Maui Luau: A Photo Essay from the Royal Lahaina Resort.

I’m happy to admit that I got leid on more than one occasion in Maui, and I still remember each time vividly.

I don’t want to bore you with all the details from my Hawaiian conquests; even though, my very first lei at Wailea Villas was pretty spectacular.) So, I’ll limit my tale to the 90 glorious minutes following my final lei at the Royal Lahaina Resort, where we attended a traditional luau at Kaanapali Beach.

Prior to this luau, I had only seen the traditional Polynesian celebration on TV shows, like The Brady Bunch and Full House, so I was excited to get a firsthand view of one of Maui’s longest running luaus.

The atmosphere at the Royal Lahaina Luau was even more electric than I’d imagined. People of all ages gathered at long German beer hall-style tables in front of the stage, which gave us a chance to mingle with our neighbors as we sipped colorful cocktails. Now some people may like a cigarette after a lei, but I’m hear to tell you that a good Mai Tai is the way to go. And the Mai Tais at the Royal Lahaina Luau were the most delicious I’ve ever had. Better yet, while sipping my complimentary cocktails (the luau features an open bar), I kept catching smells of the kaulu pig roasting in the imu, a traditional underground oven made of rock and sand, that would soon take its place among the smorgasbord of delights, which included lomi lomi salmon and haupia–a traditional Hawaiian desert with coconut milk-base.

From the moment the conch shell sounded at sunset, we were treated to an evening of stellar performances showcasing the myths and stories of Polynesia. The show, which featured just the right amount of audience participation, burned bright all the way up to the fire dance finale. Beth put together some of her favorite photos from the evening, so you can enjoy the luau from the comfort of your home or cubicle.

Have you ever been to a luau?

*While we were hosted by the Royal Lahaina Resort, our thoughts and opinions are entirely our own.

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*Please remember all photos on this website, unless otherwise noted, are copyrighted and property of Beers and Beans Travel Website & Bethany Salvon. Please do not use them without my permission. If you do want to use one of them please contact me first. Thanks!