A Trip To Kauai Is Not Complete Without An Evening Spent At A Luau!
A trip to Kauai is not complete without an evening spent at a luau. Many guests ask me which one of many I would recommend and I always fall back on the one to which I take my friends and family – Smith’s Garden Luau. Located about 30 to 40 minutes away from Honu Point, depending on traffic, this beautiful garden area sits on the banks of the Wailua River. Over 70 years ago, the Smith family started this legendary business in the sacred Wailua River Valley. They created the tropical paradise to celebrate the Hawaiian spirit of aloha that they loved and lived by. Today, four generations of the original family continue to honor that tradition with the most famous of Hawaiian celebrations, the luau.
Before the imu ceremony and dinner, ride the tram or take a stroll around the beautiful gardens full of lush foilage, ponds, and unique birds. Here are a few photos taken when Tom’s sister and her husband came to visit:
Of course, the heart of any luau is the pa‘ina, the feast, and they’ll make sure you don’t go hungry. Kalua pig roasted and taken from the earthen imu oven, Cousin Gary’s secret recipe for teriyaki beef, ono “delicious” mahimahi and tasty chicken adobo are featured, as well as a long buffet table full of other Hawaiian recipes. Free flowing mai tais compliment the meal. Musicians and hula performers entertain while you eat.
Food may be the heart of a luau, but music is the soul. Hawaiian ancestors preserved their history by passing down songs and chants called mele. At the luau, these traditions are celebrated, as well as the songs and dances from other cultures that live in our tropical paradise. The lyrical sway of the Hawaiian hula, the colorful precision of the Tahitian drum dances and the fiery emotion of the Samoan fire knife dance all speak deeply of the people who have come to call Hawaii home. After dinner guests leave the dining area and move to an outdoor theater where dancers perform across a reflecting pond. Here’s one example:
Seasonal Schedules
November – January:
Mon | Wed | Fri
February – October:
Mon | Wed | Thu | Fri
June – August:
Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri
Luau Schedule
NOTE: November through February, schedule starts 15 minutes earlier.
5:00 P.M. :: November through February: 4:45 P.M.
Welcome — Join us in paradise near the sacred Wailua River, a place once reserved for Hawaiian royalty. Receive your shell lei and either take a narrated tram tour or a leisurely stroll around the lush 30-acre gardens (last tram tour departs at 5:30 P.M., November through February: 5:15 P.M.)
6:00 P.M. :: November through February: 5:45 P.M.
Imu Ceremony — Meet some of our family members and learn of the Hawaiian cooking method called Kalua — where Kalua pig is wrapped in ti leaves and cooked to perfection in our earthen imu oven.
6:15 P.M. :: November through February: 6:00 P.M.
Cocktails & Music — Have a mai tai, beer, or glass of wine at the open bar while the Smith family entertains with Hawaiian songs. (Soft drinks and juice are also available.)
6:30 P.M. :: November through February: 6:15 P.M.
Luau Feast — The music continues while you enjoy traditional flavors and island favorites like kalua pork, beef teriyaki, chicken adobo, and sweet’n’sour mahimahi. Sample our ono local specialties like lomi salmon, fresh poi, Hawaiian sweet potato, mac salad, namasu salad and scrumptious tropical desserts!
8:00 P.M. :: November through February: 7:45 P.M.
Rhythm of Aloha Show — Move to the rhythm with colorful, authentic performances from Hawaii, Tahiti, Samoa, Philippines, New Zealand, China and Japan in our spacious open-air, torch-lit “Pele Amphitheater” (complete with erupting volcano!).
Prices:
Adult $125.00
Jr. (7-13) $35.00
Child (3-6) $25.00
For reservations, directions, or more information, go to https://www.smithskauai.com/garden-luau/ or call (808) 821-6895
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