Best Places for West Maui Nightlife - Lahaina and Kaanapali
October 9, 2019
#1 Check out the Lahaina Friday Town Party
When on the beautiful Valley Isle, there are so many things to do! One of the best things to experience are the Maui Friday Town Parties. Hosted by the County of Maui, and local community members, Maui Friday Party events are always fun. Lahaina Friday Town Party’s happen every 2nd Friday of the month.
At the Lahaina Friday Town Party, guests can enjoy local Hawaiian music, local food vendors, lots of art events, non-profit and education booths, Maui made vendors, keiki (kids) activities like games, face painting, dancing, and more. Events take place on Front Street and at the Historic Banyan Tree Park.
Visitors and residents can look forward to a family-friendly evening of events and activities. No event is like another, and there’s always surprises and special events in store. Depending on the season, attendees can also look forward to holiday celebrations.
Maui Friday Town Parties are a great way to explore all the incredible and unique attributes of Maui’s community. Savor the moment and enjoy the day!
Learn more about Maui Friday’s here.
#2 Learn More About Hawaiian Culture at the Old Lahaina Luau
The Old Lahaina Luau is not just one of the most popular things to do in Lahaina, but it’s one of the most legendary things to do in all of Maui!
On the Valley Isle, there are quite a few options when considering booking a luau on Maui. The Old Lahaina Luau is classic, authentic, the food is traditional luau-style, and the show is perfect for those that are experiencing a Hawaiian-style luau for the first time.
At the Old Lahaina Luau, guests can expect a traditional luau experience with a fresh flower or shell lei greeting, a welcome Mai Tai or tropical punch, keiki (kids) games and activities, the blow of a conch shell, and a traditional Imu Ceremony. A Hawaiian ‘Imu Ceremony’ is the unearthing of a pig that’s cooked in an underground oven. The meat is the highlight and main entree of the cuisine for the night, and is accompanied by an array of Polynesian luau-style dishes; lomi lomi salmon, purple Molokai sweet potatoes, lau lau, chicken long rice, squid luau (if you’re lucky!), Hawaiian sweet rolls, coconut haupia, and so much more.
In regards to the show, The Old Lahaina Luau never disappoints. Guests can look forward to learning more about the Polynesian voyagers, see Hawaiian hula, learn how to dance hula on stage, and witness a host of Polynesian-style entertainment.
Learn more about the Old Lahaina Luau here.
#3 Discover Warren & Annabelle’s Magic Show
Warren & Annabelle’s Magic Show is one of the most infamous stage shows in all of the Hawaiian Islands. At the show, guests enjoy sleight-of-hand and close-up magic with Warren Gibson. There’s always surprises in store, hilarious comedy routines, and audience participation. There’s even a ghost named Annabelle!
Warren & Annabelle’s is a great event for all Maui visitors (21 and over), and guests can choose from a variety of ticket options. There are two seatings per evening (5-9pm & 7:30-11:30pm), and an optional upgrade to the “Royal Flush Package.”
The Royal Flush Package includes a combination platter of gourmet appetizers (filling enough to be dinner), a homemade dessert, two premium cocktails, and gratuity included.
Learn more about Warren & Annabelle’s here.
#4 Enjoy Dinner & a Maui Mule at Lahaina Grill
The Lahaina Grill has been a West Maui restaurant institution since 1990. It’s an award-winning contemporary bistro where foodies enjoy a chef-prepared menu full of locally sourced ingredients.
Lahaina Grill is open for dinner nightly. Make sure to make reservations ahead of time, because seats fill up fast. In the evening, the restaurant is low-lit and romantic – a perfect destination to celebrate a birthday, anniversary, or date night with a loved one.
The bistro-style menu is organized by Appetizers, Soups & Salads, From the Sea, Vegetarian, From the Farm, Desserts, and Libations. Show-stopping menu options include the Seared Ahi & Hudson Valley Foie Gras, Wagyu Beef Ravioli, Maui Onion Soup, Golden & Red Beet Salad, Kona Coffee Roasted Rack of Lamb, Surf & Turf, Sautéed Local Mahi Mahi, and the Porcini- Portabello Mushroom Ravioli.
Lahaina Grill also has an award-winning cocktail menu! They’re world famous for their Maui Mule which is and island-style take on a traditional Moscow Mule. Created by a mixologist, the Maui Mule is made with local Ocean Vodka, fresh lime, ginger liqueur, Maui Brewing Co. Ginger Beer, and crystalized ginger in a traditional copper cup.
Learn more about the Lahaina Grill here.
#5 Book a Sunset Cruise from Lahaina Harbor
One of the most incredible ways to experience West Maui is on the sea! Departing from Lahaina Harbor, guests can enjoy a variety of sunset dinner cruises and sunset cocktail cruises. On a sunset dinner cruise, guests board a stable vessel before sunset, enjoy appetizers, live music, a freshly catered dinner, cocktails, and a magical Maui sunset.
Aboard a Maui sunset cruise, guests can relax, breathe in fresh air, and decompress with fantastic island views. From an ocean vessel, guests can marvel in West Maui coastal views with a glass of champagne in hand.
Sunset cruises that depart from Lahaina Harbor can be found through a variety of tour companies including Quicksilver, the Maui Princess, Trilogy, Pacific Whale Foundation, and more.
Learn more about Lahaina Harbor here.
#6 Catch a Show at Fleetwood’s on Front Street
Fleetwood’s on Front Street is owned by Mick Fleetwood, an incredible musician and the drummer from Fleetwood Mac. Located on Front Street, it’s an awesome place to go for lunch, dinner, happy hour, late night cocktails, and daily live music.
Fleetwood’s is a classically designed restaurant and venue space with indoor and outdoor seating on their rooftop. On any day of the week, visitors can enjoy a variety of live musicians during happy hour, or plan ahead to book tickets for dinner and a show near their main stage.
Guests can plan a visit to Fleetwood’s ahead of time by booking tickets to a variety of concerts and events on their website. Fleetwood’s plays home to both visiting and local musicians, and offers an array of amazing music festivals and holiday events throughout the year.
You never know who you’ll see on stage at Fleetwood’s! If you’re lucky, you may even get to hear and see Mick Fleetwood himself on the drum stool!
Learn more about Fleetwood’s on Front Street here.
#7 Go Dancing & Enjoy Live Entertainment at The Dirty Monkey
The Dirty Monkey is located on Front Street in Historic Lahaina Town. Throughout the week, this West Maui hot spot offers a variety of West Maui nightlife events and shows.
Recently voted as “The Best Place to Dance in Maui” by MauiTime Weekly readers, the ‘Monkey’ is where Maui visitors and residents find late night fun. During the day, guests can enjoy sports games, lunch with a Front Street view, games, and more. In the evening, visitors can participate in karaoke nights, enjoy comedy shows, dance performances, and a variety or local and visiting DJ’s.
Make sure to head to their website and see who’s performing while you’re on Maui. One thing is for sure– if you’re jonesing for a fun night of dancing and meeting new friends, The Dirty Monkey has you covered!
Learn more about The Dirty Monkey here.
#8 Visit Whalers Village for Shopping & Events
The Whalers Village Shopping Center is located oceanfront in Ka’anapali. If you want to enjoy the beach, shopping, restaurants, and Hawaiian culture events, all is possible at Whalers Village!
Whalers Village is a two-story outdoor shopping mall that features a selection of contemporary, on-trend, fashion, surf, and luxury brands. Guests can also find coffee shops, organic cafe’s, a food court, and sit down restaurants like Monkeypod Kitchen, Hula Grill, and Leilani’s on the Beach.
Throughout the week, visitors can also enjoy family-friendly events at Whalers Village. They have a children’s play area, free movie nights, and Hawaiian culture events like basket weaving, lei-making, live hula, and more.
Learn more about Whalers Village here.
#9 Visit Art Galleries on Front Street
When visiting Historic Lahaina Town, the first thing you’ll notice is that Front Street is fully decorated with a variety of art galleries. Visiting Lahaina’s many galleries is a Maui activity of its own rite, and a great way to explore Maui’s local community.
Art galleries on Front Street consist of world-renowned painters, sculpture artists, Hawaiian arts and crafts, photography, jewelers, glass art, and so much more.
Every Friday night is Art Night in Lahaina, so make sure to plan ahead to stroll the galleries, meet artists, and enjoy refreshments in Lahaina’s most engaging art galleries.
List of Top 10 Lahaina Art Galleries:
Andrew Shoemaker Fine Art Photography
#10 Consider Getting a Tattoo in Historic Lahaina Town
Perhaps the most ultimate Maui souvenir is to get a tattoo! Compared to larger vacation destinations and the major cities of the world, you’ll be happy to know that Maui is actually home to a huge array of world famous tattoo artists. It’s pretty incredible.
Depending on your style and your tattoo desires, there’s a Maui tattoo artist that can definitely do the job well. Each artist is talented and unique in their own way, and prospective clients can choose from popular Maui tattoo designs like turtles, plumerias, Polynesian tribal, custom pieces, and more.
If you’d like to get a tattoo in Lahaina, we suggest that you research the artists and book appointments ahead of time. One last tip – book your appointment for the day before you leave Maui! After a tattoo, you cannot go into the ocean for a couple of weeks, and you definitely want to make sure that you don’t limit yourself while enjoying the beautiful Island of Maui. For those who’d like a less permanent version, you can also find Henna tattoo artists in Lahaina.
List of Top Tattoo Shops in Lahaina:
For more information about our recommendations of things to do in Maui, visit more of our articles on the Maui Resort Rentals Blog.