Booking choice: The Maui Nui Luau at Black Rock, from $218 per person. Check dates Compare the options below
Black Rock, Pu'u Keka'a in Hawaiian, is the lava point at the north end of Ka'anapali Beach, in front of the Sheraton Maui. The resort has hosted a nightly cliff-diving ceremony there since it opened in 1963.
Here is when it happens, where to stand, what it means, and how to fit it into a luau night.
The quick answer
The cliff dive takes place every evening at sunset, except in bad weather, at Black Rock in front of the Sheraton Maui. It lasts about ten minutes and is free to watch from the beach; the Sheraton recommends its Cliff Dive Bar & Grill, with live music, hula and narration. The Maui Nui Luau's lawn faces the rock, and its listing includes the dive, weather and ocean conditions permitting.
What time is the Black Rock cliff dive?
At sunset every evening, which on West Maui falls between roughly 5:45 PM in early winter and 7:15 PM in early summer.
Check the sunset time for your date and arrive 15 minutes early for a spot on the sand. The dive does not take place in inclement weather.
Want to watch it from a luau table? Maui Nui's lawn faces Black Rock.
Check dates for the Maui Nui Luau at Black RockWhat happens during the cliff dive ceremony?
A diver moves along the rock lighting tiki torches, tosses a lei into the sea, and leaps from the point into the water below.
The whole ritual takes about ten minutes. The Sheraton frames it with narration, chants, hula and music, so it plays as a cultural ceremony rather than a stunt.
Why do divers leap from Black Rock?
In Hawaiian tradition Pu'u Keka'a is a leina, a place where souls leapt into the afterlife, one of three on Maui.
Chief Kahekili, Maui's last ruling chief, made leaping from cliffs a test of courage in the 1700s. The nightly lele kawa, the traditional cliff-diving ceremony, honours both stories.
Where is the best place to watch the cliff dive?
From Ka'anapali Beach beside the rock, or from the Sheraton's Cliff Dive Bar & Grill, which the resort recommends for its live music, hula and narration.
Crowds gather on the sand and around the Sheraton's grounds before sunset, so come early for a clear view of the point. If you are staying elsewhere in Ka'anapali, the flat beach walk is the easiest way there.
Can you see the cliff dive from the Maui Nui Luau?
Usually yes: the luau's lawn faces Black Rock, and its Viator listing includes the cliff diver, weather and ocean conditions permitting.
Luau check-in is usually around 5 PM, so the dive falls during the pre-show or dinner, with the fire-knife finale after dark. Seating, parking and timing are in the Maui Nui Luau guide.
See the cliff dive, the imu and the fire knives in one evening on the Black Rock lawn.
Explore the Maui Nui Luau at Black RockIs the Black Rock cliff dive free?
Yes: it is a public ceremony that costs nothing to watch.
You only pay if you watch with dinner or drinks, at the Cliff Dive Bar & Grill or from the luau next door.
Does the cliff dive happen every night?
It is scheduled every evening, but it does not go ahead in bad weather or rough seas.
Some older articles list only a few nights a week; the Sheraton's own page now describes the ceremony as every evening at sunset. On a stormy evening, treat it as a bonus rather than a promise.
Plan a Black Rock sunset with dinner and a show. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Check dates for the Maui Nui Luau at Black RockWhat else is there to do around Black Rock?
Snorkel it in the morning: Black Rock is one of Maui's best easy snorkels, off the Sheraton's point.
Whalers Village, a short walk south along the beach, has shops and restaurants and is where the Ka'anapali sunset sails board. If you would rather watch the sunset from the water, see luau or sunset cruise.
Frequently asked questions
How long is the Black Rock cliff dive?
About ten minutes, from the torch lighting to the leap.
Is the Black Rock cliff dive cancelled in bad weather?
Yes. It takes place every evening at sunset, but not in inclement weather or rough seas.
What is Pu'u Keka'a?
The Hawaiian name for Black Rock, the lava point at the north end of Ka'anapali Beach, and a leina, a place where souls leapt into the afterlife.
Where can I watch the cliff dive with dinner?
At the Sheraton's Cliff Dive Bar & Grill, or from the Maui Nui Luau's lawn, which faces the rock.
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Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.
Maui Nui Luau at Black Rock
- Fresh flower lei (or substitute) on arrival
- Imu ceremony and kalua pig from the earth oven
- Self-service Hawaiian buffet; alcoholic drinks for guests 21+
Myths of Maui Luau
- Shell lei greeting
- Cocktails, beer, wine and soft drinks
- Imu ceremony and all-you-can-eat buffet, plus a keiki buffet
