We will be on Kauai in August and want to attend a luau. Does anyone have any recommendations? Do you suggest making advanced reservations and has anyone done this over the internet? Since my traveling companions have given me the task of making the reservations, I'd appreciate any feedback from the Fodor's group. I'd also welcome your input on any 'don't miss' activities suitable for a group of active '50 somethings'!

I have been to more luaus than I care to remember -- thanks to my family. They are all indistinguishable. The performers are local school kids, the buffet food is awful and the tropical drinks are watered down and warm.
You might want to make reservations a few days in advance. That's more than enough time.
The only thing I can add is that the only worse thing than a luau outdoors is one indoors. So make sure that you go when there is no threat of significant rain. If there is they will shove you into an indoor theater. The show must go on, you know.

I heard the Luau at the Princeville hotel is pretty good and the food is superior.

In my humble opinion, luaus are overpriced by about half! Having said that, some are much better than others. I disagree with Vic above that the dancers are high school kids - the dancers at The Royal Waikoloan Luau {Big Island) and the Horizon Show at Polynesian Cultural Center (on Oahu) are fabulous! Even at the Marriott Luau on Kaanapali, the dancers were very good but I thought the luau there overall was not good! The MC was so lame and overly chatty, and there wasn't nearly enough dancing! The drinks at all the luaus are jokes!

The problem with the food is that most visitors from the mainland have never acquired a taste for LomiLomi Salmon,
Poi (definitely not Poi!) and some of the other traditional Hawaiian foods so even if they're prepared expertly, you probably won't like them. Most people do like the Kailua Pig but that's about all. The luaus do have a selection of other foods to choose from, so that you won't leave hungry but the food that most people consume is certainly not worth what you pay for it!

BUT many people just don't feel they've been to Hawaii without going to a luau so in that case, if you just really want the experience, I'd go to the one at Princeville or the one at Smith's Tropical Gardens on the Eastern Coast. Haven't been to either one but have heard some good things about each. I believe a group of friends might enjoy a luau more than just a single couple would - You have your own party going whether the luau is topnotch or not!

I hope a lot of other posters will respond to this question. I'm always interested in whether people think the luaus are worth the money.

In my humble opinion, luaus are overpriced by about half! Having said that, some are much better than others. I disagree with Vic above that the dancers are high school kids - the dancers at The Royal Waikoloan Luau {Big Island) and the Horizon Show at Polynesian Cultural Center (on Oahu) are fabulous! Even at the Marriott Luau on Kaanapali, the dancers were very good but I thought the luau there overall was not good! The MC was so lame and overly chatty, and there wasn't nearly enough dancing! The drinks at all the luaus are jokes!

The problem with the food is that most visitors from the mainland have never acquired a taste for LomiLomi Salmon,
Poi (definitely not Poi!) and some of the other traditional Hawaiian foods so even if they're prepared expertly, you probably won't like them. Most people do like the Kailua Pig but that's about all. The luaus do have a selection of other foods to choose from, so that you won't leave hungry but the food that most people consume is certainly not worth what you pay for it!

BUT many people just don't feel they've been to Hawaii without going to a luau so in that case, if you just really want the experience, I'd go to the one at Princeville or the one at Smith's Tropical Gardens on the Eastern Coast. Haven't been to either one but have heard some good things about each. I believe a group of friends might enjoy a luau more than just a single couple would - You have your own party going whether the luau is topnotch or not!

I hope a lot of other posters will respond to this question. I'm always interested in whether people think the luaus are worth the money.

Lee - I think Vic and Ruth are both half right. I've been to about a half dozen luaus over the past five years on Oahu, Maui and Kauai and if you really want to go to one, GO! It's way better than saying "I wish I would have." Kauai is definitely the best island to visit - (sort of like Maui about ten or fifteen years ago) and the luau at Smith's Tropical Paradise was good. Our kids (7 and 9) loved it. Your group would probably also enjoy their Fern Grotto cruise up the Wailua River - a bit hokey, but it doesn't kill anyone to be a tourist for a day! Depending on how active your group is, you can also rent canoes and kayaks and paddle up to the Fern Grotto on your own. Hiking the NaPali coastline on the North Shore is a must - there are some shorter hikes of about 2 or 3 miles that our kids handled easily. A helicopter ride is a great way to see the island, and a trip to the Waimea Canyon should be on your list too (go early and hope for a clear day!) We had fun at the Guava Plantation, but there are so many things to do - it all depends on what your interests are. For a real experience, have lunch at Bubba's Burgers in Kapaa. Have fun and enjoy the luau!

I didn't mean to imply that you should not go to a luau. It's hokey and you don't get much bang for your buck, but its one of those things that you must do in Hawaii.
As for things to do, the snokeling trips are fun. For those new to snokeling, have no fear, they provide floaters and there is always a staff member in the water to provide assistance. My daughter has been going it since she was seven. The more expensive boats are worth the extra. They are less crowded which is important because most of the time you're cruising around.
Another fun experience is zipping along the Napali Coast in a motorized rubber raft. Because you're so close to the water, it feels like you're tranversing rapids on the Colorado. The only difference is its constant. There are no tranquil moments.
We rented a very fast motorized small boat on the Wailea River. That was fun too. You have the option of renting it for a half day or the whole day. Take the half day. Because of the speed of the thing, you can go from the mouth of the river to the furthest point you can safely navigate in five minutes. They have docking facilities at the fern grotto. We took a picnic lunch. It was a lot of fun.
If you are not on a tight budget, the Hyatt is by far the best hotel on the island. It's a beautiful facility with a nice balance between luxurious tranquility and liveliness. It's also sited on the best part of the island.

Thanks for all your responses - good, bad and indifferent. We know luaus are hokey, but feel it's something that we need to experience since some of us are 'first timers' to Hawaii. Also, thanks for the activity recommendations, I'll let you know how we fared when we return.

Lee, Forgot to mention - Eat at Caffe Coco in Kapaa if you want a different dining experience. It's a new, mostly outdoor restaurant, set at the edge of a sugarcane field. The main dining "room" is a huge gravel courtyard surrounded by big fruit trees, and it is set up with an eclectic mix of tables and chairs under umbrellas, gazebos, trees, trellises. It is all strung with tiny white lights, and at night, it looks like a fairyland. The food is an exotic mix of vegetarian, seafood, Indian, etc. The fruits from the trees are used in the salsas, relishes, and other dishes. They don't have a liquor license so you'll need to BYOB. There's a store right across the street where we bought a bottle of wine.

On some nights, they have live jazz. The service is very laid back, Hawaiian-style (Translation: Slow), but we really enjoyed it. There's something of a seventies/hippie touch, just very different and refreshing! (The waitress had long hair on her head AND her legs!) If you go, let me know what you thought! Oh, yes, they burn Citronella buckets in case of mosquitos, and also have "Off" that you can borrow. (I hate bugs!) Have a fabulous vacation!

We have been going to Hawaii for over 20 years and enjoy being a tourist and a traveler. We have enjoyed the luau at Smith's Tropoical Garden/Luau. It shows the influence of all the groups that make Hawaii a special place. Very friendly people, with a separate place to eat and a covered place to watch the performance. Entertaining and nicely done. Enjoy your trip. Oh, my sister really enjoyed getting her picture taken with the performers--we just used our camera and they cheerfully poised with any and all. A nice memory.