeling attacked for absolutely no reason. I am not happy and the show ends. I wanted to prove that his injustice was unwarranted so I walk up to him with the receipt that has my name on it. Still full of mistrust, he says let me see that. He finally concedes after two accusatory attacks only after written proof is provided. I ask him why did you just approach me when there were so many other people doing the same thing (there were at least twenty people in the back and there are witnesses of this). To this, he provides a nonsensical explanation. He says he did not approach the caucasian couple because they were clearly drunk and he did not want to start something. (Obviously to him I incite more skepticism than a drunk couple - I was just literally standing there doing nothing). Then the rest of the 18 or so people of different ages and ethnicities were all his grandchildren. This is why this felt like racial discrimination that was associated with appearances. I was dressed up and was not acting up - blending in in all ways than my skin color. This preposterous explanation he provided validated this. Then him constantly inquiring about where I am from even after him accepting his fault showed me he was expecting me to be from somewhere else (he was so surprised that I am from San Francisco and started asking what my job was - also not appropriate). He then stated that he owns a nightclub too so he sees people like me all the time so he has to be careful - again a red flag. This ruined my evening and I never felt so attacked for just being me. I worked hard to bring my family here for a nice evening and it is ruined. Please boycott this place and do NOT support this type of behavior. I don't wish it upon anybody. read more

Should have gone with my instincts on this one. It had tourist trap written all over it. But I reluctantly rebooked after my kids insisted. A Luau should be all about atmosphere, tradition, and great food. Luau Makaiwa missed on all three. Location is next to a Courtyard Marriott adjacent to a parking lot under a hot humid white tent! Food was served Buffett style with zero presentation! For what you pay, low end quality. With the exception of the fire show which lasted 3 minutes and was put at the end to keep the tourists around, the overall show did not have the excitement you come to expect. For a family of four your better off spending your money at a nice restaurant with a good view. You can actually dine at two nice restaurants for what we spent at this one Luau. To the owner..step up your game, and stop taking advantage of the tourists. read more

I held off on this review because I was a bit torn. Overall I see much room for improvement, which I will mention second. First for the positives Food is outstanding! Vendors kinda cool. I bought many items which I normally don't buy but these were very adorable. The performers and main singer are talented. Improvements I would love to see are: Move the tent closer to the ocean. On your website you advertise it as such and it is why we picked this luau. In reality the tent is closer to the parking lot and not at all a pretty scene. Please fix this. Second, why don't you add the actual ceremony of bringing a pig out from the ground? Isn't this the entire premise behind a luau? You gather in ceremony to feast? I'd say the ceremony could actually use more focus and tradition added. The way it's done now is much too touristy and more of an act feel. Bring back the good feeling of tradition. Lastly, you took the dessert away way too soon. Leave it out until it's gone! read more

Buyer beware - this is basically in a tent in a Sheraton parking lot. Okay okay, the grassy area directly adjacent to a Sheraton parking lot. Food is mediocre at best. Staff are generally nice, but with a few rude bad apples. For $100 per person, your money can go a lot further. The tent and ambiance made us feel like we were at a bad wedding reception with a bunch of people we didn't know. We respected the dancing and music, but the location, food, and ambiance left much to be desired. read more

Incredibly gifted group. The musicians & dancers are extremely talented. Great venue at the Sheraton with wonderful food and decent options, including vegetarian items. The luau was worth every penny. We had the ability to interact with the artists who each wear several hats to make the event work and run smoothly. The program was longer than expected (in a good way) and got better and better as the night went on. I wish we could've made a circle around the fire dance. It was amazing, but a little difficult to see. That may be a liability issue preventing us from being closer. I give Luau Makaiwa 5 stars and highly recommend it. I love that it was authentic. read more

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I brought my dog Brian here today. It was his 8th birthday. The night went off well, giving the dog all sorts of appetizers and the finest drinks. The dog right after began barking very loudly. Everyone began looking at me, wondering why I would being such a dog into this fine establishment. Brian began eating all the food on the table and I was banned from the restaurant for life. I lost my job, my friends, my dog. 5 stars read more

If you're expecting to see a spit-roasted pig with an apple in it's mouth, you'll be disappointed. And, while I wasn't thrilled that it was held under a huge tent-like canopy, it was completely appropriate given the amount and unpredictability of the rain that Kauai gets. Other than those two very minor complaints, this was a really good time! The Luau was not part of our trip agenda, and we booked at the last minute. I learned that the various establishments only hold Luau's once (sometimes twice) per week, and because it happened that Luau Makaiwa had theirs on Wednesday's, had space available, and was close to our resort in Kapaa, they won our business. Immediately upon checking in and even before getting to our table, our kids ran off to get the most beautiful lei's made to order on the spot by a local vendor. My wife and I beelined for the bottomless mai tai's. While waiting for the program to start, we meandered around the event space and there were a variety of local vendors selling crafts, cutting coconuts, selling sliced pineapples, etc. It was really cool. Eventually the program kicked off and it was pretty fantastic. I'm a jaded person and not easily impressed by these things, but I watched my 10 and 12 year old kids, and they were enthralled with big grins on their faces. They had musical performances on ukuleles, poi balls, and a wide range of hula dance styles featuring both men and women, as well as fire dancers. The host was an enthusiastic young man who got the guests participating with shouts of "Chee hoo!!" And then there was the food. The food was fabulous. The pulled pork was among the tastiest things I've ever put in my mouth, the chicken was fabulous, and I didn't have a single complaint about anything they served. I wish I'd been able to take a to go box! Over the course of our week in Kauai, we did surfing lessons, a helicopter tour of the Napali Coast, surfing lessons, a zodiac tour of the Napali Coast, a hike to two waterfalls (where you could jump of ledges into the water) and snorkeling. Compared to all of that, my daughter rated this as the second best thing after the zodiac tour, and my 12 yo nephew rated it second after the helicopter tour. That should tell you all you need to know about how fun this was. read more

Like everyone else I agree the food was great! I ate my fill of fish and loved every bite. All the other fixings were a delight too. The open bar was great and the line kept moving; so no problems there. There was a wonderful family style show with local talent and Hawaiian culture information. Now things you need to know. The bartenders were working for tips so bring some tipping money. There was also some lovely local art and crafts available so bring some cash for last minute gifts. Bathrooms are in the hotel so be ready to walk a little. read more

We have been to quite a few luaus on the other islands. This by far is the most amateur and cheaply done. Very limited drink selections. Mai tai's were almost virgin. The food ok, but limited. Oh, btw... since when is Mac and potato salad a traditional Hawaiian food! The venue is set way back from the beach in a big tent that didn't feel like anything close to Hawaiian. Seating was cheap hard folding chairs. The stage was very small and low to the ground, so you couldn't see over the 6' guy sitting in front of you. The MC was the only 4 star we'd give the event. He was pretty entertaining and made us laugh. The dancers were ok, but we have seen more elaborate at the other lu'aus, so we give them a "sub-par" performance. The "fire dancer" on the other hand, was not up to public performance level. The sword spent more time on the ground than in the air. read more

What an amazing experience. The Dancers has so much energy and the dancing was beautiful. The men had strong performances and the singing was mesmerizing. Delicious food and drinks. The host educated us on the different styles and history of Hula influences around the world. read more

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Not really impressed with this luau. It was sold to us as being kid friendly although we got yelled at for being up by the stage with our 18month old (prior to anything going on, on the stage) we also got told not to walk in the grass behind the stage during the show (when we bought the tickets we were told we could, our 19 month old was getting a little restless). The food was good but nothing special and the majority of the show is hula, over and over again. Depending on what the weather is, having the luau under a tent was nice although humid. If I were going to go to another luau it would not be this one. The only reason we went to it was because we were staying at the same hotel. Very disappointed. read more

Luau Makaiwa - a group of dancers performing - Hawaiian Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

Awesome entertainment! Such a talented group of performers! My bf and I liked the smaller venue. There's an open bar and their mai tais were good-not watered down at all. Plenty of food and it was delicious. There are local vendors selling their items which gave me a chance to buy more gifts. read more

Luau Makaiwa - Hawaiian Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

GREAT ENTERTAINMENT! FUN! This was our very first Luau ever, and we really enjoyed ourselves! To be honest, we scheduled this last because we weren't really looking forward to it. Yes, I know everyone says a Luau is a must in Hawaii, but honestly it just didn't sound that interesting to us. Boy were we wrong! First of all, this is done at the Courtyard by Marriott, so it's the only beachside Luau on Kauai, I believe. You arrive in the late afternoon and they have parking set aside just for this event, and it's right next to the Luau tent which is right next to the beach. It's a very beautiful view, and there's also a professional photographer if you wanted some nice pictures. It's a great beach, as are all the beaches on the island, but I just liked that you were next to the beach. Secondly, don't be expecting the traditional Luau food. That's what I thought it was going to be and I was disappointed. That was my own fault because they didn't say that there would be. It's a buffet dinner, and it was actually pretty good. I was pleasantly surprised by the food, and really, it was more of like an addition to the main entertainment. So this Luau isn't really about the food, it's about the performance. And we were blown away by the performance. The dance academy that performed for us was amazing! I have no frame of reference, but I was truly entertained and the time flew by so quickly. Our host was really funny as well, and he did a great job of introducing each dance. Everyone had smiles on their faces, and it seemed like they all really enjoyed dancing and performing. I honestly had no idea there were so many different styles of dances, and they all had a unique cultural history behind it. It was truly a spectacular experience and I'm really glad we chose to do it. There were also a few local vendors that were selling handmade trinkets, such as wood carvings and jewelry. We bought an awesome hand carved wooden turtle as our souvenir, and it's really incredibly beautiful. Yes, they're expensive, but they're HAND CRAFTED. Well worth it! And the artists are natives and so friendly, and they love sharing their stories and experiences with you. Basically, it was really, really fun. If you choose to do a Luau in Kauai, I highly recommend this one. read more

Loved the Hawaiian + Tahiti + New Zealand music and dance extravagance accompanied with great local food and wine! I would have expected coconut water to be part of the package when you have paid $115 per person, was surprised to see extra cost for it! read more

This is a blatant tourist trap, if you got a 95% discount it would still be overpriced. Mass production under a tent in a parking lot. Not at all the Hawaiian experience we had hoped for. One final comment the worst excuse for a mai tai I have ever tasted read more

Luau Makaiwa - Seating - Hawaiian Near Me - Kapaa, Hawaii

We (me and my husband) had such a fun experience! This was our first luau experience and we loved it! Great to learn more about the Polynesian, very educational show. The show was about an hour long, with a lot of songs and clothes changes. Isn't just about dancing, but also about culture. Cute place, delicious food and drinks (they had vegetarian option as well), great energy and of course a fantastic show. The performers were talented and he stuff were very friendly and professional. They invited people to dance in the stage and guess who did a show? My hubby, lol, hilarious and unforgettable. One of the best things in our trip for sure! It's worth. Aloha and mahalo Luau Makaiwa! read more

This is the finest Luau on Kauai. The historical references are so informative and the entertainment is second to none! Thank you for an awesome evening! read more

Check in was disorganized. When they tell you to arrive early to get good seats, that is not true. The best seats (front of the tables) were already "reserved" when we arrived and we walked in right when check in began. It was hot and stuffy under the tent. Not comfortable at all. A few fans would have helped this A LOT. There were only a few vendors, so not much to look at or visit while we waited the 45 mins for things to start. The food was delicious. Really, really good and probably the best part of the night. The performers were very good - very talented. But the pace of the show was disjointed. They encouraged people to get up and walk around several times which made starting the show back up a real challenge. A little work with a professional director would help the flow a lot. Overall, a nice mom and pop type show. We had a good evening. read more

We really enjoyed this Lu'au despite having been to other large productions on the island. While we missed the garden backdrops of the others, the beachfront breezes and excellent food kept this one at the top of the list for us. The show was beautiful! read more

We just love this luau! The staff is so kind, the talented singers, performers and the MC all appear to enjoy what they do. This adds such a genuine feel to the program. There are a few vendors selling gorgeous fresh flower leis, jewelry, bags, and hand-carved wood pieces, so bring some cash and support the locals. This luau is smaller than most and feels less commercial. It doesn't include the traditional pig burial, but the show is rooted in Polynesian history, full of love for the islands and tradition. The food is spectacular and so ono! The drinks flow freely from 5:30 to about 7:30ish, which was plenty of time to enjoy our fill of their delicious Mai Tais. There are many other beverage options as well. We've attended the other larger luaus but come back to this one time and time again. Can't wait to attend next time! Mahalo for the memories! read more

We didn't book a Luau before getting to the island so once we decided to go to one everything was sold out. This was the cheapest and only one available. It was my first luau so I don't have anything to compare it to ....it was awful but wasn't fantastIc either. The food wasn't that great, esp the dessert. There were only 7? Dancers and they were good but I don't feel like it was a traditional luau you probably get somewhere else read more

Attended on Sunday evening. Enjoyed open bar and free soft drinks. Kalyan's pork not too bad, but no chicken long rice. Poi was a little sparse. BBQ chicken was ok. Bread at a luau??? Hi Apia was nice touch at end. Hula show had no clapping sticks. read more

Not really impressed with this luau. Check in time was 5:15 p.m. and the bar did not open until around 6:15 p.m. I thought it was going to be under the stars, beach front, but it wasn't. It was under a tent, where it took from the experience. The food was good, however, the rest of the show, compared to other luau's receive a 2 star. They also closed the bar at 7:30 p.m., which was incredibly disappointing being that the show ended at 8:45 p.m. I recommend you skip this luau and check out others on the island. Not worth the money you pay! read more

Going to allow Luau was one on the bottom of my Kauai wish list, but my 12-year-old nephew was very set on going. I asked the hosts of the cottage I was staying out which one they recommended and they said hands-down, this one. I read a lot of the reviews and most of them were glowing but there were a few that only made my reluctance stronger. Knowing it would only be a few hours of my life, I purchased tickets. I'm so glad I went. The check in process was easy, the mai tais were good, for a buffet- the food was decent, good actually! And then, the show! I still am dumbfounded by it. It was magical, beautiful, stunning, mesmerizing and we are both high as a kite afterwards. The dancers and musicians have deep talent and love for what they do. You can palpably feel the passion and dedication that they have all put into their craft. Perhaps I started with really low expectations because I was not excited about going but after the show, everybody we chatted with as we walked out were also very impressed. It's been four days and I'm still thinking about it read more

This was a great show. The food, drinks, and art crafts made up for a great evening. I recommend it as the first Luau experience. read more

This was our first luau. We arrived at 5:00 as they told us to for check in. There wasn't a lot to do for the first 45 minutes. There's a few vendors to look at. The food was just okay. I thought it was kind of bland. Best part was the pork. There was no pig which was disappointing. The reason I rated it so highly was the entertainment. I really enjoyed the show. I thought it was informative and there was a lot of variety in the dancing. read more

My daughter and I had such a fun, casual yet professional evening attending the Luau Maka'iwa at the Courtyard Marriott in Kapa'a on our vacation! The show was entertaining and well done and they even chose my daughter, who has Down Syndrome, to come on stage and learn Tahitian dance. She had so much fun and wanted to take a hula lesson the next day from the lovely singer, manager Leilani and her daughter was so supportive and patient that Diane did great on both dances. The food was plentiful and tasty and the open bar was well utilized by all! I highly recommend this wonderful family luau read more

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My family had never been to a luau. Our concierge suggested this one, and said the others were too commercialized. Unfortunately, this one was not what we had expected. It was nice, drinks and food were ok. Just not what I had expected for the price. I have read about a lot of luaus, did my research, but followed the concierge advice and this time wish I hadn't. I have 3 kids 10 and under and this luau was more geared towards an older crowd. Kids were bored, and after dinner were ready to skip the rest. Not something I will do again, would rather have spent the $500 on other stuff. It wasn't bad, just didn't meet my expectations. If I could have done it over I probably would have gone with Smith's. While it may be commercialized, there seems to be more stuff to entertain kids. read more

We loved the dancing and live music -- top notch all the way, with several island cultures represented, a lot of variety from these professionals, from hula to fire twirling. The slack key guitar and beautiful harmonies were stunning. The emcee was entertaining, funny, and had a great singing voice. There was an open bar, lovely vendors, and lessons on poi spinning and drumming. We had a seat up front where we could see everything clearly. I felt sorry for the people who paid for VIP seating because our seats were just as good. It helped to be early, I guess. The only reason I gave this event four stars is because the food was average hotel fare. It wasn't awful, it's just that it wasn't as splendid as the entertainment. read more

The luau was a good value. Lots of dancing and music, a nice fire dance, and decent food. For those staying on the east side of the island, a convenient location. The staff was nice, and the performers demonstrated skill and talent. Definitely a smaller size luau (about 200 people), though none of the seats were far away from the stage. read more

Parents of young kids, listen up, this one's for you: We were instructed to arrive by 4:45pm. Thanks to other reviews, we didn't rush and arrived around 5pm. That was still much too early for keeping young kids (2.5 and 6 years old) entertained before the main show and dinner was available. Buffet dinner opens around 7pm-ish. Program starts around 6:15pm(?); however, you should be aware that this is NOT the main show. This is sort of the warm up act with young student dancers and cultural educational. Due to our 2.5 year old having a meltdown during dinner, we almost left at 7:30pm, when a staff person informed us that the (main) show had not begun. We stuck it out and stayed for the main show, which was very beautiful. Here are some suggestions to consider: - Arrive between 5:30-5:45pm. - Once you are seated, go grab yourself a couple mai tais at the hosted bar. There should be two lines. One for complimentary mai tais. And the other for everything else. Mai tais are hosted until 7pm from what we observed. - Bring snacks or feed the kids before departing; especially if they are picky eaters. - Make sure the kids take naps or don't over-do it with activities on the day of the luau. Our 6 year old son was very engaged and genuinely enjoying the main show performances, but the poor guy was exhausted from swimming earlier in the day, that he could barely keep his eyes open at a certain point. Now for general comments on the luau: - The MAIN SHOW performances are wonderful. Talented dancers and musicians, beautiful Polynesian cultural wear, and overall lovely entertainment. - Who doesn't love hosted Mai Tais? - There are a few vendors that sell locally made items prior to the program. We found some great gift items here. - At some luaus, everyone gets a complimentary fresh flower lei. Wish they would've done that here. Creates a festive atmosphere and makes for better photos. (Flower leis were available for sale.) - I agree with one of the other reviewers that said the program was a bit disjointed. Personally, I think they could eliminate the entire pre-show and just go with the main show, but I'm probably a little biased because we had kids with us. Bottom line: Soak up the gorgeous cultural entertainment, but come prepared if you have little ones. Aloha! read more

I was sorely disappointed with this luau, I had high expectations from all the reviews. This is not your traditional luau. Set up was kind of cheesy. All tables set up under a tent and the food was not good at all. They didn't even have the traditional luau pig. Not much variety, and the dessert...let's say when I got back, there was only 2 items I could choose for dessert and they weren't even good. Dinner a big fat disappointment! Drinks sucked too! The only high point of the evening was the show. Lots of dancing. I really enjoyed it. I would recommend to skip the dinner and do the show only. Not worth what I paid for. I did not feel welcome when we arrived. No photographer to take pictures so we can purchase. I went to luau before and the accommodations were much better then this little dinky luau. Would I do this luau if I came back? Big NO! I'm only giving it a 3 star because of the show. And btw, there's no entertainment at all before dinner at 7pm. They leave it up to you to go mingle. So it's better to come late around 6:30pm because it's assigned tables anyways. read more

We chose Luau Maka'iwa first because it was walking distance from where we staying in Kapa'a and second because of all these reviews. We definitely agree with all the hype! The smaller crowd compared to other luaus made our view of the excellent stage entertainment (the fire guy was our favorite!) vicinity to the delicious food, and access to the amazing mai tais so much better. (By the way, the only time we wished we had VIP tickets was when the guy next to us blocked our view when videoing every dance with his phone.) My husband was disappointed that there was no big roasted pig, but he admits he was completely happy with our choice! read more