The Feast At Lele

I guess if you’ve never been to a great authentic luau, you’d never know the difference. but this one was by far the most commercialized and unauthentic luau I’ve ever been to. (This is my 4^th luau.) For $ 150/​adult and $ 90/​kid, I really expected much better. Plus you have to pay for parking on top of that.
Service: The lady I spoke to on the phone to book the reservation was beyond rude when I made her aware that there was a vegetarian in our party. After speaking with her, she said that they would have a special meal prepared for them. For $ 150, I expected just that. However, once we arrived and the food plates started coming, we were told that «yes, we do see that it was noted on your reservation. I’d be happy to point out the dishes that don’t have any meat.» So the waitress proceeded to point out a salad and brown rice. Really? $ 150 for a salad and brown rice after we were told that a separate balanced meal would be prepared for our vegetarian? Unacceptable.
Environment: It’s right in the middle of a busy plaza. You walk between shops to get there and when you walk in, you see tables that are crammed very close to each other. (So much for an intimate environment.) The table that was given to my party wasn’t nearly big enough for everyone to sit at so we had people cramming into the corners. You’re basically shoulder to shoulder with everyone around you and they’re at least 150+ people there. They had 4 different «meals» come out, all of which were rushed in and off the table as soon as possible. Once the last meal was picked up, they turned off the Hawaiian music and turned the lights on. Seriously? What if we wanted to drink a cup of coffee and visit? It was still very early but everyone was whisked out of the venue.
Food: The food was mediocre at best. Since they are making hundreds of plates in an assembly line in a food kitchen, it’s no surprise that most of the dishes came out cold. They serve tables «family style» where you serve yourself. The drinks were okay but very weak. It would be borderline impossible to get a decent buzz here. (If that’s what you’re after.) You’d be better off going to a small Hawaiian restaurant and getting the good stuff if you’re going specifically for the food.
Show: The show was the best part of this disaster luau. It was up on a tall stage in front of the crowd. The dancers were well rehearsed and changed outfits between each of the 4 meals. We enjoyed watching them! Was it worth the $ 150 just to see the show? Not really. They were fun to watch but at that price, I truly expected the entire experience to be great.
Overall, save your money and go to a smaller and more authentic luau if you’re truly looking for the «real deal.» I never write lengthy reviews but this one merited it.

We loved it! Gorgeous setting, awesome performers, great service. If you aren’t a die hard seafood fan (we’re not) it was a bit of an intense menu. We loved the experience regardless.

This is not your traditional stereotype Luah! It is a trip around the world showing the different
Polynesian traditional dances and the food from those areas. It is all served and unlimited drinks. If you want to really get a feel of the real Hawaii and the connections this is for you. The view is amazing… as well as the show!

Amazing! We came on a recommendation from a family member and we loved it! First, the open bar all night is definitely a plus. The food is great as well. I was worried 5 courses would be too much but they brought a appetizer amount of each island so that you can sample but not make each course a full meal. The dancing and entertainment was wonderful and it was cool to see the difference between all of the island nations that formed Hawaii. Our server was great and he took excellent care of us.

The food and entertainment are great. It’s not overcrowded like other luaus on the island. The live entertainment contains lessons on the island, which is cool. The food is about 4 star, but the service is 5-​star.

Wow. Just wow.
Just kidding, I have more to say than just wow. The service was perfect. It started to rain once we arrived and they repeatedly wiped off our chairs and table and even gave us ponchos. Our waiter (didn’t get his name) was friendly, funny and never let our drinks go empty for more than a few seconds.
The band was probably my favorite part. Not only were they good, but they just seemed to enjoy themselves which made it more fun.
The food was incredible. I was worried I wouldn’t be able to consume five courses, but the portions weren’t so big that we couldn’t just space it out and not feel sick.
Overall, a great evening and absolutely worth the price.

This was a little more expensive than most other area laua’s but well worth it! Live accompanying band was terrific. Staff, dancers and show were awesome. Most of the food was very good which was a pleasant surprise. Open bar with a large drink list. Book well in advance for best seating. We booked 1 ½ months before our trip and were center stage 2^nd row. So glad that we booked here!
Top notch!

Entrance: Very welcoming! We were handed a nice complimentary cocktail (and it was open bar all night) with a welcome Lei! Service and staff was real nice and accommodating!
Food: They handed us what seemed like an appetizer from different islands like Hawaii, Tahiti, Samoa every 15 – 20 minutes. We were starving. And the food was ehhh for the overpriced ticket. Maybe $ 90 a person is more reasonable.
Dancers: I give it 7 out of 10. I’ve seen many Island dancers and from what we paid for the ticket, the performance just wasn’t there. But The Fire dancer took the house down. I give him a 10!
Overall, waiting for the food and dancers, there was just a lot of downtime. I am familiar with the classic Luaus but I wanted to experience The Feast of Lele. Wasn’t impressed by the food and dancers for the price we paid but give it 3 stars for the amazing service. We sat all the way in the back and our waiter was quick on his feet!

Worst seating ever in a restaurant. Almost impossible to see the stage. We were seated at the entrance in the path of every single serving staff.
This is pure greed. If you don’t have decent seating, please just don’t sell tickets.
Regarding the luau itself, it was really nothing to die for. All in all, a dozen dancers.
The food is indeed gourmet style as most other reviews indicate.
The staff however was very friendly. Especially our waiter of the night, Miguel.
Overall though, a pretty bad experience for the price.

My husband wanted to go to a luau when we came to Maui so I did my research on which one would be the best fit for us. We are in our early 30’s, foodies, love downing some cocktails, and are willing to pay a little extra for solid service and surroundings. The Feast at LeLe did all of this and was a great experience for us. We never had an empty glass– the performances were fun and informative as the night takes you to 4 regions that create Hawaii’s heritage — complete with 4 courses of food (WAY TOO MUCH FOOD but their heart was in the right place!). The food was just okay for us but matched with bottomless drinks and our own table we were happy. We wanted a luau experience that was ours– and not ours and a bunch of strangers we would never see again, which is another reason we selected the Feast at LeLe– each party has their own private table and thus you aren’t forced to have small talk with everyone around you. There is full table service so no need to stand in a buffet line or go to the bar for drinks.
The show itself is very educational and the actors are amazing. The fire dance at the end really was something else. And I feel like I got a comprehensive lesson about Hawaii, great entertainment, but still had time to talk to my husband and enjoy our surroundings between sets.
Book in advance– table selection is based on when you made your reservation — I booked our reservation about 3 months in advance and we were in the front row with one of the best views of the stage and all the action.
Bring extra cash for your excellent server as gratuity is not included and everyone works really hard.

I’ve been to many luaus, being that I’m part Samoan, and I have to say the Feast at Lele is by far the best luau I’ve ever been to. Love the shows, the food is amazing… I was so full at the end I couldn’t eat my dessert. For me that is unheard of! Open bar all night and the drinks were also very good! I have nothing negative to say. Even the staff were great! Well worth the price. I would do it all over again, but next time maybe not eat all day in preparation. :)

Feast at Lele was more like a romantic dinner with a luau on the side. It was intimate, yet casual, and super fun. Great for anniversaries, or for families who have been to a luau before, and want something different or more private.
Dinner and a Show:
You are served four courses, and each course corresponds to the show. First is the Hawaiian course, and as you finish eating, the dancers demonstrate the Hawaiian traditional dances. Next is New Zealand, then Tahiti, then Samoa.
The food was wonderful. No poi, which was fine by me!
Probably my only complaint is that I got full halfway through, so I wanted the Tahitian and Samoan courses to come sooner, so I could just enjoy the show. But struggling to eat another bite was still worth it. The courses kept getting better.
The quantity was perfect for us, but the people next to us ordered more of some things. So you can do that if you want.
Drinks:
Let’s cut to the chase. Yes, the drinks are free. And they are delicious. We tried the Lava Flow, which everyone on Unilocal recommends, but be forewarned: it is delicious liquid dessert, and is incredibly filling.
My favorite was the special, which that night was a mojito with mango and ginger. My husband got «samples» (which are just normal sized drinks to me) of Planter’s Punch and the Mai Tai to see which one he liked better. They both won.
Entertainment:
The emcee was wonderful, the dancers were wonderful, and the musicians were wonderful. It really was just a great show the whole way through.
The Service was fantastic. Our server was Randy, and he immediately made us feel like guests of honor.
The Setting was peaceful and beautiful. It got a little chilly because it was windy, but nothing a light sweater didn’t fix. We wondered what would have happened if it rained.
What was also nice about the luau, is you have many opportunities to get up and walk around, take photos on the beach, use the restroom without missing anything, and even buy souvenirs from the artists who make them. There is a lot of «downtime» while you enjoy your meals. I liked this. If you want something faster paced, then this might not be your luau.
This was our only pre-​planned event from this Hawaiian trip, and I’m so glad we went. I would definitely go again.

This was a gorgeous experience. I would recommend this to anyone travelling to this beautiful island.
Please be sure to get there early so you can get some fantastic pictures and some good seating.

This was An excellent luau – right in the beach with amazing entertainment. Our servers were very accommodating and we never wanted for anything. The only reason I gave 4 stars was because I didn’t care for all the food options – my favorite was the pork, ribs, chicken and fish salad. l (and the free flowing drinks) But it was authentic taste of the 4 islands.
I’d definately recommend to anyone visiting here

The performers were good, but the stage and costumes left something to be desired.
The food was terrible. The seafood dishes were either gritty or slimy. We didn’t even touch the last course and left before dessert. The drinks tasted very cheap also (obviously they use well liquor since drinks are unlimited).
Feast at Lele was a complete let down. It was actually a night I was looking forward to.

A great luau for couples since you get your own private table. Come early to take professional photos on the beach with the sunset as your background.
The show was wonderful! They highlighted the different islands of Hawaii, New Zealand, Tahiti and Samoa. For each island, there was a different course that represented each along with a dance. Beautifully done in an intimate location right next to the beach.
The only negative would be the service… it was a bit slow and there was some confusion with our waiter. But overall, the food and drinks were delicious and the show was so much fun to watch! Highly recommend if you are visiting Maui!

This was the luau we decided on for our Maui trip based on advice from friends and Unilocalers. The location was less remote than I imagined and is in a small shopping center. Overall the quality was good. Food was mostly meats and fresh. The wide variety contained courses from different islands that went along with performances. They offered beer and frozen drinks that were a bit on the sweet side. Overall I would recommend it because it was classy and everyone had private tables. We also each got a fresh flower lei.

Amazing! This was by far one of the best experiences I have had. We arrived a little early and enjoyed a complimentary Mai Tai while admiring the ocean view. There were also delicious juice concoctions available.
When they began seating, we each were given a gorgeous purple fresh lei and were escorted to our place– a table for two! We were relived not to be sharing a big table with strangers. The tables are situated in the sand, but we’re very sturdy. It was not awkward at all. Very comfortable.
The servers, hostesses, and drink runners were all phenomenally welcoming and hospitable. While the seating filled in, we walked a few steps down to the water (another drink in hand– unlimited libations included!) to enjoy the sunset. Absolutely stunning. A ukulele trio played happily while guests arrived.
No dietary restrictions, dislikes, or fake gluten allergies for us, by the servers were majorly accommodating for those who do.
There were five fabulous courses, served family style at each individual table. I’m sure that if we had asked, we could have second helpings. The food was served with «coordinating» dance scenes, which were truly beautiful and very fun. Before desert, I skipped down to the beach to put my toes in the water. Ahh… paradise.

This was my first luau and it was AMAZING!
We had originally visited the Old Lahaina Luau to see if we could book tickets. There was none available for that night, nor for the next week. We ended up putting our names on the wait list and started researching other luaus.
The Feast at Lele had a great star rating, so I gave the number a call and checked the availability. The person who answered, Charlene, said there was a last minute cancellation and she had a table she could put our party of four and one baby at.
Charlene was very knowledgeable and understanding. Even though we had already made it clear we for sure wanted the reservation, she made sure to answer any questions we had and also gave an informative run down of the event.
The show started at 6pm and we got there a bit before. They had a greeting of leis and Mai Tais before they seated you at your party’s private table. They do check ID diligently, so make sure you bring yours along.
Our table was in the sand area, all the way to the opposite side of the entrance. This worked out nicely for the parents of the baby in our group. They could pick her up and rock her at the side without obstructing anyone’s view of the stage.
I had avoided the Mai Tai greeting in favor of starting in on the open bars. My favorite drink of the night was the lava flow, which was basically a strawberry piña colada. I also enjoyed the Blue Hawaii. Through tasting the rest of my party members’ drinks, I was able to taste everything but the piña colada with vodka (fine by me!)
The food was all amazing and it was great having the shows and the food switch off in intervals. We explored 5 courses from various regions, but everything that came out was amazing. Even dishes I normally avoid (mushrooms), I tried and enjoyed.
The shows were entertaining, but the fire dancing was most definitely my favorite.
At $ 125 per person, this place was a blast and I definitely felt I got my money worth in the 3+ hours we were there. If you’re looking for a luau, give this place a try!

Oh what a night!
The reviews were so mixed I nearly hesitated to indulge in this feast. Glad we took the advice of our concierge and went for it.
The Feast at Lele is a little removed from the main strip of Lahaina — at the quieter end of Front Street. It’s tucked away in a little office complex/​strip mall which houses galleries, a convenience store among other commercial enterprises. It’s an unassuming façade, so it comes as a welcome surprise to be escorted to the beach front setting of the luau, with its spectacular views of Molokai and Lanai. We were greeted with leis and a choice of beer or Mai Tai.
Once seated at our table, our scintillatingly shirtless server, Miguel, was prompt with delivering a second round of refreshments — let the piña coladas flow! I know they’re the caloric equivalent of peanut-​butter-​coated deep fried pizza, but I am powerless at the sight of those frothy delights.
We were given taro chips and salsa to snack on, but I had been warned to pace myself on the many courses to come, so I only nibbled on a few — tasty though they were.
Shortly thereafter, the Polynesian dance performance began. Dancers swayed to rhythms with the backdrop of a breathtaking Maui sunset. The multitude of courses arrived in sync with each culture portrayed on stage — from ancient New Zealand to Fiji. I enjoyed the Fijian course most as it featured seafood, although I would not recommend the rubbery ceviche.
Everything was run seamlessly — food and drinks arriving in a beautiful barrage of gluttony. All of the senses engaged, entertained and satisfied. Well worth the $ 125 price tag,
The entire well-​oiled production concluded at 9:30.
Would recommend to anyone looking for a special night out in the land of milk and honey… and papayas, mangos, Mai tais, hula, spam…