This luau made for a lovely evening and dinner out for our family of 3. The dancing was good and…read morethe dinner was too. Drinks were included which was very nice. There were local Hawaiian vendors selling craft goods before one enters into the venue. It's not a Polynesian Cultural Center event, but it is nice and laid back. We did not spend the extra $50 each to have VIP seating and front row seats. We were in the very back row for some reason but it was still quite acceptable. The venue is smaller so all the seats are actually decent enough with okay visibility of the stage. Worth a visit if you're in Maui and don't want to spend big $$ on a luau. It was good value for the money we paid and we would go there again.

Had high expectations and was let down. Pay more and got to a nice resort for a much better…read moreexperience. Place is old and not really nice. The food is terrible and not fresh. The desserts were all store bought not fresh. The show was just ok. Dancers were not great but the singers were good. The drinks are all well and not tasty. They don't flower things for around your neck but come around charging $35 meanwhile it was a $160 price to go. The vendors outside are all overpriced looking to get tourists. The photographer took photos when we arrived in front of a mango tree. When we left she was charging $37 a photo that cost 50cents. Btw there was a hair in my wife's food. They don't cook a pig underground like a luau is supposed to have either. Would stay away from this tourist trap and go elsewhere. Very sad

Maui Theatre is home to `Ulalena, a show that explores the relationships between people, nature and…read moremythology. The show integrates Hawaiian chants and dances to support the talents of unique performers. Unfortunately, I didn't get to see `Ulalena on this particular trip to Maui. I was disappointed but I got over it quick because I actually had to go to Maui Theatre because I had the honor of being one of the judges for the 2015 Miss Maui Scholarship Competition/Pageant. The theatre shares a parking lot with the Maui Outlets along Front Street and the theatre screams `Ulalena right as you walk in with multiple posters that advertise the show. They also had some beautiful paintings on the wall of hula dancers and comfy cushioned chairs with a Hawaiian print design on them. The restrooms were overall clean and spacious. The theatre itself is small compared to others in Hawaii but adequate enough for Lahaina. The Miss Maui pageant however was no small feat because for the first time, they combined the Miss Maui Outstanding Teen and the Mister Maui Scholarship pageant with the competition. All of the contestants were incredibly talented and they put on a fantastic show and competition. I think Maui Theatre was the perfect place to hold the competition and the stage, lighting and sounds complemented the contestants really well. I hope to be able to have the honor of being a judge again and also return to Maui Theatre to watch the renowned `Ulalena.

Anywhere you sit in this theater is good for you. It's pretty much the stadium kind so you will be…read morefine. We where here to watch the show Ulalena. Acoustics are great. The location of their instruments makes a difference. It's high above to your right. In fact you will be surrounded by the great accompanying sounds of the show. Clear signage. Odd numbers to your left and even to your right. Door wise. If you have a ticket no need to fall in line as you walk in. Head on straight to the door or the concession area. For picking up your ticket. There are two ways: if the instructions from the hotel is to go to Bubba Gump restaurant; it is right across from it in a KIOSK. That's where the tickets are. Or head to the theater if you are doing the will call. Fall in line. It moves quickly. Enjoy the show!

Service is slow to prevent you from getting drinks, hometown buffet style food nothing to tell your…read morefriends about when you get back.

The Luau was Awesome! The food buffet was good, drinks were included , during the show there was…read moresomeone who would assist with getting drinks, and the show was great!

Been to a few luau's and this one seemed was the most elevated and authentic experience. You're…read moregreeted with a fresh lei and personally escorted to the bar for the first of as many mai tai's as you'd like. The performances were culturally focused and I left learning a few things about the history of luaus and the influence of Polynesian heritage in Hawaii's formation. Performers were all talented and entertaining, but you won't get a fire-knife guy or an emcee who's cracking jokes. If you're looking for a minstrel show for tourists, this ain't it. The 4 course-menu was tastefully prepared and presented. Our server explained each of the dishes and I got the sense that everything was locally sourced within a few mile radius. The service was outstanding. Before dinner, you'll get the typical roast pig unearthing. And there were a few other stations that were interesting - Hawaiian bowling, hula demonstration, live band, etc. And of course, you're right on the waterfront so you can watch the sun set and have a beautiful view while you sip the aforementioned unlimited mai tai's. This luau has been going strong for 40 years, and I am so glad they survived the Lahaina fires. I felt good about supporting a Lahaina community that takes pride in their heritage and history.

Pros: - Authentically Hawaiian, not just a mashup of Pacific…read moreIslander countries and cultures. - AYCE(?). You can definitely get seconds, but not sure beyond that. Keep in mind there are a lot of courses, so you don't want to stuff yourself and miss something later. - AYCD. I had so many lava flows the waitress was giving me grief (in a joking and welcomed way). - Entertaining performance. There's a story through the whole show and multiple acts, sorta like how Cirque du Soleil does it. It's more culturally educational than flashy. Even my hula-nerd dining companion was impressed. - Locally based, so your money goes into the community and not some hotel conglomerate 2000+ miles away. - Food was plentiful (even before asking for more), with more hits than misses. Not the best food I've had on Maui, but nowhere near the worst. - The view and locale, duh. - All the staff were great, with plenty of aloha. Cons: - Yeah, it's pricey. The way I look at it though is you're paying for the food, the show, AND supporting the local community to keep its rich culture and history alive as well as helping them in a small way recover from the tragic fires. Plus tips are already included. - Wish there was a non-alcoholic price option so the non-drinkers aren't subsidizing the drinkers. - The pre-dinner walk around time was a bit short. You don't really have enough time to stop by every display/event/demo. I know they time the dinner & show with sunset, but maybe open up a little earlier? Etc: - Most people are kinda dressed up (aloha shirts, flowy dresses), but shorts and tees weren't too uncommon. Athletic wear and men's tank tops would probably be out of place. - Veteran discount available.

This review is for the social hall. The complex also includes tennis courts, and a gymnasium…read more While I haven't organized any parties here, I've attended a few. This is the community center for the west side. The building is not climate-controlled. I've been to parties only at night when its cooler, so I'm not sure how it is during the day in the severe Lahaina sun. The kitchen area seems adequate in size. The main hall is pretty spacious and fits between 200-300 people. There's an outdoor kitchen that most parties use as a bar. The bathrooms are close by and are clean. Parking is adequate on either side of the hall.

Attended the Sunday Craft Fair, which is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. We went around 1:40 p.m. There…read morewere lots of vendors both inside the civic center and outside along the walkways and in the yard. We found affordable wooden, laser-cut bookmarks, Tahitian pearl and authentic Hawaiian sea glass necklaces and bracelets, and ceramic whistles! Fun to wander around to see what we could find. I find that most Maui people are friendly and helpful and willing to make a deal! Great fun!

If you missed it ....you missed it! Be sure to mark your calendar for next year. So much fun so…read moremany crafters to visit. And if that isn't enough fantastic entertainment and giveaways. Get there early for the best selections. See you next year!

This year I finally made it to the Made In Maui County Festival. I went with my cousin and we had…read moreso much fun. We already had our eyes on certain vendors so we could not wait. LOCATION: Located at the MACC. We wanted to get there super early on Saturday to park there but we didn't so we parked at War Memorial Stadium and caught one of the free shuttles. We were prepared to buy tickets at the box office but we didn't have to because a nice lady on the shuttle gave us a bunch of free tickets. That was so nice of her. After shopping we were going to eat food from the Food Trucks there but because it was super hot that day, we decided to go somewhere else for lunch. Maybe next year. HIGHLIGHTS: Maui Mules with Pau Vodka, sampling various local treats, Na Koa Brand/Ho'omana Poly Apparel, Moloka'i Bread, Rosebuds , HI Spice Hot Sauce, Maui Olive Company, Bella Vita Apothecary, Maui Lavender & Tea, Upcountry Maui Favorites and Skelefin Studios (Amanda Joy Bowers). There were so many great vendors TIPS: Bring a fan and a big bag/bags for your purchases. Wear a hat too and bring a beverage like we did. OVERALL: So much fun. Got a lot of Christmas shopping done as well as shopping for myself of course. I plan on going every year from now on. Check it out!

We visited both Down the Hatch (fast-casual seafood and American food) and Breakwall Shave Ice…read moreCompany twice on our last trip to Maui. Both are located here at The Wharf Cinema Center Shops & Restaurants. This is a three-story shopping plaza located on Lahaina's popular and touristy Front Street, directly across from the historic banyan tree. It's the largest banyan tree in the United States: https://www.yelp.com/biz/lahaina-banyan-court-park-lahaina. Free parking is located directly in front of the center on Front Street. Free parking is also available on nearby side streets. Paid parking is available in the center's garage, accessible behind the building via Luakini Street. I think some businesses may validate parking in the garage, but I'm not sure. We street-parked during both of our visits, once on Front Street and once on Hotel Street. This is a happening place thanks to a combination of tourists on the street plus an assortment of destinations and events inside the center. Down the Hatch and sister shave ice shop Breakwall, next door, are highly-rated and deservedly so. I recommend them: https://www.yelp.com/biz/down-the-hatch-maui-lahaina-3. We visited for dinner first, then lunch the second time. Both times, this shopping center was busy, outside in. Outside, there are street vendors and an information booth. Inside, there are multiple courtyards and a plaza. We spent most of our time dining on the below-street "Plaza Level." It was beautiful. The plaza has a koi pond that snakes its way through, surrounded by lush, colorful flora. The plaza is shared by Down the Hatch, Breakwall Shave Ice Company, and other businesses. Down the Hatch has a bar on the plaza. The restaurant's customers probably utilize the communal plaza seating way more than any other Wharf business. BTW, Down the Hatch was founded by three guys from Georgia, where I'm from. For our Saturday night dinner visit, there was live music on the middle level - "Wharf Level" - courtyard. This place is open-air, well-connected via multiple sets of stairways, and has good views throughout. It's a charming little, laid-back, hangout spot. Mexican restaurant and bar Amigo's (https://www.yelp.com/biz/amigos-lahaina) has a great view of the Wharf Level courtyard and stage. One of my nieces, only eight years old, liked the live musician, Down the Hatch, and Breakwall. She made a special point to go back upstairs and applaud/thank the musician before we left and she asked us multiple times after our first visit if we could go back to Down the Hatch. I thought that was cute. The Wharf is family-friendly. Aside from the aforementioned, restaurant cuisines at The Wharf include Indian, Thai, and Vietnamese, and there are a couple cafes. As far as shops and services go, there are about 30 of those. They include clothing stores, gift shops, jewelry stores, specialty/boutique shops, and services like massages at Aloha Thai Massage: https://www.yelp.com/biz/aloha-thai-massage-lahaina-8. This place isn't fancy or anything. Just a humble collection of businesses.

Outdoor dining, shopping and booze all in the same place? Hello, stop looking…read more Seriously though, great food throughout, nice shops and great bar for a drink.

Happened to be in the area on the third Friday of the month while hungry & thinking about what we…read moreshould do for dinner that evening. Not one to turn down the chance to try something new, we headed to Makawao town to check out their town party. The main event happens on Baldwin Avenue where they close off a portion of the street from Komoda Bakery down the whole block. I was delighted to see a bunch of people line dancing, totally reminding me of my years living in Colorado. Where my country music loving people at?! Those were the days. Anywho, I was on a mission to find something to eat, so we didn't really peruse any of the stores, craft, art, clothing vendors etc., but they're there for those that are interested. Food. I just wanted food and that they had, but nothing that really tickled my fancy. If anything, I would've wanted to try Pele's Pizza, but my husband can't eat pizza anymore so I wasn't about to torture him, lol. I think another Friday town party features much much better food and A LOT more choices, but overall it's a-ok. I tried a food truck that I haven't tried previously and we were able to find some seats at the little table area they have set-up rather quickly. On a side note, I saw people walking around with beers so they must sell alcohol somewhere? Not sure where though. I also saw people with ice cream cones and have no clue where they got those either! One thing that did stand out to me at this town party though, which would make it worthy of a return visit, was the entertainment. They had fire dancers in the streets, line dancing, & live bands. Didn't get the name of the band we saw, but they were really good! Parking is a bit harder to find here compared to other town parties, but if you're lucky, you can find a spot in the public parking lot just down the block. Otherwise, I saw some places charging $5 for event parking.

Made the trek up the hill to check it out, only because they recently started to close off a…read moreportion of Baldwin Ave (from Makawao Ave to just past Makawao Steakhouse which is Brewer Rd) to vehicular traffic. I've driven down this road many times but never walked on it and never at night. The atmosphere is very charming. I love the architecture of the buildings and how they light up at night with their quaintness. It reminds me of Main Street USA in Disneyland. FOOD: Not the greatest in terms of quantity. There were 2 food trucks - Kinaole Grill, and Iron Imu BBQ, and a few booths like Badua's crepes, Wow Wow Waffles, Monsoon (Indian), and Al's BBQ Pit. The majority of the vendors can be found at the other Friday events. I was full off of our food from Polli's so I didn't purchase anything on the street. VENDORS: There were a few people selling jewelry and trinkets and majority of the shops were open. ENTERTAINMENT: The band changes monthly - one main stage in middle of the event. BEER GARDEN: Non-existent unfortunately. There is a nice and protected gravel lot that'd be perfect for one! OVERALL: I haven't been to Second Friday Lahaina yet but Third Friday Makawao is definitely in third place behind First Friday Wailuku and Fourth Friday Kihei (confused yet?) in terms of the fun-factor. This place has so much potential and has too many empty spaces. Add a beer garden and more food booths and we'll be long-time friends!