The Smith Garden Family Luau is probably one of the most popular luaus on the island. The luau has been taking place for over 50 years and the grounds at Smith's is beautiful.

Book online or use your AAA card at the entrance and save 10% off the $70 entry fee.

Once you enter, get lei'd (we got orchids, not the cheap shell leis), and your family portrait taken, you'll take a tram ride around the gardens where you'll see many indigenous plants and lots of birds - peacocks and the like - (you can buy a ziploc bag of feed for 50 cents to feed the birds). You'll get a picturesque view of the Sleeping Giant. Once the tram ride is over, you hang around the Imu for the Imu ceremony where two strapping young men uncover the tea leaves and rocks and basically excavate the kalua pork that has been cooking in the underground oven all day. One of the Smith’s narrates the whole thing with humor.

Once the ceremony is over it’s off to the buffet area where drinks are served – maitais, punch, well drinks, soda, etc. are available. Once everyone is seated, each table is called to go to the buffet so that it’s not overcrowded. Offerings include kalua pork, mac salad, beef teriyaki, Hawaiian sweet potato (or purple yam), sweet & sour mahi mahi, poi, lomi salmon, fresh fruit, coconut cake, jello, and rice pudding. Guests are serenaded throughout dinner with the house band. Once everyone has eaten their fill it’s off to the amphitheatre area where the show begins.

Unlike the Hiva Pacifika show which is more traditionally Hawaiian, this show features a Japanese fan dance, a Filipino stick dance, and an extremely lame Chinese dragon dance (I’ve seen better at local homegrown functions). Show includes an erupting volcano and other ethnic dances as well.

I didn’t care for the show at this luau partly because the stage was set off from the crowd (separated by a small waterway) so I couldn’t see the dancers as well. Food was similar to Hiva Pacifika’s though I liked HP’s food better. It’s worth going once, but not a second time, IMO.

www.smithskauai.com/luau.html

The food and drinks are awesome. I was not expecting much from the food itself, but I thoroughly enjoyed it. The show started off good, but quickly got a little boring. I think they need to inject some humor into the show to keep it interesting. They take you through the history of polynesian dances, the dancers are very talented.

We chose the Smith's International Pageant based on the recommendations of friends and the ease of convenience it provided. The Smith Family runs and operates all of the below activities in one location. They are:

• Fern Grotto and Wailua River Cruise
• Smith's Tropical Garden Paradise
• Garden Luau
• International Pageant

During the Day:
You have a choice to explore on your own through their "Tropical Garden Paradise" by taking their pathways surrounded by exotic scenery. Or you can choose to take a narrated tram ride absorbing Kauai's history and learning more about Kauai's exotic plants and fruits. You can take a river cruise to Kauai's famous Fern Grotto during daylight hours. You'll wind your way through dense tropical paradise on a flat bottomed passenger barge. Sit back and relax, because the Smith's family members, who are your boat operators, take the time to share some fascinating legends on Kauai and the famous Fern Grotto. They will also entertain you with Hawaiian songs, hula dancing, and some unique sense of humor. Their tour departs every half hour, from 9am - 3pm daily, seven days a week.

During the Night:
A whole new atmosphere begins. The torches are lit, the night air is filled with music, and everyone is ready for a feast at the Smith's luau. Their ceremony stars off with the traditional- Imu Ceremony. You'll see a pig cooked to perfection in an underground oven. Then the feast begins!! The Imu Ceremony begins at 6pm, but the gates open at 5pm for their luau. Cocktails and Music begins at 6:15pm. Dinner is served at 6:30pm. Given plenty of time to eat and enjoy the atmosphere, your next adventure doesn't begin until 8pm.

International Pageant:
You'll be led by torch-lit pathways to a beautiful lagoon theater. Here you will be entertained by "The Golden People of Hawaii" who put on a wonderful, colorful festival filled with dances and music. What makes this pageant so unique is they depict dances and songs from Tahiti, Hawaii, China, Japan, the Philippines, New Zealand, and Samoa. Very, very entertaining and worth every single penny. This show lasts about an hour and a half and truthfully, wasn't long enough. It was THAT good.

We wouldn't hesitate to choose the Smith's again. We highly recommend them in a heartbeat.