Showing posts with label Smith's Luau. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Smith's Luau. Show all posts

Friday, February 24, 2012

Feb. 24, 2012: Just Live Zip Line, Smith's Luau

So I hear we all slept through one of Kauai's rare lightening and thunderstorms last night.  Must have made us all think we were back home in the midwest!  Anyway, by the time we got up, it was another beautiful day!  Winds were even way down and I believe the surf advisory for the the east side was lifted. 

First order of things was to get breakfast.  So we went to Dani's in Lihue.  Nothing fancy, but the food is good and reasonably priced.
 We still had a couple hours before our 1pm zip lining tour, so we decided to check out the area by the airport lighthouse.  We use to love to go there and watch the whales, but a couple years ago the road was so bad, that we weren't able to get there and didn't try last year.  So we were extremely happy to see that the road was in great shape, except for the last short area right by the lighthouse.  We hung out there and watched a few whales flapping their tails, but are still waiting for any breeching this year.
 Finally it was time for the zip line.  None of us had ever done this before so we chose to 3 line course with Just Live next to the humaine society in Puhi.  Our instructors were David and David and were very good.  I highly recommend this company.

 I handed my DSLR over to Ken since he wasn't going on the tour and he was in charge of taking pictures of us as we zipped by.  I took my underwater camera and did get a few videos.
 Here we are at the 2nd platform.
The view from the top of our 2nd zip.
Coni coming in for a landing on the final zip.
 When we were done there I noticed the farmers market at the stadium in Lihue had just started, so we headed there.  It was the first time we have been to that market and I really liked it.  Lots of venders, lots of parking, good prices.  Finally got my tropical flowers!   Also some more apple bananas.
 Soon it was time to head over to Smith's Luau.  This is our 5th or 6th time there and we still love it!  We got there shortly after it opened and took the tram ride around the garden. 
 Then we walked around enjoying the grounds and the beautiful weather we are having.
 Coni and John with the Sleeping Giant behind them.
 Even some of the peacocks put on a display.
 When it was time to get the pig out of the ground, the notice was sounded.
 Ken elected to stay in the diningroom and hold our spot.  Or course he picked the last table to be sent to the buffet.
 Just a bit of the buffet.  The food was excellent and always.  Love the teriyaki beef , sweet and sour fish, salad with the poppy dressing, stir fry veggies, mashed potatoes, purple sweet potatoes, chicken, stir fried rice, mac salad, cucumber salad, not to mention the coconut cake and fresh fruit---and the mai tais!
 Then we were off to the international show.
 They were charming as ever.
 I felt a bit sorry for the guys when they were dancing.  There was some sort of medical emergency developing in the audience.  But they continued in their professional manner.
 Once the medical crew arrived, the show was temporarily halted until the patient was removed.  Not sure what happened, but he was alert when they took him out on a stretcher.
 Then the show continued.
 The fire show are always a crowd pleaser.
It was another great luau.  In fact it was another great day!  Tomorrow will be another busy one---moving to another room and off to a helicopter tour.

Thursday, March 4, 2010

2010-3-4  Lawai and Smith's Luau:


Can't have visitors in Kauai and not take them to Olympic Cafe!  This time we went for breakfast, but lunch and dinner are great here, too!
 We even purchased the mugs as souvenirs. 
 Yummmmm
 Then we were off to do some more snorkeling---back to Lawai


 snorkeling portrait!
 there's our friends coming to great us
 Tim spotted this guy first.  Don't often see them!---flying gunard.  I've seen one at Waikiki Beach and now this one.
 school's in
 the black triggerfish
 emporer
 male surge parrotfish
  how Ken likes to enjoy the beach!
 We headed back to our condo fairly early.  We had reservations for Smith's Luau tonight.  We've been several times and still love it.
 Loving the views from our lanai.  We don't get to enjoy them as much as I'd like since we're usually gone all day.

 As I recall, the grounds open around 5, so we were there shortly after that.
 staking our place out.
 Then we went and wandered around the grounds.
 Love the garden setting!


 don't know what kind of flowering tree this is, but their flowers were so full and pretty.
 there is even this statue in the gardens
 and a couple ponds with lots of flowering bushes around them---and "sleeping giant" mountain in the background.
 and a little Japanese garden type bridge going over to a little island
 After wandering the garden and taking the free guided tram ride, we were ready to head to our table and get ready for the luau buffet and all you can drink mai tais (and beer or juice)
 Cheers to another great vacation
 There were other free drinks, too. Like these Blue Hawaiians
 and to be patriotic, how about red white and blue drinks?!
 The food is very good, too.  And plentiful

 awwwwe
 I think they're having a good time

 soon it was time to wander around some more

 portrait time, again!

 Then the dance show
 We really like the family like feel of this performance. 



 love the fire balls

 and the fire dancer.

Another great day and night!  Made even more special by sharing it with our kids. 

Our trips to the Hawaiian Islands

Oahu, Kauai, The Big Island, Maui Many years ago---around the year 1998--- Ken and I went to yet another timeshare presentation in St. ...