This center is an excellent place to learn how different Polynesians differ in culture from what they wear to the building they live in. The center is very well maintain clean. You will learn the dance the food and music. Though very hard to explore every aspect to this place it will be a great learning experience for all.
It was way more organized than I expected. I particularly appreciated always having hosts, ushers, workers guiding you from show to show and during dinner. I read so many negative reviews I didn t know what to expect. Food was better than expected, everybody can find something to eat, despite preferences. (Got the Alii Luau package) Felt a bit commercial at times, but it does have valuable, cultural information worth learning.
If it's raining when you go, there is barely any cover. Yes you can do many things while there, however is very expensive. Located on the other side of the island makes getting home >1hr.
If you have never been and looking for reviews I would say make this place happen at least once. We were non-stop and day and still didn t get to see it all. Such amazing culture and history hear. The luau was a great experience and a great opportunity to try local food staples. The night show is amazing. Such a great story and amazing talent from all the Polynesian islands. Thanks for the great experience!
Great place to learn more about the polinesian culture
LOVE LOVE LOVE this place. The food is delicious and the culture learned is amazing. I highly recommend the H -Breath of Life show in the evening; it's beautiful. It runs late so take that into consideration when planning with children.
Expectacular! Super family fun activity to do while in Oahu
When you go Hawaii, Highly recommended to go visit PCC in Laie.
Absolutely more than we expected. This is a must see if visiting Oahu. Be sure to get there early. There is a lot to do. The luau and evening show are a must see. The evening show can get a little chilly so bring a light jacket if there in October.
First of all, the experience was nothing short of excellent and amazing!!! If you are going, I would 100% recommend the ambassador package. It is soo worth it. Our tour guide, Shione, was 5 star excellent!! I don't remember any part of my visit that was not superb. Great job and thank you for preserving and sharing your beautiful culture with the rest of the world. When I come back to Honolulu in the future, I simply have to come back to visit the PCC again!
Awesome place. Wish we did not get carried away by the Mormon center which was offering tours to their center, that to from right outside the PCC. Do not go to that free tour. It s waste of your time, which you could very well spend at PCC. You must spend whole day here. Heard Costco offers good discount for Hawaii pass but we did not know until a visitor told us about it at PCC. Love the way they set up different countries and the show of their individual culture. This gives us a reason to visit Honolulu the 3rd time.
Great place to spend the day with the family and learn.
I loved this park / cultural center, it has the basics to understand how the Polynesian countries are, although it is somewhat expensive. If you are on the island of #oahu you can not miss this attraction that also has restaurants tie fas of souvenirs and crafts of Polynesia and a thousand other things, I liked it.
The luau was not that great but the night show was amazing
When you enter the place you would be assuming many interesting things but after a days visit you may realize that the main attraction is the show that happens at the end of the day. During the day they will habe different shoes from general entertainment to cultural information and most of it gets summarized in a show in evening. Food isn't great so best to avoid it. The only drawback is if you want to see the evening show you need to get the full day ticket. Else the park ticket will only cover the general admission. The center also support the students who come to study as they work at this center
Very enjoyable, very informative, many activities , very full day and still much more to see and do and learn. Ha, the breath of life, excellent way to end the day. You can feel the enthusiasm of the Polynesian culture and the fact that 80% of the proceeds goes to the local university, it is a win all the way around. Will definitely be back.
Manmade lagoons, lush grounds and super aloha staff are the positives. My children learned much about the six Polynesian cultures on our guided tour. But as someone who studied cultural anthropology in college I was skeptical at the oddly whitewashed version of Polynesian history. For example, we were told by our Cook Islander guide that the Fijians were the only Polynesian culture that practiced human sacrifice while we stood in front of the tall, rectangular thatched roof temple complete with a stone alter where humans died long ago. I specifically asked if ancient Hawaiians practiced human sacrifice and was told a resounding 'no'. But on a walking tour of Honolulu the next day we were told that human sacrifice was robustly practiced as it was brought over by the Tahitians. A quick search on the Internet confirmed that human sacrifice in Hawaii happened in LUAKINI temples, where humans and animals were offered. Slaves, war captives, criminals and defeated political opponents were sacrificed. So I think the church management needs to do some research on the six cultures that are being presented and taught to the dearly paying public. What they are presenting now is definitely not accurate. I would not recommend the top-tier and uber expensive Ambassador tour for this reason and others. It's far from private as 19 people were in our tour and some were unruly making the learning process difficult. I discretely complained and nothing was done about the very loud and obnoxious family who actually left their frightened and teary 3-year-old behind in the New Zealand house.
So since PCC is expensive here's what I recommend. If you rent a car at Enterprise or National there's a buy one and get one free day pass if you grab the brochure when you pick up your car at the airport (keep your contract handy). So a single $60 admission will get 2 of you in to learn about the six cultures. The more than $500 that I spent for adults and 2 children definitely wasn't worth the single day we spent there. I would skip the luau despite the delicious food as it is expensive. Pineapple drinks also cost $10 in addition and the show is brief. But go back after you've rested and take on the Breath of Ha show at night. It was colorful, interactive and boasted rich pageantry, folklore and dancing. In fact, all things considered the live Ha show was the best part of our long day and would be the only part that should not be missed. Just be aware that the Polynesian Cultural Center does not reflect those cultures accurately as you go through the exhibits and ask questions. One would think the LDS Church, being a world leader in genealogical research, would have done a little more research before launching this center in 1963 as a way for BYU Hawaii college students to earn scholarships. A little more effort towards accurately portraying cultural heritage and academic excellence would benefit this organization as well as the dearly paying patrons who visit to learn about Polynesian cultures.
Polynesian Cultural Center opens around noon and is a fun trip to the different islands of Polynesia and their people throughout the afternoon. If you purchase dinner it starts at 5 p.m. and an exciting night show with fire dancers and Hawaiian Legend starts at 7:30 and lasts about an hour and a half. It's well worth the trip towards the North Shore! Take the bus tour for 30 minutes and see the temple and part of BYU!
It was awesome, it really makes me want to investigate my African heritage. ALOHA.
Amazing experiences, but the food ay the luau was not on par with rest of the day.
Wonderful time, canoe ride, Cook Islands experience , HUKI Canoe program, Tahiti experience , Fugi experience, Luau dinner, Hawaian Journey, HA Breathe of life.
The PCC was great and I absolutely recommend making it a destination in your Hawaii vacation. Educational, family friendly, so many great opportunities to eat and drink and listen to live music. Absolutely spend a few hours here or attend an event and make a day of it!
Wonderful day! Great experience! Learned a lot! Henry was the best bus driver and Anu was our guide both made the experience wonderful!
Worst experience ever! They lost our tickets, couldn't find our registration etc. Tour bus stank and guide was aweful. Paid to tour 7 villages got barely 4 and Hawaii wasn't even one of them!
Didn't get to do or enjoy any activities, for almost $500 for 2 adults and 1 child I feel as if I have been fleeced!
Very commercialized, save your money and look elsewhere!
This is a must-see, don't let the price deter you. It is SO worth every penny. It has the immersive feel, energy, and beauty of an amusement park, but it's imbued with rich, cultural history. It is part-entertainment and part-learning experience and all-quality experience. The whole place is stunning, and there is so much to do and see. We loved visiting the different "islands" and eating food and watching the shows- definitely plan a full day here.
Really cool learning experience about the different cultures of the native Hawaiians (including their dances, music, uses of coconut tree etc). Their dances and music are all different and lovely. Each tribe has their own presentation and hands on activity booths. Definitely worth the visit. You can spend a whole day here!
Amazing place and recommended to any who comes to HI.
Too expensive! Didn't even go in. It was $70 per person.
Amazing, good place to learn about the polynesian culture, the differences, the similarities, the ohana of the beautiful people. I learned alot about the history of my people.
This was awesome! Definitely pay for the show at night (Ha Breath of Life). Try and make sure you have enough time to do two days there so you can have plenty of time to see everything. We paid the extra to be shuttled all over the island and shown the cool areas of Ohau. I wish we would have done the tour first so you know know where you want to go back to and spend more time the days following your tour.
We had a great time we had a luau dinner and had entertainment and we saw how the other cultures lived in the past and it was just a wonderful experience all the way around I can't wait to go again in a couple years food was great
An hour s drive from Honolulu, the performance is very unique, you can choose a different buffet.
We used our GoOahu card to pop in for 2 hours at the end of a day and it was worth it! We could have spent 4. The shows, especially Somoa's, were entertaining and unbeatable. Everyone we encountered was helpful, polite and attentive. Almost too attentive, giving help and directions any time we seemed to be wandering aimlessly. The PCC is Mormon run, so staff are very modest, there's no alcohol, and there's a free church tour running throughout the day. So I guess that makes it even more "family-friendly". Think Disney's Epcot, but much much smaller.
Wise selection of educational and fun activities to learn about the cultures of Polynesia. Plan on spending a whole day here at least.
We walked around the marketplace during our drive around the island. Great place to do a quick stop.
The shows, dancing, and music were excellent and the cultural demonstrations were interesting. Wish there was more historical and cultural information, but the focus is more on entertainment. The bus tour of BYUH is a little off-putting if you are uncomfortable with Mormonism. The food was also underwhelming. The whole day is very orchestrated and efficient, but you only have the illusion of choice. I loved seeing the various cultures represented and hearing the singing.
As twenty-something Honeymooners we absolutely loved it here! We went for a day and wished we had more time in our schedule to go back! Our only complaint is that we wish there was more time in the day to do things! We signed up for the 4pm luau and took a snack break in the early afternoon which left us pressed for time to get to all of the villages. But when we got to the villages we had so much fun!! Can't wait to go back!
Great time. Loved every minute even after 2or 3 times. Will come back again. Thanks
Good place to get to know the native culture of the island
Get the tour. You won't regret it. There is so much to see and do
Incredible job in telling the history and customs of six different Polynesian countries. The meal was excellent and so was the show.
Today was an absolutely incredible experience. I wasn't sure what it would be like, but it was amazing. It's kind of like a Polynesian Disneyland. There are different sections of islands/ cultures and various activities/demonstrations to do inside. The demonstrators are engaging and very entertaining. All of the employees were incredibly kind and it's a very laid back atmosphere. There is plenty to do, even nice shops and great food.
We did The luau package with the Breath of Life. The luau had a variety of delicious food and also entertainment, very worth it (even a roast pig!). The breath of life show was amazing, a beautiful story with captivating dancing and music- and insane fire dancing!! Absolutely worth it.
Some complain about pricing and yes it's a lot but I don't think they appreciate what all of there money goes to- a good cause for students and considering the upkeep of the place and everything else involved, it's not bad. I highly recommend getting the Oahu pass, it pays for itself especially if you come here.
Polynesian Cultural Center is a great place to spend a fun fun day. We have been coming here for 31 years. Every time we see something different. Walk around all the different villages, watch the shows, do some crafts and then have a dinner at whichever place you pick. Last to do is sit back and enjoy the evening show. We take their bus so we relax on the way home. It is a definite place to go.
I believe this is a must-see destination for the island of Oahu. I don't recommend the bus tour package because it doesn't give you enough time to see each of the island exhibits. The food trucks were great, we had a teriyaki beef entree that was fantastic. The exhibits and performances were very well done and the final performance really put the exclamation point on the evening. The luau food was not impressive nor should you expect alcohol: the Center is run by the Mormon church. But that's the only drawback. Drive yourself over and hit the Dole Plantation for some Dole Whip and do the maze and ride the train and you'll have a whole day.
This was by far the best part about our trip to Oahu. We did the ambassador tour and it was well worth the money. We got a a tour guide for the whole days, dinner buffet with luau, and premier seating for the late show "Ha-breath of life". Our tour guide made sure we got to see all of the cultural shows in the park while also giving us information about each place. We got reserved seating for the new canoe show also. The customer service during the entire day was superior and we absolutely LOVED our tour guide Rei. She made the day fun, educational, and stress free. I highly recommend going if you have the chance.
Real Polynesian cultural experience. Friendly aloha spirit, entertaining, a must-see tourist attraction in Hawaii
What an experience. I was looking for a simple walk through museum of sort. No! This is something I suggest everyone visiting to make sure it's on your itinerary. The knowledge of the various groups, games, and the final show. Everything was great!
We had Fani as our tour guide. She was amazing! Very knowledgeable, funny and really took care of us. The shows were incredible and everyone was so nice. The audience felt very included. I highly recommend this place.
Such a great place. So many things to see and so much to learn. We took our two year old and had a great time
Well worth the money. It may seem pricey, but it is an all-day activity and the money goes to college students. Everyone is super nice too.
We did the ambassador tour group with luau and show. There was too much to see, and difficult with little kids that need constant activity. Should have gone back the next day (free second day) but we didn't have the energy after a hot afternoon in the sun. The buffet was good, the night show was nice, but we left early because the kids were tired and we beat the traffic leaving.
The variety of cultural experiences, shows and guide explanations were good, but most of the food was not. It was not all the buffet that went into the store and Hasho package. It's hard enough to see the whole center in a day.
Super cool place. Nice to know different cultures and in like few hours.
What an amazing adventure. Highly recommended for all. A very fun packed and full day. Great buffet on the ambassador package. Definitely worth the money.
The whole Experience was unique, You can understand the importance of there Culture and there strong beliefs of a higher Power of life.
Wonderful experience! Thank you loved every part of it.
A trip to Hawaii is not complete without a visit to the Polynesian Cultural Center. They have done a great job of preserving the traditions of the islands and introducing them to newcomers. Reach show and presentation is performed by natives, and the villages are built with authentic materials and methods.
Had a blast! Please bring an umbrella and take multiple trips back to your car to refill on water. They say be seated for the 230pm boat show by 215pm. We were seated by 2pm and got front row seats, WORTH IT. BUT bring an umbrella. We were pretty sunburnt
Was good a little confusing where to go after your... but was an over all good experience.
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If you come to Oahu and don't come to the Polynesian Culture Center you have missed out on a wonderful experience. Absolute amazing tribute to the people of Polynesia. That's many people's. Not just Hawaii. To tell if their histories, walk through real housing. Of royalty. To see many of the day to day doings of their lives. We got the Super Ambassador package. Our own tour guide, Shaka, from Mongolia was delightful. Informative. Everyone was friendly. It was awesome!!!
Great place for family. So many events and activities! Get to know every polynesian culture with a full day here. It was pouring rain the day we went. Everyone was wearing rain ponchos and the big canoe event that happens at 200 pm every day still went on.
Came here on vacation. They have different themes/areas representing each major Polynesian culture to watch shows and do activities. You will pretty much have to arrive when they open to be able to visit all areas. All the staff are very friendly as they are mostly BYU Hawaii students. I learned something new as PCC is owed by the Mormons. It is a very well run place where everything runs on time. The food was good for being a buffet and not spectacular. Do not go straight to the buffet right at 5PM as there will be long lines. Do other things such as watching the last Samoa show where Kap was awesome. And then go visit the theater and watch the little movie. After that, there will still be plenty of time to eat before the show. Since the show have assigned seats, you can wait close to the opening of the show to get in the stadium. There will be a little half time in the show. The show was very entertaining and the fire performance was great. I went without a guide, but you can pay $60 bucks for for each person if you want. You are able to bring your owe water and snacks if you want to save some money. Overall, it was very enjoyable when things run on schedule and staff are very friendly. The money we paid helps the students at BYU.. more reasons to go there. BTW, book a shuttle to get there, but can be pricy depending on where you are. They will drop off and pickup. Is worth the money as you spend the whole day there.
The show is excellent . This is one of the most exciting places in Hawaii.
The food here is great. I enjoyed the villages here. The canoe ride is fun.It is great to come here.
I'm originally from Oahu, and make it a point to see the "Ha" show every time I go home. What I can say about it over the past 4 visits is that the dinner & show keep getting better and better. Thank you for sharing all of the cultures in a spiritually uplifting way. I've been to other dinner/shows on the island and found a few of those to be quite "gimmicky" and "generic."
Good experience. Little bit to Disney and expensive
Definitely worth the money for the aloha and experience of every island represented. Hands on with making items and learning from the locals. Talking with each individual from different polynesian islands was awesome and very personal. The luau was ok...our mistake was we ate before going on at pounders...so we were already full. The breathe of life show is incredible..amazing performance and artists. it an all day event.
Fun experience! We didn t mind the expense bc the money we spent funds students who volunteer there.
Was blown away by the scenery, performances, knowledge of the guides and the overall experience. I definitely suggest booking the tour while on the island!
Its over priced and over rated. We got there at 4pm, which was a mistake, as we only got to visit two islands. The breif 10 minute performances at these two islands were entertaining. Then we went to the free buffet included in the 79.99 price. After that we walked around different stores but didnt buy anything as it was overpriced. We were killing time until the 730 show started. The show was entertaining but I found myself nodding off during most of it. Wouldn't waste my money on this adventure unless you go early and plan to spend money. We also felt like 2nd class citizens because we didnt purchase the higher priced admission package; for instance, if we wanted the intermission snack at the show we would have had to pay $5, whereas the higher priced package entitled you to free snack... ice cream.
Very good and colourful performance by inhouse troupe. Centre house several huts that have hands on activities relating to Polynesian way of life. Informative and great atmosphere.
Great Experience for visitor & a Local! Everyone Super Kind & Helpful. It was Sunny with a Wind but still Hot. Sunscreen!! Lots of walking & Activities to do. If Handicapped- would suggest bring yr fold up wheelchair. And supportive shoes. If with Kids, I would suggest the Family Pack if you have time to go back again another day. So much to see & Learn. But only older kids- I would say like 6 yrs old. The younger kids just can't focus for that long & get tired & Hungry. Aloha from a Local
Nephi was an amazing Tour guide. She was very friendly and educational. We loved learning about all the Polynesian cultures! Was our absolute favorite so far in Hawaii. Mahalo!
Definitely a must-see for visitors to Oahu. I'm a local and I still enjoyed it.
Polynesian Cultural Center: A Journey Through the Heart of Polynesia
The Polynesian Cultural Center is a world-renowned attraction located on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. Voted as the #1 Oahu attraction, it brings to life the spirit of Polynesia through its six authentic Polynesian villages, luau, and evening show. The center is a non-profit organization that aims to preserve and promote the culture, arts, and traditions of Polynesia.
The center covers an area of 42 acres and features six different villages representing different islands in Polynesia - Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Tahiti, Aotearoa (New Zealand), and Hawaii. Each village has its own unique architecture style and cultural practices that are showcased through interactive exhibits such as canoe rides or traditional games.
One of the highlights of visiting the center is experiencing their award-winning Ali'i Luau. This traditional Hawaiian feast features an all-you-can-eat buffet with dishes like kalua pig (roasted pig), poi (taro paste), lomi salmon (salmon salad), haupia (coconut pudding) among others. The luau also includes live music performances by local artists who showcase their talents through hula dancing or playing instruments like ukulele or guitar.
After dinner at Ali'i Luau comes Ha: Breath Of Life - a spectacular evening show that tells a story about Mana - a young boy's journey to find his place in life while discovering his heritage along the way. The show features over 100 performers who dance hula or perform fire knife dances while wearing colorful costumes that represent different cultures from across Polynesia.
Apart from these main attractions at PCC there are many other activities you can enjoy during your visit such as learning how to make leis or coconut husking demonstrations which give visitors an insight into daily life in these islands.
The center also offers educational programs for students who want to learn more about Pacific Island cultures including workshops on music & dance lessons taught by professional instructors from each village.
In addition to being an amazing tourist destination for visitors from around the world PCC also serves as an important cultural institution for locals living on Oahu island where they can learn more about their own heritage while sharing it with others too!
If you're planning a trip to Hawaii then be sure not miss out on this incredible experience at PCC!
polynesia.com
