Responsible tourism: finding authentic lu’au experiences on Maui

A lu’au isn’t just dinner and a show. It’s a sensory experience into Hawaiian culture and a celebration of land, food, and community that goes back centuries. Here’s the story behind the lu’au and how to find the best ones that honor the culture.

From sacred tradition to tourism spectacle

Before the word “lu’au” existed, ancient Hawaiian celebrated major life events with feasts called ‘aha’aina (“gathering for a meal”). They were deeply sacred ceremonies held to honor gods, commemorate victories, celebrate births and marriages, and mark significant achievements. Back then, food was more than sustenance — it was spiritual.

But it’s actually more complicated than that. These feasts operated under the kapu system, a strict set of religious laws that governed everything in Hawaiian life. Men and women were forbidden from eating together. Their food was cooked in separate ovens, and they dined in different structures.

Women couldn’t eat certain sacred foods like pork (the body of the god Lono), most bananas (the body of Kanaloa), coconuts (the body of Ku), or certain fish. They couldn’t even prepare taro, which represented the god Kane and was considered the elder sibling of the Hawaiian people.

All this changed in 1819 when King Kamehameha I died and his son Kamehameha II faced pressure to abolish the oppressive kapu system. Six months into his reign, he did something unheard of: he publicly shared a meal with his mother and his father’s widow, Ka’ahumanu. This single act effectively ended the kapu system.

This feast became known as the first lu’au, named after the young taro leaves cooked in coconut milk that became a signature dish. For the first time, men and women could eat together freely. The tradition began spreading beyond royalty to common people, transforming the sacred ritual into community celebration.

In the 20th century, tourism transformed the lu’au once again. As Hawaii opened to global visitors, the lu’au became a commercial spectacle designed to meet tourist expectations of “exotic” Polynesia. What was once a sacred community gathering became entertainment, complete with buffet lines, scheduled performances, and elements that weren’t even Hawaiian (like fire knife dancing, for instance — that’s actually from Samoa).

Rethinking the lu’au in the era of responsible travel

Responsible travel is a new way of thinking about tourism. Instead of taking from a place (its resources, its culture, its people), the responsible traveler asks: how can I give back? How can I leave a place better than I found it? How can I support local communities and honor their traditions in meaningful ways?

When it comes to lu’au, this can mean choosing experiences that directly support Native Hawaiian communities.

If you’re interested in a lu’au that emphasizes cultural authenticity, look for experiences led by Native Hawaiians, where performers come from local halau (hula schools), where storytelling is done by kupuna (elders), and where food is prepared using traditional methods like the imu oven.

On Maui, Old Lahaina Lu’au has long been recognized for its commitment to authentic Hawaiian culture, featuring traditional foods, hula performances by local dancers, and storytelling that honors the history and meaning behind what you’re experiencing.

These experiences might not have all the flash and spectacle you’re expecting to see at a “typical” lu’au. But what you get is something far more valuable: a real connection to Hawaiian culture, an evening that educates and inspires, and support of the very people whose traditions you’re honoring.

Image credits: mdelaquis, dolanh, terrijane01, tweber1