When you are coming to Maui, number one on almost anyone’s bucket list is going to a Luau, but for a variety of reasons, many visitors may be looking to get a similar experience but without the full length or cost of a dinner show.
Whether you are avoiding the costs, finding difficulty in securing reservations, dealing with dietary restrictions or have small children that may not sit or stay awake through a late night experience – we’ve put together a list of Hawaiian cultural activities that are great alternates to a traditional Luau Experience. We’ve organized them by locations around Maui. (There are other resources to find events online, but many of them have not been updated post-fires.) We’ve also included a list of the best museums and cultural centers to further explore the rich culture and natural history of Maui.
West Maui Hula Shows & Hawaiian Cultural Experiences
- Event: Free Cultural Experiences
- Location: Whaler’s Village
- Days & Times:
- Hula Class / Papa Hula – Saturdays, 11am – 12pm
- Ulana Lau Niu / Coconut Frond Weaving – Fridays, 12noon- 1pm
- Ukulele Lessons – Fridays, 10:30am- 11:30am
- Website for More Info: https://www.whalersvillage.com/en/events/
- Event: Free Cultural Experiences
- Location: Lahaina Cannery Mall
- Days & Times:
- Hula Show – Sundays, 1pm-2pm
- Cultural Crafts – Wednesdays, 2:30pm- 3:30pm
- Hula Lessons – Thursdays, 2:30pm – 3:3pm
- Website for More Info: https://lahainacannerymall.com/events/
- Event: Polynesian Dance/ Keiki Hula Show
- Location: Napili Kai Beach Resort, Hale Aloha Pavilion
- Days & Times: Every Tuesday, 5:30-6:30pm
- Details: Don’t miss the Longest Running Keiki Hula Show in Hawaii! The keiki (children) will take you on a tour of Polynesia — from Hawaii to Tahiti to Samoa to New Zealand. Accompanied by a live band and led by Kumu Hula Kathy Ralar, the keiki will help you experience the power of the ancient chants, the beauty of the hand movements and the jovial songs of the Hapa Haole era.
- Tickets: $10 for adults, $5 for children 6-12, and children under 6 are free.
Complimentary for Napili Kai Beach Resort Guests. Purchase tickets at the Show Entrance. Doors open at 5pm - Website for More Info: https://napilikaifoundation.org/show/
South Maui Hula Shows & Hawaiian Cultural Experiences
- Event: Free Cultural Experiences
- Location: Shops at Wailea
- Days & Times:
- Lei Po’o Making – Mondays 230-330pm or Wednesdays 130-230
- Ukulele Lessons – Mondays 530-630 or Fridays 3-4pm
- Coconut Husking – Tuesday 230-330 or Thursdays 430-530
- Papa Hula (Hula Lessons) – Fridays 4-5pm
- Polynesian Show – Tuesdays or Thursdays 530-630
- Website: https://www.theshopsatwailea.com/events/
Central Maui Hula Shows & Hawaiian Cultural Experiences
- Event: Free Polynesian Hula Show
- Location: Queen Kaahumanu Center
- Days & Times: Every 4th Sunday, 1:30-2:30pm
- Details: Celebrate the heart of Hawaii with these graceful dancers and don’t miss their captivating performances at Center Court!
- Website: https://queenkaahumanucenter.com/event/spectacular-polynesian-hula-show/
- Event: Free Hawaiian Music Concerts
- Location: Maui Arts & Cultural Center
- Days & Times: (dates TBD / check website for updates)
- Details: Every year, Maui Arts & Cultural Center pays tribute to the music of Hawai‘i’s culture with the free family-friendly Ki Ho‘alu Guitar Festival and Maui ‘Ukulele Festival.
- The MACC is committed to bringing forth the depth and breadth of authentic Hawaiian artistic experiences.
- Website: https://mauiarts.org/
Hawaiian Museums and Cultural Centers on Maui
If you are still looking for more ways to learn about Hawaiian Culture while you are on Maui, here’s a list of the Museums, Cultural Centers, and other resources :
- Name: Hale Hoikeike (Bailey House) Museum
- Location: 2375A Main Street, Wailuku
- Hours: Monday – Friday 10am – 2pm
- Details: Hale Hōʻikeʻ’ike exhibits a major collection of pre-western contact Hawaiian artifacts. The Maui Historical Society also maintains an Archival Resource Center which includes over 10,000 historic photos as well as maps, manuscripts, genealogy records, historical documents and more than 2,000 objects.
- Cost: Adults $10
- Website: https://mauimuseum.org/
- Name: Sugar Museum
- Location: Mon / Tue / Wed/ Thu – 10am – 2pm (last admission 1pm)
- Details: The Sugar Museum explores 168 years of “King Sugar,” a chapter in Maui’s history that impacted the island’s landscape and multiculturalism. Visitors can peer into this influential time through the exploration of The Geography Room, The Founder’s Room, The Immigration Room, The Plantation Life Room, The Field Work Room, The Mill Room, and outdoor exhibits.
- Cost: Adults $10, Free for age 5 and under, and Kamaaina Free as well.
- Website: https://www.sugarmuseum.com/
- Name: Kepaniwai Park & Historical Gardens
- Location: 870 Iao Valley Road, Wailuku (just below the entrance to Iao State Park
- Details: Kepaniwai Park and Heritage Gardens, adjacent to the Wailuku Stream, is a beautiful public park containing displays that honor the cultures that contributed to modern Maui. Among the interesting structures are an early-Hawaiian hale, a New England–style saltbox, a Portuguese-style villa with gardens, and dwellings from such other cultures as China and the Philippines. The park’s name harkens back to the infamous Battle of Kepaniwai in 1790 between Kamehameha I and Kahekili, king of Maui. Once a site of great turmoil, today the park is a place for rest, reflection, and relaxation.
- Hours: no formal hours found online but probably restricted to daylight hours?
- Cost: Free
- Name: Maui Ocean Center
- Location: 192 Maalaea Road, Wailuku
- Details: Learn about the history, culture, and unique traditions of the ancient Hawaiians. Explore their special connection with the ocean and appreciate the great understanding they exhibited in their care for both land and marine environments.
- Hours: Daily, 9am – 5pm
- Cost: $44.95 for Adults, $34.95 for children
- Website: https://mauioceancenter.com/
- Name: Humpback Whale Sanctuary Visitor Center
- Location: 726 South Kīhei Road Kīhei
- Hours: Monday – Friday, 9:30am – 2:30pm
- Details: Located in Kīhei on the south shore of Maui, the visitor center is an ideal spot to learn about the marine environment and even see humpback whales breaching. This scenic beachfront location at the foot of Haleakalā has views of Kahoʻolawe, Lānaʻi, and West Maui looking across the waters of the sanctuary. The visitor center features exhibits, interactive displays, and weekly programs for the whole family.
- Cost: Free Admission
- Website: https://hawaiihumpbackwhale.noaa.gov/visit/visitor-centers.html
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