MAUI, HAWAII – Every luau on Maui has a slightly different character–something they do especially well. Some focus on extreme authenticity, focusing only on Hawaiian performances. Others focus on food or location.
The Myths of Maui luau at the Royal Lahaina Resort + Bungalows has two strong selling points: a major focus on storytelling, and the ability to get you incredibly close to the luau’s performers.
I visited the Myths of Maui luau with my wife and our three kids during a recent trip to Maui. Here’s what our experience was like.
Arriving at the Luau
Myths of Maui is located on the grounds of the Royal Lahaina Resort + Bungalows on the Western side of the island.
The property itself is large, with a big hotel tower and multiple bungalow-style accommodations. We didn’t stay there, but we did get a tour of the property before the show.
It has lovely outdoor spaces, and leans into 1970s vibes–this being a classic resort on the island.
The Myths of Maui, similarly, embraces that classic vibe. When you first arrive, you’ll wait in a brief line, and then walk into the luau grounds.
The luau itself is right on the ocean, an aspect of this luau that the performance takes full advantage of.
We had VIP seats, and we were located right at the front of the audience. There’s a low stage at the front, with a live band playing Hawaiian music.
One big advantage of Myths of Maui is that the luau is smaller than other luaus on the island. That means you can be closer to the action, and also can have your own table if you’re a larger party like us.
We were seated only about six feet from the stage–incredibly close by Maui luau standards.
In the VIP section, a server will bring you drinks from a menu of tropical drink options. There are non-alcoholic options for the kids, and beer in addition to the standard lineup of tropical cocktails.
There’s still an open bar for other guests, but outside the VIP section, you’ll need to line up to grab your drinks.
One nice feature of Myths of Maui is that the food comes out fast. Some luaus make you wait. Here, the food is ready almost the moment you sit down.
The food, like the setting, is classic. You’ll find kahlua pork, pastas, chicken, salad, and more.
One nice feature is a dedicated keiki (kid’s) buffet, with kid-friendly, simple items like chicken tenders and mac and cheese.
We got ourselves plates and then returned to our table to begin the show (Myths of Maui hosted us so we could review and photograph the luau–thanks!)
The Show
During some luaus on Maui, the show itself can feel like a background to the drinking and food. At Myths of Maui, though, it’s clearly the main focus.
As we settled in with our food and drinks, the show began.
The performance started with a traditional imu pig ceremony, in which the performers extracted a full roast pig from an underground oven and presented it to the audience.
The luau then moved into dance and musical performances highlighting the cultures of islands throughout Polynesia.
Hawaiian hula dancing is highlighted, but also the dances of places like Fiji and Samoa. This adds a nice variety to the show.
Throughout the show, storytelling is a big focus. As the name implies, the show focuses on traditional legends and stories from Polynesian culture.
Especially for kids, this emphasis on stories and legends makes the program come alive, and gives more of a specific focus, rather than simply presenting a variety of different dances.
Myths of Maui makes good use of its oceanside location, with a second stage by the beach allowing for dances in multiple places around the luau grounds.
At one point, Maui itself chose to join the performance, with a beautiful rainbow appearing above the luau grounds.
The most dramatic moment of the show is a finale featuring multiple fire knife jugglers. The whole thing builds to this, and it’s a dramatic spectacle.
I was expecting perhaps one guy swinging a flaming knife. But the fire knife finale actually lasted almost ten minutes, with multiple jugglers swinging flaming knives on stage at once.
Usually this is an all-male part of the luau performance, but it was nice to see that Myths of Maui included both male and female performers in this dramatic finale.
Kids, of course, love seeing people fling fire around. And in this case, the proximity to the stage made the whole thing feel that much more dramatic.
The Verdict
We had a great time at Myths of Maui. It’s a great option if you’re looking for more of a classic luau experience–traditional items in the buffet, luau grounds that mirror the 1970s vibe of the overall property, and ample mixed drinks flowing.
The best part of the luau is the proximity to the performers. It’s a categorically different experience to be a few feet away from a dancer, versus many yards.
That’s especially true when that dancer is swinging a fiery knife around!
Food and drink at Myths of Maui are tasty, but the performance–and especially the stories–are really the emphasis and strongest part here.
I would recommend springing for the VIP tickets, especially if you’re a larger group. The ability to skip the bar line and to be so close to the stage feel like big benefits at this luau.
And I was impressed by the finale, which was far grander than I expected. Multiple skilled performers flinging fire feet away? What’s not to like about that!
You can see more about Myths of Maui on their website.
