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    Smith's Family Garden Luau

    4.7 (234 reviews)
    PriceyMusic Venues
    Open 5:00 pm - 9:00 PM
    Updated 1 month ago

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    Reviews With Photos - Smith's Family Garden Luau

    Donald G.

    This was our third time attending a Luau in Hawaii and I would say it was overall the best one. The side trip to the Fern Grotto is worth the extra expense. The Gardens are beautiful, lots of birds, including peacocks wondering around. The food was plentiful and tasty. They were very organized and quick in getting everyone through the food lines. Servers were friendly and attentive. There was plenty of food if you wanted seconds. The Luau itself was just OK. They have a nice theater and stage with a volcano shooting up flames. Some of the costumes were fluorescent and just didn't fit the vibe. The dancers were also just ok. I would have preferred a more traditional performance without the theatrics. There is plenty of parking in the lot just in front of the entrance. The locals we talked to said it is the best Laua on the island.

    Caili C.

    We came to see the show only and skipped dinner. The show is only $30 by itself so we thought it was worth the trip. The doors only open at 7:30pm if you're just coming for the show but it's enough time to walk to the theatre area (you can also take the tram for the short distance). The show itself was fun and family friendly, showcasing dances from the different cultures that make up Hawaii. Overall a fun time and well organized!

    Chicken
    Amy K.

    Located in Kapaa, Kauai at the same entry to Waimea River. Not sure why it's $$$ because it's cheaper than the other major luau on the island. We came on a Monday night in January. Weather is around 65-75F. You start on a short tram tour of the Tropical Paradise, which is the grounds owned by the same family for years. For kids and bird lovers, there is bird seed for purchase at the entrance. These birds will run right up, so cute! There are peacocks, goose, wild birds. I regret not buying this. Shortly after is the revealing of the Imu, as they show you how they cook the pig, curated by Smith grandson. You can reserve your seat by putting a jacket there, or removing the red napkins off the cups. Large groups have tables reserved, but smaller parties can grab the seats before the Imu ceremony. Love how we give thanks before the meal. Booze - there is a cocktail bar on the right, and pre-made mai tai's on the left bar. You can double fist 2 at a time and can come back for more when you are done with your 2. The bartenders were so friendly. I highly suggest the mai tai. Food - such generosity at this family buffet. There was mahi mahi, pork, beef, chicken, fried rice, mashed potatos, salad, some other salads, desert. It just goes on. After everyone gets their turn, they call you up table by table, you're free to get refills until it's time for the show. The pork was really really good! Also try the Poi. There is singing and dancing the hooky lau after the meal. It's old skool karaoke and tik tok dances. They also have a dance to celebrate honeymoons and anniversaries. Show - there were really good live musicians and singers, the female and male dancers and the fire dancer. It seems very mom and pop, but well done in my opinion. The show was about 1 hour long. Tip, you can bring your last drink along to the show. Photos - Cost is $30 for a physical print, no digital copy. You take these as you come in. You get a shell lei, its not flowers. But hey, cost savings. Anyways, it's such a fun experience to see and hear culture, music, food, gardens. I look forward to one day coming again.

    Bar before opening
    David C.

    DEC2025 Luckily we were able to fit this in and drag some friends with us to experience it. The first time we were in Kauai everything had been sold out months ahead so we weren't able to do the luau experience. Family owned and operated, they have been doing the luau for 40 years, and the river fern grotto tours for 80 according to the intro. We were given a trolley ride around the grounds giving background for the area with some time to walk around the grounds ourselves. We then learned the history for pigs being roasted for the luau. It's interesting to know that it comes from other islands and how things have developed over time. The buffet was set up nicely with open bar near all of the seating. Everything was organized that people would be able to go by table as directed by the staff to get food. If it wasn't your turn yet, you'd be listening to live music from the stage, getting dessert, and there were two bars available to get drinks. One with making drinks to order, the other with punch and mai tais. The food was solid, and it was great to have some veggie and salad options. Favorite things were the chicken adobo, sweet potatoes, and the dessert. The fresh fruit and coconut pudding really hit the spot. Everything else was cooked well, and it was easy to get whatever we needed. Once this was completed, we headed to the stage area for a show with multiple dances highlighted and options to purchase pictures that were taken in the beginning when we had first arrived. And thank goodness since that was before the food and drinking. The show was fun to watch highlighting multiple cultures and dances over the course. The enthusiasm from the dancers really fed into it for us as an audience. A great overall experience from beginning to end.

    Dancers

    The grounds were beautiful and the history from the owner was very enjoyable. Dinner was buffet style and the beef was the best thing on the line. The pork was underwhelming, unfortunately - r were really looking forward to that. The drinks were so watered down that we opted for beer instead. The show was great but the seating was uncomfortable because the benches were on a hill. Not sure I would recommend this one to friends - it does have a lot of great reviews on trip advisor and yelp, however.

    Brian S.

    I have been to a few luau's on various Hawaiian islands and I have to say this was by far my most favorite yet. My first luau on Kauai many years ago was waterside, so that was very memorable to me, but Smith's surpasses it on many marks. I enjoyed the arrival tour of the gardens, the unearthing of the Kalua pork from the Imu... something that you don't see at every Luau anymore. The food was of a high quality and very delicious and among the best I have ever experienced at a luau. The entertainment was very enjoyable during the dinner (live music) as well as post dinner. Highly recommended!!

    Hawaiian Punch  5/29/25 Family of 7
    Marcia R.

    Our 3 third time here bring my siblings from in US here from different parts of the states They love Kauai and got to relax and first time in Hawaiian island So what better way to celebrate here. Drink were flowing and food was abundant beef teriyaki was my favorite and salmon salad too. teriyaki chicken Kailua pig, Service was excellent and hula dancers were amazing performances We bought very photos too of the family only my wifey was feeling good so only 7 tonite

    Imu
    Danielle P.

    Probably the best luau we've ever been to! Everyone talks about Smith's and raved about them when I told them we were going here! And it did not disappoint. A truly immersive experience! The viewing area for the imu ceremony is large and open, which allowed more people to see it compared to other luaus we've been to. Walter made us all feel like a part of the Smith ohana! They supply benches for seating during the ceremony and water, which was appreciated. Following the ceremony, we make our way to the covered pavilion for the buffet. Open bar, for those who are into that, and fruit punch and water for those who aren't lol. They dismiss the tables one at a time for the buffet, so if you're hungry, be prepared to wait your turn lol. The food was amazing, and all-you-can eat. Everything was cooked perfectly. They shut everything down quickly towards the time when they want everyone to make their way to the performance. There are restrooms by the pavilion, as well as by the theater. There's live entertainment while you eat and they even invited some people on stage to do the hukilau. My oldest joined in on the fun. When you go to the performance, they're out in front of the theater selling the photos they took of your party upon entering the grounds. There doesn't seem to be a bad seat in the theater, which is covered for the audience, but still open-air. The show is FANTASTIC and runs about an hour. There are a lot of free-range chickens, roosters and peacocks on the grounds, so watch your step in the dark! Parking is on grass/dirt and they have parking attendants helping you upon entry. It's a bit of a free for all upon exiting.

    Jenny C.

    If you're looking for an authentic Hawaiian luau in Kauai, the Smith Family Luau is as authentic as it gets. Don't let the name fool you. This is a multi generational Hawaiian family luau. You're welcomed into beautiful, lush gardens, and arriving early is a must to enjoy the scenery, trolley ride, native birds, and animals. My kids especially loved feeding the ducks. The food was excellent. Everything was ono (my only complaint was eating too much!). The evening ends with an incredible show that truly showcases Hawaiian culture. Why go to a stuffy hotel luau when you can enjoy stunning gardens, authentic food, an amazing performance, and generations of experience? Hands down the best family experience we had in Kauai.

    Dessert
    Julia G.

    Smith's Family Garden Luau is a Hawaiian family owned and operated luau and it was certainly worth the price! We started off with a group photo and took a short tram ride through the gardens: they have different themed gardens like a Japanese garden and some wildlife like peacocks and goats. You have about an hour to walk around and explore on your own, before the imu ceremony where they unearth the cooked pig. It was very cool to learn about how they cook the pig and the history of their family business. Three generations actively participate in the business, starting with the matriarch who turns 91 this year! We next had dinner - which was an elaborate all you can eat buffet with pork, beef, chicken, fish and probably 7-10 side items including mac salad and the notorious poi. The kalua pork was by far my favorite!! And don't forget dessert - fresh fruit, coconut cake, and jello! They also have an open bar, albeit the drinks are incredibly watered down probably to limit the amount of intoxicated behavior after 1.5 hr of unlimited drinks. However, as someone who typically sticks to one drink, I would've liked just one strong cocktail. The amount of people they can host in one night is truly insane - I would guess there were at least 500 people there. The staff is incredibly friendly and they provide live entertainment and even a hula dance lesson during dinner. Then we moved over to the outdoor theatre around 7:30 for the show, which was genuinely jaw dropping! They had live music, fire, a volcano backdrop, and dancers that would rotate through different cultural dances of those who migrated to Hawaii, including Tahitian, Filipino, New Zealand, and Japanese traditional dances - among others. They also had performances with fire (including the fire knife dance), which were my favorite and left us genuinely shocked. The show lasted a long time, and I believe we left around 9 pm. The only criticism I have is that they charge for the group photo they take at the beginning of the luau, which I feel should be free given the price of the event (at least a free digital copy and pay extra for the printed copy with a paper frame). Nevertheless, if you want a printed or digital copy it is $30. I would definitely recommend this luau to anyone in Kauai and hope future generations of the Smith family keep it going for a long time.

    Learning the hula
    David L.

    This was a highlight of our trip to Hawaii! It was well organized and friendly. They are well organized and personal. Even though he was there were over 500 people at the event, the owner came by each table and greeted people as family. The cultural history and food was excellent. It was surprising that a buffet could taste so good. The hula dances on stage were beautiful. I only wish I understood what the words were in the songs and what the dance moves meant. Afterwards we watched a bunch of YouTube videos to learn more about the culture. We loved the whole evening!

    Don't waste your time or money on a resort luau, they simply don't compare to the Smith Family Luau. From the moment you arrive, you're warmly greeted and made to feel like family. They take beautiful group photos, then lead you on a stunning tour of the grounds. Just the grounds alone are worth the price of admission, absolutely gorgeous and filled with the most breathtaking peacocks I've ever seen roaming freely. After the traditional pig ceremony, the open bar opens, and it's the real deal. The drinks were noticeably stronger than the $20 cocktails we were buying at our hotel. The food was fantastic too, the Kalua pork and teriyaki beef were our absolute favorites. As someone who always needs to find a restroom, I also really appreciated how clean and conveniently located they were. Then comes the show. The hula dancers are incredibly talented, but the fire dancers who close out the evening are the true stars. They're mesmerizing! If you're visiting Kauai, the Smith Family Luau should be at the very top of your list. You can't leave the island without experiencing this one.

    Flowers
    Vic W.

    Beautiful locations with stunning views and flowers. Food was solid and the worst thing i could say is that the drinks were too strong for my girlfriend. The performance pieces were cool and really enjoyed the fire/other traditional dances. The kicker is my rental car wouldn't start in their parking lot and the hula dancers made sure we were kosher. Shoutout Tiana Elena and Jay and other dancers (sorry, we are fighting against my poor memory of names) and more. They literally called one of their moms to try and figure it out, and refused to leave until they knew we were good. Thank god they found an uncle who was able to provide a strong enough jump to get the car moving.

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    Ask the Community - Smith's Family Garden Luau

    Are there fire dancers in this show?

    Yes, there are fire dancers. If you can afford it, I really suggest the whole experience. You'll be glad you did.

    What time should we arrive to do the tram garden tour before the imu ceremony?

    I would check with the venue but we got there at 5:00 pm. The last tram leaves at 5:30.

    View All 4 Questions

    Review Highlights - Smith's Family Garden Luau

    If you're looking for an authentic Hawaiian luau in Kauai, the Smith Family Luau is as authentic as it gets.

    Mentioned in 57 reviews

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    MAGICAL!! My FOUR-OH birthday . KAIA thanks for all you did... Your dancers were 5 star, Erin,…read moreMaddison,Phoenix, Emma,... Highly recommend adding this company to your celebrations... MAHALO NUI LOA (Thank you very much)

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    Smith's Family Garden Luau - musicvenues - Updated August 2026

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