Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
live entertainment every afternoon at the barefoot beach bar, and this is one of the more
popular venues for an afternoon drink and soothing island tunes.
Magic Dinner Theater
The only show in Ka'anapali that isn't a lu'au is the
Kupanaha Magic Dinner Theater
(2525 Ka'anapali Pkwy., 808/262-8450,
www.kupanaha.com
,
4:30pm-7:30pm Mon.-Sat.
evenings, $79 adults, $55 teens, $39 kids), which is a great choice if you want to exper-
ience a hula performance as well as a magic show but only have a single night to do so.
Staged inside the Ka'anapali Beach Hotel, this three-hour show features everything from
tableside magic during the dinner service to an illusionist sawing a lady in half. To add
some cultural flare, the Kupanaha hula dancers chant and dance their way through ancient
Hawaiian lore. You're treated to an authentic cultural performance as well as head-scratch-
ing magic without ever having to leave your seat. In addition to the magic and the hula, the
food is just as good as you would expect at a nice Ka'anapali restaurant, and this show is
a great value for family entertainment considering all that is included.
Lu'aus
There is no shortage of lu'aus to be found along the Ka'anapali strip. While the best lu'au
on the island (Old Lahaina Luau) is in nearby Lahaina, there are four lu'aus in Ka'anapali
for those who would prefer to simply stroll from their resort down to the lu'au grounds.
Also, if the only reason you want to go to a lu'au is for the fire dancing, you'll want to
choose one of the lu'aus here in Ka'anapali for your fire twirling fix. All will feature buf-
fet food mass produced for over 100 people, all will feature local craft artisans, and all
will offer some sort of premium seating for an added price. The premium seating doesn't
make a difference, so you're better off saving the money and sticking with a regular seat.
Also, inquire about exactly what time the show starts, since most schedules vary by about
30 minutes during winter versus summer due to the sun setting at different times. Most,
however, begin at either 5 or 5:30pm. Ka'anapali can experience higher winds and a great-
er likelihood of rain than nearby Lahaina, so the chances of the lu'au needing to be moved
inside or cancelled are higher. Most nights are gorgeous, but if you want to guarantee calm
conditions, you'll have better luck in Lahaina.
Of the numerous lu'aus in Ka'anapali, the best show is the
Wailele Polynesian Luau
(2365 Ka'anapali Pkwy., 808/667-2525,
www.westinmaui.com
) at the Westin Maui resort.
The fire dancers here are the best, and the food is above average when compared to the oth-
er options. Also, the backdrop for the show faces out toward the ocean as opposed to being
hunkered in the corner of a resort. The fast-paced performance weaves a storyline of tales
