If attending a luau is on your Hawaiian bucket list and you’re visiting Kauai, you’ve got options! Actually, I think Kauai has some of the most unique luau offerings of all of the islands (and by far at the best prices.

Smith Family Luau

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If you’re looking for a luau on Kauai, this is my top pick. The Smith Family Luau is completely charming. While it’s a modern operation, the setting and atmosphere will have you reminiscing of Hawaii in the 1960s.

The luau’s setting (it’s hosted in a 30+ acre tropical garden) looks EXACTLY like Elvis’ Blue Hawaii (it was actually filmed right up the road at the Coco Palms Resort) and I’m not going to lie, that was a major selling point!

It feels very vintage, so wear your best aloha attire and get ready to step back in time.

Arrive early because there’s plenty to see on the grounds and you won’t want to miss the Imu ceremony (the unearthing of the pig).

The meal takes place in a covered pavilion and there’s entertainment on a small stage while you’re waiting for your turn at the buffet and while you’re eating your dinner.

The meal is all you can eat with all the trappings of a typical luau (salad with guava dressing, macaroni salad, fried rice, mashed taro, stir fried veggies, plantains, guava bread, sweet bread, sweet and sour mahi mahi, teriyaki beef, and of course, kalua pork.

After dinner, there’s a short intermission and everyone makes their way to the covered theater for the show.

The show is a pretty nice production with a decent storyline, which begins with an erupting volcano (the birth of Hawaii) and the migration of her people to the islands. There were probably a dozen or so numbers including the traditional hula plus dances from Tahiti, China, Japan, the Philippines, New Zealand, and some other pacific islands and the whole thing was topped off with a fire dance. The show lasts about an hour and that feels just right.

Wailua River Cruise to the Fern Grotto

I would also suggest adding on the cruise up the Wailua River to see the fern grotto before the luau. Since the Smith Family also runs the river cruises and the marina is right next door to the luau grounds, it’s all pretty seamless. If you do the last cruise of the day (usually about 3:30 PM), you’ll arrive back at the gardens as they open for the luau.

There’s a band and a couple of hula dancers on the boat that provide entertainment while you cruise up the river (yes, they’ll probably sing an Elvis song or two).

When the boat docks at the Fern Grotto, it’s a short walk to the viewing platform. The Fern Grotto is still recovering from the damage from Hurricane Iniki in 1992, but it’s still pretty impressive.

My entire experience with the Smith Family Luau (including the fern grotto tour) was pretty amazing. Although they host a fairly big crowd, it still feels like a gracious family event. From the aunties in the kitchen, to the uncles presiding over the ceremony, and the cousins dancing in the show, this truly is a family affair and likely a much different experience than you’ll have at some of the larger luaus on Oahu.

Are there bigger luaus in Hawaii? Yes. Smaller more intimate luaus? Yes. Nicer, more polished high end luaus? Yes. But none of them have the charm and vintage vibes of the Smith Family Luau.

A few details:

This is a very reasonably priced luau especially since it has all of the trappings. You’ll easily save $100/person here over some of the top luaus on other islands. Adult tickets are $140 and there’s a steep discount for kids…$35/(ages 7-13), $25/(ages 3-6), 2 and under are free.

The luau operates on a seasonal schedule. During the summer months, the luau runs 5 days a week but during slower times a week it drops to only 3 or 4 days a week.

Visit their website for more information.

Add on a cruise up the Wailua River to the Fern Grotto for $30/adult ($15/child). Pick the 3:30 time if you’re also doing the luau.

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Other Luaus on Kauai

Like I said earlier, Kauai has some of the most unique luau offerings on the island. And the best prices. Some of these luaus and experiences are really budget friendly and much more “local” than the big shiny luaus you’ll find on the other islands.

Here are some recommendations:

If you are looking for the full blown traditional luau experience, I would head to the Luau Kalamaku at the Kilohana Plantation in Lihue. Besides the dinner buffet, they also have an option to do dinner at Plantation House by Gaylord’s (a really good restaurant) with reserved seating for the show. I think this is a great hybrid option because even the best luau buffet usually leaves a lot to be desired. This luau is only offered on Tuesday and Friday.

The Auli‘i Luau at the Sheraton Kauai (offered on Monday and Wednesday) and the Grand Hyatt Luau Kauai (offered on Wednesday and Saturday) are also both good options in Poipu. And the Luau Kahikina at the Sheraton Kauai Coconut Beach Resort (offered on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday) is a good option in Kapaa.

Okay, now onto the more local/unique offerings.

The Hilton Garden Inn in Wailua hosts the Ahi Uila Fire Show on Tuesdays which combines dinner and everybody’s favorite part of a luau…the fire dancing.

On the north shore, the Tahiti Nui (a Kauai institution) on the north shore hosts a very local luau on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

And the Kanikapila at Anaina Hou Community Park is a local community gathering hosted on Friday evenings with Hawaiian music, dancing and dinner.

Want to read more posts about Kauai? I’ve got plenty!

Things You Can ONLY Do on Kauai // Things to Do in Poipu (South Side) // 5 Day Kauai Itinerary // 4 Day Kauai Itinerary (North Shore) // 3 Day Kauai Itinerary //

Where to Stay on Kauai: Princeville vs Poipu // Grand Hyatt Kauai Review // My Favorite Restaurants in Poipu

Kauai Travel Tips (Things to Know Before You Go) // Napali Coast: Boat Tour vs Helicopter // Kauai Helicopter Tour FAQs

Maui vs Kauai

P.S. I travel to Hawaii multiple times a year, and let me tell you a secret…I do most of it for FREE using credit card points and miles.

I have a somewhat intricate system that I’ve fine tuned over the years to maximize earning points and how I cash them in, but the short version is:

I use THIS Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card for free Marriott nights. The sign up bonus alone on this card will get you 3 (sometimes 5!) free nights at hotels in Hawaii like the Sheraton Maui, Royal Hawaiian (Oahu), Sheraton Kauai Coconut Beach Resort, and the Waikoloa Beach Marriott (Kona).

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P.P.S. Here’s one more really important thing you need to know before your Hawaii trip…

You’ve got your airfare, hotel, rental car and your big activities booked, so you should be good to go, right? Wrong!

Travel is BOOMING in Hawaii and a lot of state and national parks have instituted reservation systems at some of the island’s most popular spots to help manage the crowds and make things a little more sustainable.

That means that there are now over half a dozen sites (beaches, trailheads, etc.) that require advance reservations. And some sell out well before you arrive on the island so you really need to have some sort of a plan.

I recently saw somebody in a Hawaii travel group post in a panic that they didn’t know they had to make reservations for things in advance…they thought they could just show up and “go with the flow.” I was tempted to say, well, “as long as the flow doesn’t take you somewhere that requires reservations, you can!” ; )

But I don’t want YOU to be that person, so I’ve pulled together a list of all the places you need to reserve entry in advance (plus all the details on booking windows, price, links, etc.) and a handful of popular tourist hotspots that book out really far in advance too.
Get that info >> HERE