You might think the temperature is high during the day on Maui, when people are busy surfing, hiking, parasailing, snorkeling or relaxing under the sun, but things heat up here when the sun goes down with live music, dancing, theater and just about any kind of entertainment you’re searching for.

For alternative entertainment, head to Café Mambo upcountry on Thursday nights at 9pm, $5 cover.

WEST MAUI:
The young crowd descends on Front Street in Lahaina to dance after dark, where clubs and bars are close enough together that partygoers can walk between them. Hard Rock Café gets crowded on Monday nights when charismatic reggae supernova Marty Dread takes the stage at 10pm, $10 cover. Down the street Moose McGillycuddy’s is always packed, but Tuesdays the dance floor really fills up and the bar offers dollar drink specials all night, $5 cover. The Lahaina Store Grille & Oyster Bar draws a large and trendy crowd on weekends when DJs spin a mix of top 40s, electronic and 80s music from 10pm until 2am, $10 cover. Downstairs at The Cellar a powerful sound system and professional DJ booth attracts Maui’s electronic music elite.

For those seeking a mellower atmosphere, the Mai Tai Lounge has an open-air lounge where on Friday and Saturday nights from 9pm to 12:30am a local DJ spins the tunes.

If you want to avoid the party scene on Front Street head up north to Sansei’s on Thursdays and Fridays, 10pm to 1am, when deep discounts for fresh sushi and free karaoke consistently draws a large and energetic crowd. Or check out the nearby Alaloa Lounge at the Ritz-Carlton, where live Hawaiian music every night until 11pm sets a comfortable mood for a more mature crowd.

SOUTH MAUI:
There’s no shortage of places to go for drinks, dancing and mingling when the sun sets on Maui’s South Shore. Ocean’s Beach Bar and Grill is a fresh, new venue for DJ music and late-night dancing from 10pm to 2am on weekend nights for a $5 or $10 cover.

Multiple bars make the Kihei Kalama Village, locally dubbed “the Triangle,” a bustling center of activity every night of the week, with multiple late-night venues. Besides a popular sports bar and Irish pub, there’s the South Shore Tiki Lounge, which has a cozy dance floor that fills up every night from 10pm until closing. There’s also the cozy little blues and jazz oasis Ambrosia and the rowdy local rock crowd at Life’s a Beach.

Down the street Lulu’s is popular for salsa music and dancing on Thursday nights and for karaoke on Wednesdays. Locals know Tip-Ups Tavern hosts some of the island’s best DJs.

In Wailea, Mulligan’s on the Blue offers an eclectic mix of folk, jazz and Celtic music for diners to enjoy earlier in the evening and then turns into a dance club for the late crowd. Most Wednesday’s local favorite Willie K entertains the crowd here for $25 cover. Contemporary music fills the air at the outdoor Lobby Lounge in the Four Seasons Resort on Monday, Thursday and Saturday nights.

Regardless of where you end up in South Maui, there’s fun to be found every night.

South Shore Tiki Lounge has a cozy dance floor that fills up every night from 10pm until closing.

CENTRAL MAUI:
The Maui Arts & Cultural Center is the island’s largest venue for concerts and theater performances. Touring bands pack the Castle Theater and reggae festivals occur annually under the stars in the A&B Amphitheater. Before most shows the courtyard outside the theater turns into a center for socializing and dining.

The MACC also hosts Maui Film Festival’s weekly Candlelight Café and Cinema screenings of documentaries and alternative, Academy Award-winning feature films. Live music and dining are available in the courtyard before and after the shows.

At the Iao Theater in Wailuku the Maui Academy of Performing Arts presents four or five full length musical and theater performances each year and Maui’s Bare Essential Theater holds monthly stage readings of popular drama and comedy scripts.

Casual late night entertainment in central Maui is sparse, but your best bets are Café Marc Aurel, an alternative art gallery and wine bar with live music on the weekends and open talent nights on Mondays, or Kahului Ale House for rock and reggae music all week. There’s also live music Thursdays and Fridays at Wow-Wee Maui.

UPCOUNTRY MAUI:
Wednesday is ladies night at Casanova’s in Makawao. This great dance spot attracts international and local musicians every weekend. Another popular spot for local live music is Charley’s in Paia. Around the corner in Paia the swanky, tropical garden setting at Jacques attracts a stylish crowd for DJ dancing every Friday night at 10pm, $10 cover.
For alternative entertainment, head to Café Mambo on Thursday nights at 9pm, $5 cover. The fun and funky little café shows cult-classic movies and serves drinks to a chic, bohemian crowd and dinner is available if you show up a little earlier.