Smith's Family Garden Luau - Kauai's Most Famous Luau & Fire Knife Dancing Show
Overall Rating
4.64
Spectacular Show
Reviewed by: SCarolina, 2020/02/11My husband and I came to Kauai for my 50th birthday. This show was truly the highlight of our entire trip. It was worth every dime. This show provides a true Hawaiian experience from the food, the show, tour of the property, and the fern grotto river tour.
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Activity Date: | 2020/01/13 |
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Beautiful grounds
Reviewed by: Sherri , 2019/12/14Very entertaining. The seating during the show were very uncomfortable, however.
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Activity Date: | 2019/11/20 |
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Fun Kauai Luau
Reviewed by: DrJPaulWede, 2019/12/01My wife and I had a fun and entertaining experience at the Smith Family Luau. Transportation by bus was prompt from the Nawiliwili cruise pier. We were greeted with shell leis and had a quick tram tour of the gardens. My wife absolutely loved taking photos of the gardens flora. After the tram ride we watched the roasted pig be unearthed from the underground cooking pit. Then we went to the large pavilion where pre-dinner cocktails were served. I saw the crowd and said to myself “oh brother”, but the bartenders had a system set up that made the lines move quickly and getting drinks was no problem. We we called up by tables for the buffet, which also moved quickly, and the authentic Hawaiian fare was delicious! During this time we were entertained with Hawaiian music and dance. After the delicious food and drink, we walked over to the amphitheater to view the evening dance entertainment. As it was well after dark, the stage was lit and had a live band playing most of the dance numbers. We were treated to native Hawaiian, Tahitian, Philippine, Japanese, and Maori dances. After the show, we made our way to the buses and back to the pier. The entire experience took about 4 hours.
Recommendations include wearing bug spray, especially for the outdoor show, and if you would like a leisurely, extensive tour of the gardens, get there before 5 o’clock, to beat the crowds and the sunset.
I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Veltra. When we got to the site, the operators mistakenly charged us for transportation, which had already been paid in the original purchase. As we were a “captive audience” at the time, I went ahead and paid it again, and would sort it out later. The next day, I received an email from Veltra stating that they caught the error, and would refund the amount to my credit card. A few days later, I received the credited amount. I didn’t have to lift a finger. Now that’s proactive customer service!
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Activity Date: | 2019/11/04 |
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Beautiful experience
Reviewed by: Irene M, 2019/11/09We were originally not going to attend a luau but decided last minute to do so as this was recommended by locals as a must do experience. The family and staff were wonderful, absolutely loved talking to the Aunties. The food was good with a variety to choose from. The show incorporated different dances representing the different backgrounds in Hawaiian culture in addition to the Polynesian beginnings. The gardens were beautiful. Definitely recommend this luau as you get not just food and a show but a chance to walk through the gardens with a tram tour to start and also to talk to the friendly staff. They all have such wonderful stories and experiences to share!
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Activity Date: | 2019/10/18 |
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Fabulous Luau on Kauai
Reviewed by: Kim in PA , 2019/11/09Our only opportunity for a Luau was on Kauai when our ship overnighted. This was an excellent choice. Optional transportation from cruise ship, be prepared for long lines, was a great add on. You arrive in plenty of time to explore all the gardens with time to spare before the Imu Ceremony. Lots of time to find a seat in the pavilion before your table is invited to the buffet line. After you are done eating, make your way to the theater to get a good seat for the show. It's a good show, but goes on a bit too long. Make your way back to the parking lot to board your bus for the short ride back to the cruise terminal.
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Activity Date: | 2019/10/30 |
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Great night full of delicious food and a fun show
Reviewed by: Ashton, 2019/09/25The gardens here are so beautiful and I loved getting the time to be able to walk around at our own pace after taking the tram around before the events started. Getting to see the Imu ceremony was one of the best parts to me, it was very neat to be able to see how they cook the pig! The food was delicious and they had a nice variety to choose from and the fire knife portion of the show was amazing! We had a great time.
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| Attended as: | Friends |
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Best Luau!
Reviewed by: MikeC, 2019/09/08This was our third time attending the Smith Luau.
The whole venue/event is first class starting with the tour of the beautiful grounds and gardens.
That is followed by the ceremony of removing the pig from the cooking pit and the history surrounding that.
After a short break, its time for the luau buffet which has incredible salads, pork, chicken, etc... and an open bar with a nice selection of drinks available and their mai tais, of course.
During the buffet, there is live entertainment on a stage for all to see. If you're lucky, Kameka Smith will be there and he is very entertaining and has a pretty darn good voice.
After the buffet, everyone walks to an outdoor stage and is treated to an hour plus long theatrical production featuring fire, drummers, dancers, live music and a historical narration of the origins and history surrounding Hawaii. The show alone is worth going for, but throw in the gardens, the delicious food, constant entertainment and its the BEST.
PS - Don't forget to say hello to Auntie Cecilia. She met Elvis 4 times!
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Activity Date: | 2019/08/30 |
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Smith's Family Luau
Reviewed by: Judy, 2019/09/01The entire evening was so great because we had time to relax on the beautiful grounds and take pictures before dinner. The dinner was first class with so much food. The employees were so attentive and spoke to us often. The entertainment is of course very professional. This is a treasure to have these traditions kept alive. Thank you so much. We were sad when it ended.
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| Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
| Activity Date: | 2019/08/28 |
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Amazing!
Reviewed by: Dee, 2019/08/25The food was delicious but very little time to eat! We were seated in a table where we were the last to be fed which was ok but thought they would give us more time to eat & drink. The garden is beautiful and enjoyable! The Smith's Luau was a great choice.
The Show was great too!
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| Attended as: | Families |
| Activity Date: | 2019/07/30 |
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Amazing!!!
Reviewed by: Bethany Matlock, 2019/08/11This was such a great time!! Awesome food!! Awesome show!!! Just an all around perfect time. We will for sure come again and recommend to everyone we know. The family is very hospitable and professional. Thank you for letting us be a part of your family. Mahalo!!!
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Activity Date: | 2019/08/08 |
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Fun had by all!
Reviewed by: Virginia / Missouri, 2019/08/04Greeted with Aloha and smiles.
We have been many times to this luau. We enjoy it every time. Food is good, and if you don’t get full it’s your fault. Plenty of alcohol too. Every thing included in price. You learn a little history at the show.
The Smith family is very attentive. They are the definition of Aloha!
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| Attended as: | Friends |
| Activity Date: | 2019/07/12 |
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Wonderful experience!
Reviewed by: Natalia, 2019/08/04Beautiful property, wonderful food, and a very entertaining show.
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Activity Date: | 2019/08/01 |
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A great time!
Reviewed by: Rebecca J, 2019/07/28Our family of four had a great time! Everyone was friendly and helpful. The event lasted 4 hours from start to finish, and is the best luau that we have been to so far. We would definitely go back!
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| Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
| Activity Date: | 2019/07/25 |
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Best Luau ever!
Reviewed by: Karen, 2019/07/21The grounds are amazing at the Smith Family luau! The food are delicious and the after dinner show is awesome, the best luau ever!
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Activity Date: | 2019/07/02 |
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Amazing show
Reviewed by: Ted/Ginger Williams, 2019/07/19Love the food and show. Was disappointed with the garden areas..
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| Attended as: | Friends |
| Activity Date: | 2019/07/16 |
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Smith's Luau
Reviewed by: Tom & Sharron, 2019/07/13This was a return trip and we were not disappointed. The Smith family does a great job on their property, the food is AWESOME, and the entertainment is first class. I would highly recommend you try them out!
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Activity Date: | 2019/07/08 |
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Overall very good experience
Reviewed by: Keawalani , 2019/07/06Nicely organized and fun filled event. Just performance isn’t that high level. Dancers were ok but not really professional level of dancers. Food was good. And overall experience was very good.
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| Attended as: | Families |
| Activity Date: | 2019/07/03 |
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Smith Family Garden Luau with a Toddler
Reviewed by: Patty, 2019/05/09This was a good experience all the way around! Ordering tickets was easy through Veltra. Check in was seamless.
The 10 min tram ride around the beautiful grounds was just long enough to give an overview of the area but not so long that a 3 year old would get bored. They allowed time before dinner to walk around and get the wiggles out. The food was good and they even marked the gluten free dishes. There was another break before the show to run around and use the restrooms (even had a golf cart to transport there & back). The acts were exciting enough, and short enough to keep the toddler entertained and the fire dancer was great! Only drawbacks: cell service almost non-existent (hard to connect with late arrivers), lots of waiting to get in because of the photo line-maybe do it after tram ride).
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| Attended as: | Families |
| Activity Date: | 2019/05/06 |
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Great Family Fun
Reviewed by: Nevin, 2019/04/07The Smiths family luau was very well organized. They took care of all the guest and made you feel very welcomed. The food was very delicious and the show was very well done with incredible dancing and special effects. You not only go there to have a good time, but you learn the history of the island and all it has to offer. I would rate this as a Superior experience.
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| Attended as: | Families with Young Children |
| Activity Date: | 2019/04/04 |
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Best Luau Experience
Reviewed by: Noble, 2019/03/04Our whole party of six was pleasantly surprised by the Smith's Family Garden Luau. We have been to other luaus and this rates as the best so far. The grounds are beautiful! The food and service was excellent! The staff were very friendly. The dinner entertainment was nice and the after dinner show was very good and informative of Hawaiian cultural history.
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Activity Date: | 2019/03/01 |
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Wonderful experience!
Reviewed by: Karri, 2019/02/23This was my first trip to Hawaii and my first Luau. The Smith family did an amazing job. The food was delicious and the show was outstanding. Highly recommend!
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| Attended as: | Solo Travelers |
| Activity Date: | 2019/02/22 |
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Show was wonderful!
Reviewed by: T. G., 2019/01/22The grounds of the Smith Family Luau are beautiful, kept up well. The unearthing of the pig was a great experience. The food, well, it was okay, nothing special. The mai tai's were a funny brown color, not sure what juice was in it. The best part was the show. The music and dancers were amazing! So happy we were able to see it.
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Activity Date: | 2019/01/16 |
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Smith's family luau
Reviewed by: Peggy , 2018/12/03We had a fantastic time at the luau. Delicious food and a fabulous show. This is a must do on Kauai. The gardens are also beautiful and includes a guided tram ride thru them. Great service. Loved the transportation to the luau and home.
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Activity Date: | 2018/11/30 |
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More tribal and fire dancing
Reviewed by: Karen , 2018/10/25The food and staff were excellent. Would like to have seen more of tribal danciing like the Tahiti dance with the drums and the fire danceing .
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Activity Date: | 2018/10/22 |
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Smith Family Luau
Reviewed by: Uma, 2018/09/06Amazing place, hospitality and food!! Enjoyed the spectacular show they had!! Great dancers and ambience!!
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| Attended as: | Solo Travelers |
| Activity Date: | 2018/09/03 |
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Good, but not the best
Reviewed by: Andy, 2018/09/05The food was very good, and the show was good as well. My only real complaint is the time gap between events happening. We arrived and were treated to a tram tour of the botanical gardens, which is fabulous. After that we had approximately 40 minutes before the Imu ceremony where they pull the pig out of the oven. Although we further explored the gardens, there's only so many times you can admire a flower or tree. My wife and I decided to find seats (open seating for parties less than 5), and we choose poorly. The bar doesn't open until after the Imu ceremony, so we weren't able to enjoy a drink (other than water) while we waited. After the Imu ceremony, the band started playing music and the bar opened. Once the buffet started, we realized our poor choice of seats, as we were among the last tables to be signaled for the buffet. At least we had drinks by that time, but the waiting wears on you. The food was good, but once we were finished, there was only the music to listen to. Normally this is an opportunity to talk to the other guests, but the seating arrangement isn't conducive to starting a conversation with strangers.
After another 30 minutes or dead time or so, we moved from the dining area to the theater. The show was entertaining, with traditional dances and music, but it just didn't flow as a story for me. I felt like it was more of a documentary of Hawaiian dance. My wife and I were ready to go when it was over (even before).
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Activity Date: | 2018/08/30 |
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It was a great time!
Reviewed by: TLS, 2018/09/03Very nice and friendly staff. Great food and excellent show.
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| Attended as: | Couples |
| Activity Date: | 2018/08/31 |
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Nice surprise
Reviewed by: Mikaela, 2018/08/29My idea about a Luau was...some food and a little bit of Tahitian dancing on a hotel property...This is what we saw year after year walking on Kaanapali beach - Maui .
Smith Family Garden Luau IT IS TOTALLY DIFFERENT- worth attending. They are very well organized and offer you a unique experience!
1. You get greeted by a local girl and boy who are offering a lei and at this point you get a group picture taken- nice touch- no pressure to buy it,
2.They offer you a tour of the garden and after that you have time to wander by yourself- 50 min- until they do the pork ceremony.
3. You are invited to your table- parties 6 or more have assigned seats- very thoughtful. They have a neat system to invite you to get the food without overcrowding the area. BTW- plenty of good food and drinks.
4. During the meal they entertain you : a little bit of dancing and singing and they invite people from the crowd to teach them how to dance. It was really neat !!
4. After the meal you are invited to an outdoor theater for an 1 hour show. It was A REAL show...lights, music...put together very professional! Enough seats for everyone, you can seethe scene from every seat . At the entrance you can pick up your photos.
I think it is the only Luau worth attending :)
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| Attended as: | Families |
| Activity Date: | 2018/08/08 |
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Best luau ever!!!!
Reviewed by: Jessica Sturholm , 2018/08/04Best luau ever! Food was amazing! Drinks were strong! ❤️
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| Attended as: | Families |
| Activity Date: | 2018/08/01 |
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An authentic Polynesian evening in Kauai
Reviewed by: Darcy, 2018/06/06On our last night on the island, my friend and I went to the Smith's Luau, and it was one of our most memorable times on Kauai. It was not only informative, but entertaining as well. You can tell that this family owned and operative business is run with love and a true appreciation for Hawaiian culture.
The tram ride took us along the huge gardens, and was a great way to get a quick view of the area. I loved that they have a herd of goats! The babies were just so cute! It was also close to where they were doing the imu or underground oven ceremony. Picture time!
The food was plentiful and really tasty. I loved that they had entertainment (music and dancing) while we ate, and the only thing is that I would personally skip the fruit punch. It was just too sweet! But the food, man! I had two full plates and would have had more, but would have ended up rolling out of there.
Our night concluded with some fantastic performances, and although they weren't the most polished, they were filled with sincerity and a love of hula that can't be matched. You can tell that they truly enjoy being on that stage and it is just so moving. Really happy we went :)
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| Attended as: | Friends |
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