What Micky Eats...: Feast at Lele Luau

The Feast at Lele Luau is known as the "Most Romantic Maui Luau" and for "Best Food at a Maui Luau". It is a little more expensive than other Maui luaus at $115 per person and it is worth a good deal more than the extra cost. The Feast at Lele is the only Maui luau where you will be treated to private seating and a truly amazing Polynesian feast. This is a perfect romantic evening in Maui!

Mai Tai and an amazing view!

When we arrived at The Feast at Lele, we were greeted with a kukui nut lei and shown to our own private table, right in the front center. A server soon came around to introduce herself and take our additional drink orders. The Feast at Lele Luau features a full service premium bar for you to choose from as well as coffee, tea, juices and sodas. Sit back, relax and get ready for an incredible romantic evening at a Maui luau. The menu at The Feast of Lele luau differs from all other Maui luaus, as it is a five course gourmet dining experience. Dishes are served directly to your table, eliminating the need for long buffet lines. Each course represents a modern twist on traditional island cuisine as you are treated to four main courses each representing a different island culture.

Our private table with sunset view.

We started off with traditional Polynesian banana, taro and sweet potato chips served with a tropical ginger salsa. The first course includes mango sauce poi, kalua pork, fresh island fish with pohole ferns and heart of palms salad. Traditional music and dance of Hawaii set the mood as the dancers perform authentic auana - the graceful modern hula performed to the accompaniment of songs and Western style musical instruments and hula kahiko - an ancient style of hula performed to the accompaniment of chants and percussion instruments. The fish was good but a little cold and the pork was Keith's favorite. The second course represents New Zealand, punctuated by athletic dances and the Maori culture. (These are the mean looking men with painted faces that stick out their tongues at you!) Women perform poi balls dance to imitate the rhythms of nature. Dishes for this course included sea bean duck salad with poha berry dressing, roasted mushrooms and kuku patties- Maori fishcake with fish, shrimp and scallops. The mushrooms were super flavorful and rich and the fishcakes were very tasty. Tahitian creation chant sets the scene for your third course including steamed chicken and taro leaf in coconut milk, marinated fish similar to ceviche and baked scallop on the shell, another favorite of mine.

During this part of the show, the women dance in elaborate costumes and headresses with drums. The final luau dish represents Samoa, celebrating Flag Day: a Samoan two day festival of food, fun, dancing and singing. We were served supasui, a grilled steak dish that Keith ate with baked breadfruit and a shrimp and avocado accompaniment. For many visitors the highlight of a Maui luau is the amazing Samoan fire knife dance. Brave performers will treat you to death defying feats of astonishing dexterity as they pass the flaming knife through their legs and behind their backs, giving you a perfect send off for an exciting evening!

Finally, dessert was served featuring a caramel macadamia nut tart with haupia coconut pudding, chocolate truffles and tropical fruit. The dessert was a little lackluster in my opinion, but I was so stuffed that I did not mind. All in all, I highly recommend this unique luau experience of the served courses over the traditional buffet for a more romantic and personal Polynesian experience. Service was top notch, location very convenient in downtown Lahaina, and the open bar a super plus.