The Old Lahaina Luau is traditional Hawaiian. It's the place where Maui locals take visitors with the best food and dance on Maui. Grounds open at 6 p.m. in the summer and 5:30 in the winter and there's time to stroll about and check traditional Hawaiian crafts. There's a choice of sitting on mats on the ground at low Japanese-height tables or those closer to the dancing, and tables and chairs on a slightly raised platform.

Food runs to the traditional Kalua Pua'a pig, but adds steak, guava chicken, chicken long rice, mahi-mahi and more. Ahi poke, a marinated raw tuna, Lomi Lomi Salmon that's fish mixed with onions and tomato, several kinds of bread, Haupia pudding and cake, the best pineapple upside down cake anywhere and, for fans of library paste, poi.

Entertainment starts with the Ote'a with traditional hula as performed by the early migrants to the islands. Kahiko is the ancient hula with chants and rhythms beaten out with sticks and stones. The missionary period offers a special tribute to King Kalakaua; aside from snapping up whatever the Hawaiians put down, Missionaries enriched Hawaii with their Hawaiian translation of the Bible's 7th command as, 'Thou shalt not make love mischievously.' Auana, the modern hula completes the story of the evolution of hula and serves as a painless introduction to the history of Hawaii. At $72 for adults and $40 for kids 2 to 12 this is a very good value for adults and older kids.

Note: You need to reserve at least two weeks ahead for the seven nights a week show, and several months ahead for holidays and December weekends.