It’s definitely a splurge, and one of the more expensive meals. Bring a light jacket too, even though you’re sort of indoors, it’s open-air.

First, the setting at the Ritz-Carlton’s Pavilion is gorgeous. Being in Kapalua, we were worried about rain (we’d been watching the weather all week), but the covered venue gave us peace of mind. We went for the Ali’i Premium Seats, which I highly recommend – the front-row views of the fire dancers and aerial performances were incredible, and the early entry meant we got first dibs at the amazing poke station.

The blend of traditional and contemporary elements kept our teenagers engaged the whole time (no cellphone geekery here!) The costumes were stunning, and the live chanting gave us chicken skin (that’s what they call goosebumps here!).

The roasted pig was delicious (yet a little freaky as it was cooked whole), but what really impressed us were the dishes like the macadamia nut-crusted fish and those Asian-braised short ribs. Even the sides were tasty.

No watered-down drinks here. Their Mai Tai rivals any we’ve had on the island, and my wife loved the Blue Hawaiians made with Tito’s.

Yes, it’s not cheap. But considering the quality of food, premium drinks, and the entertainment, we felt it was money well spent. Other than spending money, my only gripe is that it’s only twice a week. Would have liked more availability.

Tip: Book the Ali’i seating if you can, and arrive right at check-in time to make the most of the pre-show cultural activities. Also, book it well ahead of time, since it’s only twice a week.