Page 10) Things to Do in Kauai in 2026 – Tours & Activities

Smiths Family Garden Luau in Kauai - Authentic Hawaiian Dinner & Show

Native dance and history

Reviewed by: Niveen

Great performance by all! Fun evening and wonderful talent.

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Rating:
Packages:	Show Only Package
Attended as:	Families
Posted on:	2022/07/02
Activity Date:	2022/06/15

Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula

Very glad we did this!

Reviewed by: Niveen

Fun cruise exploring the river and history as told by the cruise captain. The walk through the “jungle” leading to the fern grotto was very enjoyable. The cruise back was fun - included song and dance. Recommend!

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Rating:
Packages:	River Cruise Package
Attended as:	Families
Posted on:	2022/07/02
Activity Date:	2022/06/14

Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula

Just book it!

Reviewed by: Kristin Wolf

This was such an enjoyable boat tour! The captain and crew were friendly, funny and talented. The fern grotto was beautiful and the music and hula were so fun! Our kids enjoyed it too!

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Rating:
Packages:	River Cruise Package
Attended as:	Families
Posted on:	2022/07/01
Activity Date:	2022/06/29

Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula

Pleasantly Surprised

Reviewed by: Jamersham

I was pleasantly surprised by this tour. The entertainment was really great! The woman who sang the songs has a great voice and fun banter;) Overall, a very fun affordable experience. Probably my favorite part was when they taught us the hula :)

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Rating:
Packages:	River Cruise Package
Attended as:	Couples
Posted on:	2022/06/27
Activity Date:	2022/06/24

Luau Kalamaku Kauai – Award-Winning Hawaiian Dinner Show with Fire Knife Dance

Not my favorite luau

Reviewed by: Saundra S.

I have attended luau's on two other islands and they were significantly better than this one. The food was subpar and did not include some traditional items I've seen at other luaus like poi. They do have an open bar with limited selections like Mai Tai and Blue Hawaii and local beers. There was no real imu ceremony and you could not view the pig being cooked in the ground like in others. The show was OK but more of a theatrical play centered around a storyline with little about Hawaiian history. We also did the train ride which was also just OK. You see some orchards and a few animals like pigs, cows, and horses. I would not recommend this luau to a friend. We were very disappointed overall.

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Rating:
Packages:	Hawaiian Package: Standard Seating
Attended as:	Families
Posted on:	2022/06/24
Activity Date:	2022/06/21

Luau Kalamaku Kauai – Award-Winning Hawaiian Dinner Show with Fire Knife Dance

A great time

Reviewed by: 10/10

Our entire family enjoyed the luau. We really liked the train ride as well as the fire spinning.

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Rating:
Packages:	Hawaiian Package: Standard Seating
Attended as:	Families
Posted on:	2022/06/23
Activity Date:	2022/06/21

Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula

Boat ride was so relaxing!

Reviewed by: Mary

The tour was so nice and relaxing! Skipper and the rest of the staff was amazing. The waterfall at the end was breathtaking!The walk in to the fall was 10-15mins and along the path are different plants natives to Hawaii. Would definitely do again! Mahalo.

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Rating:
Packages:	River Cruise Package
Attended as:	Families with Young Children
Posted on:	2022/06/19
Activity Date:	2022/06/17

Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula

Loved it!

Reviewed by: Becky

Very friendly staff. Relaxing boat ride with great entertainment. I would highly recommend it.

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Rating:
Packages:	River Cruise Package
Attended as:	Couples
Posted on:	2022/06/16
Activity Date:	2022/06/14

Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula

Nice Relaxing Adventure

Reviewed by: Tim

The Fern Grotto cruise was nice and relaxing, plus the description of sites along way was interesting. we had a couple in our group that was actually married in the Grotto back in the day. Kewl!

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Rating:
Packages:	River Cruise Package
Attended as:	Couples
Posted on:	2022/06/13
Activity Date:	2022/05/20

Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula

Not worth it if you have to get transportation there…

Reviewed by: Nicole & Thomas

The tour was nothing to write home about. The captain had corny jokes; from the boat, you couldn’t see anything but the hau trees that lined the river; once you get to the grotto, it’s a pretty view but you’re 50-100yards from the cave entrance. The family sang but with all the people there, you could barely hear.

The taxi ride from Poipu was $70 each way. Add that to the cost of 2 tickets($60), this tour was not worth $200. Had we been located closer to the harbor, we might have been able to justify the cost.

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Rating:
Packages:	River Cruise Package
Attended as:	Couples
Posted on:	2022/06/12
Activity Date:	2022/06/10

Luau Kalamaku Kauai – Award-Winning Hawaiian Dinner Show with Fire Knife Dance

Cultural Experience

Reviewed by: Kara

Awesome evening full of history and talent!! A lovely show

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Rating:
Packages:	Hawaiian Package: Standard Seating
Attended as:	Families
Posted on:	2022/06/10
Activity Date:	2022/06/10

Scenic Kauai Airplane Tour to Na Pali Coast, Waimea Canyon, and Jurassic Falls

Kauai airplane tour.

Reviewed by: Jennifer

Marcus our pilot was awesome, great views! Highly recommend!

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Rating:
Packages:	Kauai Air Van Airplane Sightseeing Tour
Attended as:	Couples
Posted on:	2022/06/08
Activity Date:	2022/06/04

Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula

River Cruise to Fern Grotto

Reviewed by: Cindy

The experience was okay, and easy for most. The river cruise was relaxing and walk to the Grotto was not strenuous. However, the Fern Grotto was disappointing. It did not look like a "grotto" at all. The musical entertainment was okay but nothing to rave about. Something to do for seniors and children; otherwise, the tour is nothing to be excited about.

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Rating:
Packages:	River Cruise Package
Attended as:	Friends
Posted on:	2022/06/05
Activity Date:	2022/05/09

Smiths Family Garden Luau in Kauai - Authentic Hawaiian Dinner & Show

Best dinner and show ever!

Reviewed by: Moss couple

Food was absolutely delicious both the main courses and the desert not to mention the endless alcoholic beverages and regular drinks host were more than friendly and helpful they were great best time we have had in forever beautiful park very informative and entertaining from the pig pit to the 30 acres of sanctuary tram ride thank you Smith family for the great time I definitely recommend this activity if you visit Kauai !!!!

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Rating:
Packages:	Tropical Paradise Garden Luau Package
Attended as:	Couples
Posted on:	2022/06/05
Activity Date:	2022/06/03

Luau Kalamaku Kauai – Award-Winning Hawaiian Dinner Show with Fire Knife Dance

Fun Experience!

Reviewed by: Kara

Fun and informational! Like watching a play! Cannot recommend it enough.

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Rating:
Packages:	Hawaiian Package: Standard Seating
Attended as:	Families
Posted on:	2022/05/22
Activity Date:	2022/05/20

Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula

Great experience

Reviewed by: Grace

Absolutely beautiful cruise, nice easy walk to grotto. The crew was fantastic, great music and history told throughout the cruise. My elderly mother really enjoyed the cruise.

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Rating:
Packages:	River Cruise Package
Attended as:	Families
Posted on:	2022/05/05
Activity Date:	2022/05/03

Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula

Beautiful grotto with fun entertainment while on the river

Reviewed by: OneHauteMom

This was a fun shorter excursion with a relaxing boat ride to the grotto and live entertainment onboard. A cute experience.

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Rating:
Packages:	River Cruise Package
Attended as:	Families with Young Children
Posted on:	2022/05/03
Activity Date:	2022/03/30

Smiths Family Garden Luau in Kauai - Authentic Hawaiian Dinner & Show

Family oriented and extremely accommodating to dietary needs

Reviewed by: Mama Bear

The manager - Kamika - was the host for the evening and his hospitality was phenomenal. The whole evening was incredibly well thought out and organized. It was very family oriented. I eat a fully plant-based diet and he personally came to our table to inform me of the amazingly unexpected meal accommodations they made JUST for me. The experience was incredible.

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Rating:
Packages:	Tropical Paradise Garden Luau Package
Attended as:	Families with Young Children
Posted on:	2022/05/01
Activity Date:	2022/04/04

Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula

Great family activity

Reviewed by: Hannah

Perfect length to keep young kids entertained, fun captain stories and singing.

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Rating:
Packages:	River Cruise Package
Attended as:	Families with Young Children
Posted on:	2022/04/29
Activity Date:	2022/04/25

Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula

We were here 50 yrs ago on our honeymoon. Not the same but it was still beautiful. Thank you

Reviewed by: OBrien’s

Nice boat ride to the Fern Grotto. Driver & dancers were awesome. The singers were exceptional. They sang the Hawaiian wedding song just like they did for us 50yrs ago on our honeymoon. We weren’t able to go inside as before. But it was still magical all the same. Thank you. Carl & Terri OBrien

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Rating:
Packages:	River Cruise Package
Attended as:	Couples
Posted on:	2022/04/28
Activity Date:	2022/04/26

Luau Kalamaku Kauai – Award-Winning Hawaiian Dinner Show with Fire Knife Dance

Happy family!

Reviewed by: Hannah

This was our first luau ever and it was nothing short of amazing. We did get there late (with toddlers) so we missed the pig roast and the vendors. Open bar and food good. Show and music wonderful.

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Rating:
Packages:	Hawaiian Package: Standard Seating
Attended as:	Families with Young Children
Posted on:	2022/04/25
Activity Date:	2022/04/22

Scenic Kauai Airplane Tour to Na Pali Coast, Waimea Canyon, and Jurassic Falls

Happy family

Reviewed by: Hannah

Marcus was out pilot- he was excellent. We had our toddlers with us and they didn't flinch on getting them and us comfortable with the little airvan (our first time). Great experience for all!!

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Rating:
Packages:	Kauai Air Van Airplane Sightseeing Tour
Attended as:	Families with Young Children
Posted on:	2022/04/25
Activity Date:	2022/04/23

Smiths Family Garden Luau in Kauai - Authentic Hawaiian Dinner & Show

Best Luau show deal around!

Reviewed by: JoseP

We have been to luaus on all four major Hawaiian islands and they are expensive. Traveling with a party of six can be quite expensive. Being able to just purchase tickets for a luau show was very inexpensive and the value was fantastic. Great show we actual stadium style seating. And for the price, this is the best luau show on any of the islands. A short “train” ride from the entrance was also included in the price, which was only $20 per person when we went. Great value!

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Rating:
Packages:	Show Only Package
Attended as:	Families
Posted on:	2022/04/23
Activity Date:	2022/03/30

Smiths Family Garden Luau in Kauai - Authentic Hawaiian Dinner & Show

Better than any other luau we’ve been too!

Reviewed by: Sabra

This was such a good luau! My teens are still ranting and raving over how much better this one was than the others we’ve been too. They really loved all different stories alongside all the different dances. Even our friends kids 5 years and below loved it! The wall in was long- but they offer a tram for anyone who needs it so that’s awesome. I love how the pathway was lit with tiki torches to get you in the mood. This is a show, not really an engaging show where they invite you to the stage so that’s nice to not be put on the spot. I wish they offered booze and drinks for the show but we just did the show portion so maybe it was included in the food part. My 2 year old fell asleep for the show, so maybe if they offered an earlier show like 7pm she would’ve been awake and I would’ve preferred that. Thank you for a great show!

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Rating:
Packages:	Show Only Package
Attended as:	Families with Young Children
Posted on:	2022/04/17
Activity Date:	2022/04/15

Smiths Family Garden Luau in Kauai - Authentic Hawaiian Dinner & Show

Awesome First Experience Luau

Reviewed by: Justin Sousa

I absolutely had no idea what to expect but it was one of the best entertainment venues I’ve ever experienced. The Smith luau family atmosphere was great my family had a great time food was good drinks were good I would totally do it again!

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Rating:
Packages:	Tropical Paradise Garden Luau Package
Attended as:	Families with Young Children
Posted on:	2022/04/16
Activity Date:	2022/04/14

Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula

Rush to get an edge seat!

Reviewed by: Familywithkids

The grotto was beautiful, the dancing and singing was great. The overhead boat speakers were really hard to hear- we couldn't make out the stories they were telling well. If you get stuck in the middle, you can't see anything. Overall, it's not something I'd do more than once.

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Rating:
Packages:	River Cruise Package
Attended as:	Families with Young Children
Posted on:	2022/04/16
Activity Date:	2022/04/14

Smith’s Fern Grotto River Cruise with Live Hawaiian Music & Hula

Smith’s river cruise

Reviewed by: Beverly Kramer

Once again the Smith family didn’t disappoint us with this river cruise. Telling us a little bit about the Smith family and the 5 generations who have worked there. Told us about the plant life on the island. We were treated to a Hawaiian song at the end of our short hike. My 81 year old father had no problems walking this short walk. On the way back to the dock we were given hula lessons and told what each hand gesture meant. Then we all did the luau while the song was being sung. It was awesome!

When we arrived to the island I thought I booked the cruise on the Wednesday but it was on Tuesday. I was called because we weren’t there and told it was no problem and that they would be rescheduled for the Wednesday.

Wonderful experience! I HIGHLY recommend is cruise!

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Rating:
Packages:	River Cruise Package
Attended as:	Families
Posted on:	2022/03/22
Activity Date:	2022/03/15

Smiths Family Garden Luau in Kauai - Authentic Hawaiian Dinner & Show

Luau

Reviewed by: Beverly Kramer

Everything about our evening was perfect. From the beautiful gardens, show, and dinner. When we visit Kauai again we will definitely be going back to see Smith’s luau. We had more enough to eat and were encouraged to go back for seconds. The open bar was great! The Smith family are so friendly and welcoming ❤️