Any suggestions on luaus, dining, activities?

The question is way too broad. Can you narrow it down? I recommend getting a copy of The Ultimate Kauai Guide. This is the perfect travel book for first timers to Kauai. If you have any specific questions after reading this , then ask.

oops~
this is my first time using this website. I am especially interested in any suggestions on luas that are highly recommended.

Hey traveltraveltravel,

A suggestion....there's so much information already posted on all your questions that you'll be able to read for hours. Just type luaus (for example) in the text search box and choose Hawaii in the topic search. Just watch how much info pops up. Do the same thing with restaurants, etc.

But if your questions or concerns aren't answered after doing a couple of searches, then definitely ask.

click on my name here; i just did a trip report on Kauai. We didn't do a luau; had done one before. If you have never done one though, you should. Definitely get the Ultimate Kauai Guidebook, I bought it online from books a million.com - another book I liked was Kauai Underground

Activities, helicoter 45 minute ride, drive up grand canyon of kauai, hike the canyon ridge on drive up 1/2 day, 1/2 day at poipu beach, start early and drive to kee beach-hike the mountain ridge to take in the views-then spend 2-3 hrs. snorkeling at kee beach ( protected lagoon very calm water), drive to sprouting horn -botinical gardens,go to fern grotto-and water fall sites. NICK

Hiking up a barstool drinking a Kona Fire Rock looking for whales...ATV tour...Watching The Weather Channel to see how cold it is back home...
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Here's a portion of my "Kauai dining" '02/'03 trip report. Hope it helps:
RESTAURANTS: We hit all the usual faves, The Brick, Pac Cafe, Lizard Lounge, Coconuts, Duke's, Rob's Good Time Grill, Eggbert's, Lemongrass, Bullshed, Waimea Brew Co, etc.
Tried some new ones:
Hukilau-Located in the Coconut Beachboy behind the Coconut Marketplace. Very good. We heard they are operated by the same people who own Gaylord's. Good wine list too. Service still needs some work but "hang loose" for a good dinner. Looks like they did a good job remodeling the Beachboy,too. Came close to sitting in on a time share presentation...Phew!
Lighthouse Bistro-Kilauea. Another nice place. Excellent fish burrito/tacos.
Ono Loa: Kapaa in the Coconut Mktplace. Took over the space formally occupied by The Taco Dude. Good Mex and Hawaiian plates. Pretty inexpensive.
The Shack: A chain but good grub, big portions and also pretty inexpensive...for now....Sports bar located in the old Kapaa Fish and Chowder House.
Tropical Burger Too-The new location is in the CocoMktplace (the other is in the Poipu Center w/ Roy's and Keoki's). Breakfast, lunch and dinner. Pretty good and relatively inexpensive. Just don't get the tuna or chicken salad sandwiches. VERY small.
Olympic Cafe-Kapaa. Had a kalua pork breakfast burrito that lasted me until dinner. Big! Mrs Kal had to get a "go box" for her b'fast burrito.
Wild Bill's Cafe-Next Border's Book in Lihue. Good coffee drinks, sandwiches, wraps. Also have i'net access if you really want to look at a computer on vacation.
Aussie Tim's BBQ-Wailua, next to the Wailua Family Restaurant. Ate there last year and it was very good. Ate this year and got "The Trash Can" dinner and it was excellent! We were "passing smoke" for 3 days after the meal.
Didn't get a chance to hit some other new ones but they were getting good reviews, this one in particularoipu Broiler...in the old House of Seafood.
Happy Talk Lounge at Bali Hai restaurant/HBR. Sunday live jazz. Good drinks and you can't beat the view.
BTW...Starting 1-1-03 Kauai Restaurants are now "No Smoking" zones. But there is some formula they use to determine if you're a bar or restaurant so non-smokers will still be taking their chances.
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Mucho mahalos,
Kal
267 mo' days.

OK, here are my luau comments:

Smiths has a big, extravagant show. Dinner is in a large covered pavilion then the guests move to a covered ampitheatre for the "pageant." The grounds are lovely, if you get there early you can stroll around and look at the peacocks and plants. This is the only luau whenre you have the option of skipping the pricey meal and just attending the show (much cheaper.)

Coconut Beach is a smaller operation. I really like this luau. It is held in a permanent luau pavilion at the Coconut Beach Resort. The guests eat at long tables and stay in their seats for the show.

Marriott is the only luau on Kauai I can think of that is actually on the beach. It is only held in the summer, once a week.

Hyatt and Princeville hotels have luaus. Hyatt is usually outside in the "luau garden", occasionally it is held in the ballroom if the weather is bad. Hyatt's show Drums of the Pacific is impressive. Princeville's is held out by the pool, nice scenery but some of it can be obscured by the tent. Hotel luaus are very "banquet-like " in my opinion.

There is a luau several times a week at Kilohana plantation.

Honestly, nobody goes to a luau for the food, LOL. The meal will probably not be memorable.

If you like your mai tais strong, tip the bartender as soon as you arrive even though drinks are included in the price.

vivi, I can't recall but are you on Kauai?
If so, is The Grove still set for a June re-opening?
Thx,
Kal D. Duffer

I've done 3 luaus on Kauai, Smith's Tripical paradise, Gaylord's, and Hyatt Hotel.
I would rate them as follows:
1. Smith's
2. Hyatt
3. Gaylord's
Smith's has nice grounds to walk around prior to luau. Lots of tropical foliage, birds, ducks, peacosks. Also their show is impressice for the first time visitor, as it opens with a volcano that erupts. Food was pretty good for luau food.
Hyatt had the best drinks. Not limited to watered down mai-tais. They offered pina coladas, blue hawaiians,and other tropical libations. Food pretty good, Hyatt puts out decent fare.
Gaylord's was very mundane, I thought. Held indoors in a big hall-like building. Very crowded. Not tropical in any way. Food was pretty goood though. Atmosphere left alot to be desired.

Consider these good restauranst on south shore: Breach House, Roy's, Plantation Gardens, Poipu Beach Grill, Joe's On the Green, Brick Oven Pizza, Kaleheo Steak House, Pomodoro's, Brennecke's.

We did the Smith's luau and it was OK (touristy and a bit tacky - like stuck in the 60ies - but pleasant and homey nevertheless, like a big old fashioned wedding reception). Food was OK, the show was pretty good.

BrendaM, you gave me a good laugh with the Breach House? LOL

Take your own mosquito repellent to the luau at Smiths and save yourself some bucks. You will need it, but the mosquitos do not detract from the show. We enjoyed the gardens (with representations from different Polynesian Islands) and the show.

Kal- Yes I am on Kauai. And there is NO WAY Kukui Grove will be ready for grand re-opening by June!! Sigh.

vivi,
Probably being done by the same company doing the road work in front of the Pono Kai? ;-)
Kal
<[email protected]>

Thank you all for your suggestions. We are looking forward to our trip and look forward to going to the places that were mentioned.

Don't go to a luau expecting to find anything "authentic". There is nothing authentic about any of the luaus presently offered in Hawaii. They are all designed to separate tourists from their dollars. If you enjoy what luaus offer, that is great. But none of them are authentic luaus. They are just entertainment.

Brick Oven Pizza - our all time favorite place to eat on Kauai. Not fancy, but really good and reasonably priced. Try the salami pizza.