Smith Family Garden Luau
Smith Family Garden Luau
4.5
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  • flomap
    120 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Nine Happy Attendees!!
    The show was great but we actually enjoyed the entire experience from beginning to end. This is a well orchestrated experience that moves along at a good pace and is managed by an excellent team. All of the staff members were really helpful and very friendly. This was a fun evening. We were nine members of a family ranging in ages from 76 to 1 year. I will say everyone in the group was pleased with this event and the young children were mesmerized by the show...especially the fire dancing! Hats off to the Smith family for keeping this operation going for so many years.
    Visited April 2023
    Written April 15, 2023
  • Metzler
    Martinsburg, Pennsylvania82 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Memorable Evening
    We had a very nice evening with the Smith Family. We enjoyed walking the grounds before dinner. The meal and drinks were very good. With all the people, you never waited in line for drinks, food or dessert. The show was memorable and it was held in a separate area from meal.
    Visited April 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written April 19, 2023
  • CathyRodriguez13
    Hamilton, Michigan3 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Best Show Ever - Do Not Miss It!
    We took the riverboat ride up to the Fern Grotto and then went to the luau. Don’t let the name “Smith” fool you into thinking this isn’t a native Hawaiian destination. The Fern Grotto was beautiful and the short walk down a paved path through the rainforest was breathtaking. And the authentic luau with tons of food and the best entertainment ever!! You do not want to miss this one!!!
    Visited April 2023
    Traveled with friends
    Written April 25, 2023
  • Timothy M
    Nashville, Tennessee26 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    2nd time, still amazing
    This was our second visit to Smith Family luau. It’s still a must do. The grounds are beautiful. The animals are friendly. The staff is amazing. The food was excellent Hawaiian cuisine. And the night show is a must see. This is not to be missed
    Visited May 2022
    Traveled with friends
    Written April 29, 2023
  • jls522
    Chicago, Illinois72 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Highlight of our trip
    This experience was the highlight of our trip. The Smith Family is doing things right and makes everyone feel like a part of the family while you're there. The food was delicious, the grounds are beautiful and the show is amazing. There were a lot of people there, but we never waited for food or drinks and everything was plentiful. Highly recommend this dinner and luau!
    Visited April 2023
    Written May 4, 2023
  • Eddie C
    Brooklyn, New York3 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Smith Family Garden Luau
    I had an awesome birthday celebration at the Smith Family Garden Luau in Kauai! The property was beautiful, and everyone there, from the family to the staff, was so friendly and welcoming. The timing between the different segments, from the warm welcome to the delicious dinner and entertainment, was perfect. I had a fantastic time and would definitely go back!
    Visited May 2023
    Written June 5, 2023
  • Sarah P.
    Midlothian, Virginia5 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    The best Luau!
    We had the best time and would always remember the experiences at this Luau. The staff were kind and friendly. The estate was gorgeous, and the ceremony and dancing were top notch. Everything was wonderful and I can't say enough about the staff. They were telling funny stories and just engaging everyone.
    Visited May 2023
    Written June 7, 2023
  • einstein2
    Colorado91 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Beautiful Grounds, Average Dinner, Amazing Show
    I recommend showing up early so you have time to tour around the grounds. The girls enjoyed feeding the animals. The narrative before the meal about the traditions was very informative. The included alcoholic drinks were just ok - a lot of sugar. During dinner, they had an interactive luau, which some of our group really enjoyed. About half of us were tired and didn't make it to the show, but the other half raved about how amazing it was. All the employees were very helpful and kind.
    Visited December 2022
    Traveled with family
    Written June 8, 2023
  • Camiewrites
    Las Vegas, Nevada7 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Treated us like family!
    As this was my first and possibly only trip to the island, I wanted to make sure we experienced an authentic luau. After researching our options, we chose Smith’s. Although this is a large luau in terms of guests, it was very organized from beginning to end. We were greeted in the parking lot and given an overview by Mr. Smith himself. Next we were given a tram tour of the stunning gardens and then given some time to explore them on our own, At 6:00, the Imu Ceremony began around one of the underground ovens, and Mr. Smith explained the centuries-old cooking process. After that, we chose seats in the dining area and drinks were served. There were two different bars, as well as premade tropical cocktails such as chi chis and blue Hawaiians available on trays that were set up around the dining room. We were dismissed by table to visit the buffet, and the Kailua pork was by far some of the best I have ever had. Also make sure you have a piece if the coconut cake. While we ate, there was live music and a hula demonstration, and after dinner we walked over to the theater where we were treated to a show that featured live music and dances from different areas in Polynesia. I am so glad we got to experience this!
    Visited June 2023
    Written June 26, 2023
  • fabdog
    Williamsburg, Virginia407 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great evening
    We had a great time here. We knew we wanted to hit one luau on our multi island trip and picked this one based on reviews. We arrived a bit after 5, took the tram ride around, then wandered on foot and found their orchid house, which was great. Imu cerem9ny was fine, good explanation. Then move to the pavilion, very well organized, really no lines at even the bar as they pre make the standards, you just need to order soda or wine. Food was great, we both had seconds. The host/GM led a cheese but fun hulu session. The show was fine, lots of different cultures, we enjoyed it. A well done evening
    Visited June 2023
    Traveled as a couple
    Written June 30, 2023
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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Popular mentions

4.5
4.5 of 5 bubbles1,902 reviews
Excellent
1,115
Very good
481
Average
186
Poor
70
Terrible
51

Michael F
Houston, TX24 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2022 • Friends
I've been to several luaus on several different islands over the years. This was my least favorite. Everyone in my group had the same sentiment. It's the 'cruise line' of luaus for sure and very 'campy'. The evening starts with a line, and no flower leis. Another line to get on a bus that drives you through the gardens (which are nice) all the while they give you food to feed the birds which are everywhere. At the end of the bus drive your told to hydrate with water because drinks aren't served until dinner starts. So you sit around with hundreds of people, sweating, drinking water, and stepping in bird droppings. Once the pig comes out and bar opens, it's a mad rush for drinks. The pork was really good actually, and the highlight of the night. Everything else, typical. After dinner you move to a large auditorium reminiscent of a small Las Vegas show. The performance was ok and we were all ready for it to end. By the reviews, I understand there are people out there that like this type of environment/entertainment, but it wasn't for us. I give 3 stars for the gardens, pork and effort put into the production. My suggestion would be to increase ticket prices and hand guests a Mai Tai as they're being welcomed with a smile and flower leis. Keep an open bar and get rid of all the birds and buses.

Written September 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

spokanesid
Spokane, WA50 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2020
We decided to go to the garden luau (but JUST for the show portion). For 2 of us it was around $40. From the get go, if you are just there for the show, you are treated poorly. They have you sit outside waiting to get in. The person that took our tickets wasn't very friendly (but he was to the people who were there for the entire thing). Once we got in, we boarded a tram of sorts to take us to the theater. The seats are slanted at an angle, so mix that with the heat and humidity, we were literally sliding off of our seats during the entire show!! The show itself was very disjointed! They would get you all pumped up with an amazing dancer, and then the very next one would be so slow, you wanted to fall asleep. The best part was the band and it took me a few minutes to realize that they were a live band....hidden behind some shrubs! The dancers ALL did an amazing job but it sort of felt like they weren't giving it their all.....because they had JUST danced for the people who had dinner AND a show. Go to the bathroom early because the bathrooms get full REALLY fast! They could have made this experience SO much better by having someone from the show come out and talk to those of us waiting to get in. They could have asked a few people to get up and join in. Instead, this felt like they just wanted our money. If I'm being completely honest, we had a much better experience going to the free luau show at the Coconut Marketplace. We were there in August 2019
Written March 16, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Robert
Orem, UT27 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2023 • Couples
Overall, my wife and I enjoyed our Luau at Smith's. The garden area is amazing, we loved being there, seeing all the tropical flowers and plants and just sitting and enjoying the beauty. The Smith family were great hosts, they were friendly and funny and made us feel welcome. The dinner was really yummy, I would have got more kalua pork if I hadn't got so full. The show was just okay for us. It started off really bad because the flying insects that night were absolutely terrible. The show starts at night, around 8 pm, so it was dark and they had the lights on over their little theater, and there were soooooo many flying insects. They were landing on you almost every two seconds, it was relentless. It was bad enough that I started to consider whether we really wanted to sit through this for the show, or just leave. Eventually, they turned the lights off and started the show and it got better, but it was seriously disgusting there for a little bit. I would recommend reserving your seats with a jacket or something, then waiting outside of the theater, and only going in once the lights are off. The show was fine, but the music they played for the dance numbers felt pretty modern, which seemed to take away some of the feel of authenticity behind the whole thing. Some of the dances we really liked, others we weren't really into. The fire chief at the end did a great job. Overall I would recommend it. It wasn't the highlight of our trip, but it was fun to do.
Written May 25, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Gobo_Fraggle_30
Honolulu, HI5 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
May 2021
Beautiful gardens, very friendly people, good food all you can eat, the Blue Hawaiian drink is a real favorite. We had a delightful time from 5 in the evening until 9 pm,
The show was very entertaining.
Considering they had just reopened 5 days earlier after a pandemic shutdown they appeared to have their act together. We found it was well worth the price.
DW
Written May 19, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

TexasPilot78218
San Antonio, TX38 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020
We (two couples in our 70s) had been to a luau before on the "Big Island" and it was a cheesy, touristy experience with bad food. I really did not want to go to this. But I am so glad I did!

The Smith Family Luau was first class, first rate with a truly wonderful performance highlighting many Pacific cultures, dance and music. The food was excellent with a wonderful variety. They advertise that this includes alcoholic beverage and wow! - it does. Not just cheap stuff but name brands! And they make the best Mai Tai I have every tasted. Unlimited.

I was really concerned that they would have long lines at the bars and the food lines, but after the initial rush, it went very quickly with lots of time for 2nd and 3rd trip to food and lots more to the bars.

The Smith Family was everywhere! Multiple generations. All of them really respect and appreciate their customers. I will go every time we visit Kauai in the future.
Written March 21, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mike3996
Orlando, FL26 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2022
My wife and I and friends attended the Smith Family Garden Luau in mid-September. The reviews were mixed on this particular luau, but we found it to be outstanding. The gardens are beautiful, and you are able to walk around them prior to the luau starting. This luau is put on by the Smith family who has been providing luaus for decades....passed down from father to son and all the family members are involved. The luau started with a prayer and then we were able to watch the unveiling of the roasted pig at the Imu ceremony. The dinner is served buffet style and it is unlimited as well as both alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks also being unlimited. Following the luau, we were escorted to an outdoor pavilion where dancers, singers and fire eaters performed a show. The luau lasted from 5-9pm. In talking with others in our tour group who had attended another luau, ours was by far the best as well as a little less expensive. Do not hesitate to book this luau!
Written September 29, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Josh
Saint Louis, MO3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2024 • Couples
There are a few luau on the island and it can be hard to pick one. We spent a lot of time researching it and settled on the Smith family Garden luau and we’re not disappointed.

It is clearly a family run business with family, taking part in all aspects of the evening.

The evening started with a wonderful tram tour, showing us the beautiful gardens. Even if you plan to walk around, I would recommend doing the tram tour first so that you can get an idea of what they have. After the tour, we walked around to some of the areas that we wanted to get a closer look at before gathering around the area where the imu ceremony takes place. The gardens are beautiful and clearly a lot of work goes into planning and maintaining them as a showcase of the beautiful plant life found in the region.

The Imu ceremony was very enjoyable with a member of the Smith family narrating everything and telling the history of their luau, family and property. I wouldn’t miss it.

Dinner was good. You should set your expectations for good buffet food. Nothing was amazing or the best we had on the island, but it was all good and plentiful. Drinks which were also included, were good, but again not the best.

For smaller groups, it is open seating. As soon as you get off the tram tour, you can go and grab a seat and hold it by taking the napkin out of your cup and setting it on the plate. When picking a seat, I would take the following into consideration. There is a lot of activity around the buffet and the drink stations so if you sit near to those, you will have a lot of people walking past you. Additionally tables are dismissed from the outside of the pavilion working in to visit the buffet. by sitting on the outside you both get to eat quicker and have less busy seating. Unless the rain is very bad, I would suggest sitting as close to the edge as possible.

The luau show is beautiful and entertaining. We really enjoyed how it focused on the different cultures that have made their way to Hawaii and influenced the culture.

Considering the beautiful gardens, the emu ceremony, the good food and the wonderful show I think that Smith’s family Garden luau is likely the best on the island. With tickets around $125 if you expect to get a $125 meal, you will be disappointed. However, if you consider the entire package it is a great deal. From arriving at the grounds to leaving for the evening we were there for about four hours. Arrive early to have plenty of time to enjoy the gardens before things start.
Written March 2, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

mariechristine4077
30 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Apr 2022
The Luau was great. When we arrived, we boarded a shuttle that took us on about a 10-15 minute ride through their beautiful gardens. After the tram ride, you are dropped off near the pig roast area and can wander around until the pig is unearthed. The MC for the night was very good, had an easy way about him and did a nice job explaining things. You are then able to find your table in the covered, open air pavilion. Although you are seated at long tables, every party has their own area of the table, and it is more like you have your own table. The food was excellent! Much better than I was expecting. While eating, they have live music and then the MC for the night explains some of the Hawaiian dancing motions and sings some songs. After that, it is a short walk to a large covered open air theater where the show lasts about an hour, lots of dancing and a fire show. We area a family of four, with two school-aged kids, and we all really enjoyed the evening. Very efficient and well-run!
Written April 22, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Vesna M
Zagreb, Croatia289 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sep 2019
This is a nice luau experience. It gets really crowded, which makes it a little less appealing, but the food is tasty and really abundant and various. The show after dinner is a bit long, but it depicts all the peoples and cultures that have played a role in the area.
Written August 31, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

hawkeye4KU
Lawrence, KS21 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Family
We’ve been to lots of luaus over the years. Luaus in Oahu, luaus in Maui, luaus in Tahiti, too many luaus according to my husband. So when we scheduled our vacation to Kauai this year we both rolled our eyes....not another luau. Our daughter researched our options. The Smith family luau is the first we’ve truly enjoyed from beginning to end! The gardens are beautiful and well tended, the Imo ceremony welcoming, and the food was great. Don’t miss the coconut cake! But the highlight was the entertainment....There was a little band during dinner with a hula lesson after. The children on stage were too cute and the staff teaching them kind and fun. The show had live music and singing and was respectful toward the Hawaiian history. But what sold us was the authentic, family environment. I can’t believe I’m saying this but I would go to this luau again!!!
Written January 25, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Smith Family Garden Luau - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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