As Hawaii relaunched tourism in October with its Safe Travels Covid-19 testing programs, one of the trickiest roadblocks to restoring the experience many Hawaii tourists are accustomed to was how to execute luaus.
Prior to the pandemic, most luaus followed similar setups. Big tables arranged around a stage would hold multiple parties, dinners were often served buffet style, and the events often included hands-on activities and audience participation. In other words: Significant changes would be needed if luaus were to continue under social distancing protocols.
After some collaboration and creativity, luaus are now being reintroduced with modifications, and the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa's reconfigured Drums of the Pacific luau is an example of how the shows can go on amid the pandemic.
Drums of the Pacific is operating at roughly 50% of capacity with up to 300 guests permitted on the luau grounds. Additionally, guests staying in rooms perched above the grounds can now purchase a special Luau From Your Lanai package that enables them to enjoy the sights, sounds and flavors of the event from their balconies. Resort staff bring the guests a traditional Hawaiian dinner and cocktails of their choice to their room at the start of the luau as well as two traditional Hawaiian leis and an LED "fireknife" stick to wave and twirl during the show.
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Inside the luau grounds health precautions include socially distanced tables; sanitization of luau grounds, tables, and chairs between performances; plated and served meals; and wellness checks of all staff before each performance.
Instead of 10-person tables with a mix of groups seated together, each party gets its own table. And rather than a buffet meal, every guest is served at their table with a sampler of items including tuna poke, kalua pork and huli huli chicken.
Aspects of the show itself have also had to change to maintain physical distance between guests and the performers.
"For example, [performers] used to bring people up on stage -- maybe someone celebrating a birthday, anniversary or other special occasion -- and teach them a hula dance," general manager Fred Findlen said. "You can't do that anymore, because you have to keep the talent and guests separated. Now, they encourage everyone to stand up at their table and practice the moves. In a way, it's made it more participatory -- instead of a few people being involved, everyone is involved."
The Hyatt Regency Maui is part of a group that formed during the pandemic called Luau Operators Maui, which held regular meetings to discuss the best way to restart luau's under state and federal health guidelines.
"We got together so we could brainstorm what we needed to do to reopen and do it in a safe fashion," Findlen said. "It was a thorough process of looking at the numbers we needed to be successful and working with the mayor and governor. We developed a series of protocols including distancing within the luau complex itself and several other elements."
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As they got set to relaunch Drums of the Pacific, the Hyatt Regency Maui marketing and sales team developed the Luau From Your Lanai idea as a way to offer the performance to people who were still not comfortable spending three hours in a large gathering.
"There's about 50 to 60 rooms that have a good view of the luau, and guests can request one of those rooms when booking if they're interested in the experience," Findlen said.
The Hyatt Regency Maui wrapped up a five-year, multistage renovation in 2020 that concluded with overhauls of the accommodations, including new furniture, technology, fixtures and amenities. The old metal railings on the guestroom balconies were swapped for new glass barriers that reduce obstructions to viewing the luau and landscape. The lobby was also renovated for the first time in the property's 40-year history, and the landscaping was redesigned for more walkways and spaces for socializing.
The Drums of the Pacific luau runs every Wednesday and Sunday, and Findlen said more days can be added as occupancy grows coming out of the pandemic. The show includes chants, songs, dances and other acts that share traditions and history of Hawaii and other Polynesian islands. The grand finale is a three-man Samoan-style fireknife performance.
Some of the changes to the luau have already proven effective and are likely to stick around even after the pandemic precautions have faded away.
"[Table service] may be our future, it has worked out so well with the luau," Findlen said. "The last eight to 10 months we've been learning a lot as we put different protocols in place. It turns out the table service has been a good way for conducting the luau dinners. It's more efficient in some ways because people don't have to get up and wait in line at the buffet."