Feast at Lele

The judgement of authenticity has no place in deciding whether you should attend a Luau in Hawaii. It’s touristy, but it fulfills your childhood notion of what visiting Hawaii is all about. The only decision that needs to be made is which Luau you’re going to spend an evening at. We chose the Feast at Lele, on Maui’s West shore in Lahaina, and weren’t disappointed.

The evening starts by having leis placed around your necks as you arrive. This is THE mythical experience of Hawaiian tourism, and denying yourself the enjoyment of the novelty would be treasonous.

We were guided to our seats, mini-parasoled fruit drinks in hand, provided with island appetizers, and given a rundown of the various courses to be served. The main attraction of this Luau is the multi-course meal, featuring entertainment and dishes from various Island cultures, including Hawaii, New Zealand, Tahiti and Samoa.

Beginning with a sunset Hawaiian dance, the night alternated between generous portions of food (including the famous pork roasted in a traditional underground oven), and song and dance. The night culminated with a high energy Samoan fire knife dance set against the, by then, dark night sky bringing a finale to the Luau. - Alex