Booking choice: The Maui Nui Luau at Black Rock, from $218 per person. Check dates Compare the options below
The Maui Nui Luau is produced by Tihati Productions on the Sheraton Maui's lawn at Black Rock, Pu'u Keka'a, the lava point at the north end of Ka'anapali Beach. Viator lists it as the Kaanapali Sunset Luau: it is the same event.
According to the Sheraton it runs three nights a week, and the listing warns it can sell out weeks in advance, so check your dates before you plan the rest of the trip.
The quick answer
A three-hour oceanfront luau at the Sheraton Maui, from $218 on Viator with free cancellation up to 24 hours before. It includes a flower lei (or substitute), the imu ceremony, an all-you-can-eat buffet with alcoholic drinks for guests 21+, and Tihati's Maui Nui show ending in fire knives. Pay for VIP seating if the show matters: guests at the back report struggling to hear.
What is included in the Maui Nui Luau?
A lei, the imu ceremony, a self-service Hawaiian buffet with alcoholic drinks for 21+, live music and the Maui Nui show.
- Fresh flower lei, or a substitute when flowers are short
- Live Hawaiian music and on-stage demonstrations
- Kalua pig cooked in the imu on the luau grounds
- All-you-can-eat, self-service buffet; alcoholic drinks for guests 21 and over
- Tihati Productions' Maui Nui show with a fire-knife finale
- Special festive menus on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve
Everything above is in the standard ticket. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Check dates for the Maui Nui Luau at Black RockIs the Kaanapali Sunset Luau the same as the Maui Nui Luau?
Yes: Kaanapali Sunset Luau is how Viator lists the Maui Nui Luau at the Sheraton Maui, not a separate luau.
The same producer, Tihati, also stages Te Au Moana in Wailea, which is why the two feel related. Compare Maui Nui with its three Ka'anapali neighbours in the best Ka'anapali luau.
What happens in the Maui Nui show?
A journey across Polynesia in chant, story, song and dance, from Hawaii to Fiji and Samoa, with fast Tahitian dance and a Samoan fire-knife finale after dark.
Traditional Hawaiian dances include the tale of Princess Kalua. Most guests call the show entertaining and the staff friendly; a few found it predictable for the price, so come for the setting and the atmosphere as much as the choreography.
Is VIP seating worth it at Maui Nui?
Yes, if the show matters: VIP puts you in the first or second row and first in line for the buffet, while guests at the back report they could barely hear.
The luau sells two tiers, VIP and standard, and standard tables fill from the back. Guests who paid for preferred seats call it "totally worth it"; one standard guest placed at the back said there was "no way to hear hardly anything". For a family on a budget, standard is fine if you arrive at check-in and accept a longer view of the stage.
Choose the VIP option at checkout for the front rows and first place in the buffet line.
Explore the Maui Nui Luau at Black RockWhat time does the Maui Nui Luau start?
Check-in is usually around 5 PM and the evening lasts about three hours; exact times move with the sunset and are texted to you two days before.
Give a mobile number that can receive texts when you book: your table assignment and check-in time arrive by text. West Maui sunsets fall between roughly 5:45 PM in early winter and 7:15 PM in early summer, so you watch the sun set during the pre-show or dinner and the fire knives after dark.
Where do you park for the Maui Nui Luau?
In the Sheraton's structure: self-parking is free once the luau's QR code is scanned at the luau grounds, and valet is $20 with validation.
The luau is at the Sheraton Maui Resort & Spa, 2605 Ka'anapali Parkway. If you are staying elsewhere in Ka'anapali, walk the beach path instead. The venue is wheelchair and stroller accessible, and infant seats are available.
Close to Black Rock already? Check dates for your stay.
Check dates for the Maui Nui Luau at Black RockCan you see the Black Rock cliff dive from the luau?
Usually, yes: the listing includes the cliff diver at Black Rock, weather and ocean conditions permitting.
At sunset a diver lights torches along Pu'u Keka'a and leaps into the sea, and the lawn faces the rock. More on the ceremony and its history in the Black Rock cliff dive guide.
Is the Maui Nui Luau worth the price?
For most first-timers, yes: it has the best setting on Ka'anapali Beach and the best Ka'anapali rating on Viator, 4.4 from 1,765 reviews.
Guests who were less happy usually sat at the back or expected more than a resort buffet; one couple felt $400+ was too much. If table service matters more than the view, see luau prices for alternatives.
Book early for holiday weeks: the best seats sell first.
Check dates for the Maui Nui Luau at Black RockFrequently asked questions
What is the dress code at the Maui Nui Luau?
Aloha casual. The luau is outdoors, so the listing strongly recommends a hat, sunscreen and sunglasses for the pre-show.
Is the Maui Nui Luau good for kids?
Yes: guests report crafts, temporary tattoos and activities that suit families, and infant seats are available. The show ends after dark.
Can I cancel the Maui Nui Luau?
On Viator you can cancel up to 24 hours before for a full refund.
What if I have food allergies?
Note them when you book: the menu is a self-service buffet and can change without notice.
Ready to book
Choose your luau night
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
Te Au Moana Luau, Wailea
- Luau ticket for your chosen seating
- Three-course Hawaiian meal served tableside
- Fresh flower lei, kukui nut lei or carved necklace
