Ticketed lūʻaus on Kauaʻi
These are the main public shows on Kauaʻi that we would compare. Each sells tickets on its own website, and schedules and prices change, so confirm there before you plan around one. Show details below are from each show’s own website, read November 7, 2026.
Lūʻau Kalamaku, Historic Kilohana Plantation, Līhuʻe. Best for a produced show: its website describes a traditional feast with an imu ceremony and live music, followed by a Hawaiian love story, with one Mai Tai from the open bar. It lists Tuesday and Thursday evenings and select Mondays in summer and winter. luaukalamaku.com
Smith Family Garden Lūʻau, Smith’s Tropical Paradise, Wailua. Best for a family-hosted evening: the Smith family has hosted visitors in the Wailua River Valley for over 50 years, and the lūʻau is held in their 30-acre botanical and cultural garden on the east side. smithskauai.com
Grand Hyatt Kauaʻi Lūʻau, Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort, Poʻipū. Best if you are staying on the south shore; its website lists Tuesdays and Saturdays. grandhyattkauailuau.com
Our pick by trip: for a staged show, Lūʻau Kalamaku; for a smaller family evening on the east side, the Smith Family Garden Lūʻau; on the south shore, the Grand Hyatt. None of them is ours, and your hotel’s front desk can tell you what else is running during your stay.
Public show or private lūʻau?
A ticketed show suits two to six people on vacation. You buy seats per person, share the evening with other guests, and the menu, start time, and program are set by the show. On Kauaʻi, the drive matters: both shows above are on the east side, so from Poʻipū or Princeville, plan the drive both ways.
A private lūʻau suits a group that wants its own evening. Families use it for a reunion, an anniversary, or a gathering of several generations. Couples use it for a wedding welcome dinner, and the wedding itself can have music on another day; see wedding entertainment on Kauaʻi. Companies use it as a retreat closing dinner; see corporate events on Kauaʻi. The performers come to your venue on your date, and the program is timed around your dinner and toasts.
If you only want your group to learn some hula, you do not need a lūʻau at all. Private hula lessons on Kauaʻi are a separate service.
What to ask before you book
For a ticketed show, ask: which nights it runs during your stay, how long the drive is from where you are staying, what the ticket includes, what children pay, and what happens if it rains. Check each answer on the show’s own website.
For a private lūʻau, ask your host: does the home, hotel, or resort permit a private event, which space you will use, whether there is a covered or indoor alternative, how setup access works, and how dinner will be handled. If guests are staying on different sides of the island, choose one event location and set the arrival plan before the program time.
Our private lūʻau on Kauaʻi
Hawaii Luau Company’s private lūʻau packages are Plumeria at $2,697 (2 dancers, 1 musician, 1 production manager), Pikake at $3,197 (3 dancers, 2 musicians, 1 production manager), Hibiscus at $4,387 (4 dancers, 2 musicians, 1 fire-knife dancer, 1 production manager), and Bird of Paradise at $5,787 (5 dancers, 3 musicians, 1 fire-knife dancer, 1 emcee, 1 production manager, and fresh flower leis for up to 10 people), each plus Hawaiʻi tax. The price is per package, not per guest. Sound and lights, tables and chairs, and décor are extra, and food is arranged separately. A fire-knife dancer can be added to Plumeria or Pikake for $570 plus tax. Travel, air, lodging, and car rental are additional, with costs to be determined for your location.
To compare with tickets, divide the package price by your guest count. Plumeria at $2,697 for 30 guests is about $90 per guest, but that covers the performers only, before tax, food, and travel to Kauaʻi.
We take private lūʻau inquiries for Poʻipū and Kōloa on the South Shore, Hanalei and Princeville on the North Shore, and Kapaʻa, Wailua, and Līhuʻe on the east side. Start with the actual property address. See private lūʻaus on Kauaʻi.
Our take
For a few people on vacation, buy tickets to a show you can reach easily from where you are staying. If Maui is also on your trip, our own shows are compared in Best Luau on Maui. For family, wedding guests, or colleagues who want their own evening, a private lūʻau at your venue is usually the better fit.