Kauai Beach Club and luau for the family?

[PamMo]

We're headed to Kauai with our kids and grandkids, splitting our time between WPORV and KBC. We want to celebrate our son-in-law's birthday at a luau, and are thinking the Kilohana Plantation's luau might be our best bet, due to proximity to KBC (we have five grands between 3 and 7 years old) and they have good reviews. I've emailed the concierge to ask if they offer any discounts for luau tickets for the twelve of us. If not, does anyone know of a booking site for discounts? With ol' Mom and Dad footing the bill for a couple of weeks, I like saving where I can.

 

[DeniseM]

Here's an idea: maybe you can get a discount by going to a sales pitch!

I believe that Smith's luau is the highest rated luau on Kauai, but haven't done it myself.

 

[PamMo]

Here's an idea: maybe you can get a discount by going to a sales pitch!

Hmmm...that's an idea...maybe I can get one of my kids to go on an update for us!

I haven't been to a luau in probably 20 years, but I know the grandkids will love it. I'll look into Smith's luau. Thanks, Denise.

 

[Dean]

We're headed to Kauai with our kids and grandkids, splitting our time between WPORV and KBC. We want to celebrate our son-in-law's birthday at a luau, and are thinking the Kilohana Plantation's luau might be our best bet, due to proximity to KBC (we have five grands between 3 and 7 years old) and they have good reviews. I've emailed the concierge to ask if they offer any discounts for luau tickets for the twelve of us. If not, does anyone know of a booking site for discounts? With ol' Mom and Dad footing the bill for a couple of weeks, I like saving where I can.

I'd check with the concierge for KBC to see what specials they have and what the specifics are. Sometimes the kids prices are the make or break. On a group of 15 for Oahua we saved like $700 and got better seats by going to Chief's over Fia Fia and the show was better. Been to Kilohana and Sheraton, haven't been to others on Kauai. Kilohana was different, not quite the traditional Luau if that matters but it has been a few years.

 

[PamMo]

Thanks for the input, Dean. I read it was more like a story rather than traditional luau, but I wasn't sure what that meant. I'm looking for a good family evening out with the kids.

Does anyone know if there are good discount cards in the Lihue Costco?

 

[OldGuy]

Smith's, if it's still there.

I was DD, but even sober it was great. Get that pig out of the pit and let's eat!

 

[DaveNV]

Smith's is totally worth it. Opening the imu is quite a show in itself. Very tasty food, and the after dinner show is quite good. If anyone is military in your group, you can usually buy discounted tickets through the base ticket office. Check out www.greatlifehawaii.com.

Dave

 

[VacationForever]

We did Smith's and enjoyed the grounds. It was beautiful and quite an experience. To us the food and show were only so-so.

 

[jme]

Here's an idea: maybe you can get a discount by going to a sales pitch!

I believe that Smith's luau is the highest rated luau on Kauai, but haven't done it myself.

We did Smith's and overall it was good. Food was OK (maybe it was me?), but that said, Smith's was the highest rated when we went.
They are all so busy, so the shows and food at any of the luaus probably are similar.
The show at Smith's was entertaining and professional, so we were satisfied as far as attending an authentic luau.
CHECK WITH CONCIERGE for the real story on where to go. They know the latest.

 

[DaveNV]

With Smith's you can also opt to do the cruise up the Wailua River (complete with hula and ukulele players), and then walk the Gardens before they open the imu. It can be a great overall experience.

Luau food is rarely spicy or exciting - it's a lot of delicate flavors, and over-seasoning it can mess it up. It's not your Grandma's potluck dinner. What makes a good luau is properly cooked food, presentation, and atmosphere. If you know the general flavor of what is served, you can discern good from mediocre. Smiths has their process down to a science, and it was more enjoyable to me than some other luaus I've been to, including the Polynesian Cultural Center, the Hale Koa, and a really poor one in Kona that I don't want to remember the name of. LOL!

Dave

 

[VacationForever]

We enjoyed the (unauthentic) fire show at Ko Olina's Fia Fia more than the authentic version. Food at luaus is all the same to us.

 

[slip]

We liked the show and food at Kilohana Plantation. Theirs is a little different with tables set up around the main stage so make sure you get good seats. They do a few scenes from around the room but you want to be able to see the main stage well.

 

[geist1223]

Kilohana primarily tells the traditional Polynesian Settlement of Hawaii through and dance. Smith Family is a bit more inclusive celebrating different ethnic groups that have settled in the Islands. Smith Family's grounds are larger and beautiful to walk. We switch off between them on different visits. If you go to Kilohana track down Donna Cockett. She had beautiful pearls at a fair price. On our last visit to Kauai we went to Kilohana. So when we visit in September 2020 we will go to Smith Family.

 

[Nonnie Capurro]

We're headed to Kauai with our kids and grandkids, splitting our time between WPORV and KBC. We want to celebrate our son-in-law's birthday at a luau, and are thinking the Kilohana Plantation's luau might be our best bet, due to proximity to KBC (we have five grands between 3 and 7 years old) and they have good reviews. I've emailed the concierge to ask if they offer any discounts for luau tickets for the twelve of us. If not, does anyone know of a booking site for discounts? With ol' Mom and Dad footing the bill for a couple of weeks, I like saving where I can.

There was a luau on the Kauai Marriott property when we stayed there last year. It was nice and performers were good but we really liked Smith's the best. Have fun!
Aloha!

Sent from my SM-N950U using Tapatalk

 

[PamMo]

Thanks for your thoughts and suggestions, everyone. The concierge got back to me this morning, and prices are the same as if I purchased directly from Luau Kalamaku. She did offer 1,000 Bonvoy points for booking through KBC, and I'll get more points from the $1,200 spend on my credit card. Smith's look like fun. The last luau I took my mom to (in 2000) was super cheesy, so it's never been something I've wanted to repeat, but these look like fun for the kids!

 

[Dean]

Thanks for your thoughts and suggestions, everyone. The concierge got back to me this morning, and prices are the same as if I purchased directly from Luau Kalamaku. She did offer 1,000 Bonvoy points for booking through KBC, and I'll get more points from the $1,200 spend on my credit card. Smith's look like fun. The last luau I took my mom to (in 2000) was super cheesy, so it's never been something I've wanted to repeat, but these look like fun for the kids!

Did they have other Luau's at a discount?

 

[PamMo]

Did they have other Luau's at a discount?

No, she had other suggestions for activities (like island helicopter tours), but no discounts. The last time I went to the "Kauai orientation and activities presentation" at KBC, the tour companies offered discounted tickets at the talk. I even won the drawing for a free helicopter tour!

 

[OldGuy]

To us the food and show were only so-so.

Next time have a couple more of those adult beverages they serve. I was DD, but the other three in our group said that the more they drank, the stronger they made them.

 

[VacationForever]

Next time have a couple more of those adult beverages they serve. I was DD, but the other three in our group said that the more they drank, the stronger they made them.

LOL. I don't do alcohol.

 

[OldGuy]

LOL. I don't do alcohol.

I already surmised that.

The show and food is much better if you do.

For the girls, they seemed more interested in the dancer Paul the more drinks they had.

 

[Pathways]

I'll look into Smith's luau.

Smith's is totally worth it.

Been to two: Smith's - Loved it. Hyatt on Maui - hated it , left early.

With Smith's, we ate in one area and then moved to the show in a 'performance' area. Great tiered seating for all. At the 'drums of the Pacific' at the Hyatt, You just stay at your table which was very uncomfortable with a lot of people having to turn their chairs around. Had people getting up/down all the time in front of you, well, you get the picture. So bad we just left and walked back to our room.

We now know to check on the 'logistics' of both the meal and show

 

[VacationForever]

Been to two: Smith's - Loved it. Hyatt on Maui - hated it , left early.

With Smith's, we ate in one area and then moved to the show in a 'performance' area. Great tiered seating for all. At the 'drums of the Pacific' at the Hyatt, You just stay at your table which was very uncomfortable with a lot of people having to turn their chairs around. Had people getting up/down all the time in front of you, well, you get the picture. So bad we just left and walked back to our room.

We now know to check on the 'logistics' of both the meal and show

Your Hyatt experience was our Smith's experience.

When we went to Smith's some 6 or 7 years ago, the show was at the same location as the dining tables. Unfortunately my back faced the stage and we were also seated far from the stage. It was very difficult to watch the show. It was also extremely noisy and everyone at our table could not understand what was spoken on stage.

 

[OldGuy]

Your Hyatt experience was our Smith's experience.

When we went to Smith's some 6 or 7 years ago, the show was at the same location as the dining tables. Unfortunately my back faced the stage and we were also seated far from the stage. It was very difficult to watch the show. It was also extremely noisy and everyone at our table could not understand what was spoken on stage.

Again . . . not enough booze.

 

[Dean]

No, she had other suggestions for activities (like island helicopter tours), but no discounts. The last time I went to the "Kauai orientation and activities presentation" at KBC, the tour companies offered discounted tickets at the talk. I even won the drawing for a free helicopter tour!

The last time there we found pretty good discounts at the Aulii at the Sheraton, I'm surprised they didn't have anything. You might call Waiohai and ask the concierge there since that's close by.

 

[SueDonJ]

Your Hyatt experience was our Smith's experience.

When we went to Smith's some 6 or 7 years ago, the show was at the same location as the dining tables. Unfortunately my back faced the stage and we were also seated far from the stage. It was very difficult to watch the show. It was also extremely noisy and everyone at our table could not understand what was spoken on stage.

When we went to Smith's dinner was in one area then we moved to the amphitheater for the traditional luau, same as what Pathways says above. Is it possible you thought that once dinner was done, the whole thing was over?