Smith Family Garden Luau — Attraction in Kauai

We very much enjoyed the Smith Family Luau in Kauai, Septembr 2024. We had previously attended a different Hawaiian Luau and Smith’s was much nicer … it just seemed classier. It was very easy to find in Lihue and had lots of free parking. We arrived a few minutes before 5:00 and it began raining. Luckily the check-in area is covered, and the staff brought out big boxes of umbrellas for people to grab. We ended up not needing them, though, as the rain didn’t last long.

As we checked in we were given a shell necklace, which served as our proof of admission. Then we boarded a small tram for a tour around the small garden. I was disappointed in the tour as the bus driver seemed to be racing through the garden as fast as he could and talked so fast we couldn’t understand him. The tour was over in about two minutes. Then we slowly wandered for an hour until it was time for the imu ceremony, which is when they pull the roast pig out of the cooking pit.

Dinner was a Hawaiian buffet with the usual tasty foods: Kalua pork, brisket, chicken, macaroni salad, green salad, rice, etc. Drinks were free, including beer, mai tais, etc. The dessert was very disappointing: jello, white cake with coconut frosting, fruit, and rice pudding. There was plenty of food, enough for seconds. Live Hawaiian music played during dinner, and as dinner wrapped up they offered to hula lessons for those who wanted to participate.

After dinner we took a short walk to the outdoor theatre, which included covered bleachers separated from a stage by a small water pond. The dancers did a nice job, and the music and narration were very dramatic. The performance was 45 minutes long, which seemed to be just the right length. I wouldn’t have wanted it to be any longer. After the performance, a tram was on hand for people who needed help getting back to the parking lot, though most people walked back. There were two restroom buildings—one near the dinner pavilion and one near the theatre, and they seemed to have plenty of stalls.

I do recommend this luau if you are in Kauai. I gave it 4 stars instead of five because the desserts and the tram tour were both...

I'm so glad I went! Smith's Tropical Paradise, which hosts the Garden Luau, is a beautiful place. First, let's talk about the luau. The venue is covered, clean, and well lit. The food was plentiful - all you care to eat buffet (I think I read a review that said they ran out of food), hot, varied, and delicious - you must try the poi (it is an interesting flavor that is best likened to mildly tasting like black beans). There was a pork, beef, chicken, and fish dish, in addition to vegetables, fried rice (really good), purple sweet potatoes, and 3 kinds of bread. I suggest getting a tiny bit of everything your on your first trip so you know exactly what you want for your 2nd (and 3rd?) trip to the buffet. For me, hands down, the kalua pork was the best meat option. And dessert! There was rice pudding, haupia (coconut pudding), fresh fruit (I could not get enough fresh pineapple during my trip!), but the star for me was the coconut cake! I was light and the coconut was certainly present, but by no means overpowering. I very perfect ending to a delicious meal! Oh! And the cocktails. The drinks are strong, so pace yourself and be careful. There is a MaiTai bar and they were OK, but my favorite was the Blue Hawaiian. So darn delicious.

Now let me back up. There are LOTS of birds in the garden - chickens, ducks, nenes, red-crested cardinals, and peacocks. You can purchase feed with cash where you check in. The evening begins with a tram ride through the property with narration from the driver. You have roughly an hour to explore the flora and fauna and take pictures. DO NOT forget the bug spray. It is a truly beautiful and tranquil place. Then there is the Imu ceremony where a lot of rich Hawaiian history is shared. Do not miss it!

Ah, the show! It was awesome! The dances were traditional dances that represented the people that migrated to the islands and were executed beautifully! The show was the real star of the evening - well, in addition to the kalua pork!

I celebrated my birthday at Smith Family Garden Luau and I could not have made a better choice. If you only attend one luau, make...

I was really disappointed with the experience. We came here based on a personal recommendation from friends who came over 5 years ago and based on the Google reviews. However, I would recommend going to another luau on the island.

The staff, overall, from the garden tour to the dining to the show, seemed tired and unhappy. They didn't seem to enjoy their job at all, and it definitely felt like they were just going through the motions to get things over with.

The event seemed to push a lot of alcohol with unlimited free drinks, and several drink tables throughout the dining area. This, in turn of course led to some really obnoxious drunk people, some who harassed the staff. This seemed to go unnoticed by management.

The show portion was not very good. Before the show started, they allowed for people to get seating, which was nice for the guests, except for the fact that the dancers were rehearsing (with less than 60 minutes to perform) and getting critiqued by their instructor. These dancers looked tired, frustrated, and embarrassed that they were being watched already, understandably so. I can not believe they were rehearsing so soon to the show itself and so publicly.

Then the actual show was unpolished, with performers dropping things, being out of synch, and half of them looking miserable.

I thought maybe luaus were simply not for me. However, having spoken with our friends who recommended Smith's, they said their experience from years ago was totally different. And we have spoken with people who attended other luaus in Kauai and Maui, and they were shocked by our experience. So clearly, there are better options out there.

Overall, I feel the staff is overworked, and it shows in their overall enthusiasm. I think they did the best they could do with how the event is managed.

This might be good for people who just want to eat and drink, but if you want a classier dining experience and a good show, try somewhere else.

I will say there's no doubt that the food was absolutely amazing and the gardens...