Polynesian Cultural Center
55-370 Kamehameha Hwy, Laie, HI, 96762
Polynesian Cultural Center Menu
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Address :
55-370 Kamehameha Hwy
Laie, HI, 96762 - Phone (855) 901-5145
- Website https://www.polynesia.com
- Click To Get Directions
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Jennie H.
I didn't expect the price to be so high, but that's fine now that I know. I am looking forward to bringing my 8 year old here when she's visiting, because there are a LOT of activities that I know she'll love. The only thing I thought was kind of weird was the fact that the tram tour takes you to the temple (which looks beautiful), and you watch a video about Mormonism or something. You don't have to go, though, like I chose not to. It was a fun atmosphere though, and the kids working there are on scholarship for BYU for the most part, so they're happy to be there. The views aren't bad either!
(4)xiaoting l.
so boring ï¼nothing to eat in the buffet ，What's more?Especially the 1.5hours show only yelling yelling yelling.A small place in north point waste your time and money
(1)Robert F.
Definitely a place to visit if you enjoy culture. First of all, it's an all day thing starting at 1200 so plan and prepare for it. I would recommend sunscreen, comfortable, presentable clothing and shoes, an umbrella, and bottles of water. You can purchase drinks there but it's cheaper to bring your own. The people there are very friendly and will give you awesome directions to whatever you are trying to attend. The center also has maps and schedules so you can stay on top of all the shows they present of all the islands. I recommend the Ohana Lua package which consists of the the tour of the center, the Lua, and the Breath of Life show which is during the evening. The tour consists of a number of islands and their cultures, which includes activities, dances, songs, shows, and food that include interaction with the crowd and children. Awesome games and dances to take part of to truly appreciate the different cultures of the islands. The Ohana Lua is a celebration which consists of more dancing, culture, and a lot of food, like all you can eat. The food is extremely delicious and plenty for all. Great dinner and a show. the breath of life Hula show is amazing. Great combination of lights, music, singing, and dancing that tells a tale of family and tradition. I highly recommend the show. It's a show that is about an hour and a half long, with a combination of all of the islands cultural dances and songs. It has a intermission where they serve ice cream for about five dollars or free if you get the ambassador package. Plenty of beautiful colors, cultures, and family fun. This was my second time attending and I recommend all.
(5)Julya A.
Awesome experience! This is a must do if you are ever in Oahu! Great culture, food, shows and atmosphere! Fun for all ages!
(5)Aubrey B.
My husband and I had an absolute blast at the PCC! It was my first time, and his second time. I loved going to the shows of each of the cultures. The Tongan and Samoan shows were super entertaining. I would recommend being a volunteer when any of the cast members ask for them! It's a lot of fun and sometimes you get fun little gifts (like a crown weaved from coconut tree leaves!) The cultures are so beautiful and it's awesome to be able to be submerged in them. The food at the Aloha Luau was delicious! I especially loved the purple rolls, haha. Don't even get me started on Ha. The show was incredible. It's worth every penny.
(5)J S.
Wonderful performance ! I enjoyed my time here so much, I would recommend It to everyone visiting HAWAII. Kept my attention, entertainment was great. Very educational, cultural, and the food was exceptional! Buffet style, "poi" was different. Shows are on throughout the day, and the grand finale was worth waiting for! I have nothing bad to say I was impressed from start to end!
(5)Clint B.
Divided into seven sections or villages -- Aotearoa, Fiji, Hawaii, Marquesas, Samoa, Tahiti, and Tonga -- the PCC makes for a great place to spend the day. Each village has different exhibits, performances, and activities to showcase unique parts of each of their culture. Demos consisted of things like trying to make fire with two sticks, testing your coordination with poi balls, playing a stick game following certain patterns and rhythms, weaving baskets, and throwing spears (I happened to win among my group). Shows included a IMAX-type of movie with breathtaking footage of Hawaii and a canoe pageant with dances and music from each of the seven Polynesian cultures. The most entertaining show may have been the one in Tonga, where they bring up three volunteers from the audience to perform drum routines. The interaction was hilarious, but of course it partly depends on who they bring up. This day they had a guy from Jersey, a tourist from Japan, and one from Australia and they all had the crowd tearing up. Our admission included the Alii luau and the night show (Ha, Breath of Life). The park opens around noon and can get crowded, so allow yourself plenty of time to take everything in. It can get hot, too, so stay hydrated and bring plenty of sunscreen.
(5)Diana D.
For me, it was very educational and I could feel the students' pride and passion for what they do. I would recommend to first time visitors to Oahu. I enjoyed the performances and wish I got to see all of them. They open about midday and they give you a map with timed shows so you can choose your own adventure. A lot of the shows are out in the sun so be prepared for that. If you have to camp out for a show (I mean, reserve a front row seat) it has to be the river show. The buffet was so so. The IMAX movie "Hawaiian Journey" was beautiful and made me wish I can see all the Hawaiian islands. Also, it's nice and cool in there. When it was time for Ha: Breath of Life, I was already tired and sleepy and it seemed like it was a repeat of what we saw during the day.
(4)Dave H.
Block off a whole day to visit here. We arrived shortly before the Center's 12pm opening time and still found ourselves rushing around to fit everything in! They seem to be aware of this, and have dozens of guides at the entrance who build itineraries for visitors. Coming from a country whose exposure to Polynesia is almost completely restricted to Rugby World Cup matches, this place was a real eye-opener. Each part of the park is devoted to a particular region with amazing exhibits, demonstrations and performances. Overall, the "day" portion of our visit was really educational and fun. The "evening" portion is a luau and the 'Ha: Breath of Life' show. The luau was fine, after hours of roaming around I was happy to just relax with a bit of food. The show was interesting enough too, although having seen a lot of performances during the day I might have been a bit too jaded to really enjoy it. The Center is an amazing place though, well worth the entrance fee.
(4)Bailey K.
This is a wonderful place to have a great time and learn about Polynesian culture. It is also very impressive and honorable that most of the employees are students and the money is used for a university level education. It is heart warming that the work of the students and the money is truly going to better all of our futures and no line the pockets of a CEO or stock holder..... I had a Tour Guide there - Holcom. I cannot even begin to explain what a joy he was to spend the day with. He was so knowledgeable, kind, helpful, caring and just impressive. Holcom helped make our trip here absolutely splendid, and I truly thank him for that. If he continues on this path, he will have a great future teaching customer service to Disney and Nordstrom (they could both learn a lot from Holcom). I highly recommend a visit to this cultural wonderland; educational and fun at the same time!
(5)Maisie K.
You can't beat the price of an all day experience that includes a luau, and show. However, with little kids, walking around all day, then doing a luau and starting a show at 7:30pm is a stretch. We ended up skipping the show and getting a small refund. Each village did demonstrations which were interesting, but my kids didn't have the attention span to sit through too many of those. If you don't see all the demonstrations most of the villages and huts end up looking the same and you can speed through those. The canoe pageant was interesting however I felt like I had seen hours of native dancing by the end of dinner. It is owned by the LDS church and staffed by 70% LDS members (some there on their mission) and BYU-Hawaii students. Therefore the mission village, is solely about the LDS missionaries to the Polynesian islands. Before the luau, they'll do a prayer in Hawaiian (I believe). Included in your ticket is an LDS temple tour. If your kids try to collect all the stamps in their "passport" for a prize, the last stamp is at the temple. If you don't plan on visiting the temple, be prepared to give your kids a different prize. Proceeds of the center goes to BYU and their students, which wasn't abundantly clear on their website.
(3)Terri K.
ruuuuuuuuuuunnnnnnnnn!! This is a Mormon conspiracy under the guise of very bad food and "primitive" cultures! I was trapped here for hours. If you love over priced theme parks, corny demonstrations and bad food, by all means! I can think of better ways to spend my time in paradise!
(1)Jeffrey G.
Excellent, well done; we did not get the Luau but saved some $$ by just getting the all you can eat buffet. The steak was tender in gravy and mushrooms, the fish was in coconut sauce and we also loved the clams. Service was friendly and inviting. Tourist and locals need to do this attraction !!! I Highly recommend it \000/
(5)Ryan B.
So you've come to Hawaii and have been wondering why everyone isn't walking around in grass skirts and you haven't seen any grass huts from the freeway. Sure you notice that everywhere you go, people are saying "Aloha" and "Mahalo" and throwing up the "chaka" or "hang loose" hand signal. Well, if you're looking for some education on Hawaiian culture, short of going to a Luau or a visit to the Bishop museum, then get yourself a ticket to the Polynesian Cultural Center. It's kind of like making a visit to Williamsburg/Jamestown settlements in Virginia. It's a place for you to see and feel some history and culture. If you're into that kind of thing. Hawaii and the Polynesian islands have a rich and deeply spiritual history and culture. The things that are emphasized here are mainly song, dance, costumes and old way of life. It's meant to be entertaining and fun, not a lecture hall. So, kind of like Disneyland, the different Polynesian islands are sectioned off in their own little villages. You are given a map and a show schedule, so you can customize your itinerary. You can wander around the park freely taking in the sights, sounds and shopping. And you can go into each village and watch and participate in their shows. For example Samoa, has their own songs and dances, and they also show you how to climb a coconut tree, crack a coconut open without the use of an ax, and demonstrate how they cook pig and potatoes in the ground. My favorite is Aotearoa (New Zealand). When you walk into their village, they have these "warrior-like" games that you can play. At their show, they have these songs sung with great harmony. This place is great for kids, or the kid in you. In the afternoon they have this "canoe pageant" where all the villages have dancers come out on flat-beds boats in the middle of the compound (on the river) singing and dancing to the beats of their culture. It's a parade and it's fun! Grinds (eats). You have the option of going to a Polynesian style buffet or American style buffet. Should you opt to do the Luau at night, you'll be seated at a table with people you don't know and watch opening ceremonies where they bring out the roasted pig and then put on another dance show. You'll most likely experience eating Poi. The purple past-like substance made from taro root -that is a staple of Hawaiian culinary culture. Note: Oahu is very Asian, where most places you go to eat are a mix of different Asian foods combined into "mixed plates". Hawaiian food itself is very distinct, and you don't really get it on the mainland or out and about in Hawaii. You usually have to seek out places that serve "authentic" Hawaiian food. Or you find a couple of Hawaiian dishes on menus mixed with the other Asian food. so normally when you attend one of these luaus, they try to put mostly Hawaiian food on the menu so that you can experience it. I also recommend seeing the song and dance production of Ha: Breath of life. Normally at night. If you are short on island time though, I would say, pick either a day at the PCC or go see Ha: Breath of life, so that you can still get all your other sight seeing in. If you are not familiar with Hawaii or Polynesia, I highly recommend a trip here. Don't just spend all your time in Waikiki shopping. Also go see Bishop museum and Iolani palace if you really want to get a sense of the history of Hawaii and it's people.
(4)Noémie B.
Such a great day at the PCC ! But not enough time to see all islands ... Should open earlier... We love that place and we'll come back for sure !
(4)Nick H.
First and foremost, the employees here are so friendly and seem to honestly love what they do. That translates well to a very enjoyable and expansive experience. Not the park's fault, but this place is an absolute tourist haven. Yes, I was a tourist, but I wasn't walking around with a scrunched-like facial expression, holding my phone up constantly with a derpy look on my face and being oblivious to the surroundings. Why go to these marvelous places when you clearly have one love and one love only, that being your smartphone? The show at the amphitheater was called Ha: Breath of Life, and was very well done. Slightly hard to follow but the talent of the cast was top-notch. Average to above-average concessions and drinks. I'd recommend it
(4)Verlin F.
We did this little trip as a bonus to our go-oahu card. Seems like there are two options if you want to go to an "authentic" luau in Hawaii, PCC and Germaine's. Disclaimer: This place is ran by BYU, so there is NO ALCOHOL. Not that we are raging alcoholics, but there is something to be said about being in Hawaii at a luau with a Mai Tai in your hand. I guess I didn't know what I was getting myself into, or what I was thinking when I would be eating food at a luau. Maybe I thought it would be more intimate? In reality it was more like going to a Hawaiian themed night at Hometown Buffet. The food was all 'meh', not really good but not completely crappy. It was edible. We were placed in the overflow seating area which was outside of the actual dining hall (which was huge). Had to walk all the way back inside to get drinks. It also appeared that the inside had more food options than the outside which I thought was really annoying. Had I been liquored up I might have enjoyed myself a little more here (again: not a raging alcoholic). The best part of the night was the Ka show. Sure, it was a bit cheesy, but you could tell that the actors were really into it, and the story itself I thought was pretty well interpreted. Unfortunately we were seated at the very very side. I don't know how we could have gotten closer to the middle. We would still see what was going on, but the experience probably would have been better if we were seated closer to the middle. There is a little break in between the show where they bring out fruit and sorbet bowls for $5 and is more than enough to share. IF I were to come back here I would approach it completely different. PCC is huge, and is more than just a luau and a show. There are other restaurants and attractions to see. It is almost like a Polynesian theme park that has all of these other attractions that you could go to. I wish that we were able to check them out, because some of it looked pretty interesting. A flask or 4 would have immensely boosted my experience. It's not like they check anyone at the door or anything. I would plan to go early as it is on the Northeast side of the Island. It would be cool to head there early and make a whole day out of staying over there.
(3)Inthira M.
This is in continuation to another review I had posted about my family and I doing a lot of activities because my dad was visiting from the mainland. I'm born and raised here on Oahu, but for some reason have never come to PCC. So, I thought what better time than with my family whose in town. I noticed that the prices for this luau (depending on the package you get) are pricier than others, but you really do get what you pay for. We went with the Ambassador package which came with a tour guide, backstage pass, prime seats at the main show, free dessert during intermission, and a complimentary dvd souvenir. Everyone that works there is really friendly and funny. I loved the fact that everyone kept referring to us as their family or cousins-- it really made you feel like you were 'part of the ohana.' Nickie, our tour guide was an expert at navigating us to the different shows on each 'island.' This was good because you didn't have to really plan how you were going to spend your time there, but if you are with small kids it might be better to do things on your own so that they can participate in more of the children's activities. Our tour ended with a canoe ride and at 5:00pm Nickie dropped each of us off at the different dining locations. We went for the Prime Dining, which isn't your typical luau food. This one had things like kalbi, roast chicken, tofu & veggies, shrimp cocktail, assorted salads, prime rib and.... CRAB LEGS!!! I believe the prime dining is the top package you can get, but seeing that all the reviews stated that the food wasn't good for the 'regular' package, I was very happy with our selection. After you finish eating there are a couple of activities you can do. I'm not sure if it is because of the Ambassador package we got, but you can choose between a movie experience that's interactive in that the seats move and it will have special effects like water spraying on you, you can take a tram tour of Laie, or take the backstage tour. We only had time for the backstage tour and the movie experience. When it was time for the main show we were in the 4th row!!! I've never been so close to a live show before, so I was definitely excited. It was a great story.. I even almost cried at one part. The only thing I'll say is that although you will always be entertained the whole time you're there, it is a very long day. We got there at 1:00pm and the main show ended at 9:00pm. But, other than that is was a great experience and I am so glad I can finally say I've been to PCC!!
(5)Chris R.
We were here for two hours and of that two hours, the Samoan Village was the most entertaining and funny presentation we saw. They make you laugh from the begining to the end. The Samoan Village should be your first stop. This place is not geared for toddler and babies. It's more for older kids so they understand and learn from each village and culture. There will be a lot of walking, so be prepared to wear comfortable shoes. It was so hot when we were there too, so wear sun screen. I would go back, but will wait until my kids are 10 years or older.
(3)Colin P.
Great tourist destination...a great learning experience for all ages.
(5)Denton S.
Awesome experience, everyone should go once. If you can afford it, suggest the super ambassader package. You can see more that way than you can see in a few days on your own or with a larger group.
(5)Steve G.
This review is for the exhibits only. We didn't stay for the dinner and show and we've seen it before and many others, plus the review were really bad. We made other plans in town for dinner. We were looking for a cultural experience, not an amusement park and that's pretty much what we got. We got there at 11:30 to get our tickets, hit the bathroom,etc before the 12 Noon opening. To our pleasnat surprise, they were open at 11:30!! PCC has several "lands" each presenting an island nation in the South Pacific. Each land had several docents who were ready to guide us or answer questions. We attended as many of the "cultural presentations" as we could which usually consisted of native dancing, music and chanting and some stories. There were also many hand-on exhibits which the kids (age 17 and 20) really enjoyed. We got to talking to a few of the workers, like our canoe rower. 75% of the workers are BYU-Hawaiii students and many are actually from the native land. We know they're performers, but most seem to really enjoy showing off their home culture, which we really appreciated. We ended up staying until closing and didn't quite seen everything. If you're expecting a Disney-type experience you'll be underwhelmed. But if you're looking for glimpse into the Polynesian people, its a great way to spend the day. The 20 year old son, who's usual response is "Meh", said he really enjoyed it and the 17 YO can't wait to go back. "Nuff said.
(5)Shane D.
This was another educational opportunity with my family that was also fun while here on Oahu. There were so many cool things to learn about each culture represented here, it is hard to pick a favorite. Each group has its own "island" area where you can learn fun things, see great music and dancing, and just have some fun. And, if you need souvenirs, you can load up here in no time flat at various shops. One thing I was happy to find was some sheet music from the Hawaiian artist, Iz. (No, I will not even try to spell his last name here. Besides, if you need his last name, you just wouldn't understand.). I have been digging Hawaiian music since I watched Don Ho on TV as a kid. So now I got some guitar music I can play myself! One really cool highlight is the canoe "parade" where representatives from each island group strut their stuff on a floating platform. Came here on our Oahu Go Pass, which saved us a lot, so make sure you get one before you come to the island. All in all, this was a great time for my family.
(5)Jessica M.
It was a nice culture expirence and all staff were very helpful. Only down fall was not all students that were representing an island were not from that island. For example a girl from Columbia was representing Tahiti.. I know they mean well but it takes away from the learning expirence. Shows were great and food was decent.
(3)Sani K.
Expect to pay a hefty sum, especially if you plan on experiencing the full magnificence of this place (guide, dining and show). The most expensive package, Ambassador package, claims to treat you like royalty, but if everyone is buying it you might as well be buying regular. The shows however, is nothing less that breathtaking. A must watch, and a little treat to end the day. Besides the limited buffet selections, the whole experience is magnificent. All in all, a must do in Hawaii.
(4)Glen K.
Not sure why I expected anything different than what it was. This place impressed upon me a mixture of an experience at Universal Studios and a Museum. Entertaining, a little interesting, but not where I could spend an entire day. Don't bother with the buffet - stay away. I've never enjoyed eating food off plastic plates, especially when the food is obviously lowest cost option available. ($20++ per person) If you get hungry, how about a traditional cup of liquid Nescafé, nachos with artificial cheese, or the all American hot dog?? There were some options that were "traditional", and reasonably priced, but I think dropping the stadium food and offering more options for traditional foods would be better. The Tonga show was really funny thanks to great entertainers and audience participation. I expected to go the the Polynesian Cultural Centre and then walk away with an education on where the first people's of this land came from, how they established their culture, and what was their traditional medicines and foods. The Centre only scratches the surface here, and left me feeling like I was viewing a compilation of conquered peoples, made to look like puppets for our entertainment. It disregards the lost culture, traditions, and medicines that have real value. The staff was every bit helpful, courteous, enthusiastic, and in character. I recommend if you go here, avoid paying for anything other than general admission.
(2)Elizabeth C.
Awesome place and experience. This was my second time at the Polynesian Cultural Center. The show is very good, and the buffet is delicious. The souvenirs and things of the like are affordable.
(5)Arleen D.
We always come here when we are in Honolulu. This time we got the Ali'i luau package because we didn't need the tour guide. The Ali'i package includes entrance to all the villages, canoe pageant, Hawaiian buffet and the ending show. Food at the buffet was good. The usual Hawaiian food-Kailua pork, poi, lomi lomi salmon, poke, etc. If you've never been to PCC, each village presents a small show of their village and some activities. We really enjoy the Samoa village! You can also choose the Prime rib buffet but I was disappointed when I heard they don't have crab legs anymore. There is a canoe pageant with all the villages representing their dance on canoes. The ending presentation is a longer show with all the dancers performing a story. When we went, it was Ha: Breath of Life. Beautiful story! They did add an area in the front since we were last here 4 years ago where you can do a little shopping and eating. I would suggest coming here if this is your first time in Honolulu.
(4)Adam B.
We spent a full day here and enjoyed it. The shows put on by each island were interesting and informative, but some were more engaging than others. The Tonga presentation made us laugh a lot! We did the package that included the aloha luau and then the evening show. The food at the luau was good but nothing special. The entertainment was great but eventually became a bit repetitive, so by the time the night show came, we were ready to be all done. It makes for a long day in the sun and heat. I'd recommend scheduling it into your trip for once you've adjusted to the time change, otherwise you might wear out quickly like we did.
(4)noc f.
dont take the tram ride!!! Unless ya wanna go to the Mormon temple on your vacation. It's a trick!!!! The tram leaves so your stuck there in their temple watching a video, then when you come out they'll hand you their little church magazines. I'm all for expression of Religion and all, but please NOT on my vacation!
(1)Thi L.
It was kind of expensive, but well worth the experience. I wish I could go back! The cheapest adult ticket is $43.00 but look for coupon clippings for a buy one get one free to save yourself $43.00. So roughly $22 a person is awesome for the experience!! This does not include the luau at nighttime. Anyway, you can use your ticket for the next day too!! I think it's valid up to 3 days. If you're going with some friends who are "local," make sure they get the Kama'aina discount, which is $35.00 This is what you see on TV but you actually get to experience it! If you're lucky you get chosen for a lot of the little shows they have in the villages. You can also see an IMAX movie about coral reefs, lol. Don't miss the Canoe pagent! It's pretty awesome. Make sure to also carry your own water! I got so thirsty and had to buy water for $2.60... Hehe, I don't think they check.
(5)Yue D.
The shows were pretty good. Food at luau was ok. But it's super weird to sit and eat with a bunch of random people you don't know... Super weird...
(3)Malia V.
Great cultural expierience! It's a full day... Pack sunscreen & bottled water because it can get hot. Explore the different islands of Polynesia. We also stayed for dinner ( I would recommend the prime rib dinner because the luau food wasn't so great) & watched the ha show... It was a great show the teaches you different customs each culture does... & the finally is awesome!
(5)Clarence J.
(I think this is more like 3.5 stars to me, but I'm rounding up because of the people and the effort.) This is a very interesting and family friendly place that provides a lot of interactive windows into a fascinating region. There are interesting exhibits, demonstrations, performances, games, interactive activities, signs, and cultural architecture, clothing, decorations, etc. in each area. The relatively short hours for most of the activities (1200-1700) and back-to-back-to-back shows on the different 'islands,' combined with the huge amount of things to see and do -- including just talking to the warm, welcoming, extremely patient, and helpful staff -- means that it's ridiculously hard to do everything in one day; however, if you only have one day (as most do), what you manage to see will still be full and fun. My one 'complaint' is that I would like to have seen a bookstore for information on all these cultures -- books, music, more art, etc. -- and larger selections of arts and crafts from the various countries. There was a little of all this in a couple shops, but really not much.
(4)Darlene B.
One of the first visiting spots we went to when we arrived on island. It really helps to understand the vast cultures that are on the islands. The center is set up like a network of villages. Each village teaches something about the unique cultures: Fiji, Samoa, New Zealand, Hawaii, Tahiti, Tonga, Marquesas. The fun part is that you get to interact with the members (whom happen to be students at the Brigham Young school) to learn something about the traditions, Not to be missed: the parade, the night show: The Breathe of Life, and the boat ride on the man made river.
(5)Amy C.
If you visit Oahu you have to visit the Polynesian Cultural Center and give yourself all day to get it all in. ...Or take 2 days because your ticket gets you in the first day and then for up to a week later. We loved it!
(5)Kelly S.
We had no idea what to expect. Bought the ambassador package with Circle Island Tour. Incredible way to see highlights of the island and get some amazing history! Our driver Nelson was a riot!
(5)North S.
We purchased the $95:Ali I package. Includes the day pass, buffet dinner, 1/3 flowered Lei and the breath of life show. The dinner is good not gourmet. Week days aren't too busy. A perfect time to go. If your on a tight budget I suggest just doing the $40 day pass or checking group on. The dinner luau is ok yet the show is a very waterdown version of what you already see all day long. The life show is really great. It's their production with all of the college students and staff. They look like they took time to practice. Very entertaining if you can afford it do the $70 packages on up to go to it for free. I really enjoyed the day. The only thing that could use improvement is more history by local natives. I give it a 90% over all for entertainment value. Now if you want the real history of Polynesia and the isslands you'll have to pick up a book, search google, & go back 2000 years as they do not really share all that much detail or history here. It is the Mormon's perspective; purely for entertainment/show value. Enjoy.. and Aloha.
(4)Lynn T.
The Ambassador trip for Polynesian Cultural center treating us like real class, everywhere we went was first stage to all the shows in Polynesian villages, the dining hall was very classy and LOL !!! Foods were so greatly enjoyable (fruits, vegetables..., and more). The performance was magnificent well made, Ha - the breath of life made our evening extravaganza. It was a touching note when we found out the capital they made through this center would be spending college funds for native Polynesian students. The service in this park is so excellent; we were late for the last boat ride by two minus. We mentioned the kids are traveling from far away in the North Canada and love the have this ride, one of the boat (I wish to get his mane) willing to give us a tour with a beautiful smile in his dark handsome face :) . No tips allowed in this park, they are severing the guest with true passion !
(5)Esther K.
I came here with a Korean tour group, so my experience would obviously be different from people who came here on their own. This place is a huge tourist attraction for a reason and I would recommend coming here. However, I would recommend doing the dinner/evening show rather than the lunch/tour that our group did. If you book online over 10 days in advance from your visit, you can save 15%. There are four dining options here: New Island Luau, Ali'I Luau, Prime Rib Dining Buffet, and Island Buffet Dining. Our group participated in the Island Buffet Dining. We were seated in their large dining area, which seats around 1K people. The description online says they serve "savory Hawaiian, Asian and mainland entrees, buffet style" with "desserts galore." LIES. The food was terribly mediocre and there was just four dessert offerings, none of which looked appetising. So I'm not a fan of the food here... but it was included in our entrance fee, so we all ate until we were full. After lunch our group went on an approximately 2 hour long tour with a Korean guide. I had asked if I could go on the English one but it was full so they said my only option was to wander around on my own :/ Korean tour it is then! We rode on a canoe down past all seven villages (which represent the seven Polynesian islands) and then walked by, stopping a few times to either participate in an activity or see a show. We stopped in Hawaii to learn a song on the ukulele and also learn a hula dance. Then we stopped in Tonga to see their presentation on Tongan ta nafa (drumming). Three members of the audience even got to participate, which was fun to watch. The tour ended with everyone going to the IMAX theatre and watching their 14-minute video on Hawaii in 4D. That's right--the chairs will move/lean forward to make it feel like you really are going through the air and seeing different areas of the islands. It was a pretty cool video to watch. We didn't get to see their evening show since we left afterwards, but I've heard really good things about it and would recommend seeing it if you are coming here. It's called "Ha: Breath of Life" and takes place from 7:30-9PM daily. The PCC also offers other activities during the day: Maori Poi, Canoe Race, Tahitian Spear Throw, Samoan Cooking, and Fire Making. And it's great to be able to explore the seven Polynesian islands in one place: Hawaii, Marquesas, Fiji, Tahiti, Tonga, Aotearoa (New Zealand), and Samoa. Each village has their own presentation and activities as well. I kind of wish we had come here independent of the tour group so we could have fully explored this place, but my mum and I still had a good time nonetheless. But with my not being able to understand most of what our tour guide was saying and the food being so mediocre I can't give them more than three stars...
(3)Vivienne J.
We bought the "Ambassador" tour tickets for the PCC. this review is for the center tour itself. With the "Ambassador" tickets, we had a tour guide for our small 8 person group. This is a really good size group fro this function. We were also assigned, at the last minute, a second tour guide (slow day!), so we had double the tour guide fun. Our guides were Meme from Fiji and Yosuke from Japan and they were both simply wonderful. Meme asked the group if there was anything in particular we really wanted to be sure to see/do, wrote it down, and made sure we did/saw all of it. She and Yosuke fashioned straw fish for us as a little gift after one of the shows. The Center may not be 100% authentic, but it is really quite educational, the staff overall are helpful and want to teach you about their homelands, and there is just so much you don't realize you have associated with the wrong cultures or that you just didn't know that it makes it a fun brain experience. If you go, get into the center as early as you possibly can and plan to spend the day. there is just so much to see and do. I would go again and I would recommend everyone visiting O'ahu see the center at least once.
(4)Diana F.
We have lived on Oahu for 2 years now and just went to the PCC today as my mother visited the island. I have heard from people it was good, but it was truly fantastic!! We purchased the Ambassador package, slightly pricey (Military go to ITT we got a great discount) but once you get there you will see where every cent goes. They also send students from neighbor islands to college here while they work at the center. Keep in mind that other islands do not have colleges so this is a fantastic program and makes your experience better as these students know their cultures and islands better than any trained outsider. We got a wonderful woman who I cannot remember her name as my son kept calling her Auntie :), let me explain what we experienced. We got there at 1230. Remember you are going to the North Shore, that equals traffic so make time. It was enough time to get checked in and get there before the tour took off. It's an all day experience. They take you to the different islands and each stop has a show!! In between they have a boat show.. It's fantastic and you can get snacks while you watch! Then we got a canoe ride! So much fun! We visited one last island, tried Poi, made a toy fish from leaves and before you knew it.. It was 5:00 and dinner time!! We got the Luau, also fantastic! You must get a smoothie in a Pineapple..yummy!! Then off too the 4D movie which is only 15 min but worth the watch.. It was great.. Then to end the event there was a performance!! This performance is well worth it and put together like a broadway performance just with Aloha. We will never forget this day, not only did the events stand out but every person on staff we came in contact with was outstanding!! It's like the Polynesian Disney Land. There were shows, games, activities and food! A must see!!
(5)Yuna D.
I don't know if I would've still given it 4 stars if the money came out of my own pocket, but my boyfriend's father was very generous to take us out here, and it was an amazing experience, even though we arrived a little late in the day. I got to experience some of the island demos, along with the luau/buffet, and the Ha: Breath of Life show. I'll break it up accordingly. You want to arrive before 2:30PM--there's a show along the river area where the performers from different islands performs on floats. We got to see the end part of it, and it looked really fun to watch. The Samoa presentation was by far the most entertaining--it's been a while since I laughed that hard. I also think it had the most learning involved. It's also really cool to see the guy climb the coconut tree. Tonga was a close second, without as much learning about culture. Tahiti... i just remember hot girls (I'm straight.) The Ali''i Luau was underwhelming, there weren't that many performers. Birthday babies & anniversary/honeymoon couples can go up and dance. The little kids doing the hula are super cute though. Regarding the food that they provide. The poi is something to try, but not very appetizing in my opinion. It's just superrrrrr starchy and the flavor is quite yeasty. The taro rolls however, are super fluffy and have a nice bite to it. I wish they were a bit warmer though. The seasoned fish was okay, but the best thing to get in my opinion was the chicken and pulled pork. The sweet potatoes were good too. However, I did indulge in the coconut jellies & pineapple bars yum! Ha: Breath of Life show is pretty amazing to watch (the scenery is amazing, especially because they start at sunset and then the scenery becomes gorgeousssssss. The fire show is awesome too, but there are points where it gets somewhat repetitive. Water is 3 dollars each, and Ice cream is 5 dollars. It also reminds me of Lion King, Circle of Life, etc etc. Still entertaining though! The reason why this place gets 3 stars is despite all the amazingness that goes into this experience, it just feels so stereotypical and it's really hard to ignore how much they pressure the consumerism. In several presentations and during the Ha: Breath of Life presentation they try to sell overpriced ice cream, and drinks are really expensive. There are several gift shops to buy things between the luau and the breath of life show, there's really nothing else to do in that long period of time because all the villages are closed by then. Bleh. Tourist-y, but fun. It's just really expensive, and I feel really guilty right now for writing this, but I can see why people are unhappy with it given the price. tl;dr expensive & touristy. 2:30PM for major performance. Samoa & Tonga worth visiting. HA: Breath of Life is Lion King, Polynesian version. Luau is meh. Eat the pork, taro rolls, coconut jellies.
(3)Darby N.
While the buffet may not be the greatest thing to happen to Honolulu, it's not the worst. The dining hall was very neat looking, and the show is very well done. It's a wonderfully choreographed stage show. And they're working hard and doing their best. The best part was when the men jumped on the flaming floor. Talk about fire balls!
(4)Cherish Y.
Love the canoe pageant and the villages. HA breath of life is an amazing sight. If you don't have time to spend the majority of the day there, make it a point to stop by. Definitely check out their new shops and restaurants! The menus and stores offer something for everyone
(5)Karina M.
We signed up for this on a whim! We were on our honeymoon and we decided to go with Polynesian Cultural Center Luau package instead of the one offered by the MISERABLE HAWAIIAN HILTON VILLAGE!!!!!!!! UGHHH Anyway so much fun, I stayed excited and engaged throughout the whole tour including the drive there! Honestly the food was good, the people were super friendly and of course all of the souvenirs are tad expensive! Tourist come here from all over the world and the same souvenirs are just as expensive everywhere else. If you are going to go on a vacation don't complain about souvenir prices? really?? It's an all day affair and well bring comfy clothes and maybe sweater or light jacket for the evening. Other than that collect memories of happiness with loved ones. The shows were very entertaining and informative! Mahalo
(5)Skye C.
To get the most out of this experience, really come open-minded and look at the schedule to plan out where you wanna visit based on the schedule. (The park is arranged in different "islands" with different activities and history lecturers). This is a cultural center, so you have to be ready to learn or listen to what the employees, who are very friendly, have to say. My friends and I aimlessly walked around for 45 minutes, but we eventually figured it was a good idea to just attend whatever was going on at the alotted time. Places we made it to and definitely enjoyed: -Hawaiian Journey Theater -Coconut demonstration (in one of the villages) -Basic weaving -history lesson at Samoa village -etc (can't remember everything, hehe sorry!) The all-you-can-eat luau buffet was nothing too great, but it wasn't bad. Just a few warnings: the poke isn't super good compared to other stores so don't get too much, the roasted pig is good so make sure you try a bit, and the rest of the food is decent! Breathe of Life show was interesting! The fire torch twirling was the absolute best! Overall, worth the money if you don't know all the basics of Polynesian culture!
(4)Kellyn M.
This place was so cool! The shows were amazing!!! The staff was so friendly! A little pricey but I thought it was worth it for everything you got! We had a personal tour guide (Ata) for the whole day, she was sooooo good!
(5)Brent W.
This place is pretty interesting, and I won't go into great detail because there are too many other reviews. However, I will point out some pros and cons: Pros: - interesting cultural experience which is pretty educational - everyone is super nice - show at the end of the night is amazing Cons: - crowded - far from other Oahu attactions - food is mediocre (to be fair, this was the regular buffet because they were sold out of other options) - expensive Is it worth going? Well, I wouldn't rush back, but I think it's worth going once, if anything for the nighttime show alone.
(4)E W.
I have read mixed reviews of the PCC prior to my trip, so the star rating is from my boyfrd, who knew nothing about this place beforehand -- he enjoyed the day at the PCC and commented that all the performances are great. Below is my opinion on different aspects of the tour: Booking: very easy to book your package online. I chose the Alii Luau package for my family -- with a 10% discount for advance booking -- a total of $88.95 per person (we all concluded that this is a very good price for a day trip with dinner and evening show -- in hawaii!) Transportation: We had our own rental which I think is more convenient and is cheaper -- their shuttle bus cost about $22 per person. Parking is $10/day, which is reasonable. There's only one main highway to get there so you won't get lost driving there for sure - though prepare for a 75min - people drive slow in general. Cultural presentations: very entertaining and interesting, you get to learn about each island's culture -- we enjoyed Aotearoan and Samoan shows the most; Tahitian and Hawaiian's dances are definitely the best. We wanted to watch all presentations (plus there are no kids in our group) so we did not stay for the activities at each village -- we managed to visit all islands back to back before 5pm. We used one of the 30-min slots to do the canoe ride while waiting for the next show. Staff: impressive -- they are so friendly and helpful! They enjoy sharing their cultures with the audience. You can see smiles on everyone's faces :) All performers are so talented -- and most of them have a great sense of humor! Luau: get there early if you are hungry -- each table takes turn to get food (which is a good arrangement), so if you go in later, you'll have to wait longer. We took our time and arrived at 5:15pm, and waited for about 20 mins for our turn to get food. Variety of food is limited but all dishes are quite tasty, especially the poke! The dinner show is a bit dull, but you can just focus on eating if you don't want to watch the shows :P Evening show: Spectacular! Stage transitions were seamless and the performers were amazing! The story has a deep meaning which makes the show even better. After all, this is a tourist attractions, they try to sell you photos, souvenirs, and snacks -- just like another theme parks -- so don't let that bother you and just enjoy your day there :)
(5)Marie M.
We did the Al'i package and it was definitely worth the money and so much fun. My kids absolutely loved going to all the different villages and getting to do all the hands on experiences. They loved getting to fish, and the guy was so patient with them and he kept giving them more bait for their hooks. The shows were very entertaining and informative, everyone that worked there was very nice and polite and always asked if we needed help. The luau, while not the greatest food, certainly was not bad at all and we all ate about everything and tried the different foods. My kids even loved the food(major plus!) the luau show was pretty good too, my in-laws definitly enjoyed it! The breath of life show...amazing! I was sure my kids would be bored and tired being that it was a little later in the evening but they were so engrossed in the show and just absolutely loved it! This will be our go to Luau from now on!
(5)Gail R.
This is a must do if you are interested about different cultures. It is definitely a all day adventure so wear comfortable shoes. We bought the full package and we thoroughly enjoyed every moment. Food was good at the Luau and the show was awesome!
(5)Heather S.
This review will only focus on their show Ha: Breath of Life. I have done the whole day admission couple times before, but that was years ago. I can say with confidence that my $25 was well spent (Kama'aina Rate). With just $25, you get to watch a show that's over an hour long and an all you can eat island buffet. The show by itself is $15, which would then be fair to say that the buffet was only $10. That's a steal right there! The island buffet is the cheapest menu they got, and so I thought it wouldn't be so good. However, the food had exceeded my expectations. The menu items that day were different from what was said online. I really liked the potato chips, mashed potatoes, fried chicken, and fish. It appears that they make their own potato chips. They were saturated with oil but still very good. You can really taste the garlic in those mash potatoes. The best part of their chicken was the skin. It tasted like KFC's. And lastly the fish, it was just seasoned and cooked so well. Ha: Breath of Life showcases each polynesian island through song and dance, along with a story line. There were moments of awe and moments of laughter, along with audience engagement. I enjoyed the show for the most part. I say for the most part because some parts of it were putting me to sleep, but only because some of the songs they danced to dragged on a little to long. Though I do miss the magic show they used to have, I would definitely make the drive out here to have my family experience it, too.
(4)One D.
The luau food is similar to other luaus. Watching the pig getting taken from the ground was neat since we got to b closer than at other luaus. The staff seemed to all have pretty good attitudes. Best part was the show after. While the show had an evangelical tinge to it, the announcers did not hide the fact that it was associated to the Mormon church. If u can overlook that, the show was a professional and entertaining production. The marketplace and grounds are reminiscent of Disneyland and other tourist attractions. Not sure I would go again but mayb good to experience it at least once. Good family environment but not good for romantic couples. No booze was a plus since ppl seemed a lot more considerate and nicer around our young kids.
(4)Lara F.
#1 tourist attraction in Hawaii! Excellent place to learn about all the cultures of Polynesia. The best show is Samoa! All of them are great, but they definitely know how to put on a show. You can buy the admission and the night show and eat free with that package. 6 villages and 2 exhibits. Their luau is great, but the Night show is a must! Great place to bring the family or friends visiting the islands and definitely worth bringing them back again.
(5)Craig O.
We got the island admission, show and dinner. Islands and show were excellent. Food was just ok. Kids liked it, but I guess at a buffet you shouldn't expect much.
(4)KL T.
My 2nd time because I had to take my BFF while we were on Oahu. It is a MUST SEE if you've never been before. Plan to spend the entire day (they open at noon) to truly enjoy everything, and splurge for a tourguide so they can get you to all of the shows on time and help ensure you get to do all the hands-on activities. It isn't really something you do again and again (I went 2nd time only b/c BFF hadn't been), but she was so glad she went and was after her husband as to why they hadn't gone the first time they were in Hawaii. The Luau food is pretty good. I mean, it's a buffet as mentioned in several other review, but for being buffet there is a good variety and it's a great opportunity to try some of the unique to Hawaii cuisine without paying for a whole dish of it. The shows are amazing, though redundant. But the best part of this - majority of the performers are working at PCC to fund their college education. Kudos to them!
(4)Michael H.
The very definition of a tourist trap. No vegetarian options other then spaghetti, like a 3 year old would have. Show up @ noon or don't bother. Also, ambassador package is the scam of the century! Wasted a day in HI for no reason. AWFUL!!!!!
(1)Jamie G.
Ugh. So fake. It was degrading to the dancers and I learned nothing. Never again, don't waste your money.
(1)Judy S.
Took the family here during our stay on the island. Overall it was a great experience. Some of the shows throughout the center filled up and you had to stand which was really the only down side to the whole experience. We got to see and hear about the different cultures and loved how friendly the staff was. The luau was good and the kids got to try the different items. The Breath of Life show was wonderful. Overall this is a must for anyone visiting the island.
(4)GLENN F.
Seats in the upper rows of the evening show are dusty and dirty! Wow PCC management CLEAN THOSE SEATS. What will our guests and paying customers say. A great day of activities. And then dirty clothes.
(1)Brannon T.
This is a great tourist attraction. You and your family will have fun here. But, buyer beware: If you go there, plan to spend the whole day. That's what it is, a DAY thing. There's a lot to do. You can keep busy the whole day and night. But if you don't want to kill a full day of sight seeing then I wouldn't go. Like I said there are a lot of things you can do to keep yourself busy throughout the day: Play games, watch a show, eat, go for a little boat ride, all kinds of stuff. But the main event, the reason why people go in the first place is the dinner show. That's right, more food. More food with an awesome show. This place is far away from a lot of stuff. If you don't live there (on that side), you will have to travel to get there. Sometimes I wonder in places that are cut off from the rest of the island, does everyone who works there live on that side? Does any one of them live in Pearl City (almost 40 miles away)? I've only been here a couple of times in my life. I know that the food is great, the shows are great and they do the best stuff on Halloween. Like I said before, if you want to blow off a day of sightseeing, then go ahead.
(4)Janet E.
We booked a whole day with the Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC). Our tour included the circle island tour--which included a drive through of the city of Honolulu and certain areas of the island (on the way to the PCC). We had already seen most of the spots with our rental car but it was nice to revisit some of the spots. At each stopping point, we were allowed 7-20 minutes to go out, walk around, and take pictures. Our tour guide was Hawaiian (not sure if she was 100% Hawaiian) but she definitely looked native to the island. She even admitted that she was not sure if we could understand her because her Hawaiian accent might be too thick. Thankfully it was not too thick, but we did have our moments of "huh?". Our guide was good but she also admitted to us that she was not used to talking because her usual tours consisted of Japanese tourists and a Japanese tour guide would be speaking the entire time in Japanese. Our tour guide told us some things about Hawaii, but it was evident she was not able to fill in the silent gaps. There was one point during the tour that she got distracted and almost drove us to her office. As part of our tour, we added the alii luau for dinner. The dinner opened at 5pm but there was not enough room for everyone to dine at the same time. We were told by the staff that if we were finished eating, we were encouraged to shop and enjoy the PCC to make room for others to dine. The food options at the alii luau was disappointing. Upon walking out, we saw the roasted pork---which was not included in our dinner since it was not ready yet. How unfortunate! One of my favorite parts of the PCC were the scheduled shows on each "island"--check the map for the schedule times. If you know this info, it will be a lot easier to experience all the islands at PCC. Make sure to snag a seat to watch the river show at 2:30pm. The other favorite part of the PCC was the evening show. The tickets for the show were extra but I highly recommend it. The parts that included fire throwing and fire sitting were amazing and funny. This was my second time at the PCC and I would go another time if I was offered the opportunity. Definitely something to do if visiting Oahu.
(4)Jerrene T.
What's the fastest way to get in shape at PCC? You do the Tree 90X, which basically consists of climbing the coconut trees all day and jumping from tree to tree. You'll get those hot abs that all the ladies want in no time! We came to PCC for one of my work functions. It was our family day and I was on the planning committee with a few of my friends/coworkers. This was only my third time at PCC (I really hadn't been here since elementary school though). Our PCC contact was Laurie and she was very accomodating but be aware, she is hard to get ahold of at times. The planning seemed challenging only because we weren't sure how many people we would have and they don't really have a kids rate which might be quite crazy for people with young children. We didn't end up using the Gateway area for our lunch, I was disappointed only because they renovated that place and it was BEAUTIFUL. However, the other place that we had our lunch, we had the WHOLE area to ourselves and it even included a stage to have a cheesy Aloha shirt contest. The lunch was decent, nothing spectacular - there was BBQ chicken, spareribs (I think that was my favorite), salad, fruit, shrimp stirfry, rice, and basically normal huge quantity not big on quality food buffet. It was alright but don't expect much... I would choose a shrimp truck any day over PCC's food. However, there was unlimited soft drinks and it was a hot day... don't judge! lol. The staff at the buffet were really nice and accomodating when we needed something. However, the same can't be sad for some of the other workers at PCC. There were some people that were rude and if you went down a wrong turn, there were huts that we thought had things in them and if we so much as went to look, people stopped us and were like you have to go the other way, you have to stay out, what are you doing. Mind you, there are NO signs indicating this... it seemed like they could put up better signage so they don't have to be rude. Anyway, the best part of the PCC is probably the coconut husking and the emcee for that is HILARIOUS. Yes it's the same spiel over and over but it is still funny. He talks about what it was like in Samoa (I think?) and about how a single woman should move there because the husband does the cooking and everything. I could have listened to his jokes all day... as long as it was in the shade. It was HOT there and hardly any trees to stand under to protect yourself from the sun. The other stuff was okay too like the canoe ride. My son liked it even though he wanted to stand up to touch the water. Some of the other stuff was boring and it wasn't too exciting. I am sad we never got to do the Ha show but it was late and my son wouldn't have lasted through the whole thing. My advice - go after you eat at a shrimp truck, get there when they open, see the shows and do the activities, and stay for the Ha Show (I heard it was AWESOME). Parking is $8 so be prepared... I am not sure but I think they had in and out priviledges. Bring water and sunscreen because it's hot... or at least buy water there because you may get dehydrated. Oh and it is quite expensive to see PCC so plan to stay there all day to get your monies worth. But if you buy an all day pass, I think I heard something about you can go there within a week for free.
(4)ChriS K.
No alcohol; can't enjoy culture. Slow lines; must pay for parking even if you have a package. If you already purchased tickets, must still wait in line with those they haven't even paid. Don't waste your money, just go see any generic luau.
(1)Brendan W.
Lower than one. Worst thing I have ever paid for. I have seen better hotel luaus. Buffet dinner added to the pain. Poor service,confusion, skipped tables. Server didn't know difference between regular coke and diet. No glasses. Here's a service tip: Sit families with small kids together. Wedding couple next to crying kid. Not good. Entertainment was weak. A poor portrayal of cultures. Disneyland is more real. Bus ride was ok for us. It was late to our 12:30 pick up. Another couple rushed over via taxi because customer service told them their stop was already done. They found out it wasn't when other hotel guests were on board. They didn't miss; bus was just late. We got to park at 2. They take a lagoon show break at 2:30. Dinner starts at 5. 2 hours of lame shows. I've been to Tahati ... here the show had a guy wearing a bishop hat covered in feathers. As a non profit this place is expensive. Simply a waste of time and money. It is not kid friendly. If they serve dinners like tonight , this place will shut down. Rent a car, see the beaches and local flavor. Skip this awful place.
(1)Darolee P.
Visited on the Fourth of July. I'm not sure what everyone expected, looking at the reviews, but it was exactly what I expected. If you want to know what really happened to Hawaii and it's people, don't expect smiles and singing. It's a sad story of injustice. The only thing I really did not like was the buffet. My husband and I say next to strangers, which was rather uncomfortable, especially since we saw empty tables around. At one point we were told to all hold hands. This went beyond my comfort zone. The food wasn't good either. My opinion - stay for the day, skip the buffet
(4)Michael C.
Is it possible to give a destination 0 stars? If it were... this would have earned it. We wanted to try something different from the run of the mill luaus and thought this would give us a more in depth vision of the islands. What we found was honestly rather insulting, both to our intelligence and the native cultures the center proclaims to celebrate. This is VERY thinly veiled tourist trap. Save your money. I will say the IMAX movie was decent, and we drove out via Haleiwa so stop there and get lunch which was AWESOME! The drive out was gorgeous but we should have kept driving.
(1)Derek S.
This place can be described in two words: opportunistic and boring. Oh, let's go nuts and make it three words; I'm tossing in deceptive as well. Anyway, let's hit some of the questions I'm sure you have: Is it Polynesian? Well, that depends on if you consider Mormonism to be Polynesian. Is it cultural? Again, that depends on you and if you believe a half-baked theme park exploiting a culture in a veiled attempt to fund a religion that has nothing to do with the exploited culture to be cultural. Lastly, is it a center? Sure, I guess... a center of what I have no idea. Oh wait, I do. It was the center of the only disappointing day I had while visiting O'ahu. Honestly, if you're considering going to this place, do yourself a favor and don't. As an alternative I suggest visiting one of the nearby shrimp trucks (maybe Kahuku Shrimp), ordering a delicious shrimp sandwich, and heading on over to the Bishop Museum to get your learn on. However, if you would feel remiss by not getting the Polynesian Cultural Center experience might I suggest you save yourself some time by setting your money on fire while listening to the Lion King soundtrack. It'll be basically the same experience. Maybe even slightly better. Trust me. Avoid this place. It's not good for the soul.
(1)Frances G.
Extremely touristy and expensive, not to mention a long drive from Honolulu. Yet, I still think it's a good place to visit at least once if you have elementary and middle school aged kids. We got the Ambassador & Ali'i Luau package (thanks to my kama'aina relative), which included a guided tour around the 7 villages (Hawaii, Samoa, Aotearoa, Fiji, Tahiti, Tonga, and the Marquesas Islands), the Ali'i Luau Buffet, Ha - Breath of Life show, and a souvenir DVD. The villages were fun for my kids since they got to do some activities and get their passports stamped everywhere they went. Our tour guide was a student from New Zealand (we all know this is run by BYU-H), who wowed us with the poi balls at the Aotearoa village (I stopped after smacking myself one too many times). Unfortunately for them, we didn't get to go through all of the villages since we arrived later in the day (it was a hot day so I didn't mind). At the luau, we got pretty good seats (in front of the stage). The buffet was just okay. They had kalua pork (yes yes, they cooked a whole pig in an imu), beef, salmon, salad, poke, poi, rice, kim chee, and maybe a few other choices. Not as much variety as I hoped for. Our luau host was pleasant, although Will Ferrell's Robert Goulet stint from SNL came to mind. The show at the very end was probably the highlight for me. It had a storyline as well as lots of beautiful and awe-inspiring dances. They served sherbet with fruits during intermission, which was a nice refresher, but we were still full from the buffet. So although I was overloaded, the kids had a lot of fun and were TIRED by the end of the day (the show ended at 9:00p). THAT deserves 4 stars from me.
(4)D B.
This was an awesome experience. I recommend getting the ambassador pass. The buffet was really clean and delicious.
(5)Karen K.
Check out: daytime activities & breath of life show. skip: luau I would recommend spending time at the cultural center. During the day, they provide plenty of hands on activities & 30 minute shows. They center is broken up into sections (ie. Fuji) (think Epcot center on a smaller scale) and each section provides shows and activities based on the nuisances of that culture (ie. drumming, wedding ceremony, climbing a palm tree). The shows were very well done and entertaining. The staff is extremely helpful and friendly. Definitely worth a visit. We also participated in the luau. It was nicely organized, the show Ok. It was almost like background music to the dinner. The food was OK to Fair. The stage was hard to see depending on where u sat (people's heads in the way - stage was a little too low). Also the music was super loud. Also, I know it cannot always be helped but there were flies around the buffet. (& there was someone there with a swatter to brush them away) also, some of the menu items were on the opposite aide of the buffet line (lines were on both sides of the buffet so it was awkward to try to reach over and get the item on the other side). Breath of Fire Show - Very Good! I would recommend. Costumes, Music, Dancing & visual elements - were all very well done. It was a very nice combination of the history of the culture (music, costumes, folklore) & a visually exciting show (2nd half of show). Now it's not Vegas, but it is very well done. Notes: $8.00 parking fee (after buying tickets that's just annoying). After the luau (5pm) there was about an hour just waiting for the show to start (7:30), wasn't much to so bc everything was closed except the shopping. (I wish we had left the park and headed over to sunset Beach to check out the sunset and came back for the show).
(4)Laura H.
What a fabulous way to experience and learn about several different Polynesian cultures! I am fairly picky about most everything and I had a great time! After attending many different luau's on a few different islands...this was by far the best Polynesian cultural experience that I have had. The food is authentic and a buffet. Neither is really my thing. But it didn't subtract from my experience. The show was just sublime! Really talented young people. And everyone is so friendly and helpful! Loved it. Great for kids and family. Make a day of it.
(5)David L.
The Polynesian Cultural Centre in Hawaii is the place to learn about Polynesian culture from around the world. It's a real life museum where you can be like a Polynesian for a day. A tour guide will take you to different Polynesian villages such as Hawaii, Samoa, New Zealand, Fiji, Tahiti, Tonga, and the Marquesas Islands. This wasn't the best place to learn about Polynesian Culture for me. I had to start a tour with a group just for Mandarin speaking people, which I don't understand the language. Yep, all other tours were full so I was stuck with a non-English speaking group. I asked the tour guide from Hong Kong to speak English and she refused, which was unbelievable. There was another blonde hair American tour guide in our group who didn't want to speak English too. Crazy stuff, he only wanted to speak Mandarin. Now, you're probably thinking who the heck owns this place? English speaking Mormons from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. After going to several villages, I learned some Hawaiian dances which turned out to be somewhat unusual for a guy. I played with traditional Hawaiian toys which resembled a furry ball nunchuck. I watched Hawaiians climb up a coconut tree with their bare feet and hands. I even saw a Hawaiian make fire by rubbing wood. There is only one place to eat a complete full meal and it's at the buffet. Once I entered the buffet building, there was one staff that squeezed hand sanitizer on everyone's hands before entering the restaurant. It's something hospitals around the world should be doing. The food was just blah. They served the worst sushi ever and I was shocked to see a huge group of Japanese tourist going crazy over the stuff. They served some of the driest beef and chicken I've ever tasted. There were a variety of dishes made with Hawaiian grown roots such as taro and arrowroot. They weren't that bad, but these root dishes made me full fast. At the end of the day, I watched a live Polynesian show at the theatre called Ha-Breath of Life. I really enjoyed it. There was a lot of dancing, singing and action mixed together in a show that lasted about 3 hours. Photography was allowed which was great too.
(3)Carmelo W.
My family and I had a great time here. We had a great time learning about a lot of cultures, watched quite a few shows, and learned a lot. The food wasn't bad. We all enjoyed it. Afterwards we went to the show which was great too.
(5)Tony J.
We had ambassador tickets and did the circle island tour the same day. The tour bus dropped us off at the PCC around 1:00 to 1:15 PM, which did not give us nearly enough time to explore the PCC. Nevertheless, we really enjoyed having a private tour guide and did have enough time to briefly visit three of the villages and observe the canoe pageant. If you're limited on time, the best villages to visit are Samoa and Tonga. Samoa has had the same guy for years; he is both insightful and hilarious and gave us lesson 101 on using coconuts. Tonga was a comedy act involving the tongan drums and had high entertainment value. The canoe pageant was well worth the time as all the villages perform dances. The food at the luau was unbelievably good and there was plenty to go around. The entertainment at the luau was so-so, and most people weren't paying much attention anyways. The final act, Ha Breath of Life, was fantastic. There is also a short movie that showcases the beauty of Hawaii that plays every 30-60 mts...we enjoyed it. If you want to meet the Ha cast, the ambassador package gives you backstage access before the performance. We highly recommend the PCC. One tip - - you might want to plan the next day as a slow/rest day (maybe a beach day) because you will be spent after a full day at the PCC or an even more full day with the circle island tour/PCC.
(4)Marc T.
Longest day ever. I was expecting a Luau type setting, and it was more like an educational lesson. NO BOOZE. It's usually not a deal breaker for me, but for what I thought was a Luau? C'mon! Also, the guides are very preachy about becoming Mormon. Definitely NOT my thing. Want a good Luau? Go to Chief's.
(1)Brad S.
Some people like this type of stuff and some don't, I one of those that would have rather have been on the beach than seeing a bunch of dances. It's actually a neat place to go to once, with the family (not really for adults in my opinion), but when you consider the cost and what you get I would recommend you go sit on a beach for free. We did the full package, villages, dinner and the Breath of Life show. The Breath of Life show was by far the best part. Things to know - Book your tickets through their main website, not a tourist travel site. If you're set on going to the PCC, rent a car and show up at about 1pm. That gives you plenty of time to soak in everything that is the PCC. Don't do one of the tour packages from Honolulu - that really would have been a waste of time and money. Skip the dinner at the PCC and then stay for the evening show. With that being said, if you're wondering if you should go to the PCC or not, well, I wouldn't but it is a very touristy thing to do so the choice yours. Hopefully the people and students of Laie can forgive me for this one man's opinion review.
(2)T C.
Great place to bring the family. Lots of fun and laughs. Expensive but 70% of the cost goes to the students education, so it's all worth it. Go early, you might need 2 days just to cover the whole place. 2nd visit is free.
(5)Adam K.
Preface: I am kama'aina (native) so I never have done this, but my child should experience a little culture right? And learn about the Polynesians we are exploiting? Right? Wow. What an experience. It is pretty tortuous at first but I swear it becomes fun later. Here it is: You are picked up in a large tour bus by a large man with a short name, Cousin Vao, was our guy. Then he picks up other tourists, from other hotels. Then its off for 1.15 hours to the cultural center. Along the way the driver points out places to take pictures and facts about the island and culture while being humourous. Which I appreciate, but he invited others to joke with the gem, "Does anyone know what pu-pu means?" (it means appetizers or finger foods) Some indian guy in a thick indian accent timidly responds, "My doo year old does." No laughs. Rough crowd. So you arrive at the center and Cousin Vao is now our mother and we are children entering a mall, there are tons of things to distract you and send you flailing your arms toward whatever shiny chested native dude you see. But he keeps us all in line and hands us our special passes. The most special ones first, those who paid over $150 a person, we go the next rung down, $110 a person. Which includes a luau dinner. I was impressed to learn they have just about every type of translator there. It is lunch time, and we are now on our own, to wander the park much like an explorer must have felt. But wait! You are forced to take an awkward photograph with a fake lei on next to a skinny polynesian teenager who hates you for being there. I felt the hate, but I learned later all these kids are earning tuition from Bringham Young. Thats nice. I really never felt more like a tourist than I did there. I wanted to tell everyone, " I have family in Hawaii and I have been coming here every year for two decades. I can actually surf too." But I didn't I just gritted my teeth for the camera & sucked in my gut. Lunch options are few, basically there are ten items to pick from in the burger shack like outdoor fast food area. You can get a teriyaki chicken burger or a traditional cheeseburger or fish sticks or really anything within that spectrum. Everything comes with fries. Garlic fries are $3.00. Whatever I scarfed everything down, after paying near $40 for my group of 3. Hey management can you please get cashiers without horrible acne to ring me up? I almost lost my appetite. I get it, I was 16 once also, but don't make their pimply face the face of your food wagon. Just a note. Off we went to explore, there are lots of different types of things to do, Ukulele lessons, traditional polynesian games, coconut leaf weaving, dance lessons, canoe rides and others I didn't want to do. Hula lessons - Try not to smile while doing the hula, it is impossible. Even the most angsty teen will crack a smile while doin this one. Canoe ride - kinda boring, I dont know, this was not great. They pointed out stuff along the ride that I could have gone up to on my own and read the placard. Coconut leaf weaving: Really fun and good for the kids / creative types. You make a little fish on a fishing pole which you get to take home with you. Good luck packing it so it won't get crushed though. One of the ladies was making a cool box out of the coconut leaves which did make it back to Chicago. Thank you for that. I won't go into more detail about the activities but they vary and are all pretty fun. If you don't like one thing you can run around to the other things and try them. Lua'au - So you get this if you get the full monty package or whatver the $100+ thing is. It is actually pretty good food and plentiful, a very nice way to round out the day. There was pork, which they showed baked in the ground, but they had it waiting in the buffet line, I guess the pork they pull out of the ground is for show, but its a good photo op. Taro root rolls, salad, noodle dishes, POI (of course, and a host of other things. You get free soft drinks with your meal or you can buy virigin pina colada's served in a pineapple. It was a fun meal and you get to meet other tourists who share your affinity for pork and walking around polynesian disneylands. The big show at the end: Awesome, basic plot is, boy is born, grows up, meets girl has baby. Circle of life type stuff. REALLY well choreographed, made me wonder how long it took to get this perfect, and also how much they are really makin on these guys? It was incredible. The level of production and dancing was very professional. The fire dancing / walking / spinning was my child (and mine's) favorite. After you are done, you get a chance to buy some souveniers either at the gift shop, or in the large open air market that is constructed during the show and subsequently dismantled when everyone leaves, they have cool little necklaces and other things locally made that you can buy. Pretty cool. Bus ride home was nice and quiet. Well thats 5001 words. Try it.
(4)WCmommy M.
You definitely have to check it out if you are in the area! Loved the show and dinner!
(5)Jon H.
PCC was great back when it had value and meaning. It was there to educate tourist about the beauty of Polynesia and provide jobs to the college students next door. Over the years ticket prices have soared because they have to pay exuberant Exec salaries and they have to employ every uncles brothers cousin in town. Overpriced admission, horribly boring and nonsensical night show, and the FOOD! The food is disgusting. It's the worst excuse for local food I've ever seen. Inedible, unsanitary and an overall terrible experience. It's so not worth it. If you don't mind paying Disney prices to watch a coconut get husked and eat a buffet of trash by all means waste your money. You're better off going to Helenas to eat and then watching dancers for free in Waikiki.
(1)Wen C.
We had a great time today at Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC). We got the 10 days in advance basic package which has 10% discount. I think the price is well worth it. All the shows were great! The performers have great sense of humor and really made everyone laugh like crazy. The IMAX theater is also great. I'm surprised with a Cultural Center of this caliber, the IMAX theater also has some "special effects" that are similar to Disney World, Disney Land, or Universal Studio. The movie definitely is a must see, especially if you don't get a chance to have a helicopter tour over Hawaii. There are also a lot of hands on activities, like weaving, spear throw, fire making, canoe tour, and so on. All of them are great fun. They really did a wonderful job designing everything. Highly recommended.
(5)Matthew G.
Tourist trap, don't waste your time.
(1)Shaina H.
This is a great place for families with kids. There's a lot to do ranging from canoe rides to learning how to play from a ukulele. There's also a lot of short shows/performances. A great place to learn about the Polynesian culture and take lots of good photos. Parking is $8 all day. Towards the end of the day, it comes with a free dinner which looks really enticing when you first enter the building, but it's also connected to the Prime Dinner special (so two restaurants in one building). The free dinner has about 3-4 stations with the same food: salad bar, dessert bar, and two entree bars. The line to wait outside was very long, but moved quickly. As for the after show, this was worth coming here because they do a 2 hour performance of fire torching, story telling, and singing/dancing. The seats are prearranged according to what's on your ticket so no need to rush into the place. There's also a 10 minute intervention where they sell/offer ice cream for $5 depending on which package you bought.
(4)Danny D.
We were a little nervous based on the recent reviews but were overall satisfied with the experience. Yes the cultural center is owned by the Mormon church. Unlike previous reviews we didn't feel any like the church was trying to force any sort of agenda. I am guessing the people that did got on the shuttle that takes you over to the temple. The different "villages" are pretty good and have shows throughout the day. Several were closed for construction. For dinner we did the Ali Luau. This was a one star product. The entire theater is crowded, people bumping into each other and the acoustics are so bad you can't understand a word. The food was good for the first trip to the buffet. Selection is limited but the kahlua pork was pretty good. After everyone goes through the line once they close all but one of the buffets down. Then the meat gets down to the scraps sitting in all the grease The Ha breath of life show was fantastic. The only draw back was the white kid with red hair doing a traditional native dance.... Didn't fit in with the rest of the dancers. Definitely the highlight of the cultural center. We are military so we were able to get our passes for everyone for $64/ person. If you are able to just get one for the breath of life show I would suggest doing that.
(3)Jive T.
The PCC was a day of fun and learning and eye-candy. The villages are well thought-out and much effort is made to involve the audience members for an experience they won't forget. It is expensive, but it is worth the cost due to the wide and varied learning experience that is enjoyable. The performers are beautiful and talented. The staff is generally pleasant and accommodating of requests. I recommend that you spend the day there--if possible, as there is so much to learn and experience and enjoy from each village. The IMAX experience is very cool--many of your senses (feel, smell, in addition to the viewing/sound) are engaged. The luau dinner was very enjoyable, but also very busy! The food is buffet style, but still excellent and delicious. The only negative was the last part of the day, in the evening with the stage/theater show, Ha-Breath of Life. The volume was much too loud, and many of us left--despite repeated requests to the ushers to inform the sound technicians to lower the volume. It was so loud as to be painful. The show looked like it would have been just as enjoyable as the earlier exhibits, but sadly many walked out that night after fifteen (15) minutes at most before the pain was too intense.
(4)Nicole C.
As I began to write this review I saw all the negative reviews. So let me get the bad and ugly out of the way. 1. Yes, it is about a 1 hour drive from Honolulu. But, I have to tell you, it was one of the most beautiful drives I've been on in my life. The highway takes you thru mountains and along gorgeous coast line up to the North Shore. On a beautiful day, it's paradise. 2. Yes - it is expensive. But it's Hawaii - everything is expensive. And it's an all day pass. 12 hours of fun and culture. This is not something you should do as a quick tour. You will feel screwed on the price if you do. Carve out an entire day to enjoy the cultural center. They have different scheduled presentations all day long at in different spots to teach visitors about the islands/traditions of Polynesia. So you'll need to map out and time your walking tour to see most of them. You have to be a willing participant in learn in order enjoy yourself. So, my mom and I went, and as per suggested other visitors spent the entire day. We loved it. Then again we are open minded people who appreciated the richness of other people and cultures. The River Parade was beautiful and exciting. The luau was 3/5 stars. We saw the play/production with fire walkers/tamers. OMG That was amazing! I even cried a bit. Overall we had a great time. I would go again. I recommend it to everyone, and feel it was worth the money. Side Note: Your admission fees help put young kids thru college.
(4)Allison L.
You really have two options here- you could make this an all day event and pay lots of money and have entertainment for the entire day- which if you have a whole day to devote to this that would probably be a great choice. However my boyfriend and I - In our late 20s- wanted to just go for the entertainment so we bought the prime dining passes and tickets to HA - they were the ambassador tickets. We went to the center a few hours before dinner so we could go on the tour- which we ended up ditching because we were having more fun exploring on our own. The dinner was pretty decent- didn't blow my mind but wasn't terrible either. The main event HA was completely worth the trip though. The story was really cool and the fire show at the end was AWESOME! Even my boyfriend who doesn't enjoy theater type shows loved the fire dancers- how could you not! A couple of things- This center is connected with the LDS church also known as the Mormons. HAD i known this ahead of time (which I did not) I would 100% have not gone here. They offer a tram tour up to the LDS temple which i think is just a little strange. My money going towards a church with teachings I don't agree with makes me uncomfortable. JUST be aware that the two places are connected and some of your funds may be going towards the LDS church IF they were not connected I would have given this review 4 stars however I like to drink alcohol and it was kinda let down that there wasn't any at dinner (again the religion thing) especially for how much we paid to get in. Basically to sum this up- Drink ahead of time and JUST go see the HA show :)
(3)Gerald A.
My aunt and I visited the center in September 2014. My aunt previously took a tour here before, so she decided to let me experience it. I wasn't elated when I found out the tour would last the entire day, but it ended up not fazing me. We went to the center by bus from Waikiki Beach. It was a pleasant ride thanks to the entertainment provided by the host. He was delightful in providing information regarding Hawaii and the places the bus drove by that are popular due to some scenes of famous movies that were filmed there. Due to the tourists on bus having a great time with the host, they, including my aunt and I, decided to tour the center with him. During the tour, the host continued to make an effort to be entertaining and did draw laughs from the tourists, but unlike the bus ride, I didn't find him to be as fun. The delightfulness he manifested on the bus dissipated as he presented a serious tone in lecturing about the polynesian culture at the various islands. The host provided a significant amount of information, presented them like a history professor in a classroom. But I felt it was difficult to remember all the info and wanted to go to the gift shop to skim through books on the subject. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to go to a store. The canoe ride was relaxing, but short. The parade seemed tedious. Whenever the host and the other emcees asked the audience to repeat certain words, it felt like being in a class in elementary school. It does aggreviate anybody who had a draconic time in school. Unlike a waterpark, Universal Studios, and any of the Disney Theme Parks, this center lacks appeal for kids although they may find excitement in the banging of bamboo sticks at the Fiji presentation. Also amusing is a presentation wherein volunteers are needed to do chants and bang on the bongos. Volunteering at this presentation can be cool and fun, but you need to be prepared to be a good sport as well. The host praised the two guys who performed the chants and banged the bongos perfectly, but poked fun at the teenage boy for not doing both properly. The boy took the taunts of the host and the laughter that emerged from the audience well and eventually did a decent chant and banged the bongos in entertaining fashion. The IMAX film feels adventurous although it's identical to one of the short films NBC shows at the onset of their Olympic coverage that describes the host nation. "Ha" has the feel of a grandiose show. The electrifying parts involve the incredible fire display at the conclusion. If Honolulu ever hosts an Olympics, a presentation similar to "Ha" would be featured in the opening or closing ceremony. But it would be more reliable seeing it in the Olympics because Bob Costas, Matt Lauer, and Meredith Viera would provide commentary of it and more amazing because of a bigger stage. Even though you may be enamored of what's occuring in "Ha", you have no idea what's going on with the story. But it was neat that ice cream was offered at intermission. The site of the temple of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is amazing. If you like seeing college campuses, you'll be thrilled seeing the BYU of Hawaii building. The buffets had the popular foods such as spaghetti, salad, and fruit, but lack variety. For dinner, my aunt and I sat next to an affable couple from Australia. We had a nice conversation with them. Spending the end of the day with the couple provided me some happiness. On the bus ride back to Waikiki Beach, nearly everyone was fatigued from a long day. The affable bus driver showed a documentary on Hawaii for everyone to enjoy, but almost everyone was asleep. I did see parts of the documentary. It was informative. Our host from the ride coming in and on the tour wasn't present. He left us before dinner. Had he been on the ride back, despite the time being late, I wonder if the tourists on board would've been awake just to be entertained more by him. But I was elated that I made it thru the tour since I wasn't thrilled it lasted the entire day. As I sat on the bus going back to our hotel, I felt happy I was going to resume my trip doing what I want, which was going to the beach and relax and have fun. But I also thought that if I'm going back to Hawaii in the future, perhaps, I should think better about what tour I really to want to going on and hope to enjoy. This center does provide some delight to the masses, but it seems like you need to be an ardent fan of history, a desire to be educated, and a will to spend and enjoy the entire day in order to fully appreciate your time here.
(2)Sherry B.
I was super skeptical! It was a lot of money, IMO, but after the whole experience, unequivocally worth it! And here's what I'd do if I had it to do all over again. First things first, I'd like to say this is ONE LONG DAY especially with jet lag & I wouldn't suggest this timeline if you have kids. Anyway, I tried to use the "Dusty list" I found on another website as my guide (and actually ditched my guided tour in order to do my own thing.) I heard you can't do everything but I figured out how you can do almost everything. I would get here earlier-before noon and hoof it over to "islands of Hawaii" for 1205 show. Then wander to "islands of Fiji" for 1230 show which has coconut oil making demo at 1pm. Since you're in back of park, go to Iosepa at 130. THIS IS IMPORTANT. If you want a seat for the 230 canoe parade that lasts 30 minutes, you better get to designated area by 210 @ very latest. Decision time-move fast for a seat or take your time and see the park's walk by features like tasting poi, seeing "men's eating hut", etc. The canoe parade can be weird if this is where you start your day. It incorporates bits from each show this timeline has you seeing. If you have no clue what's going on (like us) it can be confusing & weird. Don't start your day at canoe parade, like we did. After canoe parade is over at 3pm, hit Samoa show. It's right there (so hurry and get a shaded seat) and it's the best show, IMO. Think Samoa comedy show. Then go to Aotearoa at 330. This started off awkward (think attending church with people talking in tongues) but ended pretty cool. Then at 4pm, go to the 2nd best show at the park...Tonga! At 430, go to Tahiti show. So that gets you through 8 of 10 main activities. At 5pm you can wander about as you make your way to the front of the park to eat or head to canoe ride. (This is when we tasted poi, saw some side attractions.) At like 515 canoe trips open up for round trips around the park. This may be a good time to go bc most people go to dinner at 5pm & stand in long lines. Before 5pm, those canoes looked uncomfortably packed, my husband said no way to that. I highly recommend the IMAX video. There's a 530 & 6pm show...so you could go to dinner at 515ish and leave dinner for 6pm IMAX. About that dinner. Hmmm. I didn't enjoy the food. The purple Hawaiian rolls were the best part. We did the hale aloha luau. The dancers, ceremony, atmosphere, it was all great but I hardly ate anything. There are other dining options, check them out before booking. If you do the 6pm IMAX you get out at 620 and then you have over an hour to wander through the only things open-gift shops. Ha was phenomenal from start to finish and I definitely recommend it. There were 8 children (ages 3-12) around us who kept interested in Ha the entire time. How those college students manage to not break character is amazing. Major props to them as I could offer no suggestions on how to improve the show! The fire scenes looked so dangerous, I have no idea how they pull it off without being burned. Unreal. Ha wraps up after 9pm, giving you a complete and utterly tiring day. But it's worth every cent, because the "actors" do an exceptional job.
(5)Anita L.
My coworkers highly recommended PCC to me when I told them that I am going to Oahu for vacation for a few days. They told me... "It's an fun, informative place to learn about the culture". Initially, I thought... "Oh no, it's another boring museum things". But as I did more research about PCC and saw all the positive reviews online, I decided to set aside one day to visit this location. If you have a rental car in Oahu, you might want to start your day early and visit some of the scenic locations too. I opted for the Circle Island Tour + Luau package. If you don't want to do the tour, PCC still have vans picking up their guest for approx $22/person. NOTE: (5% discount if you do the survey on PCC's website prior to ordering). If it didn't apply during checkout, just call them for adjustment. The shows at the different "islands" were funny. Performers are hilarious and super friendly. Definitely a great place for both adults and kids. Make sure you bring sunblock!
(5)Kassy M.
This is a place that is probably better for families with children. We got there in the afternoon, saw what we needed to see, and felt like there was a lot of "waiting around time" before and after dinner. We wanted to see the show, but I'm not sure it was worth waiting around for. The dinner was nothing special, but the employees were very nice and they did have a lot of educational information.
(2)Sky T.
My boyfriend and I went because we wanted to go to a luau and this place had good reviews. IT WAS THE MOST BORING 9 HOURS OF MY LIFE! We were dropped off by a tour bus around noon and the luau dinner wasn't until 5. We saw everything in about 10 minutes and then just sat for the test of the time. Their wasn't anything to do or see, the dinner was horrible. The show at night wasn't bad but definitely not worth the money or the time. I wish I had just gone to the beach that day....
(1)Roshni B.
The Polynesian Cultural Center is a great experience for adults and children alike. The Ambassador package is pretty much required if you want to have access to front row seats for the evening show, but I'd say it's worth it for your first visit. My family has been here before, and I have to say I prefer the self-guided tour. You can move at your own pace and re-visit your favorite exhibits if you'd like. The Samoa exhibit is hands down my favorite! Kap has been at the center for years and is still as awesome as he was the first time I visited. The Ali'i Luau dining option will give you access to the best food available, but it wasn't the highlight of my visit. The prep is not consistent, but that's expected when you have so many hungry guests waiting for food. The evening show is amazing! Definitely a memorable experience and well worth the money. They serve their signature ice cream during intermission. If you don't want to drive to the center they offer transportation options, but it's pricey and of course you have to wait for them to pick up and drop off others at neighboring hotels.
(4)Whitney T.
DON"T waste your time or money. We had a large group that booked together, and paid nearly $100 per person for the luau, Ha Breath of Life Show as well as admission to the center. The luau was a bunch of BYU student dancers. The food was atrocious, and Ha Breath of Life was awful. This is a giant rip off to make money for the Mormon church and BYU. There is nothing cultural about this experience. I even noticed the "artifacts" they had in the display cases weren't even the ones listed on the sheets, nor was there any explanation as to what they were used for. If you decide not to heed this advice, at least note that they have comment cards at customer service where you can request a refund, because that will be useful information if you decide to go.
(1)Aimee L.
This review was only for the luau. This place feels a lot more Amusement park like then a real cultural experience. I wish that we would have picked Chief's Luau at Sea Life Park instead. It would have been closer and better I think. I went with the recommendations of the people off of tripadvisor forum and now I think they were a bit invested in it personally. The drive is about an hour drive from Waikiki and with drive it took us about 1.5 hour. Dinner started at 5:30 and the show didn't start until 7:30 so we had time to do nothing for almost an hour. The food wasn't good and it was cold. The service was lacking. My brother had to get up and refill his own drink at one one. If you do want to come, come for the show. The hula dancers and fire dancers at the end were spectacular. Unfortunately the other part of the show so a bit slow for me.
(2)Stacey L.
Prior to attending PCC, the negatives review here kind of scared me. Regardless, my friends and I wanted to do at least one huge touristy thing so we decided to go to the day time activities, the luau dinner, and the Ha Breath of Life show. We booked online and saved 37% by bundling packages together, bringing our total to $94 for all three attractions. Definitely aim to arrive as close to noon as you can to be able to see all the exhibits of the different islands. We got there around 12:30 and got around to all the different demos and shows except for one island's. They were all pretty entertaining and educational. We especially enjoyed the Samoa hosted show because of how HILARIOUS the host was. It was the highlight of our trip there! We also took a couple of canoe rides too which were fun. The Luau is a buffet and you can choose either that or a prime rib dinner (also a buffet). The Luau had the basics: Kalua pork, taro bun, ahi tuna, salad, and more, plus DELICIOUS sweet pineapple and a medley of desserts. It won't be the most gourmet meal ever, but it is is decent and you will get full. Plus there was live singing and dancing during the dinner. The Ha Breath of Life show was good and consisted of great acting. People say it's the highlight of their day, but I really enjoyed all three parts of our day. I probably wouldn't go back because my experience wouldn't really differ from this one, but I would recommend it to anyone visiting Hawaii with ample time in their itinerary.
(4)Erin M.
Ugh, I was so hesitant about going here. It is expensive and I read some bad reviews, but I saw billboards and every tourist brochure had this place on it. I wanted to see what it was all about and did not want to miss out. It was definitely not worth the money or the entire day I spent. The weather was beautiful and I could have seen the villages in an hour. The little trips to the different villages was decent but was totally drawn out. The luau was ok, we sat in the front. There was a huge line. They brought a pig out from under ground grill and it had flys all over it. The buffet was ok. There was just sodas on my table. I rarely drink sodas....would have loved a mai tai but no drinking on this campus. Hey, I'm on vacation! They kept selling these ice creams for $5. You get one at the end during the show but by that time I did not want to even look at those anymore. Kept getting called cousin....ugh...stop! The show was pretty good but I was already bummed about being there for so many hours. Anyway, it's rare I write a review thats mostly complaining but I spent a lot of money and and an entire day of my vacation..... still bummed about it. ;(
(3)Ace S.
I'd say it was a big waste of time since this thing takes up your whole day. The buffet food they served was good and the fire show after dinner was great, but the rest of it was meh. I'd rather get drunk and lay on the beach than to learn more about the "real Hawaii." Sorry, I can't hide my ignorance and can't fake enthusiasm. Also, most of the dances that they performed throughout the day were conducted very "conservatively," and I'm pretty sure that's because this place is run by Mormons. Didn't dig that.
(2)Susie C.
Came here for a full day of fun and the food. My husband and I had a good time. Came here as part of the itinerary for our honeymoon. There were shows, crafts, and dances. We also had food (prime dining or luau ; we went with the prime dining) and a fire dance show at the end. Good time overall.
(3)Jenny C.
Worst cultural experience of my life. Terrible food. Offensive and amateur dancing. Ridiculously ham-handed bait and switch situation. Picture a Mormon propaganda VBS play (that tries and fails to use Disney-style marketing techniques) and church picnic cuisine and you're there. Don't waste your money. Extremely disappointing tourist trap that rapes your wallet.
(1)George H.
I would NOT recommend this place! Pros- Clean and staff is friendly. Cons- -Not authentic. It felt like a mockery of Polynesian culture. Mickey Mouse feeling... -not a museum. Does nothing to preserve culture. -set up for monetary gain for BYU not for culture preservation -most of the good reviews are written by trolls. Trust the negative reviews.
(2)Cece T.
While I was planning for things to do on my Hawaii trip I somehow convinced myself that: "if you're going to to Hawaii, you need to go to a Luau show and if you're gonna go to a Luau, you must go to one of the most expensive and popular ones because if it's expensive and popular then it must be good"....well, I was WRONG! I also wish I had listened to my sister who went to Hawaii and came to PCC several months before I did. She warned me that it was "nothing special" and "not worth the money"....yet, my stubborn self never listen. Basically the center feature different villages (Tahiti, hawaii, fiji...). You visit each village and watch a show or play games to learn about its culture. A lot of them have to do with dancing and playing with drums or fire. I thought the place was beautiful but the shows at each villages weren't captivating enough. They give you a little preview and try to convince you to buy ticket for the evening show. I also bought ticket for the evening show and let me tell you, it was so slow and boring that I wish I hadn't come. Their dinner buffet was plain and not appetizing. I will not recommend this place but if you really must go to PCC to experience a luau, then save some money and spent it on the least expensive package.
(2)Danny C.
Thought it's gonna be boring and tourist place. I was wrong, it was fun and informational. Don't miss the tonga show. It's a lot of fun. I will recommend anyone to go. even you are "local"
(4)Chad A.
What a rip off its owned by the Mormon's who are great people, but they water down a lot of the dances and make the women where more clothing so it feels like I am not getting a true Island experience.
(3)Patricia M.
We went to the Ali'i Luau. It was so fun! The singers, the servers - they were all so nice and friendly. The dancing was great (I love the little children) and the beef tips were amazing - YUMMY! Good fun, good show - completely worthwhile!
(5)Shay F.
PCC is a non-profit organization that does an awesome job at showcasing culture in the islands. I'm amazed at the presentations I saw and especially the last show of the day, HA. Even though it's quite far from Honolulu, it's well worth the visit if you are looking for truly an educational, and cultural experience here in the islands.
(5)Shannon W.
Touristy, expensive, unique, great food, good evening show. Would I do it again? No.
(3)Yav A.
I do recommend buying a poncho if you travel in February like we did as the rains came unexpectedly. Also, bring a sweater as the North shore at night gets very windy and cold due to the mountain trade winds. The Fiji, Hawaiian and New Zealand islands had amazing informative shows. The canoe parade displaying different dances were incredible. Buffets were jammed packed with tourists so we did McDs. I am glad I did so too. Do not waste your time and money at the night show. The show would be spectacular but they didn't choreograph the show well and transitioned in native Hawaiian dialect which left you confused and puzzled. Breath of Life sucked my life! It had a lot of potential.
(4)Meg M.
Polynesian Cultural Center is like a cross between the Smithsonian and Epcott which means it is a blast for adults and kids alike! As a teacher, I can truly say that the hands on experiences are knowledge-building, differentiated and funs for all ages! I've been to the PCC many times, mostly with visitors to the islands and the PCC all day adventure is usually their favorite excursion. Education and awareness about the culture of Hawaii and all of Polynesia is super important for visitors so that the conservation of culture and environment can continue to be supported. Tips for your day of adventure: - Bring an umbrella or rain gear, showers are common in Lai'e! - Spring for the night show and buffet dinner. The night show (Ha, Breath of Life) is amazing but the extra money for the Luau isn't really worth it. You can see most of the dancers and dances in either the night show or the Hawaii area of the park. - Try to set up a schedule so that you see the shows in all of the countries - Arrive at the show about 10 minutes early to get good seats! - If you can, schedule your park day during the week- the weekends are very crowded! - SUNBLOCK! ... or at least wear some thing you won't get bad tan lines from! - Bring something warm for the night show - Make sure to bring a water bottle so you don't get dehydrated- it is a full, active day! - To get the most out of your day arrive at about 12:30 The shows/demonstrations in each country are awesome but if you are in a time crunch, be sure to visit Samoa, Aotearoa and Tonga. The real winners of the day long adventure are the BYU students you are helping. Who knew helping could be so fun?! Although I wouldn't donate money directly to the Mormon church (PCC is own and operated by Mormons, as is BYU), I am all for students getting an equal education and ultimately, that is where your money is going. These students are so talented at the dances, ceremonies and more that they perform that they deserve the money, but it is good to know it goes towards their education. There are a lot of "extras" to buy like group photos, "pineapple delights", key chains, bottle openers (does anyone else see the irony?), etc but such is a tourist economy. Bottom Line: If your guests to Hawaii still believe that Hula dances are done in grass skirts and luau participants wear coconuts for bras, get them educated about the Polynesian culture at PCC.
(5)Philip M.
I was always told the PCC is a major tourist trap where you're stuck there all day in the hot hot sun, so I was reluctant to go being we've been to Oahu so many times and i've been able to avoid coming here. But this time around we left around 4pm which helped with cooling the day down quite a bit and I was pleasantly surprised! First thing we did when we got there was to jump on the boat ride so that you get to the opposite end. This was smart because no one was waiting and we were able to back track vs. everyone else who seems to do the opposite of walking all the exhibits and taking the boat ride back to the starting point. I wish I could give this place 5 stars, but their dining room was UBER warm with very little ventilation and NO A/C despite being indoors. It had great ambiance and lighting, but the food was sub par for a buffet. The closing show Breath of Life was awesome! It had an amazing set with very cool choreography and theme. It's a long 2 hour show, but certainly worth the $65 admission for all the exhibits, buffet and show. I would recommend the PCC to anyone visiting HI.
(4)Lotu F.
The PCC is a fun place to spend the day. I find it hilarious reading the one and two star comments on here - they all have issues with the same thing so let me break it down for you. You WILL BE miserable visiting the PCC if...... 1. You hate Mormons or organized religion. (Yes, the PCC is owned by the mormon church. So is Pepsico, Franklin Covey and Marriott Hotels. Other mormon-run companies include Jet Blue, Oakley, Priceline, etc. etc. So if you plan on banning mormon owned businesses you will literally have nothing to do or buy ever.) 2. You are a food snob. (The buffets are not great and overpriced just like Disneyland. And, if you haven't noticed..... EVERYTHING on Oahu is overpriced. Get over it and book your michelin star bistro in Honolulu earlier in the week. Otherwise BRING SNACKS.) 3. You can't go a day without alcohol. (Yes it is true - no alcohol served at PCC. Hopefully you can survive enjoying the beauty and culture of Hawaii without a buzz. There is a liquor store in Hauula if you need to shotgun some Jack afterwards.) 4. Every Hawaiian experience has to be 100% authentic. (The Bishop Museum is very authentic, but no Luau's or night shows offered...bummer. The PCC is a little less authentic but with lots of fun things to do all day long. Pick your poison.) 5. You don't like rain. (The Windward side of Oahu and especially the North Shore -where the PCC is located - tends to experience heavy rainfall especially during the Winter months. Don't ask for a refund - just use that weather app on your iPhone and bring an umbrella. Use common sense. ) 6. You don't like to pay for parking. (It costs $8 to park at the PCC. It costs $25 to park in Waikiki. You just rented a four door Jeep Rubicon or a convertible Ford Mustang and drove 2 hours to the North Shore. $8 will not kill you or break the bank. Don't be such a tight wad.) 7. You think the Night Show should be at the same singing and acting level as the Broadway Play you just saw in NYC. (Seriously?) 8. You think the PCC is too much like Disneyland and are upset that they sell overpriced trinkets and $10 smoothies. (OK....the PCC is a business. Have you ever bought a $7 churro or $9 turkey leg at Disneyland? Maybe you paid $15 for that stupid glow stick princess fan? Same rules of economics apply in Hawaii.) 9. You think the workers are "mormon robots" and are "brainwashed" to be grateful for the job at PCC. (Many of these students are from remote islands in the Pacific. If it were not for BYU-H they would not have the opportunity to leave whatever small island they grew up on and attend a very well respected university nationally and internationally AND to have their tuition 100% paid for as well. Crazy kids! What are they thinking!) 10. You don't like to have fun anywhere ever. (Just relax and have fun! Life is too short to be so critical and hate and judge everything.) Mahalo!
(5)Dboy E.
A day of walking around. Food was not great, but ok. Everything was so pricey, the best part of the day was the show "HA Breathe of Life". Having a tour guide was helpful, however, you dont get to do all the activities on the schedule, the times are set just to watch the show. I expected more..... oh well.
(2)Valerie R.
I went here last weekend with the family when friends were in town and I can honestly say that I was pleasantly surprised! The last time I'd been was in 2004 and the memories were not good - hot, boring, and overpriced. That's why I hadn't been back. Needless to say, I wasn't exactly jazzed about making the trek all the way out there. Well, I guess they've made a few improvements, and my impressions have changed. First off, I got the discounted tickets from the military ticket outlets - $45 for adults, which included admission, a buffet dinner, and the Ha - Breath of Life show. Not too shabby, right? I really wasn't sure what to expect, but my friends wanted to go so I obliged. We walked in the entrance and right away, the kids were drawn to the displays of tapa cloth and wooden weapons. Awesome! They must be growing up! Next, we meandered around, and they wanted to go in all the different huts and excitedly ran from attraction to attraction. We took a canoe ride, watched the short (and free!) video on Hawaii in the brand new IMAX theater, and then hunger caught up with us and we hit the buffet. It wasn't too bad! Lots of different lines, so it's never too long. It was a good combination of local food and typical American fare - fried chicken, pasta, etc. Even though it was essentially a giant dining hall, the decor was elegant and tropical. Plus the murals on the wall honored all the immigrants who made their way here. The next big event was Ha - Breath of Life. It was basically a Vegas-style Polynesian review with an underlying "Lion King" type story line. I loved it! It was good enough that I would watch it again. In fact, I'll probably be back when my parents come to visit. Definitely worth giving this place a try now.
(4)Joseph D.
This place is great to learn about Hawaii natives, as well as the surrounding islands like Samoa or Fiji. I suggest taking a tour. Not sure how much it was at the gate but we got transportation included and "Cousin Wes" was kind of our tour guide on the bus, showing us places we were passing by. As we approached the Center he suggested a tour which was $25 but it also included a buffet lunch! He had a great selling point and we figured it was worth learning from someone who worked there about the different tribes/islands and it was. Besides that cousin "Wes" is hilarious. Make sure to give him a tip once he's done if you liked him. We enjoyed the "HA! Breath of life" show but we thought it was going to be a long fire show. It was actually a story of a couple who escaped a raid on their village and found a new island and raised their son and became king and Queen. His son grows up and it is about his life and his journey. At the end of the show is the fire show which was amazing! About 10minutes long and a lot of fire dancers all at once! Probably wont see it again for how expensive it was. One of the best and funniest parts about the center was "Chief Kan" I believe his name was. He was at a Samoan area (not the village) and he showed you how he makes fire and how to pronounce different words in different languages. One of the most funniest guys you will ever hear. Thanks for the laugh! Food could have been better!
(5)Scott S.
Sorry to be contrary. I was here for 9 hours as part of a school band trip. This was the planned culture. Maybe if we had been here for an hour, tolerable. But it is just nothing. First this is a fundraiser for the Mormon church and students at BYU. Says so on the brochure. So this is not the state teaching this is the Mormons raising funds. It was creepingly clean. Nothing out of place. But in a creepy way not like Disney. The workers are all students. Some nice some just smiled. They are basically servants working as an internship to raise money. Some of the stations are cute I guess but so sanitary as to be jarring The Buffett, we went to the cheaper one., was vile. As in bad, things could not be identified. All frozen except pineapple. It was right off the Sysco discount truck. It was largely inedible. Not sure why others thinking but it was bad bad The show was ok. By that time we were tired, creeped out by the clear money grab and wanted to go home. It is 90 mjnutes with an ice cream sales break. Really. The performers had some talent but for 50 bucks there are better things So basically it's a Mormon owned cultural center with a sanitized version of the culture. Avoid
(1)Lani P.
Okay so as a child we took all our mainland and Puerto rican relatives to PCC and the show's so I've been to this place more times than I can count, now the downside is, it's been atleast 15yrs since I've been back..lol This time though I just had to take my youngerst daughter here, so she could learn about her background since she's a little haole hapa looking girl and soo mainland out. Well my mom/dad actually treated us to the 12-5pm.. We didn't need the Luau since my ohana always does stuff like that anyways, not to mention we always go to germaines and paradise cove when were in town. So it was total of 10 people. Family and close friends on a day of our heritage explorations. I couldn't give it a 5 star because I was soo very disappointed in the Easter Island exhibit. Basically it didn't tell me anything I didn't know already.. I have a quarter Hawaiian, but I must say I'm really taken more with the Tahitian's and Rapa Nui history. Don't get me wrong I'm proud, but I mean people assume you are what you look and I have chines/korean, so I'm looked at just asian or a hapa chick. Tiks for the day was about 50 bucks or so and very Worth it. It gives you atleast the basics and background, so those very new to the Polynesian world has some insight of this part of the world. We had a blast here and it was a Wonderful day!.. I think I'll hit here if not yearly than atleast every other year to keep my little one up to date, since she doesn't seem to want to try and board at Kamehameha...
(4)TB O.
We included this in our trip because of a recommendation of a friend; he loved it, we didn't. This was at the bottom of our Hawaiian vacation. One of my former office mates used to live on Oahu, he said he would have warned me about it if we hadn't already bought the tickets, if he had we probably wouldn't have bought the tickets. This is overpriced and expensive for what you get, since you could do better by being a little more industrious. The one interesting thing, to me at least, is what this place says about our American culture as a whole when the (claimed) "#1 tourist spot in Hawaii" is as fake as Disney and akin to visiting a giant Walmart... Everything is contrived, same jokes every hour, and fake. Even the grass huts using vinyl grass. Sure most things in Waikiki are also fake, but you don't need to spent 70+ to walk around there. More importantly, going here wastes an entire day (valuable time in an Hawaiian vacation). If you're someone who thinks Disney is a great place, then you will love this as this place is equally fake. We thought it was like being stuck in a giant Walmart for a day. The only upside was it gave us some exposure to various cultures of Polynesia and we saw some cool stuff like real Polynesian boats.and it was in essence like being in a giant Walmart. Don't waste your money and time here, do some more real things like: driving around the island, taking one of the Waikiki catamaran sunset drinking boat cruises (Mai Tai or Outrigger Catamaran were both good), getting a table at the House Without a Key and enjoy the music and sunset, walking on Waikiki beach, Chinatown meals, 'Iolani Palace, Bishop Museum, ABC's spam musubis, and Shirokiya lunch (better and cheaper than most places). There are even lots of free things you can do in Hawaii that are better than this (swimming, volleyball on the beach). If none of that stops you and you still decide to go, be prepared for the occasional pressuring to spend more (on the tour bus they try all the time to get you to upgrade). In the park they try to sell you pictures of yourself. Ignore it all. We didn't take a guided tour (a waste of money since you can see everything and actually even more if you go at your own pace), nor did we tour their temple, or buy lunch there. Get the basic Lua, don't splurge for the more expensive ones. The added price just gets you a larger buffet with only more expensive non-island things (steak) (if you wanted food from the mainland why are you in Hawaii?). The gift shop is overpriced, even for Hawaii. Skip the evening performance, it is a joke. The acting appears lip synced and there is real historical connection to anything or any real message.
(1)Edward L.
I wasn't sure how to react when I realized this was a real live museum. Not sure if the staff (all real Polynesians) were really making a decent living, or were being exploited (the centre is run by the nearby Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Yes, a Mormon church owns and operates this place). But the staff seemed pretty happy, so what the hey. Parking is nice and plentiful in the lot out front. There is a section for tour buses. The centre is divided up into several mini-sections, each one representing a different cluster of islands such as New Zealand, Tonga, and Samoa. You can either walk through the whole thing, or you can take a (free) canoe ride from one end to the other, then mosey back. The whole park takes less than 10 minutes to walk from end to end. It's actually quite small. I tried both the lunch and dinner buffet. While the food was somewhat decent, it wasn't anything special. Tasted like cafeteria food to be honest. Most of the shows were actually quite decent and informative, withe plenty of native dances and singing. Learned a few things such as how nobody pronounces "Honolulu" or "ukulele" correctly, and that the hula dance you see in movies is actually from Tahiti. THE must-see "region" though is Tonga. You can tell the main guy doing the show has lived in the States for a while, based on his deadpan humour. My friends and I couldn't stop laughing. Oh, and he's GOOD. I can't believe he can start a fire in 3 seconds using 2 pieces of wood. That was jaw-dropping. Then he holds it in his hand (just some smoldering embers in a piece of wood) while talking, places a coconut husk over it, and the thing just explodes into flames. He makes it look so ridiculously easy I just have to try it at home. The other highlight is the Ha show (you have to purchase this option). It's about a boy growing up blah blah blah (cheesy but expected), but the highlights are the dances with flaming batons and balls with string. Not sure how you'd practice this stuff. I'd recommend this show. Not sure about the exact value (I came here as part of a tour), but it definitely kept my friend and I entertained and fed for a good chunk of a day. Recommended.
(4)Alan B.
This was easily one of the highlights of a November Oahu vacation, especially when MWR had a SICK discount for the Ali'i Luau package. So the day was broken into three parts the day experience, luau, and Ha the Breath of Life. The village life experience was pretty cool, got there right when it opened to experience as much of village life as we could. -Kip the and the Samoa village were hilarious! I swear he's my twin brother only darker. -The Tongan drummers kept me cracking up as they tried teaching the poor volunteers (victims) how to beat on their drums, especially when they got a Japanese person who couldn't speak English. -In Tahiti, the girls including the tourists can shake (try to) their hips like Shakira while the guys get to flex our muscles and shake our tail feathers. As for the luau, no alcohol is available, not a prob especially since it's quite a ways from those staying in Waikiki and I ain't trying to run my rental into the ocean. The food is abundant and you can sample as much or little as you want, but get as much of the lomi lomi salmon and kahlua pig on your plate because you'll devour these protiens in seconds. Ha the Breath of Life was the perfect closing to a fun filled day. It mashed all the cultures in the center to teach a wonderful story of the life cycle and showcased Kip and his firedance. By the end of the show it had me yearning to have some Islander blood in me.
(5)Jesse B.
My mom and I came here thinking it would be a good Hawaii vacation thing to do. Boy, were we wrong. Nothing about the Polynesian Cultural Center is worth the money we paid. I'm not sure as to whether or not the center means to be deceiving, but the "artifacts" in the front lobby give you the idea that you're in for an interesting learning experience. Instead, say hello to practically no learning and to a series of comedic shows. Yes, all the little shows are hilarious for the most part (giving little details about different Polynesian islands), but in no way were they worth the expensive admittance ticket. I found my self wandering to and fro with my mom bored out of our minds. Was some of it enjoyable? Yes, but not nearly enough to make it even close to worth it. I think the best part was our meal at the banquet hall, which only added more expense to the ticket cost. So do yourself a favor, just about anything else on the island is more fun than this and less of a rip off; don't go to the Polynesian Cultural Center.
(1)Karen L.
Mom and I spent the entire day here, and it is definitely a day trip that takes up the whole day! We had such a great experience here--this was definitely our favorite day out of our whole trip. I read previous Yelp reviews of this place, and I was not aware at all of the Mormon undertones. They didn't try to push any blatantly religious messages on us, so who cares? We chose the package that included admission, dinner, and the show. We also bought tickets for the bus to pick us up, so all we had to do was hop on the bus and our tour guide took care of everything for us. For an additional $25 per person, he offered a special where he would personally take us around, and it would include the buffet lunch. Mom and I were afraid we'd get lost, so we opted for this deal. And we were glad we did! There is just so much to see here that you can't possibly see and do everything in one day! So our guide took us to each of the villages and hit all of the main activities and presentations, and even had time at the end to take us on the canoe ride. And we got to watch the canoe pageant! It was so much fun learning about all of the different Polynesian islands, and my favorite part was the canoe pageant. It was really entertaining. The dinner buffet was okay. It wasn't spectacular but they did have some good items. We were definitely excited, though, to see the show! It was called HA: Breath of Life, and it was a wonderful experience, even though I wish we had gotten better seats. I especially loved the fire throwing at the end--both Mom and I were definitely most impressed by this. But the dancing throughout the show was entertaining as well. Polynesian Cultural Center is a definite must-do if you visit Oahu!
(5)Daniel D.
2 words: tourist trap! I came here with my girlfriend for the dinner and show. I did not explore the villages or anything like that but my GF had done research that the show was better than any of the luau's on the island. I thought it was really out of the way, especially if you're staying in Waikiki. And I thought it was ridiculous that we had to pay for parking even though we had paid for dinner and the show. I would think they would throw in parking, guess not. We opted for the upgraded prime rib and crab buffet/dinner. I felt cramped because the dining hall was so large but everyone was strategically placed together. We were only a party of 2 so we were next to 5 other parties of 2. Our server wasn't bad, but you could tell she was overwhelmed. There were times when I would have appreciated a bit more attention but as I looked around at the chaos surrounding me, I just tried my best to get all of my needs taken care of in one request. The great thing about the prime rib/crab side is that there are a lot less kids and people running around but that comes with a steep price for food that I wouldn't call quality? Actually this whole experience reminded me why I don't eat at buffets unless I'm in Las Vegas. Simply put it's quantity over quality. The prime rib was average and all of the other food was just forgetable. I felt full but not satisfied. The journey from the dining hall to the auditorium felt almost like an amusement park. They had so much crap and stuff to waste money on but hey I guess that's how they make their money, right? Oh and charging for parking! Lol. The show itself was great. I thought it was a bit long, especially when I was ready to slip into a food coma. There was a break and shaved ice was sold. It just really felt like tourism at its finest. I would recommend coming here for the show and only the show. Make sure you select good seats, I would suggest anything in the middle section of the stage. And prepare for a pretty long drive back if you're staying in Waikiki.
(3)Anu M.
What: Polynesian cultural shows, Dinner, HA (Breath of Life) Show More Info: $8 parking fee (cash only) for the car; No food allowed inside the center; There are a couple of snack bars inside the center. We made reservations to the Polynesian Cultural Center Day Pass + Ali'i Lu'au (Royal Feast) Dinner + HA(Breath of Life) show about a couple of weeks before travelling to Hawaii. The Polynesian Cultural Center occupies 42 acres of land and simulates seven polynesian villages - Hawaii, Samoa, Tahiti, Fiji, Tonga, Marquesas Islands and Aotearoa (present-day New Zealand). The center opens at 12 noon and each village organizes shows every one hour until 5pm, with each show lasting for about 20-25min. The 30minutes canoe parade that showcases the signature dances of each Polynesian culture/village was pretty entertaining. It was a pretty good break from the beaches; but I expected more.
(4)Thanhquyen N.
This is an all day deal. It is like a theme park, but very educational about the people and culture. You can do the self tour or have your own guide. The staff are professional, very friendly and always helpful. If you look lost or need help, they will ask before you even have to ask. I found that more than once. :) The center is very organized and presentations are wonderful. We got the basic package and the food was alright. The final show (fire show) exceeds my expectations. The performers were spectacular. It was like watching one of the Las Vegas shows. What I like the most was 75% of employees are students at BYU Hawaii and the profits fund various scholarship programs. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Po…
(5)Jim R.
There are a lot of good things about this place, and there are a few bad things. But we will start positive. Overall, it was a nice experience. The shows were fun, the weather was nice (who can complain about hawaii?), and everyone was very friendly. However, this place is the definition of a tourist trap. The center is a long way from Honolulu, and they pack you on a little bus to get here, so there is no leaving early. They mainly hire the guides from BYU Hawaii, who owns this place, and I could not understand our guide's accent. It seemed that he also had a hard time remembering parts of the pre-written script. The buffet was meh, though the roast pork was tasty. There is also no alcohol for sale since this place is run by the LDS church, but I didn't mind that too much. In the end I can see this being a lot of fun for kids, but my girlfriend and I were kind of bummed since we paid a lot and didn't have an amazing time.
(3)Loriel L.
This place screams tourist trap and feels like the polynesian culture is being exploited for monetary profit. This is probably due to the fact that the cultural center is run by Mormons. We came here for the HA breath of life show (separate review), and decided we might as well pay for the dinner & luau just to experience it. Pros: -Artwork and information displayed around the park was educationally stimulating -HA breath of life show (4 stars!) Cons: -OVERPRICED: luau & dinner (Hawaiian food (buffet style) that did not have lau lau, poke, or other staples you can find outside of PCC - only had one plate cause it felt heavy and greasy. I enjoyed the taro bread though). Not worth the price we paid. -Everywhere you go in this place they try to sell you things - little stands around the park and the people managing it really push for you to buy their stuff. We were caught up in here trying to kill time before the show. -It just had an amusement park feeling where I had sympathy for those working there, specifically those who put in time to perform and dance for the visitors. Overall: 2 for the PCC, but 4 for the HA breath of life show. I would recommend coming here just to watch the show - come a little earlier to walk around and explore the free things at PCC. However, just make sure to have dinner somewhere else.
(2)Kim S.
Fun from the entertainment viewpoint. Especially because I paid only $20 for an annual pass. Tips: Be sure to wear a hat & bring sunscreen. It is HOT out there. Plan accordingly, it is a looong day to see & do everything. Stop by 1 of the shrimp trucks for lunch since you're in the area. Rainbows of Paradise Canoe Pageant - Fun to watch the different dance performances with the small waterfall back drop. Gateway Buffet - $12. Good for the discounted price. Food was ok/good - I have low expectations for buffets. Food was frequently replenished & serving area kept clean. At least desserts & beverages are inclusive. Tip: Queue up when the buffet opens so you may eat leisurely. "Ha Breath of Life" night show - was entertaining as a show. Enjoyed the fire dancing. Tip: The theater is small so I'd skip paying extra for "better" seats. We got sucked into paying $10/person extra to "upgrade" our seats.
(3)Lilly C.
This place was truly amazing!!! I was in awe from the historical/cultural information that was provided for each Island we toured around. I would STRONGLY recommend that you get an ambassador, we were fortunate to have met Cousin Leon who directed us from 12pm to 10pm. He went out of his way to ensure we got on the boat, pushed us around and he summarized the different areas that we were headed in. It started to rain and he was kind enough to take a run and bring his entire group panchos. He also ensured that we made it to each and every show and that we got the best seats. The shows were phenomenal, the workers there are all college students and have a beautiful positive energy that is carried and projected causing it to become contagious. Our first show was the drum show, the crowd laughed as though a comedy show was being held, second show w/the man climbing the coconut tree was as funny and educational and lastly, we got to experience two true good bye/good luck ceremonies that involved dancing and chanting, it was amazing...we got to see tears and all at that end of the show. The parade w/the hula dancers was just amazing, they all had beautiful formation and chemistry-they even threw someone off the boat (this was NOT scripted) which made the crowd hysterically laugh. Dinner for the luau then followed, food was amazing!!! We got to see luau dancers perform while we had dinner. The night is wrapped up w/the most incredible show!!! There were hundreds of hula dancers running up/down the stage and stairs, noise coming from all sorts of places, things flying in the air, props showing up expectantly and flames of fire EVERYWHERE!!!! The show was truly amazing, worth the drive and the time-hands down.
(5)Asha S.
My first time here was when I was 12. I decided to go back on my last trip a few months ago. A great deal of fun - not kitschy at all.. but make sure you don't miss the shows - check the schedule! Also - "Ha: Breath of Life" is incredible! Such talented people.. so informative, too! __________________________________________ I've just read a few reviews saying that the place is run by Mormons. Okay....... yeah, I'm a strong agnostic and am pretty sensitive to religious connotations and suggestions - didn't see a hint of any of that while I was at the PCC. I thank whoever it is that keeps this place running for providing a fun environment for all sorts of people where you can enter a virtual world and immerse yourself in culture.
(4)Duy L.
Visited on a Friday afternoon, June 15, 2012 (sorry, long overdue review!) We arrived a little later in the day, and decided to splurge on the Ambassador package. It included a personal tour guide (for the two of us), and it was well worth it to be able to skip some lines. I guess most (or all, or some?) of those tour guides are students on a visa, and so you get someone from the Pacific islands to make the visit more in-depth. The shows were pretty informative, and the Samoan one was hilarious (hopefully he's still around by the time you're visiting -- it's the one with the guy who climbs a coconut tree and shows how to squeeze out a coconut, etc). I laughed pretty hard at that show. The buffet, as others have mentioned, was blah. I mean, this isn't a Michelin rated joint here. If you dislike buffets in general, this place will reaffirm your stance. If you like them, then you might agree it's something you don't need to shell out money for. The one thing I liked about this eating experience was the long, communal tables for dining... we were seated pretty close to a MILF, and I had pangs of guilt for eyeing another man's wife. But she looked gooood. We rounded out the quick visit with Ha, The Breath of Life, show. It was well done, and easy enough to understand. I'd definitely recommend for kids. The performance wasn't perfect (the guy dropped the fire stick!), but it's worth seeing once. Overall, it's a nice, educational trip. The bus tour to the adjacent school was also enlightening, and I enjoyed it.
(4)Isabella B.
I'm going to break up my review of PCC into three sections. This is part 1. Ali'i Luau (part 2): yelp.com/biz/polynesian-… Ha: Breath of Life [the show] (part 3): yelp.com/biz/ha-breath-o… SHUTTLE: It was an entertaining ride to PCC, with our bus guide Cousin Pili (yes that's his name, I checked FB) being very funny yet very informative throughout the entire trip. It was the right amount of funny and informative. He showed us notable spots associated with famous people or movie scenes and also gave us trivia about other attractions Oahu had to offer. He would eventually be our tour guide throughout the attraction, as he suggested that a tour guide would be the best way to experience the park. He also did us a favor by converting our vouchers into tickets, but he also strongly encouraged us to fall in line and upgrade our packages to one that has a tour guide (him) that also includes a free lunch. I would have initially opted out for this, wanting to see the villages for myself, but the rest of my family [in particular my parents] really liked the idea of "free" lunch. CONCEPT: There are two BIG things that bugged me about the experience. 1. They are not shy about trying to take as much money away from you as possible. At least Cousin Pili was honest with this. We had to upgrade ($25 additional per person) to get him to be the tour guide. There's also the photographers at every single plausible activity (entrance, flower lei at luau, village activities) that are very happy to take the picture, only to say that it's available afterwards to buy after the luau ($15 for first, $12 additional). If you didn't get a tour guide, the canoe tour is $10. There are these pineapple sherbert desserts they sell during the shows for $5 - there was blatant advertising for this during the long canoe pageant! I will condone this as the money is going to a good cause - tuition and scholarships for BYU students. About 70% of the staff are working students of BYU. Which leads me to my second point... 2. The attraction is run by MORMONS, more specifically MORMON BYU STUDENTS. The Mormon focus is a little more low-key, but the clues are there if you know where to look. First, they refer to other staff as "cousin", which is very similar to how Mormons refer to each other as "sister" and "brother". They also wear black skirts, similar to what Mormon women wear on missionary duty. There's a half-hour FREE tour of the Mormon temple, which thankfully wasn't an option. There's a station about early mission life in the Polynesian villages. I guess there is a benefit; it gives the indigenous Polynesian population an opportunity to be in higher education and pursue their career goals if they wish. Knowing this, however, did not ruin my experience and I was never approached by any staff to discuss about Mormonism. ATTRACTIONS: The village presentations were VERY educational and I learned much more about the Polynesian islands and their culture than I ever did anywhere else. The village presentations are super informative and very entertaining - it seemed like the villagers were trained in entertaining crowds with short attention spans. They regularly sought out audience participation in most if not all the activities and made sure that the audience was happy. One thing that did bug me was that due to getting there at 11:30ish and having a 30 minute lunch, we only had several hours to get through the presentations before the luau at 5. We were basically herded like sheep as we made our way through the villages. Because of this I didn't get to try any of the interactive activities such as fire making or cooking. This is the reason why I didn't want a tour guide initially - so that I can do things at my own convenience. TOUR GUIDE: Cousin Pili was the entire highlight of the park. He is one of the best tour guides I've ever seen, and this is coming from a girl that likes to do things herself! He entertains the audience and makes sure that all of us are happy, but at the same time, he really knows his shit. For most of the villages he also gave a presentation about an aspect of that village's culture and went into huge detail on why that particular aspect still survives to today's culture. His Samoa presentation was the best of the bunch, as he's also a Samoan that came to Hawaii to attend BYU in 2003 and has plans to open a tour company that showcases Samoa and its culture to interested tourists. I am very glad my parents decided to do the free lunch, as I would not have seen him in action at the park otherwise! This is an attraction I would recommend to people despite my issues, especially to first time visitors and people that want to have a cultural educational aspect to their vacation. I would like to go back and actually do the described activities in the villages.
(4)Nadine F.
I expected the Polynesian Cultural Center to be an educational but fairly boring way to spend half a day. At the price of $25, which is what my 15-year-old Frommer's guide said it would cost, I was OK with that. At the actual price of $50, I was pretty annoyed, but at least the money goes to a good cause (funding college for Mormons). The story behind the center is really interesting, and I appreciate what they're trying to do to educate people on traditional Polynesian culture, but as expected, it's a little cheesy. They have BYU Hawaii students from the countries represented working at each exhibit, so they really can give you a lot of information on the countries if you have cultural questions. If you have kids and cash to burn, this is probably a great place to spend a day. The $50, by the way, only covers general admission. That covers performances during the day, and self-guiding your tour is pretty easy with their map of the park. If you want to attend the evening performances, that costs more, and if you want to attend the luau, that costs even more. If you're in a group with no kids, I wouldn't come to the PCC until you run out of other things to do in Hawaii. There are a lot of better things you can do for cheap or free.
(3)Lachmin S.
Wow.. if you had met me on the 26th of October, I would have told you that I am the Polynesian Cultural Center's (PCC) biggest fan. I moved to the Island on Jan 9th, 2012 - and since then I've been to the PCC about 13 times. I really love the place, and yes, I still cry everytime I see the show (when the Fijian's invade and tragedy ensues). I love this place. Correction. Loved. Unfortunately, the Tsunami warning came on the 27th and the show was stopped just before 8 (show started after 730). We were just getting into it when the lights came on and we were told to evacuate due to a Tsunami warning - but not to worry, we'd all receive refunds. Great.. I called the following week to inquire how to go about getting the refund. Key component - in order to receive the refund, you had to keep your stub - ok, fair enough. I'm an annual pass holder, so I got the show for free. However, I paid cash for my sister and her husband who were visiting from California - the visit to the PCC was my treat. I purchased the $69.99 package x2. The price includes admission to the "park" and the show, dinner is included for free. Now, if you purchase a ticket to see the show alone - you pay $49.99 a ticket. If you come to see the show and you want admission to the park - no dinner, you pay a few dollars extra - less than $5. I was expecting around $100 refund - the cost for 2 show tickets - that would be fair, right? I received $17 refund per ticket with no explanation of how this was computed. Absolutely unfair and a sham. PCC makes over $60 million a year. You would think they would be able to refund tickets at fair market price for something people weren't able to receive/enjoy. Don't refund dinner - don't refund admission to the park - but refund to the show, yes, I expect that and I'm very unhappy. I have sent scores of people to the PCC since my arrival - you bet I will be telling everyone about PCC's refund policies. - a very unhappy customer.
(1)Misty S.
If you haven't been, it's good to go at least once. I was born there, have visited family often, but I had never done all the fun tourist things until recently, when I took my husband on his first trip to Oahu. My husband is from Tennessee and he had no concept of the Hawaiian culture, much less the Polynesian culture as a whole. I've tried to explain to him many times but I found it much easier to just take him and let him experience it for himself in one giant package, and mostly in story form. The Polynesian Cultural Center is very similar to a zoo. There are different attractions where you learn something about each village (Hawaii, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Tahiti, etc.). You can see demonstrations, actively participate in a craft, take a short Tahitian dance lesson, go to a drum show, and even see someone climb a tree just like back in the day. We went on the Ambassador tour, which was fun. We went on the tour with several other people and were led by a tour guide (BYU-Hawaii student). They are the ones actually giving you the history lesson while you play and explore. After they'd tired you out, you get to eat. We were dismissed by table to go to the buffet line. Much of the food was traditional but there were things there that can satisfy everyone. After we ate we waited a bit until the doors to the Ha Breath of Life show opened. That show is FANTASTIC! If anything, go for that. All in all, we enjoyed ourselves. We friends with another couple, who I still talk to on occasion, and we have fun memories from our time there.There were parts that were a little corny but the point of it is educational and entertaining. Sometimes I think the zoo can be corny too, but I still enjoy going. My husband now has a grasp of the Polynesian culture and has a better appreciation for it. Mission accomplished!
(4)Paul N.
I believe this is my first time checking out the Polynesian Cultural Center, and it certainly was worth it, though it's more on the pricey side in my personal opinion. And one of those tourist traps, hehe! If you check their website or some of the local magazines, you might find some discount coupons (and I booked online for a small discount off their general admission). There are a variety of package deals available depending on your interests and how much time you have for the entire day among other things (such as luau, evening show, buffet, etc.), so do make sure you read all the details carefully. It's about an hour's drive from Honolulu (1-1/2 hours or more during rush hour) and once you get into the parking lot, it is $8 all day (though I'm told the parking fees have been discontinued as of recently). I was very impressed with all seven villages representing different cultures, including Hawaii, Samoa, Tahiti, and Tonga. The shows were fascinating and I think the man representing Samoa had a really good sense of humor plus his demonstrations were off the charts (in other words, amazing)! And yes, bring your camera (and camcorder if you have one) to the popular tourist attraction (however, no photos or videos are allowed during their evening show, "Ha: Breath of Life"). Overall, you'll definitely learn a lot about the cultures through interactive shows and history and the majority of the people who work here also go to the BYU-Hawaii campus next door. I didn't go to the luau because I've heard reviews that it isn't worth the cost or the quality isn't quite there. Every now and then, they'll try to entice the spectators to buy some ice cream and other stuff like that, but they do make excellent use of these "donations". I would say expect to spend a good 4-5 hours at the Polynesian Cultural Center altogether if you want to experience all six islands and their presentations. Didn't go to the aforementioned evening show, however. Hoping to make it back one of these future visits to Oahu and see their shows again.
(4)Lexy W.
Warning** Cultural Center owned by LDS Church. This fact is not advertised -- I could care less that alcohol isn't served at the luau but weird religious affects to "educational" component of cultural center and the Luau performance. The time we spent at the cultural center was fair. Interesting exhibits and shows and fun activities for kids like collecting stamps and temporary tattoos. But it seemed like many/most people were in groups with tour guides and they went to the "head of the line for everything" -- a bit annoying since entry fees aren't cheap without a guide either. The Luau was TERRIBLE. Food was served in giant room buffet style. It was pretty bad food with sort of half-hearted entertainment that we couldn't see anyway since only people who paid for (more) expensive tickets got good seats. The show was highly disappointing. Weird religious undertone to the story as a thematic way to get viewers from island to island. The costumes were ridiculous -- colonial type short sleeved shirts with baggy pants under grass skirts on the men -- must be some Mormon modesty thing. Show was too long and boring -- we left at intermission so missed the actual fire dancing.
(2)Emilee D.
Every time I come back home for a visit, I come to PCC. It's pricey just for general admission even with a kama'aina discount, but I understand the reason since PCC has college programs to support. What I was not happy with was having to pay $8 for parking and cash only. Being that this place is all the way in Laie, there's no reason to charge for parking. It's not like people would park in the PCC lot just to go to the beach. With all the money they're raking in from parking alone, they could at least invest in a credit card machine. Another gripe is having someone trying to sell you something every ten minutes. As soon as you pass the ticket taker, you get accosted with fake leis to take pictures that can be purchased as souvenirs. Then once you get through that ordeal, you're getting hawked with overpriced bowls of ice cream or bottles of water. It comes off as very tacky and desperate. Then there's the Hawaii exhibit. Man, it was boring and one of the hula dancers looked pissed off that she had to be there. First off, hardly any other guests showed up to the Hawaii exhibit. The ones that did show up were falling asleep after five minutes. Maybe if the hula was kahiko instead of auana, people would've been more interested. Tourists are constantly bombarded with boring auana. Why not give them a different view of hula? The other exhibits like Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, and Aotearoa were entertaining and had the crowd getting into it. They did a good job of showing off their culture even though they've been using the same acts for years. Being Hawaiian, I was embarrassed that the Hawaii exhibit was so lame. I think I'll only come back here for the night shows from now on.
(2)Lynette T.
We had a $50 entertainment voucher as part of our Pleasant Hawaiian Holidays package. Decided to use it at the PCC because most of the other options were either for younger extreme sports enthusiasts and too expensive for us tightwads. So this was like a BOGO ticket for us. I went here once when I was a kiddie about 40+ years ago. I've always remembered that night-time show. Especially the warriors doing the haka. We just went for the day-time village experience. It was good entertainment for an afternoon. Watched some cool demos on fire-making and drumming. Enjoyed the canoe pagentry where each of the seven island cultures were represented in song and dance. I spun poi balls! The fancy advanced butterfly move! Took me about 12 tries to get it going though. It's been years since I last did that. The hubby was amazed. Too bad we did everything in video that day. My picture-taking skills were MIA while there. An added enjoyment was chatting with some of the BYU students who were working the various venues. Nelson from Tahiti was so pleasant to talk to. He gave us a good insight on the opportunities he's gained from this work and college experience. The students working the various island villages also doubled up as performers. Me: "Hey, didn't I just see you as the king in the pageant?!" Got the hubby tattoo'ed- yelp.com/biz_photos/shzF… Bwahaha! Good times!
(4)Jane L.
I haven't been here since I was a kid. Saturday was the first time in years. The drive there seemed like forever I felt like a little kid in the car saying are we there yet? are we there yet? I dislike long car rides. The staff is very accommodating because that is part of their job. I just felt that some of the souvenirs were really really overpriced. I liked this flower hair piece but for $35 come on!!! I can get that for $12 at the swap meet. You can't help it though because it is a tourist attraction. The buffet food was OK but I liked the HA show the best.
(3)Deter J.
We watched "Ha. Life of Breath", which was an fun, entertaining show for the family. We came only for the show (you have to call them to book show only).
(4)Skyler B.
I noticed a lot of the 1 star reviews were from Californians that mentioned Prop8. They didn't like the place because mormon students worked there... ANYWAY haha My wife, Baby and I went to the night show and thought it was spectacular. We didn't come for the rest of the venues though I would have liked to. Very touristy but thats what it was designed for so no complaints being that we were tourists. The fire dancers were one of our favorite parts of the whole trip second only to surfing.
(5)X. Y.
This place is a lot of fun! At first I thought it would be a museum but it really isn't. It's more of a theme park with different shades of cultures from 6 groups of islands in the Pacific, including Tahiti, Tonga, Fiji, Samoa, Aotearoa/New Zealand and Hawai'i. 75% to 80% of the employees on site are local students and the people I came across were very nice and polite. Empolyees are willing to chat about their origins and culture which is definitely a plus for me, an avid language learner, culture aficionado and relentless traveler. The park is designed so that you can walk around between different cultures. Each culture has at least 2 shows per day, some have up to 5 if I remember correctly. Some speakers will speak in their native language which to me is a treat ... what a rush! Most shows have some form of music and dance so you can see different styles or instruments and appreciated different forms of dancing. Shows start at noon and are about half-an-hour long. The problem is that the shows are literally back to back with each other so I suggest to plan in advance. That way when you get out of a show you can go to the one next door otherwise you'll have to leave early. Tickets are about $50 per head online or on the spot which may sound like a big number but you get really fun shows and you learn about different cultures which is fantastic. Also, being able to talk to someone from Fiji or Tonga to me is enough to make the experience unique and amazing. There is plenty of space for parking. Try to show up before they open so you don't miss any cultural show. The early ones start at noon and they are probably almost empty (the first Tahiti show had about 15 people at most). The reason why the center only opens in the afternoon is because students have courses in the morning. I saw shows of all the 6 cultures. They were all great and very educational. A high school kid will probably appreciate. Younger kids will probably just like to go there to screw around or eat rather than learn something about cultures. The best speakers to me where the chief warrior from Tonga that invited me on stage to bang the drums (lot of fun), the guy from Fiji who was hilarious (I told him) and the warrior from Samoa who also cracked me up with his serious but funny style (I won't tell you more so I won't spoil the surprises). The speaker for Hawai'i was great and he taught us that hula is slow so if it's fast it's not hula ... keep in mind! The experience at the center was great. I just wished shows had a 5-minute break between them and the shows could be spread out during the day, not just the afternoon. Also, I wish I could have tried some "cultural" food but by the end of the shows everything was closed. I only tried coconut bread near the Tahiti huts and poi near the Hawai'i huts ... fresh poi folks! I'm really glad I went to the center. I learned a lot of interesting things about the cultures of the Pacific and I highly recommend this place to anyone. One message for the PCC people: please fix the several errors on the banners outside of the restaurants ...
(4)Vicki D.
When the girl rang me up for two adults and one child and the price was $140, I almost fainted. But we drove quite a few miles to get here so I figured well may as well see what the hype is about. It's a great way to learn about the different islands, and the shows are pretty entertaining, in particular the Samoa and Tonga were at the top of our experience list. My kids like the activities - tattoos and games and getting stamps at each location. The river parade was really neat and we could watch it from the shade on mats under the trees. They sell $5 ice cream treats which are great on a hot day as long as you like coconut and watermelon! Parking is $8. Definitely go on the website and look at prices before you make the drive!
(4)Erika G.
All I can say is that I'm speechless!!!! I chose a great place to explore on our trip. The atmosphere was great.., the people were soooo welcoming( aloha and Mahalo)the shows were amazing. A great place to learn about all the different cultures of each islands. So much to learn but unfortunately you need more than 10 hrs to be able to explore every single island and activities. The best part of it was the final show.! If you love to walk, then this place is where to come. It's 42 acres, and it's beautiful. I highly recommend it for those first timers in Hawaii. Loved it!!!!!!
(5)David Q.
This is the top Hawaii excursion place to go in Oahu, this is like there version of D-Land but without the rides, it's lands of culture, Hawaii,Tahiti, Soma..etc. They have shows at each land that start at different times, some have food you can try and mid afternoon they have dances on the river where each culture comes on a flat boat and does the dance of that culture. For dinner they have diff. types we choose the Luau, which was nice but not what I was hoping for, I guess they were saving that for the night for there people to get dressed and ready for the... The Night show. This was close to a 2hr show, but it wasn't boring, had fire dancing, it was in a story format about a small child growing up and so on. This is pricy, I'm not sure if I would go again, but for some one who is into culture I would recommended it, it is pricy, but the venue is up to date, this place has money.
(4)Tracie R.
I do have to say first off that the grounds are beautiful, BUT, then you are in Hawaii. The food it horrible, just basically fast food cattle style like in Vegas. It is absolutely packed and NOT worth the money. We got in for a discount luckily and would have been very upset had we paid full price. It is a major money maker for the LDS church. The kids did really work hard a putting on good shows and doing the best they could. This was the 2nd time and last time I was there and it is all exactly the same as before. Exactly! Even the jokes! I guess the most disappointing part to this whole experience was the fact that the "gifts" that we thoughts were made in these specific countries.....when you look at the bottoms......they all say "MADE IN CHINA"!!!! We just shook our heads and left. All the more proof that the Polynesian Cultural Center is only about the money and nothing else! You are in Hawaii, go see the real Hawaii and save your money!!!
(2)Lauralyn r.
Wow. Sanitized beyond anything Disney could put together....got here mid afternoon to find most of the demonstrations already over for the day and the ones we DID catch were pretty uninformative. Lots of schoolkids all over but I'm not clear on whether any genuine cultural information was on offer. The Ha'a Breath of Life show was chaotic, very inauthentic (the ancient Polynesians were NOT wearing long sleeved white shirts and black trousers while they danced) and a clear derivative of The Lion King...all in all this might be family fun with younger children but adults seeking to learn something about Polynesian culture should steer clear.
(2)Steve X.
This review is for the center and not for the religion (mormons) that give tuition and financial aid to those that work there while going to their mormon school. its like a Disneyland and you experience a little bit of each Polynesians culture. I'm a total stranger to it all so it was great for me. Expect to see one dancer to somehow appear at another cultures dancing routine...I saw this a few times and they told me they do this when they're short handed. For the show at the end, amazing. I hope to return again...can't wait.
(4)Pete D.
We had the Ambassador Luau Package plus the bus transportation. The bus picked up all the Ambassador people separately from the rest of the crowd. The nice thing is that we were the first to arrive at PCC. The tour guide we were assigned was about average, but the park and the mini shows were well done. It took us the whole afternoon to see most of the park with our tour guide. If you do go it alone I would recommend you do some craft things so you can take some stuff home with you after the memorable trip. In my opinion the Alii Luau is the best meal package you can get. The other good option is the prime rib, but one can get a prime rib dinner just about anywhere. The Alii Luau includes a nice dinner show that includes dancing and live music with authentic Hawaiian food. Our evening was finished with an excellent main stage performance in their main theater. Our ambassador seats were close enough to see the faces of the performers and far enough to see the whole stage performance. This is a must see if you are in Oahu. However, considering how expensive the package is I wouldn't go again. Visited September 2011
(5)Kumari D.
I've come here for decades and I am sorry that the price has sort of outstripped the value. One way to do it is buy a ticket for the evening show, eat dinner and come early enough to walk around the park a little - that way it won't be such a long hot tiring day. You can avoid a lot of chaos this way. The other option is to skip dinner and the evening show and take the tour so you get to look at a little of everything. Decades ago there was talk of this place closing - if it goes there won't be anywhere where Polynesian history is so well assembled so effortlessly presented. Seriously, once you live in Hawai'i you kind of take it for granted but come back with some visitors from the mainland and you'll see their eyes pop. I think the dancing at the luau is authentic. I like how it's a full review representing the many styles from different time periods and geographies. The food is - meh - it's a fair representation of local kine luau stuff, not the best representations. Once again, if you're bringing mainlanders it's as good a chance as any for them to try haupia or poi because they probably wouldn't order it on their own at a regular restaurant.
(3)Jeremy L.
All the Polynesian islands that you can think of, all in a convenient place. It's an interesting place to visit and it is an elaborate setting for a theme park based on various cultures. There's no roller coasters or exciting thrill rides, but there is a fancy looking restaurant, plenty of cultural presentations and has the look of a multimillion dollar entertainment center. However, if you do visit, don't do what I did and go in thinking that you'll see everything at your own pleasure. In order to see everything, you need to plan and time everything. Every show in each area has a specific showtime and it carries over from one to the other, but it requires some walking to the next area. Now the staff that gave their informational bits and demonstrations were very knowledgeable. Whether they are actually from their islands are a matter that left me wondering, but gave them the benefit of the doubt. Regardless of that, they were skillful in their craft and some gave their comic relief in creative ways. However, it felt like some cultural demonstrations were modernized with tin foil in place of leaves, which took some of the authenticity of the culture out. We went to the luau and, honestly, I have no experience in luaus, so I don't know what to expect. The food was okay. The entertainment was typical, but most of our time was spent talking with those around our table. I think the highlight of the day is PCC's new show: Ha. It's quite an amazing show of all the Polynesian cultures coming together to make a story. It reminds me of Cirque Du Soleil in a lot of ways. Should you go...Yeah, I think you can. Go again? Maybe not unless you like shows like Ha or want a taste of all cultures in one location.
(2)robert k.
Can anyone say "tourist trap"? If it wasn't for our stop at Boots and Kimo's before driving up here, and if it wasn't for the drive up here, this day would've been an absolute waste of a beautiful day in Hawaii. It is a rinky dink park ran by the Mormon Church. The showcases, or different "islands", are just little stops where you can learn a little bit about different Polynesian islands. Your tour guide stops at some of the huts, but not all, and then leads you into larger huts where they have audience participation oppurtunities for hula dancing, or drumming, or whatever. But in the end, it's just boring. I guess it could be fun for kids, or seniors, but for me it sucked. And for $100 per person? Forget it. The luau definitely sucked as well. The food was nasty and fatty and the experience felt like a large convention dinner, not a luau. Overall I think this place is just a tourist trap. The only good thing is that like 70% of the employees are students at the Mormon school right next to it, so that's kind of good I guess.
(1)Ray H.
This place is amazing, i loved the educational aspect of all the villages. I really enjoy the fact that I was able to discover other places and learned new information through their educational visits of each village. Next time i'm back in Hawaii i hope to experience the Luau with you guys.
(5)Janice F.
I love this place It is operated and backed by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints" aka "Mormons". I believe there is nothing like it in the world. You have all these cultures gathered here in one place and even more important you have the natives of these cultures actually working in each village. The students from each perspective island country receive scholarships and work at PCC and in return get educated at the nearby University. You will definitely learn about the church so go with an open mind and you will walk away having a better understanding of the church and No its not a "cult" and they are christian like many other religions. Pricey? Of course it is you are in Hawaii try living here LoL PCC is about as authentic as it gets just ask the workers from the island countries NOTHING comes close to the real thing I believe....so to save you thousands of dollars of travel to that island country consider yourself lucky because you just saved that much money!!!!
(5)Denz E.
BYU...Mormons...LDS...EVIL. Enough said. Zero star if possible! Since they "perceived" I'm gay I was not allowed to take pictures with any of the boys. Girls approached me and surrounded me when I was asked to have my pic taken with the hot guys in grass skirts. Gay performers were aloof and scared. They were on scholarships and any suspicion was grounds for expulsion. Authentic luau food was scarce because they have to cater to "mainstream" population (i.e., white tourists). Very bigoted atmosphere. It's so thick you could slice through it. Fellow gays STAY AWAY from this hell hole.
(1)Belle B.
I remember coming here when I was a little girl. In my memory it was fun and informative with lots of activities and arts and crafts. Even as a little girl, I knew it was cheesy and touristy but I still had fun. Even my mom and relatives who grew up in Hawaii thought it was fun when we went. Going here with my bf many years later, it was only a fraction of what i remembered. The place looked half empty. It seemed like the different areas were large, but the people and activities only took up a fraction of the space of the attraction. It's sad because you could see the potential of the place, and it wasn't anywhere close to it. There were shows and arts and crafts but again it was just a few little things here and there. The people that worked there (locals and possibly BYU students) were friendly and fun. The meals were "okay" and the shows were entertaining. It was truly disappointing and quite a waste of money as it's not cheap to get into the place. We had coupons so we did get a bit of a deal, but we left unsatisfied and sad. The good thing is if you are a tourist it can be very interesting and informational.
(3)Sevak T.
Amazing!! Amazing! My wife and I had an anniversary trip to Honolulu. I was very hesitant to do an all day tour of the PCC with her, but it was our first time so we had to try it. I got the Ambassador package with prime rib dinner and premium seating for the show. We loved all 6 village visits, the activities, the dances, the show, the dinner! We were super impressed, so much that we would want to go live in one of those Polynesian cultures. I booked our all day tour and then the PCC starting at Noon. I have to say if I could change one thing that would be to skip the island tour and just go straight to PCC and spend the entire day there. The island tour with the PCC site was okay, in fact it was nothing more than just driving around in a hot and humid shuttle. But once we got to the PCC then the amazing fun began. Those young Polynesians are super beautiful and talented. We particularly liked the Samoa village and the Tongan one, we still repeat the jokes and laugh. We also went and visited the Mormon temple, which was optional, and I have to say that is one beautiful building and an amazing atmosphere. Definitely a must see when you are on the island.
(5)Fernando G.
dancers, guides and staff in general deserve all the credit and five stars in the world. yes sir ! PCC as a business however, not really. it was sad to see how performances were interrupted with sales of all kinds: :from souveniers to ice cream, bottled water and the classic $25. dollar picture. money magnets everywhere. HA's terrific show was absolutely ruined with an unexpected intermisdsion and the sale of "hawaii's favorite ice cream." that was funny. shave ice ... maybe ??? :) had a fantastic time tho. back stage access was fun. again, performers deserve every available form of credit:.
(4)JADA s.
I must begin with the fact that we bought the Ambassador tickets, which includes a Luau and a personal guide to help us reach all the highlights of the huge park. I think the guide was extremely worth the money! He was awesome and made sure we didnt miss any of the shows, etc. The luau was okay. The food was not as bad as I expected, but I have had better. In addition we also attended the Ha Breath of Life show, a very entertaining shows, but it was hard to focus after such a full day.
(5)M P.
When we lived on Oahu we visited this place constantly. One of the best Luau's on the Island (but they don't serve alcohol). They have a great show as well. A must see. A lot of folks that came to visit were expecting something different. However, had a great time. Very low key fun. Kids love it.
(5)Julianne W.
Wow! If I had known there was so much to do and that it would be so much fun, we would have skipped a few other things just to get there earlier. We were on Oahu last month for my brother's wedding, and one of my friends took us here to see the show. It really turned out to be one of the highlights of our trip! (BTW, your wedding was great too, Bro!)
(5)Daryl C.
The buildings and displays were ok. The dinner and show are what gets the 4 stars.
(4)Cynthia A.
Students run this center, and money for admission goes back to Brigham Young University Hawaii to help students work their way through college. It's basically like an epcot center for Hawaii for a good cause. Some of the islands visited are: Samoa, Aotearoa (Maori New Zealand), Fiji, Hawaii, Marquesas, Tahiti, Tonga and Rapa Nui (Easter Island). Where you can learn a little about their culture, dances, learn some arts n crafts, try some native food, weapons, etc. Two favorite parts was the canoe pageant, where you sit by the river and people dressed in native garbs from different islands dance and play native music floating across the river, great show! They also showed us how to make a cute fish from a palm leaf :) The luau was a typical touristy luau but done in bulk... the seating area was huge ! We towered above the stage and sat w/a bunch of strangers. The food was just ok, but I'm not very impressed by Hawaiian food either.. pork didn't have much flavor.. I guess you can't ask for much when cooking buffet style for so many people. Luau entertainment was typical guy w/flaming tourches, grab audience members to hula in front of the audience, etc. Honestly, I'd prefer a more intimate group for a luau, but it's just one of those things you're embarrassed you did cause it's so cliche, but glad you got to check it off your list cause u knew you'd always regret not doing it while you were in Hawaii. Overall, tickets are expensive, but it goes to a good cause and you do learn/see/do a lot for an entire day.
(4)Margaret F.
This is a definite must do in Oahu! We paid extra for a tour guide.. yeah and happen to look like a "younger" version of "The Rock" we had lunch and dinner.. experienced all the different Polynesian cultures. Different dances... foods etc. Great all day event! A must do!
(5)Christine A.
We only went for the "Ha - Breath of Life" Night Show. We wanted to take part in the day activities and the dinner/buffet also but since the prices were so damn expensive, we had to pick one and we figured the night show would be the most impressive. This place really is $$$$. The night show is from 7:30 - 9 PM and was $50 per person. When we got there around 7:15 we didn't have to pay for parking. The show was very well done, it's basically the Lion King story but with Polynesians (baby boy born in the beginning, father dies, they fight the enemy, he finds love, new baby born, you get the idea). There is a fire show in the 2nd half which was the best part. Great dancing. NO PHOTOS ALLOWED though booooooooo. Make sure to buy tickets ahead of time so you can reserve your seat -- we got first row seats in the center 2nd tier and they were great, had a perfect view of the stage. Cons: We stayed in Honolulu and it is a LONG drive to the Polynesian Cultuer Center -- takes at least 1 hour. Give yourselves at least 1.5 hours to get there if you're staying in the Honolulu/Waikiki area. You take the 83 N to get there which has a speed limit of 35 mph...soooooo s l o w. It was kind of a waste to drive all the way there and back just for a 2 hr show so I would recommend spending the whole day if you're gonna make the drive. It is very expensive though-- there are other luaus/shows throughout Oahu that are much less expensive, however, this place does it well and you really get that "Hawaiian" feel.
(4)R G.
High on 'entertainment' and low on informativeness. Divided into areas corresponding to different polynesian islands, and each puts on a 'show' like SeaWorld. These are long on audience participation, like bringing people up to pound on a drum, but often have next to nothing informative going on. In fairness, the people they have putting on the shows are usually good entertainers, with good senses of humor. It's not their fault. If you want to actually learn anything about the cultures, avoid this. If you want to walk around and get some informationally shallow but audience friendly shows in, then by all means. The luau was very expensive and not very good. It was basically a bad buffet. Hometown Buffet is literally 20 times better in every respect. The desserts were OK, but cut to the size of dice. And the only good entry was the teriyaki chicken. The kalua pork was entirely flavorless.
(1)michael L.
Each village features their culture, food, music, and so much more, through demonstations, mini shows and interactions with the native people. You will learn the unique characteristics that seperate the Hawaiians from Tahitians, Tongans, from Samoans, the Maoris from the Fijians. In the middle of the day A Canoe Pagent is held (ala Elvis Presley) with each village singing and dancing on a platformed canoe. Then you get to go on a canoe ride through the villages......... and see so much more....at this point you've probably been walking about 3 hours and welcome the ride! Then there is the Luau... The Luau was totally authentic. Being born and raised in Hawaii and having been to many a luau or "luau," I think they did it very well. They actually dig the pig up from the ground as part of the show. Amazing. Then, they feed 1000+ diners buffet style. Unbeleivable but they had everybody eating within 15 minutes and enjoying the Hula Show..... You have now been at the center 7 hours! Then, following the luau there is an hour and a half show...."HA:The Breath of Life". A great finish to the day. Yes it's an 11 hour day but educational and entertaining.
(5)Jamie B.
We took advantage of anniversary special PCC is offering which includes Gateway buffet dinner and an evening showing of "Ha: Breath of Life." I was pretty excited since I'd heard good things about the show and I hadn't been here since elementary school. First was dinner at the Gateway buffet. The word "buffet" always gets me excited, but this buffet was a total disappointment. The only things that were good were the sweet potato salad, kalua pig, and the rolls. There was some scary looking teriyaki mahimahi that I didn't take because it looked like I would get total food poisoning if I ate it. My soon-to-be sis-in-law did take some and said it didn't even taste like mahi. There was lemon chicken that was super dry and didn't even taste that lemony. After we'd been there about half an hour, a whole busload of tourists came by. And suddenly there was food in the buffet line that hadn't been there before. Nothing major... just some different kinds of sushi, bread, and dessert. It was really weird. I know they cater to tourists, but still... The show, however, TOTALLY made up for the disappointing buffet. It was well put-together and had a nice story line. I especially loved the fire dancers! Fire has always fascinated me, and men dancing with two torches lighted on both ends just makes it all the more fascinating LOL! Overall, though, I really enjoyed the music and the dancing. It kind of reminded me of a local cirque du soleil production, since they had the live musicians and the cast used the entire theater to put on the show. I would definitely recommend seeing the show. The buffet.... ehhh.
(4)H. H.
This review is only on the show. I took my parents over for the polynesian show and my parents were excited. The show, in my mind, is barely okay. First, the show is way too long and the acting and the actions are not exciting enough to capture the audience. Both my mum and I passed out half way through the show. Secondly, I think the show is trying to showcase the polynesia culture from different regions of the world. But the way the show is organized making it a bit confusing and not really easy to grasp the main cultural difference and similarity. Lastly, the fire performance of the show is pretty bad.... I lost count of how many mistakes the actors had throughout the show. There was one performer who would show up towards the end and he was solid. The rest of the fire performance was really like a joke... I found the polynesian magic show got better fire performance than the show here. Maybe it's just my personal preference. Overall, I would not recommend this show and would not come back.
(2)C R.
This place is amazing!!!! We'd all go back in a heartbeat. The food was great - the purple rolls are to die for! We loved them so much that we bought a dozen to take with us at half price after the show at the restaurant. The shows throughout the day were great. We were especially impressed with the night show - Ha: The Breath of Life. The staff was extremely friendly and helpful, going out of their way to accommodate us. Two in our group wanted the weaved headbands that guests can make in the Samoan village but we arrived late and the area was closed with only one person left cleaning up. However, the staff member stopped what she was doing, went in the back, brought out the materials and made us all headbands to wear! More things like that happened! We also learned that if you don't get a chance to visit all the villages or do the activities offered, you can return to do them within the week of your original visit. Just show your ticket when you come back. I've been to Hawaii multiple times and attended various luaus but this is definitely THE BEST! Loved the place and we'd all go back without question!
(5)Lisa N.
Amazing! Worth every penny! Take your family! Take your kids! Everyone is so nice! Shows are awesome! Food is great! Our kids are begging to go back:). So educational and hands on activities. Plan to spend the whole day there, it's worth it!
(5)Amy M.
The last time we visited the Polynesian Cultural Center was about 11 years ago. Back then, we were able to walk around on our own even with a package deal and see the "educational" workshops, etc. without too much fuss. We seemed to have taken more pictures back then vs. now and enjoyed the experience more because we were able to take our time looking around. This time though, we were surprised that they were now guiding people around the park per busload, so our tour guide was the same guy that picked us up at our hotel. He had everything "timed" so that we didn't miss out on any of the mini-cultural shows and the canoe ride before the dinner at 5 p.m. And yes, we were able to see the whole park in about 4 hours. We purchased the Ali'i Luau Package ($91.95 plus $22 motor coach/per person). We also purchased the $15/pp lunch buffet upon arrival which I recommend because in the park, there's not much in terms of "food". The dinner buffet starts at 5 p.m. and yes, the food was good and quite filling. In between, they have a performance going on which was great. The show "HA: Breath of Life" started at 7:30 p.m. and yes, it was worth it. There wasn't a bad seat in the house. By 9 p.m the show was over and at 9:30 p.m., our bus started the hour trek back to Waikiki. I recommend the Polynesian Cultural Center if you're tired of the usual hotel style luau and show.
(4)Mark C.
This place is great if you want to be a super tourist
(3)Todd C.
This is the Disneyland of Oahu, for sure. We bought the Ambassador Luau package but in retrospect, I'm not sure if we would do it again. If you go on this option, 12 full hours of your time will be micromanaged in total, including the bus ride to/from the Center. We were underwhelmed by the food -- it was somewhat blah. The lunch buffet we bought (an upcharge upon arrival) was cold, unappetizing and almost all gone with it not being replenished. It was awful. The luau was better but still I can't remember much about it other than it wasn't offensive. I knew there wouldn't be alcohol but maybe I should have smuggled in a flask? ;-) The various villages and displays were entertaining, some more than others, but we were very tired having to go here and there all day long. I think the day would have been more fun had we had some time to just wander on our own. In all fairness, the student tour guide was very competent and was really good at what he did. I did get tired of hearing "Can you say ....." followed by some Polynesian word. After hearing it for the 20th time I felt like I was in a Kindergarten class. I know I sound negative. It really wasn't that bad. We look back and laugh on it now. The evening show was pretty entertaining and probably nearly worth the price of the admission itself.
(3)ElleDee R.
I liked the PCC and recommend it to anyone visiting Oahu. They do a good job teaching tourists like me about different Polynesian cultures while keeping you entertained. I've gone twice. The first time, my friend and I walked around the whole center, then we went to the luau and saw the Horizons show. We were pleased with the experience. The second time, I took my boyfriend and we went on a tour. I recommend that rather than walking around on your own because it's more informative. However, we skipped the luau. If we weren't hungry, we would have stayed for the Horizons show because it's a very good show and he would have liked it. But our tummies were grumbling and I wanted him to have a "Shrimp Truck" experience rather than the luau - more bang for your buck and a lot tastier! Even though I don't plan on going back (unless I'm traveling with someone who has never been there before) I think it's worth the money to check out, at least once. FYI: No alcohol at the luau! Just in case you don't read the other reviews, please take note! I had a friend who was very excited to go to this luau and had no idea they didn't serve liquor until I mentioned it! It really isn't a big deal but if you only want to go to one luau and you want to have a buzzin' good time, this isn't it!
(4)Vivian L.
I like the concept of this place. Let BYU students from these native countries work here to help pay off their college educations. It's like a Hawaiian Disneyland kinda of. But because of this fact and they serve hundreds daily, the luau experience isn't very authentic. The food was ok, a bit on the salty side. After eating with my guy for the whole week, it was kinda hard to have to chat nicely with our fellow luauers. And being an avid fan of Hawaiian luau food, I was just offended by the lady next to us who only ate the fried food from the kid's table, not even trying any of the food she paid like $50 to enjoy and the young sunburned couple across from us who almost gagged when they ate a piece of poke - the tuna sashimi cured with lemon (think ceviche). But aside from that, you get to eat as much as you want from 5:30-7pm before the show. The show is the best produced luau show in all of Oahu. I'll give them that. But the opening singing number was kind of cheesy. And it turned into another Disneyland operation where they want to charge you for more stuff - water, pineapple delight during intermission, programs, etc. If you have never come here and want your kids to understand the history of the islands, it's a great place, but you only need to come once.
(3)Al B.
Over priced and commercialized for the center, but H Breath of Life was a great show. I like that students are working there.
(3)Vik S.
We were staying in busy Waikiki Beach, so we decided to head up north for the day. After stunning views of the coast along the way, we ventured into the Polynesian Center shortly after 1 pm... We had the Ambassador Pass, which gave us a university student tour guide, a buffet laui, and a souvenier goodie bag. They packed us into a back room, telling the crowded participants, in the "perks" we'd get along the way. Why, we were all setup for the dinner, and the show afterwards, hurray!!! As far as tour guides go, ours was a peppy lass from the nearby BYU campus. She guided us along the many island stops. Tonga, Fiji, Samoa and Hawaii island stops were cool, if somewhat rushed. The canoe ride at the end along the man made river was cheesy and entirely uneccesary. The luai buffet was horrid. A couple of the dishes the jubilant hostess mentioned were not even on the menu, and the entrees and sides screamed out " Dorm Room Mess Hall". Crap,I paid 95 bucks for the day...hmmm , all for a good cause, I guess, as the money goes towards the students fund. The end of the tour was cued with gift bags , containing DVDs and photos we took with the students, in full garb. The nightly show but ok, if not authentic. It's student driven, so they are always the pratfalls of youth, too bad...... During intermission, we are offered our 3rd chance of the day to have two scoops of pink ice cream for 5 bucks...err...it's melting....too...much...no thanks.. We left at 9:30pm....entertained, informed, somewhat educated, but def. lighter in the wallet.
(3)Nish K.
I wasn't going to write a review, but as a former visitor & PCC employee, I feel I should. It seems there are those who feel the Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC) is a fantastic place. Then there are those who think it's a waste of time & money, calling it phony or a Mormon ploy to both brainwash the BYU students who work there as well as trick the tourists into getting baptized. I understand both views. The PCC has a unique challenge: to educate & entertain the masses, while generating funds to provide college educations to 70% of it's workforce. That's a lofty ambition, & as a result, there are things PCC excels in & areas that PCC falls short. PCC is often called a "living museum." In many ways, it is. But this is HI, where visitors come to relax, unwind, & enjoy. And for most people, visiting a typical 'museum' isn't how they wanna spend their limited days or $$. Seeing it as a 'Museum' & 'Cultural Center,' I understand criticism of PCC's authenticity. I've heard it from both tourists & Polynesians, saying it offers a watered-down serving of Polynesian culture. I get it. Speaking as a Polynesian, I will say there are many things PCC leaves out &/or simplifies here. However, its target audiences are tourists from America & Asia; to try & saturate them in every aspect of 6+ cultures in a single 8-9 hr visit would be impossible. A culture isn't simple - it's a complex system of traditions, stories, customs, etc. developed & woven over thousands of years. The PCC can't share all of that with tourists who are only there for an afternoon. It'd make visitors confused, overwhelmed & probably a little bored. What PCC offers is a simplistic intro to Polynesia, easily understood & appreciated by both a 7-yr-old kid & his 80-year-old nana who are there to experience it on a Tuesday afternoon. It offers a "sample" of Polynesian culture, a 'bite-size' serving, just to give you a taste & some knowledge, a broad but basic intro to the pacific. Guests learn a few things about a few places, but not everything about every island. If that's what you're looking for, you'd have to go to the source & spend a few months in the Pacific, living amongst the people. To both educate & entertain, compromises have to be made, & PCC does that. The costumes aren't 100% authentic materials, as they have to last a while & stand up to the daily wear. For example, if a dancer on the Maori (New Zealand) canoe lost his or her jade tiki, it would cost $100+ to replace it, if it were truly jade. So, dancers wear plastic tikis, so that in the event that it's lost or breaks (as often happens when you have 80+ performers rushing thru costume changes), the PCC isn't out $100's every night to have it fixed or replaced. The village building materials aren't 100% authentic, but villages in the islands aren't subject to thousands of guests traipsing through each month either. The food isn't 100% authentic, but most islanders aren't cooking for 300+ people nightly, & on that same note, many cultural dishes - like poi - are an acquired taste. A 100% authentic meal would likely leave many guests hungry; opihi (sea snails) & palolo (sea worms) probably aren't everyone's cup of tea. The night show may use a lot of "broadway" technology - fancy lighting, video projection, a sentimental story line - but 100% authentic cultural presentations often go on for hrs, & to ask tourists to sit thru such a tedious display after spending 5+ hrs walking all over would be unbearable. PCC has to compromise on some things in order to #1) Satisfy the non-Polynesian tourists, on whose money the center depends, #2) Be sustainable, despite the weather and the millions of people to visit each year, & #3) Be cost-effective, to generate funds for the student's educations. As for the Mormon thing, yes, the LDS church helps fund the center & subsidizes the cost of the college educations for the students working there. But the church does not make money here; in fact, PCC costs the church money. Religious doctrine is not forced down anyone's throat. It is not shared with guests unless you a) Ask to know about it, or b) Choose to take the tram tour. BTW, I don't know how anyone can feel "tricked" into taking the tour; the bus is decorated with a panoramic view of the Mormon temple, tram operators wear nametags identifying them as representatives of the LDS church & they carry pamphlets about the religion. If you don't wanna go, don't go. But the Mormon Church does sponsor the PCC, so if you have issues with Mormons, you have to decide how much that connection bothers you. Sum Up: PCC has pros & cons. If I could, I'd rate it 3.5 stars, but gave it 4 because I think the place fulfills its purpose & tries to do that in a positive way. Despite the compromises PCC makes, I don't think it jeopardizes the cultural integrity in a severe way. If you want more, go to the islands 1st-hand, but if all you can spare is a day to get the basics, PCC is a good starting point.
(4)Talle R.
This is a major tourist attraction. Was pretty entertaining as we were able to observe different cultures' lifestyles in the various countries in polynesia. The games, demonstrations, dancing, etc. were all authentic. Our favorite game was the spear contests and we liked the simple fishing with a wooden rod and fish wire. The show spectacular was entertaining. That fire eater was the best part. Anyway, it was just a tiring day but if you're in the mood for some culture and education, this is it.
(4)Julie K.
When we went it was really HOT so we hit the IMAX theatre first. It was freezing inside but a relief from the heat. Loved all the things you learned from the different cultures they represent.
(4)kana m.
we went on the ambassador tour make sure to wear light clothes (bring a light jacket though), and comfortable shoes (i should have worn flip-flops, tennis shoes are way to hot) we had a brief tour of the different "island" and their culture, the first stop was Samoa, and the guy who did the presentation was hilarious... ! he demonstrated how to make fire, crack a coconut, how make coconut milk, etc... and all the while with the demonstration, he said all these different terms in different languages, (as entertainment) and it's so hilarious especially if you understand the other languages.. it was nice to learn about the different island and the culture, since i didn't know much about them.. but i think if you go through the tour once, i think that's enough - i think it depends on your tour guide as well, b/c our tour guide didn't really give us history, and i though there wasn't much substance to the tour.. it was like.. "here we're at so and so island, this is what the people lived in.. this is what they did, okay, next" i saw other tour guides actually explaining where the island was on the lovely map, giving a little history, culture, and then yes, here is what type traditional housing they lived at.... etc... i guess i was too tired and hot to ask questions as well... lol another interesting thing was that there was a special group from New Zealand that gave a special performance, and they were excellent! i unfortunately didn't get the name of the group, but they performed several songs/chants, and they were amazing! the luau was fun, the food was good actually, which i was happy about! traditional shredded/pulled pork; poke (tuna, green onions, maui onions, all tossed in sesame oil) -- yum yum!; bbq chicken (sauce was amazing - mix of bbq and teriyaki sweetness!); sweet potato salad; mahi mahi; vinegar-ed cucumbers; mmm. then comes the actual show - which was exciting at first, and then got a little slow... and then ended with the traditional fire dance.. which was amazing.. (the highlight of the show i think) the show vaguely reminded me of "The Lion King" but overall was nice, i just didn't really wasn't able to distinguish between the different types of dances which was unfortunate... i would go back for the luau and the show (maybe) but overall was very satisfied! :)
(4)Ben H.
This place is a lot of fun and a learning experience. I would recommend seeing the waterfall jumps, and doing the luall cookout.
(5)Tracy C.
PCC is a good place for the out-of-towners. Our tour guide was nice, but it was extremely difficult to understand her English (she's Cambodian), and her pace and timing were just off because we missed a lot of the demonstrations. She did give us souvenir DVDs at the end of the tour (I've watched them, and they're pretty cool). The dinner luau was decent, and the entertainment was pretty interesting (I especially loved the keiki). The Horizons show was amazing, especially the fire dancing.
(4)Erin G.
I thought this was pretty much awesome - my friend who recommended it described it as "like Epcot, but an Epcot of Polynesia", and I'd say that's pretty accurate. All universities should have cool museums with all-student staffs to finance their educations, seriously. Yes, the exhibits were oversimplified and kind of dumbed down - but this a family attraction, trying appeal to all ages and intelligences, cramming as much info as possible into a matter of hours. And how cool is it that you can come back the next day (or two?) for free? We definitely did. The luau was very cool - the food was great. Lomi lomi is one of my new favorites! (Oh, just so you are aware: there is no alcohol or tobacco on the premises, and don't expect to buy caffeinated products here either. This is an LDS establishment.)
(5)Meow T.
The Polynesian center is a place to go see a luau as well as easily spend the entire day there. For about $85 dollars per person (if you drive there yourself) you can get a luau as you are eating at the buffett and also a second luau after. If you get there early you can do arts and crafts, watch demonstartions, go visit different representations of islands like Fiji, Somoa, Tahiti, etc... and even ride on a giant canoe in the water while you have someone telling you about the different islands and their customs. When entering the luau buffett you receive a lei and have your picture taken with you and your party (which is like $15 dollars if you want to purchase it after you leave the buffett)there is Hawaiian music and a woman explaining different Hawaiian traditions. She also expains what type of food there is and how they roast a pig. The second Luau was about the different dances that each Polynesian island does. The food at the buffett was not that great but the atmosphere was nice. I think i ended up eating more rice and salad then anything else on the buffett line since there wasnt a huge selection and i didnt like some of the food. Oh yeah if you want a mango, strawberry, or Pina colada smoothie that they put in a pineapple with a flower, it is about $15 for one. I think that the Polynesian center was nice but for me it was not nice enough to spend the entire day there and I was happy that we arrived around 3p.m. i think that this is a place that is more for families with children so they can learn many diiferent cultures.
(3)Tim P.
The best thing about the cultural center is the show Ha. It was excellent and the dancers were great. I booked the LATE ARRIVAL (after 4PM) luau and show which costs significantly less than the whole day activities. Overall in the hour before the luau, we were able to take the boat ride which was great and walk around the property. If you are a historian and want to learn every aspect of the polynesian cultures, this is not the way to go. But for the average person, this was fine. The luau was just OK. Not really sure I can call sitting a long tables with a lot of people and then going to a buffet line a luau. So not authentic at all, but the Kalua pig was excellent.
(3)jagruti p.
I highly recommend this place while you're visiting Oahu. There's tons to do so make sure you carve out an entire day for it, you'll need it!
(5)Lance n.
Although I admit that the PCC is UNDESERVING of 5 stars, I want to balance out the unfair "one star" ratings. Definitely a bit pricey, but comparable to both Germaine's and Paradise Cove. The performances are amateurish since they are mostly students, but this adds to the impressiveness of the adventure. Year after year, BYU Hawaii is able to produce a wonderful performances by STUDENTS that are paying their way through college. The samoan village (Pam, or something like that) is hilarious. He is funny, witty, and very talented. The luau is as good as any other luau, which means that it is average at best. Honestly, who really likes Hawaiian food? The facilities are much nicer and larger than either Paradise Cove or Germaine's. If you plan ahead, you can get $45.00 off by buying an entertainment book. All in all, this is the best luau on Oahu. I would agree, however, if you are looking for a "party' atmosphere, the PCC is NOT the place for you since alcohol is not served. This place is best suited for families.
(5)Steven L.
My wifey and I decided to visit Polynesian Cultural Center after getting a few recommendations from both locals and friends on the island and in the mainland. We had no idea what we got ourselves into but was pleasantly surprise with all of the wonderful polynesian demonstrations of their various tribal traditions, i.e. Samoan, Tongas, Hawaiian, Fiji, etc. It's like a disneyland for all of the diverse Polynesian Cultures and buildings housed all in one huge lot. There are a total of 7 villages (each village tour runs approx 30 minutes in length). Each individual Polynesian tribe are housed in a village. The layout of the center consists of 4 bridges which connects the various villages on both sides. It is both an entertaining and educational experience. We've learned a great deal and had alot of fun. The landscape are just gorgeous a beautiful wide river filled with fishes and Koi. The lava rocks and waterfall is a nice touch. There is a canoe festival representing the different Polynesian villages. So be sure not to miss this event. We got the general admission and it was plenty. At $40 a pop per person, plus canoe ride, Imax: Coral Reef (awesome!! highly recommend). The general admission is your entry level admission price. Other upgrades include a tour guide, luau, front row seating for ambassador (I think it's a ripe off and noticed the Japanese tourist all got sucka into purchasing this one). My advise is to just get the general admission, then head over to the information booth, grab a map and ask one of the lady to help you map out your tour. They know all of the hours for the events so it's imparative that you have them do this (we did) and we had a great time. They got us from one village program to another, all back to back with no time to waste. It was awesome and we saved lots of money by by-passing the whole tour guide dealio. The lady at the info booth also had us break for the canoe parade and then pick up our tour for the rest of the day. Tongas was one of our favorite with the great drummings. Island of Aotearoa (New Zealand) was also really cool. Parking is $5 (self park) no valet service. We started our tour at approximately 2pm and finished at 5:30. Imax last screening of Coral Real was at 6pm. Totally had a blast. Once you're done, stop by the Jewerly Store across the Imax theatre. They have some really beautiful South Sea pearls which have been ranked among the rarest. The Tahitian black pearls and gold pearls are nicely showcased to be admired or for purchase. Aloha!
(5)Ian S.
I was rather pleasantly surprised by my trip here. I thought it was going to be extra hokey and another lame tourist trap, but mom wanted to see dancers, so here we went. I was a little put off that they told us to be there by 12 or 1230 to see everything, and the show starts at 730 pm. How much of my time could they possibly need to take all of my money? I am glad to say that I was completely wrong. We sprung for the guided tour and it was well worth it. Our guide was super friendly and seemed like he may have enjoyed his job. He, like it seems everyone else, is a student at Brigham Young Hawaii. He made sure we made the demonstrations at each of the "island" displays and even got us shaded seats. Throughout the day we saw a bunch of demonstrations and shows to teach a bit of each island's culture. Don't expect a dissertation or anything elaborate, just a taste of each island's individual culture. It was informative and short enough at each place to keep boredom away. In the evening we ate at the luau and got to see some hula dancing. The dinner show was entertaining, the food was decent (better than KoOlina) and its always fun to see hula. After dinner we missed the Imax, so we meandered around until Ha came on. What a show that was! It incorporated the various chants, drums, and dances from each island into a musical type show. It was entertaining and well worth seeing. Even if you don't want the whole PCC tour day, definitely see Ha. Overall it was not a cheap day, but it was a value packed day. It was about 100 bucks each and we were entertained from 1230 until 900 pm. Try to do that in town!
(5)Matthew C.
Wow, I am impressed with this place. It is like a theme park representing all the native cultures of the Pacific Islands: Tongan, Samoan, Hawaiian, among others. I was really impressed by how you could enter what a typical village would look like from the houses to the school houses, etc. All the workers were very enthusiastic and you would learn at least 7 ways to say hello! The boat ride and the big and loud final performance were the biggest highlights of the day. It is great for the family and a nice way to get in touch with the local native culture. -Matt
(4)Joel A.
OK, it's touristy and a bit Disney, but I had a good time. The luau was tasty (kaluha pork, yum!) and the evening show was well-performed. And think of all those young mormons you're educating and feeding.
(4)Auzon A.
We really enjoyed this day at the Polynesian Culture Center. Its the best place to learn about the cultures because they are so interactive, friendly and you get your money's worth. It's a bit pricey, we paid about $100 with the tour guide so we dont waste any time trying to figure out where to go, what villages to see, etc. The luau is included and was very good. The only reason I didnt give it 5 stars is because there is no alcohol served which I think makes luau's fun, but just my opinion. This place is a place i would recommend to anyone who comes to hawaii. We even were very familiar with the Tongan dance when we saw the cousins from the biggest loser perform at the finale this season. So its def memorable. I think they have a great concept having students as the tour guides and performers. It made us even happier that our money is going somewhere useful. We enjoyed every bit of it!! Thanks guys!!
(4)Gourmet G.
South Seas culture is given a Disney-like touch in this major tourist destination. The grounds contain model villages from various Pacific locations - in the Hawaiian-themed area, you can sample poi, learn lei-making techniques, and test your talents for dancing the hula. Temporary tattoos and native breadfruit are available in the area dedicated to Marquesas, while in the Samoa section you can learn how to make fire with two sticks and see a bronzed, muscled young man scale a fifty-foot coconut palm. Several dining options range from casual concessions to gourmet feasts, the kitschiest of which is the Ali'i Luau, an elaborate buffet with native entertainment. With general daytime admission to the park at $36 for adults and $25 for children aged three through eleven, this is a very pricey proposition for families, and a lot less entertaining than mainland theme parks filled with thrill rides.
(3)Keromi K.
This was a fun place to visit. There is always something going on so you never get bored. The American Samoa had an especially entertaining host, but everyone we met was nice and friendly. 80% of the workers are BYU students and they all seemed energetic and enthusiastic. The IMAX movie was a little hokey but the air conditioning was awesome. ;-) We didn't stay for the luau because my daughter needed a nap. I wish they opened earlier than noon.
(4)Rachel L.
My family and I did the Alii luau package. I say if you're going to spend the cash going in anyways.. might as well just pay for the luau as well. I really enjoyed PCC. The food at the luau was okay but i'm not a big fan of hawaiian food...... but the entertainment was fun. After dinner, everyone had to wait for the show to start. I kinda wish we didn't have to wait so long because I was already getting tired. But I guess it gives people time to shop around and look @ their pictures. The show was cool too, but really long. I ended up going to PCC three times because I didn't have time going to all the other villages. Good thing about the package is that you can come back. I'm pretty sure if you only have a short stay, you're not going to come back.. But I had a lot of time and i really enjoyed hanging out at the villages and chatting away with the locals who taught us how to make cool things and told us cool places to check out around the island. This is a great cultural learning experience!
(5)K T.
I agree with Warren C this place is a must visit on your first trip, but you know what the Luau is not that great here. I mean the food is not as good as other places. I remember eating a lot the last time I went to Hawaii but don't think I went to a Luau again, although we tried. heheh
(3)Javier C.
The place is allright, too expensive though, good for large groups of people. Parking fee is $5 if you drive your own vehicle. Its like a park and you walk around (be prepared to walk a lot) while visiting small different "tribes" such as Samoan, Hawaiian, Tahiti, etc and learning a little about their cultures and handcrafting. There is also a canoe ride around the park and a canoe show with a small representation of each of the tribes dancing. An IMAX theater with a 45 minute movie which I passed. A LUAU which the food wasnt that good at all not even the coffee was good, plus having to sit next to weird and strange tourists while trying to eat. BTW there is no alcohol or tobacco sold anywhere here so you might want to bring your own bottle and kind of disguise it just in case. Smoking is allowed in certain areas of the park only. The night show was very confusing, kinda long, but the fire show was very funny though, the only highlight of the night and long day here. Bring sunscreen, lots of water and an umbrella since it gets really hot. I highly recommend Paradise Cove since it has alcohol, lots of eye candy and free Leis.....
(2)Nichola E.
What a great day! My friends & I bought the Ali'i Luau Package and what a bargain it worked out to be. We arrived at 12 and immediately got stuck into the villages. The students there are putting on an entertaining and informative show indeed. I laughed so hard during the Samoan and Tongan presentations my face became sore and I had a slight headache! We stayed behind to chat to the hosts at a few villages and found out about the scholarship program the PCC run, which made the experience so much more for us. The staff all over the park are lovely, helpful and actually care! We'd read some less than lovely reviews about the Luau so were a wee bit hesitant about that package, but hey a girls gotta eat! The staff were awesome, the food was good and plenty and the show was very entertaining and easy to watch/listen too whilst eating. They got audience participation and the lady bass player can rip!! HA! Breath of Life show, was so enjoyable, I was quite sad when it finished. Those kids know how to rock the stage and the musos do a bloody fine job in their dark corners!! All in all you pay $100 for a 9 hours worth of shows, lectures, a pretty decent feed and a whole spectrum of emotions.... How can you say that's not worth it?? Flippin' bargain of you ask me!!!!
(5)Walter C.
Much to see. It is an interesting place to visit if you really wish to learn about Polynesia. Only wish it wasn't so far out on the other side of the island. Go in either direction and you are on the road for about an hour. Off setting that is the experience. Yes, it will consume your day. The food is good, the snack bars can be a tad bit of a sticker shock. Let's be fair, what tourist spot isn't. Disneyland can suck your wallet dry as soon as you walk in. The show at the end of the day is long and involved. Pretty cool though. You gotta give these kids credit. They work here to pay for them to study at BYU.
(5)Brett B.
Absolutely worth the money spent. The entire day was a blast. All of the activities are extremely high quality and interactive. The food at the luau was also really good and the entertainment was excellent.
(5)Yan Z.
Most shows are very entertaining and fun. LAUGHED A LOT and learned a lot. The HA breath of fire show later in the night was good at the end, but allow me to warn you that you might fall asleep in the middle of the show. We brought a package and it includes "Free buffet", it was a ok buffet.....
(4)C C.
Overall experience is WONDERFUL, but do NOT go for the "luau." Give yourself plenty of time to walk through the villages, do the activities, and talk to the performers - they are excellent. Very interactive, very welcoming, very informative. The "luau" was a disappointment. Either bring your own dinner or just eat from the snack bar. The show, "Ha; Breath of Life" is pretty good, though; the fire dancing at the end is particularly spectacular. You do NOT have to do the luau in order to see the show.
(4)John H.
Up front: If you sign on for a trip to the Polynesian Cultural Center, be prepared to commit to a full day. And be prepared to drink the tropical flavored kool-aid because you're going to need it! From the moment it opens, you are inadvertently on a schedule - the sequence of "must see" events pretty much guides you through the Center if you want to see the highlights which include the river parade and demonstrations in the faux villages. Speaking of, some of them are starting to show their age. A lot is made about the movie (not Blue Hawaii) Elvis filmed here and some of them look like they haven't seen a touch up since The King was in town. The Luau isn't bad and if you've been to a few others around the island, you will probably recognize some of the performers and acts. Individual mileage is going to vary on this based on your personal tastes. Then onto the grand finale - KA BIRTH OF FIRE GODS Something whatever. It is pretty impressive but once again, depending on how much fire twirling and dancing you've already seen, individual mileage may vary. But get comfy, because this is one long show.
(4)Mel G.
First off I would like to mention there is NO way you can see it all in one visit. The villages have a show and then various activities you can do besides the show, but there is no way you can do both. We didn't even see every village either. We ended up doing one activity at the first village and their show, but spent the rest of the time dashing from village to village just in time to catch the show. The show at each place was informational and well done, but not the most authentic if that's what you are looking for. They REALLY cater to the tourists, but it is fun to see what they come up with for each village though. We had a good time and enjoyed many laughs. Its worth mentioning as well that they really need better food options around the park. The one kiosk that had more option was at the very back of the park and still was lacking. They do have a lot of different choices in gift shopping though. At least the park has plenty of shaded areas to sit and rest and avoid that hot sun as much as you can. It is definitely worth the trip, I finally got to go after living here for years and it didn't disappoint.
(4)Kenny G.
What a great experience and well worth the cost for the all day experience. All the villages and the shows that explain the cultures were educating and entertaining. Cousin T and the luau was very entertaining. Then the night show as the final event of the day, really finished the day strong. I highly recommend this if you are visiting Oahu.
(5)Blu Lotus P.
First time I been there I was like omg you gotta be kidding me..... It's so theatrical and heavily Commercialization. It represent nothing from the Indigenous people of tonga Samoa or islander people.... Fine example of how our Society can compromise and corrupt people from all walks of life. The buffet is compared to hometown buffet, tasteless and full of MSG. To top that off, it's like $90 per person.
(1)Christopher M.
Do not waste your time/money. Seriously. Just turn in the other direction and run. The "Lua" dinner is one big buffet with I will politely call it - disgusting - food. Honestly you get far better food from the tiny little hole in the wall places along the beach, or the many amazing shrimp trucks up and down the highway. If you are in a group of older folks who have a tough time walking there are many places to sit, otherwise the entire place is a collection of gift shops. The Breath of Life show was decent but by that time I was ready to strangle myself with a banana peel since there also is no alcohol served as the place is Mormon owned and the pretty much make sure the fun stops at the door. As much natural beauty as is found in O'ahu, it's beaches and hillsides, you'll be terribly disappointed if you take time away from that to sit in this anemic attempt at a Cultural Center/Amusement park which neither presents real cultural nor anything amusing and simply attempts to sell you more crap you don't need when you walk in the door.
(1)K C.
Had an amazing time and enjoyed every bit of my time! The Ambassador Package is a must! If you want to feel like a VIP this is well worth it. Remember all of your spending here goes towards this great non profit organization! Support the students who work hard to volunteer their time and still have the time to study and go to school to keep this amazing venue alive.
(5)Alex C.
From an educational and value stand point it was fine. About $50 for an adult and goes up to $199 for the whole luau gold package. We did leaned and enjoyed seeing the dance and daily life of the Polynesian cultures. From an ethical stand point its a theme park put on by Mormon. They offer a side tour into the Temple of the Church of Latterday Saints. They talked about prophets and chosen ones. It's affilated with Brigham Young University. What upset me was the use of College Students to staff this PCC. Many work for free to pay off their tuitions. Why built a temple and not a church? And that temple looked like a castle built with donated Money and huge government tax incentives.
(3)Lauren C.
I spent the day visiting at the Polynesian Cultural Center when I was here on vacation with my family a few years back. I remember driving in a bus for what seemed like a LONG way from waikiki beach to arrive here at the center on the other side of the island. On the way, we drove past some steep cliffs with amazing, breathtaking views that were like an adventure in themselves. When we finally arrived, we opted to get the package that included an all day tour of the entire center, including the boat show and visits to each individual island's "hut". We enjoyed learning about each individual island's culture and heritage and the boat parade was alot of fun too. I will say, it was a bit cheesy and rehearsed, but not terrible. This is a place that is aimed at children, adults and families. We also attended the luau buffet with the "breath of life" traditional fire spinning show. The dinner, while it was not fabulous, did offer some traditional luau food, included roasted pig with pineapple and poi. The fire and dance show was so much fun, we couldn't get enough! I even bought the DVD recording of the show to watch again at home, it was THAT good. Back when I visited, the prices were pretty reasonable, but now it's about $70 for the day entry with a dinner show included, which I think is a bit steep for the experience. The prices get more expensive from there depending on what add-ons you choose. Overall, still a fun place to visit that I would recommend for those interested in learning about the culture of the pacific islands all in one place, but don't keep your expectations too high. Check the website before you go for promo codes or coupons
(2)Zhao Y.
Called reservation and ask about electric charger for leaf. They said no problem. We have many available. I get their with 14 miles. And all 6 level 2 chargers are broken. Only to find out they don't know how to turn on.
(1)Louielyn L.
Tickets at the military base is much cheaper! I don't know the prices of right now because I went earlier this year (January 2014), it was $65 per person (I don't remember how much it costs for children under 12, but I assume it would be hopefully cheaper). It is an ALL DAY luau and it will get you tired out, but it's beautiful! You probably won't be able to see every performance. Bring your own water, depending on the weather you might get dehydrated. Each island/country part of Polynesia is separated by a village and you will learn to be culturally aware of each country because polynesian culture is not just Hawaii! Dress comfortably, but still dress up for cute pictures! You can take professional-ish pictures with the performers. There is a canoe ride for free! A total photo op. Bring extra batteries for pictures and a portable charger for your phone because PICTURES PICTURES PICTURES! The people are friendly and you will get lost going around the place but there are people to help you out. It's child friendly because they have activities for them too like fishing. It's a buffet and the food is good enough (you will get better tasting of Hawaiian food at the local restaurants). There's a cute pineapple drink,but I recommend don't pay for it because it's $15+ (I cannot remember) for a dang smoothie inside a pineapple with a little umbrella. Don't waste your money on it, you can so buy yourself a pineapple and put a smoothie in it from Surf City. I'm not kidding. Most of the performers are college students and the center is Mormon based. The BYU campus is right next door and you can ride a bus to see their school. DON'T WORRY THEY WON'T SHOVE THEIR RELIGION DOWN YOUR THROAT. They are very respectable; they simply inform you, not force their religion on you. The last performance was astonishing, but it was very long because their performance was like a story (you just got to see it for yourself). If it seems too costly for you and you're not down for an ALL DAY LUAU, I would recommend the Hale Koa luau! It's $45 per person at the base. It's at night and you still get the luau experience (READ MY REVIEW ON IT) If you have any questions, just ask (:
(4)Natalie C.
This place was incredible, wish I had more time to spend there. Do yourself a favor and get a Go Oahu card. You get admission and can use the bonus with a 3 day card for dinner and the Ha Breath of Life show! Plus the card has other great admissions it covers. You have to see the Samoa demonstration, where they climb the palm trees and make fire. We upgraded our buffet to the luau because my boyfriend really wanted to see a luau. I didnt think it was worth the upgrade charge but that's just my opinion. They have delicious Pina Coladas at the luau though, and the purple rolls are delicious. The Breath of Life show was AMAZING!!! Omg what they do with fire, and the dancing and music was fun too. Everyone is so friendly here, I lost my camera and they found it and are shipping it back to me!! They are awesomeeee!!!
(5)Sabrina M.
The shows on the six islands were only exciting for the first two hours. The same people did all the shows and "breath of life" show. I almost fell into sleep during Breath of Life show. It could be exciting for kids or people who have never seen any shows. We booked the 20 dollar bus to go there. It was on time and there was a tour guide on the bus. It was fun on our way there. Then the tour guide sold us the guided tour. The tour guide called Mich left us after the first show. We didn't even go to restroom or anything. He just moved on. We are four out of a 20 people group. It was the worst experience I have ever had with guided tour. The customer service line was busy all the time. When someone finally picked up the phone, I was told no supervisor was on site . Everyone was contractor.
(1)Nicole M.
Love this place! I might be biased because I love polynesian dancing and love the polynesian culture. This is a full day event so be prepared to stay here all day. Went here with my family the first time I visited Hawaii in 2002, so this review is so overdue. During the day, they have many activities - you visit the different "polynesian islands" - Hawaii, Samoa, Tahiti, Fiji, New Zealand - and you learn a lot about their many traditions for every country - lots of hand-on activities and shows for the different dances they do. I think my love for Polynesian culture started here. I've visited every polynesian country other than Samoa after visiting here. Had a pleasure in meeting a Samoan chief and got picked to do some activity - he also weaved me a head piece. The best part is their night show which is so spectacular!! Not sure if I'd go back - since I've already been here.... but if its your first time in Hawaii and looking for some touristy things to do and if you love the polynesian culture and want to learn more about it - I strongly recommend this place.
(5)Angie K.
Artificial. Pretty much the word that sums up the whole experience. I asked the hotel concierge and some acquaintances, and everyone recommended this place. So I was pretty confident about my purchase. Maybe the other meal packages were better, but at Luau food was pretty bad. The best part of the meal was probably the salad with their balsamic vinaigrette, taro rolls, and the coconut pound cake, I kid you not. The fish was bland, beef teriyaki (yes, teriyaki) was tough and chewy, and the pulled pork was greasy to the point it was inedible without hot sauce. The HA: Breath of Life show was pretty much like a well-put-together college club show. The exciting fire part (which is a feat performed by many other shows in the country) was only in the last 10 minutes of the 1.5 hour performance. HA told a story through cultural dances, but it was a combination of a few core moves and different props for about an hour. I don't know. Maybe I'm jaded because I've seen some good shows here and there, and this didn't measure up. I don't discredit this show entirely because there were many people around me that loved the show (mainly older folks). The couple next to us passed out and left at intermission, and it wasn't time difference that took them out, in my opinion. Some people pointed out how you had to walk through tents of souvenirs to get to the theater and the like. I get it. Disneyworld does this, too. I'm just irked that I spent almost $200 on amateur hour. I could have watched a Broadway show with the money. The one star is for the incredible views on the drive up to Laie. Otherwise, I would put your money elsewhere.
(1)John C.
All I can say is WOW! What a wonderful day to spend at PCC. Learned about 7 different cultures had a great time with the individual shows, the dinner buffet was top notch. And I am very picky, you can see my other reviews from around the country. To top off a wonderful evening was the breath of life evening show. Spectacular in every way. A story is told through dancing, songs, lots of fire, cool effects, and loud drum like instruments. From what I see from the negative comments were mostly around the tour buses and the long ride to get there. There are breathtaking views on both sides of the road, not sure if they were checking Facebook or what? I don't like tour buses much, and what would have made this cooler was if they stopped at a few locations to snap some pictures right off the side of the road. Will definitely come back again, I had goosebumps at the final dance scene in the show it was just that good!
(5)Alec A.
One word-Impressive. This place offers something often overlooked in America, an inside perspective on a different culture. They do a fantastic job orchestrating the whole event. If you go spring for the ambassador or above seating as it's worth every penny. They treat you like family from the time they pick you up till drop off. Overall a great experience that will leave you in awe of a pretty magnificent culture often over commercialized with hot tan dancers jumping around. That's not this place, beautiful people but much more of a story.
(5)Jessica C.
Wow. Just wow. What a waste of a day. I was hoping that this would present an in depth look at the history of the collection of Polynesian islands and people. Instead, what I got was a whitewashed pseudo history and presentations which give you the unsettling feeling that the center was originally set up to showcase the religious saving and civilizing of the Polynesian people. The day was only filled with performances and strange "fashion shows." Although the proceeds go to a good cause (funding student scholarships... The only reason I gave it 2 stars), the day does come with a price. That price is heavily doctored history and a thinly veiled religious agenda.
(2)Alondra C.
We went in August and it was amazing!! My 3 year old brother at the time loved it also. The river show was fun! The food was amazing, but the best part about this place is the show in the evening called "Ha: Breath of Life" I do recommend to bring your own water because stuff can get spendy in the cultural center. I recommend this as a family activity.
(5)Rachel C.
We had a fun time walking around to see the different shows. Some were better than others, seating was limited in the shade so we quickly found out to we needed to get there earlier than later. Some of the other activities they had to offer were fun and would be enjoyed by kids. Ahi luau food wasn't anything to write home about but wasn't terrible either. Definitely an experience for first time Hawaii visit.
(4)Lea I.
One of the funnest days I have spent here on Oahu! I had the ambassador package with transportation. It was definitely worth the $150! First off, the transportation there. We were picked up at 10:30am. And I was planning on catching some ZZZ on the ride there, but after our driver, Cousin Jr, started talking to the passengers and interacting with us, I had completely forgot about how tired I was. He had already made my day with his stories and interesting facts about the island. From that hour and a half alone I learned way more than I have in the past week I have been there. I was having so much fun on the ride to the PCC, that I was already at the location before I knew it. Cousin Jr even told the passengers to use the facilities while HE went and grabbed the tickets for us. He gave us some pointers on getting around the PCC before he sent us on our way. With the ambassador package is a Tour of the center with a tour guide. Idk, maybe it was just our luck, but we had the best tour guide; his name was Phanna. He was also very informative and entertaining. And constantly looking out for his group to which he referred to as "Phanna family." He got us situated at each show and clearly noted where to find him after. At the end of every show he was at the same spot as he had explained, and MADE SURE to have all of our Phanna Family members before heading to the new tribe. When my family found that half of us were not going to be dining at the same location, we asked Phanna if there is something that could be done, he didn't even hesitate, and simply took the tickets from us and said "No problem, I'll take care of it." And he did. I couldn't have asked for a better day here at the Polynesian Cultural center. The dancers and performers from the tribes and the luau were so beautiful (and masculine) and absolutely entertaining. But I must give a special thank you to Cousin Jr and Cousin Phanna for really making mine and my family's visit to the PCC an unforgettable one! Thank you! I would definitely recommend taking a day to visit the PCC!!!!
(5)Kristoph K.
So this is the Polynesian culture according to the Mormons and wow did it suck. I have a feeling the Polynesians that work here have to lie to other Polynesians about what they do for work in order to keep there asses from being handed to them. This facility has completely made up their own version of the Polynesian culture in order to peddle their wares to the flood of tourist that happen along. I wanted a luau style diner and show for my family, $460 dollars for the 5 of us (the cheapest package), we got to roam the villages which was alright, some fun games and music, but the luau "meal" was spaghetti, fried chicken and mashed potatoes. Yuck! And then the show... Argh! Never in the history of any island culture did people wear as much clothing as these performers wore, the dance was just some hand gestures, I guess the church finds the true hula dance to suggestive to allow a proper demonstration, completely boring. Save your money and go take surfing lessons.
(1)Evan I.
Great full day of entertainment. Enjoyed many laughs and lots of cultural information. I left wishing I lived in a tribe on a remote island, so I guess that means they did well. Advice: don't go for the luau dinner package. Everyone feels the need to go to a Hawaii luau, but this dinner is not what you're looking for. It is a simple dinner with a few dances. Go for the cheaper dinner buffet. The night show is what you likely have in mind as being a luau.
(5)Grace L.
This place is a Polynesian Epcot Center. My friends and I got in on a promo for locals ($30 for everything woohoo!) and honestly, I wouldn't have been happy if I paid the normal $100+ rates. It's comprised of little sections or villages for each area of Polynesia that Hawaiians descended from. They were fun little stops and I found myself really enjoying the short presentations, shows, and craft-making classes. I think it had to do with the staff there, really really really friendly and wonderful people! The Island Buffet was pretty bad, it sufficed for the diet that I've been trying to maintain (greens and fruits were good) but that's about it. I didn't even enjoy dessert. CAN YOU ImAGINE? The imax show was awesome, I didn't know it would be interactive and I absolutely lovvved it. I wish they had this closer to town, I'd definitely pay to see it again and bring friends and fam. The Breath of Life performance was probably the most extensive and well put together luau performance I've seen (yes I have been to quite a few). As always the Tahititan hips were mesmerizing and the fire knife dancing was super exciting! All in all it was a great deal for the $30 I paid but I would think twice to bring the family on full price tickets.
(3)Sally H.
Over priced and a tour of quite a few polynesian islands. In other words, really touristy and definitely lacking in authenticity. Plus, since it is run by the mormon church, there is no alcohol at all (even at dinner and you can't byob). I'm not a boozer, but geez!
(2)Kari G.
Let me preface this with... Some of my educated friends were so offended by the creepy "authenticity" of the place, they literally left in the middle of dinner. We got the Alii Luau package and I have to say I am genuinely embarrassed I brought my friends to this "cultural" center. Where do I begin? First off, this is one of the saddest cultural centers I've ever seen. Even the Plymouth Rock pilgrims get a better design and replica of a village and better representation of their culture -- one that honored their culture and wasn't completely predatory. The service and people are nice enough. The food, however, is not very good and there are no alcoholic beverages which I'll get to in a second (which they should have been more upfront about on their website). I understand that the package we paid for is a buffet, but after paying hundreds of dollars for tickets, I would have expected better food and entertainment. The pork is incredibly salty and for the most part, everything is overcooked. The entertainment at dinner is also a little strange, with children dancing with faux smiles on followed by a weird talk-show host sashaying across the stage. The decor is sparse and reeks of mass production. Finally, the whole place overall can hardly be called a cultural center; It's a thinly veiled money machine built to trap uneducated tourists, get their money, and give it to a religious organization... and nothing more. It doesn't attempt to immerse anyone in culture unless you consider the rape of one culture to benefit another culture culture. It wouldn't have been so bad if we had not all felt that we'd been deceived into thinking our money was going to Polynesian culture in some way. It's actually going to BYU. It was all kind of an uncomfortable situation.
(1)Elmo G.
Great experience and a lot of fun! Loved the islands with their activities, the night show and the 2:30 show on the river!
(5)Donald K.
If you can afford an entire day, by all means take the Ambassador ticket. With the skill and queue management of a Disney resort, this clean, well-run and alcohol-free venue will teach more about Polynesian history and the islands than any other activity. If time is short, go for the Luau and show ("late entry ticket"), which will run from 4 to 9 pm. Most of the presenters are local and/or college students from nearby BYU-HI. They are very knowledgeable, friendly and provide witty, funny, and insightful answers to tourists about all the Polynesian isles. ALL languages are spoken. The meal was typical Luau food, but I thought it was very good. The buffet is AYCE and their queue management means no one waits too long to eat. Seating is family style with other tourists (8 per table). There is a no-reservation dining facility where similar foods are provided, but the Luau entertainment was worth the added expense. The follow-on Hawaiian presentation (at a different building) was both relaxing and stimulating. If you aren't full from dinner, intermission provides a complementary Polynesian ice cream and vendors will sell you water, juice, or candy bars. Parking is additional ($8US for us). I recommend you park AS FAR AWAY AS POSSIBLE. This will leave you perfectly placed to exit before the crowd. Finally - it IS a long day and best-suited for the 18+ crowd. Children will enjoy many exhibits and activities, but few will have the stamina for the entire experience. If you haven't learned to wear a wide-brimmed hat (men, purchase a Tilley!), liberally don SPF50+ and bring water bottles, then all I can do is shake my head at a lost cause. This is a wonderful experience. We will return again, as there is too much to see in just one visit! I give it "excellent" value because you won't find all these experiences and learning opportunities in one location anywhere else in the islands.
(4)Erin L.
We booked the ambassadors pass. The seats were better for lunch and dinner (only dinner is included so bring snacks if you don't want to buy lunch). Its very busy but the guided tour is not really necessary. We mostly wanted closer seats for the "breathe of life show". The alii luau was much less exciting than I was expecting so I was a bit disappointed. Overall the individual island shows were fun and breath of light was amazing. Very touristy place in general.
(3)Maité A.
Great place to visit for the first time in Hawaii. Place to bring family and friends. The music and the food were great!
(5)Bryan R.
Fabulous Experience, particularly with the Ambassador Package & getting a group tour of the facility with THE BEST tour guide @ PCC, Amanda. She was great with the kids as well (Be sure to grab the passports for the kids @ the Entrance!!!) as she took our girls fishing, took time to show them how to weave their fishes out of palm tree leaves, stamp their passports, etc... Folks, if this is your first time to the island/first time @ PCC, the Ambassador package with the tour is the way to go. This sheer size of this place alone is overwhelming & you're guaranteed to miss shows, excursions, etc... had you attempted to do a self-walkthrough without any type of guidance. (Not to mention if you consider yourself shy as you'll end up doing things you normally wouldn't volunteer for or subject yourself too like making a fire in Samoan village or Underhanded Spear Throwing in the Tahitian village, etc...) This is the GOOD STUFF that you would've otherwise missed out on. Additionally, Kap Tafiti, the performer in the Samoan Village was F'ING Hilarious... Dude was awesome & his show is an absolute MUST SEE (we're still talking about him & quoting his lines). Icing on the cake was watching 'Ha Breath of Life' to close out the evening which was OUTSTANDING... Only con for the entire visit (which literally flew by) was the horrendous food @ the Ali'i Luau which was (for lack of a better word), putrid... Do yourself & your family a huge favor & opt for one of the other options, i.e. Prime Dining cuz the quality of food compared to the entrance fee is an absolute joke. I've had better quality food/selections @ a shitty Hometown buffet. Suggestion, visit the Hukilau Cafe just a mile or so from the PCC BEFORE you enter the gates & grab some killer CHEAP Grinds to hold you off until dinner. Trust me, you'll thank me later... Regardless, again... HUGE shot-out to our Tour Guide Amanda & if you happen to hit the lotto on your visit & get her, you will have a most memorable experience... 10 stars overall for the experience & -6 for the rip-off horrendous buffet (though the evening show more than made up for the food) so we're still @ a solid 4/4-1/2.
(4)Chris R.
The experience was all around a ton of fun! We went thru the villages, attended the Luau, and even saw the evening show. The villages were pretty awesome and all of the performers were so nice. The Luau wasn't bad but a bit crowded for my liking. The food was very good and the entertainment during was a nice accompaniment. The evening show was amazing! The fire dancing was epic, and all of the performers were incredibly enthusiastic.
(4)Case S.
PCC is a wonderful tourist destination that is not only entertaining but also very educational. The staff is friendly and helpful (they really work their butts off all day), the different island sections are fun and involving, and the food is delicious. Also, the Ha Breath of Life show is absolutely phenomenal and a great way to end the day. I would do it all over again. Totally worth the money!
(5)Terry K.
Yelp Challenge 365 # 190/365 I'm a climate control person (usually like it around 70 degrees) so my outing to PCC was literally outside of my comfort zone. To sacrifice climate comfort and brave the sun, heat, people, traffic, etc.... okay; it was worth it and I'm glad I went. It's an hour's drive from Honolulu and the direction and route you take from Honolulu is a trade off (unless you're taking one of the tour buses). If I had to do it over again, I'd leave Honolulu and route through Kaneohe and then on the way home, head west and back through Haleiwa. Why? decent traffic going through Kaneohe and on the way home; you miss the bus traffic....buses go back to Honolulu through Kaneohe. Tram ride takes you to the Morman Temple and a short tour around BYUH campus. Canoe rides (you can paddle if you want to) will take you up and down visiting the island layout and exhibits of the islands within the Polynesian Triangle. Those flat things that seat a ton of people will also take you up and down the layouts also. You can get off and walk back or get off, see the exhibits and then, get back on those things which will take you back to the near entrance. They have a few dinner alternatives; we had the luau (What??? Luau with out Lau Lau? What's wrong with this picture?) They have classes on history, crafts, sports and dance. I tried the spear throwing which was somewhat fun.... And the show HA..... it was okay. A little hard to follow as they go through the different island and ages; but very well put together. Ethnic dancing and song! Dramatic! Plan to spend the day to enjoy all the activities. Show starts slightly before 8 pm so if you life in Honolulu, you will get home closer to 11 pm. Oh; no alcohol. It's a dry park. and if you're local or kamaaina, be sure to search for discount coupons
(4)Kate M.
Skip it. Hawaiian history as told by non-Hawaiians. Luau was dry + basically a high school talent show. The boat rides were cool. Several cool places for photo ops. Overall... Just too much $$$ for what it is.
(2)MJ P.
We enjoyed this very educational experience! Everything was done very professionally, and we had a lot of fun learning. They had presentations happening every 30 minutes from 12-5pm in each village, plus the individual hands-on activities. It is well worth the time to go and spend at least 3 hours touring the different cultures, but the buffet dinner and Ha a Breathe of Life show brings everything you learn from the tours of the Polynesians cultures all together when you watch. Worth the time and GoOahuCard makes it easy to do!
(5)Jackie Q.
I love the Polynesian cultural center. Our most recent visit here was unbelievably spectacular and exceeded my expectations, mostly due to our wonderful tour guide Rian. I would recommend going for the ambassador tour if you want a full experience there. Thanks so much Rian for an amazing time for our family at the PCC!
(5)Dillan P.
I ended up paying twice as much as advertised and all it was was the dinner and the show. The buffet has a very limited variety of food. The show was impressive but repetitive. I'm not sure if it was just a bad experience or just not as impressive as I thought it would be but I can't say I can see myself going back any time soon.
(2)M M.
Few years ago the dance show was more about how each Polynesian culture would express their folklore/culture in their dance. Now it is more like a show telling you a lame story. Even some mormon angels showed up when one of the characters in the show died. The wonder and beauty before was expressing/showing their diversity in the dance. Now is all mishmash and the dances were more man-centered rather than woman centered. It got water down the sex appeal of a woman. The woman dancers were not as fit as before and/or as the man dancers of this "ha" show. It feels like a Disney show or a circus show. The Luau buffet few years ago was not as good but it fed lots of visitors. It is better to go to an other luau buffet in an other place. This last time I skipped the luau buffet completely. Glad I did BC I heard it was not good. The other tricky thing they did in their web site when purchasing a seat/ticket. In their web site showed the auditorium almost 90 to 95% full/sold so I rush and bought the seats in the back before it sold out. Once I got to the PCC ticket box office to pick up my tickets they told me that for extra $10 I could move up to the front. So I did. When I got in the auditorium one could very easily move up once the show started because it does not sold out. It must be that the show is getting lame... Lesson learned: If you can not get a seat over the web site there is some trick going on. The hand is faster than the eye. For some reason my friend and I felt the subliminal mormon spam in the whole PCC. Yet they are milking the tourist with their trinkets like a circus or Disney parks would do. Somehow to me when money and religion gets mixed it feels awkward/out of place. I would recommend to go to an other Luau/show unless you are a mormon and want to support the Bringthemyoung university.
(1)Kevin A.
Food was delicious! The Ha show was amazing! Extremely friendly staff that makes the experience even better. PCC is a must see for everyone visiting Oahu.
(5)An T.
The day experience was great visiting all the different villages and doing the activities. I would say skip a lot of the lectures and just explore. The luau was blah. As my mom responded to a lady asking how the food was she said "well I gotta eat something" If I return I would opt for the prime luau. The night show had about 10mins worth of something to watch. Which ofcourse is the fire dancers. The rest of the "Lion king circle of life" was hard to stay awake. Especially after all the starches from the luau.
(3)Beverly K.
Everyone we asked said that this was the best luau to see. Lee went early and walked around with a guide to the different Polynesian stands inside. Our favorite part was the boat parade. It started to rain a little bit and our tour guide handed out ponchos which was great. We then went to the luau pre show. The food was ok, but the show was good. There were little kids dancing and they were adorable. The official luau show was great!! The fire dancers were amazing and we didn't see anything else like it. The show is definitely a must. We really enjoyed it!
(3)Judy L.
Get there when they open so you have all the time to finish and look at all the "islands". You go to each place and learn their culture. It is FUN! Make sure you visit the guest service. They will give you a good agenda for your visit. :)
(4)Jeffrey L.
This was the biggest waste of $40.00 I've ever spent! The PCC is set up with different areas representing different parts of Polynesia. Upon entry, you are provided with a map & schedule of show times & left to figure things out for yourself. Show times in each area are every 30 minutes & repeat throughout the day. If you arrive at an "attraction" when a show is not taking place, you'll see a bunch of performers just standing around doing noting. So, unless you have ALL DAY to see every show, you're not going to learn very much. We did see groups of people being led from one attraction to the next by a tour guide. However, I believe this was an upgraded package & we were not willing to spend more than the $40.00/each we already parted with. In my case, we had an hour or two to spare & decided to stop in. After much confusion, we figured things out & headed to the Samoa show. During this show, the performer cracked open a coconut, created fire through friction & shredded coconut. He also taught us to speak various words in Spanish, French, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, & oh yeah, Samoan. It made no sense & while the performer was humorous, he did not convey an authentic Samoan experience. We left the show early & walked around until the next show was to begin elsewhere. However, as I pointed out, all we saw were performers standing around doing nothing! It started to rain (did I mention this is an outdoor attraction?), & we took this as a sign to exit the PCC. In summary, do yourself a favor, save your money & immerse yourself in REAL Polynesian culture elsewhere in Hawaii.
(1)Stanislava K.
LOVED THIS PLACE. To be honest, the first time me and my husband went, we weren't really impressed. It was on a very slow day, where there were only few around, thus the villages felt very deserted and the "natives" tried really hard to entertain group of 5 people in front of them. We stayed only for about an hour and then left. The next time we went, we had our friends from Washington state on visit, so we thought we take them. IT WAS A BLAST! There were tons of people and the atmosphere was so much different. Very high energy wherever we went and we had a great time. Over all we spent there all day ( over 9 hours ), going from village to village, learning about each individual islands and their people. The food was OK, quite what would you expect from big luau place. The final show HA, breath of life was mesmerizing and absolutely gorgeous. I would recommend a lot of sunscreen, patience and water throughout the day. And don't forget to have fun!
(5)Gloria G.
"Ha," or "Breath of Life," was in one word: exquisite! I have been to Cirque Du Soliel, well, this was right up there. The best part is that almost all the performers are students in college and The Polynesian Center adjust their schedule. The performance was long but nothing was boring! I know, both our children were mesmerized and asking us, "how did they do that?" The rest of the center is great, but you need to set aside at least 3 hours to attend every village activity while there (this is an extra ticket, besides the show).
(5)Adam G.
Awesome. I recommend this to anyone who goes to Oahu. Best Luau and meal you will have.
(5)Jason G.
It's a leisurely pace and more educational than it is a theme park. It's not that large of a place so you can easily walk around but it's difficult to see each of the shows in one day.
(3)Nathaniel A.
A stifling, depressing experience on just about every level. Imagine Disneyland but poorly laid out, with no rides, bad food, and terrible entertainment. Part of our utter hatred of this place stems from the fact that we were stuck here with a tour group for a seemingly interminable nine hours, but this place is unendurable at any length. First off, please note that this establishment is run by the Mormon church and any money you spend here goes into their pockets. Most of the staff is very young and are working there as a way to pay for their education at the nearby BYU campus. While I'm glad these students have an opportunity to get a good education, there is something creepy and paternalistic about the entire situation. This feeling is underlined by the fact that the "presentations" reduce each represented Polynesian culture to dancing, yelling, and occasional percussion. There is almost no context or history to any of it -- almost as if the Mormons are trying to scrub away any meaning behind the traditions. We finally had enough of these presentations and went exploring around the place on our own. There are plenty of fake approximations of what the huts looked like, but little or nothing explains the actual history of the people (or, conveniently, how the first missionaries attempted to effectively wipe away all the aspects of the cultures they found unseemly). The grounds are pretty and we enjoyed the 15-minute canoe ride, but beyond that there is truly nothing engaging to do here. At 5:30 the buffet opened, and we went straight there out of sheer boredom. The awfulness of the exhibits is matched and then surpassed by the quality of this "food." I finished none of the dishes that I put on my plate. Everything was overcooked and some of it was inedible. Still hungry but unwilling to eat any more of the cooked dishes, I finally just loaded up on bread and fruit and then had a couple of the dessert items, which were not awful. I come from Nevada where good buffets are a dime a dozen. This was hands-down the worst buffet I have ever eaten at. After "dinner" we had 90 minutes to kill. The show we had to stay for, "Ha: Breath of Life," doesn't start until 7:30, and since all of the presentations and exhibits close when the sun goes down, there is nothing to do except shop at the overpriced gift shops between dinner and the show. This is a blatant, shameless cash-grab. We ended up sitting at a table in a closed cafe for an hour looking at our phones, watching the minutes of our vacation tick by. We wanted to leave so very much, and even considered jumping on the local bus back to Honolulu. Finally it was time for "Ha: Breath of Life," which is like "The Book of Mormon" only boring, earnest, and humorless. Hopelessly heterosexist in its view of life and relationships, it doesn't even feature good choreography. We were far off to the side of the stage and could barely see parts of the show. It's aimed at the middle of the auditorium and they don't seem to care that more than half the audience is watching from the sides. After what seems like the grand finale, the fire twirling starts, which is apparently the part everyone was waiting for, because it got the biggest cheers. The show goes on for yet another 20-30 minutes. Two hours and zero thrills later, "Ha: Breath of Life" mercifully ends. The Polynesian Cultural Center is a terrible, terrible place. It is also unbelievably expensive. I wish I'd brought a flask.
(1)Caroline L.
My DH and I came here over 20 years ago and were so excited to show our 10 year olds the place. First thing to know, this is run by BYU students and very family-friendly. We wanted to show kids some of the history and cultures that helped mold Hawaii. We were NOT disappointed. 1. We booked a regular entrance with buffet and evening show. MANY people get the ambassador package. This package comes with a private tour guide for the day and cost a ton more. I'm sure that we would have loved to get more fun facts, but not sure if it was worth the money. DH would have wanted more info, but kids were breain dead by the end. If you have the money, and really want the education, consider it. If you are looking for the experience and hands on activites of culture, skip the added tour guide. 2.. Arrive early, you will need the whole day and still not see everything. We got there at 11:45, went to restrooms, took pictures, mapped our day and was ready to go, 3. Plan ahead. all of the islands have shows and activitites. Unfortunately, you may not get to everything. Choose yiur preferred shows and go with the flow. 4. Hawaii- we started here. We felt strongly that we should learn about Hawaii first. Loved seeing the evolution of the Hula. My kids tried ukulele. Don't miss the display in the back with a sample canoe New Zealand -sorry, already forgot the original island name. We loved this show. The activites are a must with the poi balls, spears and bamboo gamea. I remember this activity from my first visit 20 years ago. We chose to stay here a bit longer. Tonga- kids loved the show with the drums. I have not laughed so hard in a long time. We did not do any activities as we were running out of time. Somoa-everyones favorite. We learned how to make fire, open a cocnut, climb a tree. They handed out coconut water afterward. We would have loved to stay. Tahiti-we did not go as we had heard the show was dance.If I had girls, we may have stayed. Fiji- we missed altogether. :( 5. Boat parade- All shows close so you can see the boat parade. This was a great chance to see the difference between all of the islands. If you are catching the show later, this a preview of what is to come. Boys liked it, girls would love it...me, I wish we could have done something else.Too many things to see. 6. Boat and canoe rides, My boys begged to go on a canoe ride (which is included), We waited until the end of the day and they were closed. DON'T wait unless you want unhappy kids. 7. Movie- We were very impressed with the IMAX movie. Go there when you are hot, tired, during the parade...a great chance to cool off. we all wanted to stay for another showing. 8. Food- as you will read, not much. The lunch items were cultural or basic hot dogs, not healthy or a wide variety. I wish I would have brought some PB&j or fruit with me and splurged on ice cream 9. Dinner buffet, do not expect gourmet meal. We would have left for dinner and come back, however it was in the package we bought. There is not much nearby, so brings a picnic if you do this. If not, enjoy the chance to sit down and drink a coke. (no alcohol served) 10. Definitely like Disney, stores everywhere. However, the items were not that expensivem well made and cheaper than Waikiki 11. Ha of life. Better than a luau and worth the price.The story is a bit confusing for the little ones, but entertaining. I remeber it used to be more of a history of the islands and more history of the LDS church...not anymore. downs: DH was disappinted there not more history, I was disappointed at the lack of lunch options for the family, and the boys ...didn't get to see all of the islands.many local do not like PCC because they feel it does not reflect true Hawaii culture. As long as you understand, it is meant to show how the cultures influenced Hawaii, you are good. ups: great place to learn about islands, gets you away from craziness of Wiakiki (which is NOT Hawaiin culture), great memories for the whole family. I expected more LDS evangelism, but was surprising not there. we will be back!
(4)Janet H.
Ah yes, the PCC, the #1 paid tourist attraction. It definitely is a must go if you're visiting Hawaii... but I personally thought it was a tad boring... a bunch of dance after dance. If you have a huge appreciation for culture and history, I'd come here. But I was secretly wishing I was lazing by the beach in the sun... Always be prepared and check the weather before coming here. It was super windy, a bit on the cold side, and rainy... I think that's what made me not enjoy the PCC as much, either. You can't bring in food here, so try to eat beforehand, as everything here is overpriced! I do truly appreciate all the hard work all the employees/university students have put into the PCC, but I don't think it was my thing. It seemed a bit understaffed at times because there were games and activities I would have loved to see but no one there to overlook the booths! For sure, go to the Samoan show... that was very entertaining and fun. Also, the food here is not that great... it was buffet styled and meh... the Ha- Breath of Life show was alright, too... the poi/fire parts were amazing but of course, that's at the end.
(2)Adrianna M.
We arrived at 4 pm and we're not informed that all the demonstrations would stop at 5 for dinner, minus the canoe ride and the tram ride. We took the canoe ride which was nice, and then the tram ride since that was our only other option. The tram tour was not about Polynesian culture, but more of a conversion trip for the Mormons who own and operate the cultural center. I wanted to learn about the culture of Hawaii, not have religion pushed on me during our trip.
(2)Susan P.
I'm not into tourist traps at all; we rented a bungalow just 10 minutes south of Laie just to avoid the tourist mecca that is Honolulu. I have spent the majority of my life wanting to visit the Polynesian Cultural Center because of my own background as half Pacific Islander, and I was still worried that the Polynesian Cultural Center would just be a cheesy tourist trap, but it so was not. I'm not sure if I have ever been treated so well in my entire life. While we did purchase the Super Ambassador Package, we were greeted with warmth before we even checked in for our tickets. Every "employee" we encountered was welcoming, helpful, and genuine. We were fortunate enough to have Cousin Uuganaa (from Mongolia) as our tour guide, and he was very funny and so knowledgeable about every culture represented in PCC. We actually got a chance to learn more about Uuganaa as an individual, and we were amazed to hear the struggles he overcame on his journey to BYU. What truly blows my mind is that almost every "employee" you see is actually a student at BYU who is participating in PCC as a work-study to pay for their tuition. I could never imagine college students investing so much heart and soul into making the experience so authentic, but somehow, BYU has figured out a magic formula, because I felt that every person I encountered was a seasoned professional. Nothing seemed unbelievable or sloppy, which I would have forgiven considering how much work presentations at PCC must be on top of a full time courseload. I did not feel bad at all about a single penny spent at PCC because I knew it was going to a great cause -- supporting PCC in spreading knowledge about amazing cultures as well as supporting students who did not have the means on their own to go to college (especially those from other countries). Anyway, if you are excited to be really learn more about Polynesian cultures, you should definitely invest in the Super Ambassador Package. We had front row seats to every village show, and we even had the amazing experience of being right in the center of Aoteroa's amazing warrior greeting re-enactment. Also, having "our own" tour guide allowed us to really cater the experience to our own interests while learning much more than we would have in a group setting or even just as free-roaming individuals. Lastly, the Polynesian Cultural Center is HUGE - 42 acres - and I know that we would not have been nearly as efficient at getting from Point A to Point B to Point...... without Uuganaa's help. If you absolutely do not want to shell out the cash for the Super Ambassador Package, at least be sure to visit the villages of Aoteroa, Samoa, and Tonga. You do NOT want to miss these shows! Aoteroa's presentation gave me chills and goosebumps. The students performing really gave it heart and soul, and not once did I feel like it was a cheesy or lame representation of the culture. It was heart-stoppingly stunning, and I could've gone back to that presentation over and over and over. (Seriously -- every person involved in performing Aoteroa's show on 09/11/14 should be SO proud of the obvious commitment they gave; simply jaw-dropping.) Samoa's presentation was really quite hilarious, and Chief Kap Tafiti is not to be missed. (I still find myself laughing at some of the things he did.) And if you see the evening show Ha: Breath of Life, you are in for a treat as far as Chief Kap Tafiti! Lastly, Tonga's presentation was funny beyond words... but I don't want to spoil it for others. Just be sure to go, and if you go with your boyfriend/husband/father/son/brother/whatever, encourage him to volunteer. ;) We also went to the Ali'i Luau and had great seating at a table adjacent to the stage. The food was actually better than I expected, and I can honestly say that I am a bit picky about food in general. We were primarily seen to by an amazingly sweet and lovely girl from New Zealand named Lee. We unfortunately had some people moved to our table who had made a big stink about paying money for Super Ambassador and not getting to sit in the four seats closest to the stage at the table, and they were total duds and extremely rude to everyone (sense of entitlement, anyone?). But Lee made our experience a positive one, and I loved hearing about her home and just engaging in small talk. After dinner, we were able to go on a backstage tour of Ha: Breath of Life which was a nice touch. As part of the Super Ambassador Package, we had front row seats to the show and were close enough to touch the sand of the stage, dodge from sweat and spit (okay, almost), and feel the heat from the fire torches at the end of the show. All in all, an awesome experience. Go early (we got there at 11:45 AM), wear sunscreen and walking shoes, and have an open mind. Most of all, have fun, and don't let the learning end when you leave!
(5)Amanda M.
Loved the opportunity to learn about other Indigenous cultures in a family friendly atmosphere from actual Indigenous people. There were tons of activities for the kids/family to enjoy. The Ha Breath of Life Show was beautiful, but the Ali'i luau was overpriced for the quality of the food that was served. The welcome leis were a nice touch to the luau, but they ran out of the Polynesian traditional food before everyone got a chance to try it, which is really the whole reason for going to the Ali'i Luau and not the prime rib/other buffet. It would be nice too if the "islands" were open after 5:00pm, as the daily hours of 12-5 don't necessarily give you enough time with a large family to see everything.
(4)Jennifer A.
I visited Hawaii for a week and that still wasnt enough time to explore everything the island has to offer. The PCC was on every tourist guide or handbook i saw but it is really pointless if you go to a luau. Its pretty much a luau but they explain every single step so its mostly someone doing a luau move and talking for a REALLY long time. Dont get me wrong everyone was extremely nice and welcoming and of course it was very informative but seriously if you go to a luau you can skip this.
(2)Ashley O.
This review is mainly for their "HÄ: Breath of Life" show. Yes, even locals can appreciate the touristy offerings of Hawaii with this lively, warming (I went there) story of Polynesian culture. We share more than just commonalities in our culture & tradition, but also our spirit and this show makes that connection. I loved seeing all the Poly performances on one stage and would go back just to see this show. If you get to PCC earlier you can check out the different hourly showcases conducted by speakers and dancers that are not just entertaining but more importantly, knowledgeable. I would pass on the luau though. The food is junk. Why 5 stars? Go back to line one. Mahalo! Side note: I've never seen so many ignorant comments about the showcasing of various Polynesian cultures belittling their cultural dances to less than what they are - not even in YouTube comments. Clearly there are people who go in with their eyes shut and then wonder why they learn nothing in the end. The dancers were well versed in the respective cultures represented. Polynesian dances are physically demanding and don't let the fact that the dancers perform with ease fool you - that means they're good at what they do. Also, to master or perform well in one culture is no easy task, but to preform multiple cultural dances like many of the dancers did, is incredibly hard. In addition, generally, if you book a luau anywhere, that's contrived in itself. Educate yourself, use (or in some cases, acquire) common sense, and don't be a negative fool thinking you can book authenticity. Finally, enough with the Mormon bashing propaganda. Again, educate yourself.
(5)Neil R.
I won't make this review as long as the day spent here is. If you are in Hawaii and are a tourist or it's your first time. Get here and take in all it has to offer. They offer may different packages of entertainment and dinner. Do both dinner and show. It's worth it. Don't get a tour guide unless you really must. All you'll need is a map and some patience and you can totally manage this w/o a tour guide. Make sure you get a map! Take lots of pics. Keep hydrated. And bring a hat. It gets pretty hot as it remains sunny for most part of the day. Anyway give it a go. Enjoy the offerings. Enjoy the food. Enjoy the show. Cheers.
(5)Helen C.
For all the times I've been to Oahu, I've never thought to go to the Polynesian Cultural Center. Tourist traps are just not my thing. But, since we were staying in the North Shore for the whole trip with a toddler, figured it would be nice to have a little play time away from the beach as a change of scenery & the whole family ended up having a great time. They do a really good job here displaying the cultural background of the various Polynesian cultures. The Samoa show was probably our favorite. If you're bringing a little one a few tips: (1) Bring a stroller. This place is big and there's quite a bit of walking involved. Don't be like me & decide to forego it and then end up with a sore arm from carrying around your kid for a good chunk of time. (2) Bring water. No surprise, you'll get warm and thirsty from walking around in the Hawaii warmth & like all tourist traps, they know they can charge you a fair amount for things like food and beverages. (3) Ask to be seated for the luau at one of the tables that will go up to the buffet line first. I brought snacks but the little one was too busy being a curious toddler to stop and eat so by dinner time he was pretty hungry. We asked to be seated at one of the community tables that was closest to the stage but we ended up having to wait to go up to the buffet line. That meant trying to stave off a hunger meltdown which could have been avoided had I just asked to be seated somewhere where food would be available faster. Once the food came out -- which was pretty tasty for the most part, minus the beef (Alpo?) -- kiddo was pretty much set with food in hand and show before his eyes. One word of advice for the adults: the Center is operated by those of the Mormon faith = no alcohol folks. I'm not the biggest fan of luaus & my husband is even less of one & given that this was not our first time at one we both could have used a drink to make the whole thing better. But, can't complain too much. After all, you are in Hawaii enjoying a luau.
(4)Veronica C.
This was a fun amazing experience to learn more about the island's culture! Me and my husband went here for the luau dinner & Ha breath of life. We went around the center as well & watched the different shows, it was fun! I especially loved the canoe pageant, such amazing dances & gorgeous costumes. The ice cream they were selling so good, be sure to get one while waiting for the canoe pagent to start. The food at the luau was pretty good, & the show was fun! My favorite were the fire dancers. I highly recommend Ha breath of life.
(5)Jacqueline L.
The place is beautiful and the people working in there are very nice. I think its priced a little high. Basically you just go around the different areas and watch short performances, follow by a buffet and a big show at the end. The food is just typical hawaiian food. Priced high for the choices and quality. After watching the drumming and dances all day, the finale show didn't excite me. I paid $157 for the city tour too before we went to the polynesian center. It was just a couple of quick stops for pictures. All the places are accessible through bus but it will just take a longer time. The tram ride isnt really necessary. It just takes you to the Mormon temple to tell you about their religion.
(3)Denyse D.
What a fun-filled day! At first I thought, "Will I really be here from 12pm-9pm?", and YES you definitely will, there's so many things to do! When we first arrived we just browsed Hukilau Marketplace, ate some hotdogs for lunch, had a crepe and headed inside. We didn't really know what to do first so we just visited village by village to see their shows. Surely enough, time flies! We were constantly running from one show to the next. We sadly didn't get to properly experience Fiji or Tonga. The canoe show was great, find a nice place to sit early for a good view!! Before we knew it, it was already 5pm and time to go to the Ali'i Luau. We were seated with three other couples. It was okay, but very tight. The wait for us to go to the buffet seemed like forever, but we finally got our turn! The food was so much better than I expected. Definitely try out the Kalua pork, glazed chicken, lomi lomi and the taro bread, they were my favorites! The luau show was just okay, pretty cheesy, I preferred the ones we saw during the day. It was great when they got the audience involved like getting the kids to dance with the dancers and all the couples who were celebrating their honeymoon or anniversary to share a dance onstage. Other than that, my view was pretty much obstructed with all the people sitting in front of me. By the time the luau finished there was one hour before Ha: Breath of Life would show. This is the time to probably visit the Welcome Center, gift shop or see the IMAX film if you hadn't already. Ha: Breath of Life was amazing! There were a few parts that made me a little sleepy (it had been a long day!). My favorite part was definitely the guys playing around sitting on the fire with their skirts! When you see it, you'll know what I mean! It was an awesome day, I definitely recommend everyone to go at least once to check it out. It is pretty expensive, but you're occupied for an entire day AND get an amazing buffet dinner so it's worth it! The only downside was that it rained in and out so that kinda dampened our time here. Not sure if I'd come back too soon, if I did, I'd probably skip the luau and Ha.
(4)Anna Y.
What a fun day ! I was super excited to come here and the overall experience was great ! We walked through the entire park during the day , went to the dinner show and finished the night with Breath of Life evening show. I really enjoyed visiting the seven islands and learning about the history and heritage of them . The Breath of Life was really long but was really amazing. The actors and actresses works really hard for the show and I loved their performance. I must say , it depends on what type of person you are and what you like to do on vacations. I love go sightseeing , learn about the history and dine like a local . Therefore, this was so much fun for me. However, my bf on the other hand only likes to hang out at the beach so he wasn't so enthusiastic about the Polynesian cultural center.
(4)Paul K.
Great place to spend the day and learn about the polynesian islands. It's pretty pricey but well worth it, in my opinion. The optional guided tours can help you maximize your time here; the guides know when the shows for each island start and will get you there in time for it. Each show/performance is performed by people indigenous from those islands, which is nice. If you can only make it to a couple of the island demonstrations, I'd recommend Samoa and Aotearoa. In the mid-afternoon there's a canoe pageant representing all the different Polynesian Islands; make sure you catch that. People start waiting by the river way ahead of the start time, so get there early. Ha: Breath of Life is definitely worth seeing!
(4)Whitney F.
I would not recommend to anyone. My sister, brother and I sat very far away (which hasn't been an issue for me during other plays and events). The dancers on stage had no obvious focal point (which would have been fine if there wasn't a story going on). I tried to follow the main characters but they easily lost me and the stage was very crowded with dancers. I think they incorporated a brief Mormon-dress dance in the luau, which seemed very inappropriate being a Polynesian center (women in shoulder-covering floral dresses/men in slacks/white dress shirts with grass skirts on top) but, I'm hoping there is an explanation that I completely missed. My brother slept through parts of it, I was ready to leave after the first half, but my siblings thought it would get better. The dancing was very good, but the overall show was not worth the time or money. Maybe I was just looking for a tropical atmosphered luau compared to one on a stage with stadium seating.
(2)Patricia R.
Wonderful spot to visit and especially fun for kids! Perfect for large groups; we were a party of 10 and got the Ali'i Luau Package. You'll enjoy the lively and friendly staff, amusing activities, great performances and delicious buffet. I was very impressed by the awesome "Ha" show. Definitely worth the price; I'd recommend this place to anyone!
(5)Cindy M.
A must on your itinerary! The staff are super friendly and funny. We had the Deluxe package that included the luau and night show. The food was traditional, somewhat common and really tasty. It's a buffet so make sure you go on an empty stomach . Tickets do range from $50 -$150. The cheaper tickets only include access to the park and you do get to walk around and see the different islands and some of the smaller shows, however I'd recommend the packages. You'll literally spend the whole day entertained and you'll get fed!
(5)Jenna G.
My husband and I went to the Cultural Center yesterday. We got there a bit late at 1:15, the doors open at 11:45. I told him to pick the mini shows he wanted to see beforehand so we would know where to go. We went to Samoa, Hawaii, and Tonga. We had a blast at all three. The workers were very good at telling us about the Islands. We also watched the Canoe Pageant in the middle of the day. It did rain throughout the day, but at least it was not super hot. We went to the Aloha Ohana Luau and enjoyed the show as well as the food. I recommend this place to everyone who wants to learn more about the different cultures of the islands.
(5)Liseann G.
Do not go here on a hot day! You will not enjoy it very much. There isn't a lot of shade and if there aren't any trade winds, forget it! Having said that: this is a great place to go once. Once is enough. Maybe that's just me. But I'm good if I never go back. Been there, done that. There are several different cultural presentations representing different Polynesian countries during the "day experience." They were Hawaii, Tahiti, Fiji, Samoa, Aotearoa, and Tonga. There was a little Rapa Nui exhibit also. Some of the shows were tedious. I mean if you've been to a luau, you've experienced a lot of it. Some of them were heavy on education, light on entertainment. Two exceptions: Tonga and Samoa. I THOROUGHLY enjoyed these two shows. Incredibly entertaining and educational. They also had a boat parade in the afternoon that was very nice and a great sampling of the cultural dances and dress for each culture. There is also a movie that shows AMAZING views of Hawaii that also uses scent, air, and water during the show. That is definitely worth seeing. Much of the scenery is the Napali coast. So beautiful. We ate at the Island Buffet. It wasn't bad. Nothing life-changing but generally good. The fish was memorable. Bread pudding was good too. The Ha: Breath of Life Show is great for adults but far far far too long for little kids. Mine were like... Really? Is it over yet? I'm not going to lie, I was like that for parts as well. The fire dancers are the most impressive on the island. That's a personal opinion and not having been to Chiefs luau down at Sea Life Park yet. From the fire dancers I've seen to include Germaine's luau, Paradise Cove, and the young kid who won the competition last year or something that perform at that buffet in Waikiki, the fire dancers in this show are the most impressive. The storyline to Ha is very good, Lion King-esque (down to the dying father). Like I said: a must-do... Once.
(4)Ronald F.
The Polynesian Cultural Center was one of the highlight of my recent trip to Hawaii. Make sure you set aside a whole day because there's so much to see and do. It was really cool getting to learn about the various cultures and getting to experience firsthand some of the practices that they have (i.e. cooking, making fire, using the tools and musical instruments that they had, etc). Various locations also have different foods venders that allow you to try food from the different Polynesian cultures. You can also take a canoe ride, try fresh coconuts, or learn how to dance--Tahitian style. At the end of the night, there is a luau you can partake in. The food I would say was decent. It is definitely not the best luau food that I've had, but still a good experience dining and watching all the cultural dancers perform. Following the luau, there's a show that you can also partake in. The Tahitian and fire dancers were amazing! They definitely stole the show. I would recommend that if you are coming to Hawaii/Oahu for the first time, that you stop by and visit the Polynesian Cultural Center. It is a must!
(4)Matt A.
First of all, this is only the second yelp review I have ever done. I felt compelled to write this because the PCC could be doing much better. The campus is beautiful, the business is organized, the staff is very friendly, but the culture is verrry watered down. I only have a basic understanding of Polynesian culture, as I am a pasty white military man, but some of the acts performed even I could see were not true to Polynesian culture. I understand that the acts have to have an element of entertainment, but learning and entertainment are not mutually exclusive. During the Luau, the show seemed to alternate from honest attempts at hula back to cringe-worthy caricatures that were seemingly used to fill time. The 'pig hunt' comes to mind when thinking of the latter. I could see bits of education here and there, but 21st century tourists are smarter and hungrier to learn more! I am not trying to lambaste against PCC or BYU, and in fact I pulled several of the employees (actually from Polynesia) aside to find out that BYU was giving them good grade full scholarships to attend school in Hawaii. I just wanted to say that the PCC could be doing much better. Good luck!
(2)Mandy R.
Wonderful, must do Experience when in Hawaii. Great food, entertaining shows, clean, very friendly people! Beautiful shows.
(5)Lezlie B.
I was with a group of 15 family members and friends from California and we had such a great time! The entertainment was stellar, the cultural lessons were fun and informative and the staff was warm and friendly. On the down side, the buffet food was just so-so, it was hotter than hot and the admission prices are steep. However, if you are a tourist then the PCC should be on your "must visit" list.
(5)Elle M.
Was forced to spend three hours here as part of a bus tour. It is three hours of my life I will never get back. We began with a mediocre lunch buffet with a carving station featuring meat sitting directly in the sun. Appetizing. The buffet area was a huge ampatheater-esque outdoor area with NO FANS. I REPEAT - NO FANS. To say it was sweltering would be an understatement. There was no air circulating whatsoever. The food itself was decent for a tourist buffet and the lines went quickly. Everything was geared towards gift shops. Yes, there were educational displays and performances, but what could have been enlightening turned out to be beyond tacky, with audience participation gimmicks and the like. Everything tends to "exit through a gift shop" - such a tourist trap. Any remaining credibility remaining after the first performance was lost when we took a canoe "tour" - approximately 5 minutes down the "river." The boat was not secured properly when we disembarked and I almost fell into the water. Fantastic. The only positive thing I can say is that the landscaping is really spectacular. Also, minus the incident with the canoe, the staff were friendly and welcoming. I wonder what kind of kickback the tour companies get for stranding tour groups here for a few hours... TL;DR: What could have been a great tribute to Polynesia falls flat as a tourist trap - skip this one!
(1)Dave S.
A number of people we know recommended visiting here when we asked them about things to do on Oahu. We weren't sure what to expect but we're very happy we made our way out here. It was very interesting learning a little bit about all of the island cultures represented here and learning a bit about what their history and traditions are. There is a decent amount of audience participation at some of the island's presentations and they try to make it a fun time for all. They also have a lot of activities you can do in each island's area that are interesting and there are fun kid's activities as well. I highly recommend getting there just before it opens as it is definitely a full day's worth of things to do and see. If you go to the luau I highly recommend coming very hungry because there is a lot of really good food to fill your plate with, and a whole variety of desserts. Some of the highlights were the Kahlua pork and the ahi poke. The entertainment during the luau is well presented, although the evening show afterward is a step above.
(4)Mario G.
I brought my family to this event and found it to be amazing. We purchased the "Super Ambassador" package and it was worth every penny. The package included a personal guide. Our guides name was Lama and I highly recommend anyone to ask for him personally. 80% of the staff for this event are students at BYU Hawaii which makes it even more enjoyable since the staff are from the countries discussed in the featured events. The food was a buffet style dinner and it was amazing. Our favorite part of the day was seeing the history and culture of the Samoan people. Overall great experience thanks to Lama our guide who hails from New Zealand.
(5)Cecilia M.
Had a great time learning about the different cultures. The ha- breath of life show was awesome. We did the luau and the food wasn't great, it was ok. But overall it was worth the price and the time.
(4)Chung H.
This place rocks!!! We were vacationing in Hawaii from California and my family enjoyed this whole themed village way more than we expected. The presentation at every village was very educational and funny. We spent 10 hours here without any boring moments and when the last show, Ha: Breath of Life, was finished, we were exhilarated with such phenomenal experience. After each show, when we asked performers to pose with us for a photo taking, they happily did so. Every staff at the Center was super friendly and helpful. Every time we look lost, a staff approached us and asked if we needed assistance in direction. The dinner show was great too. The food could be better, but the atmosphere and the lady who hosted the show on the stage were simply magnificent. This is the best experience we had in Hawaii. If you go to O'ahu, this is a must place you should visit. Great education and entertainment for everyone. We simply learn to respect other cultures. Thumbs way up!!!
(5)David B.
The place is really nice. The different islands were cool you MUST visit tonga and Samoa. They were the best and both very funny The show HA was really good. Very visual The only let down was the buffet. Didn't expect much but it was really bad Still worth coming to, just find another place to eat
(4)Debra W.
Worth every penny! You get a whole day's worth of activities for what you would pay for an overpriced Magic show/luau in Waikiki. Our teenage daughters loved it and where else can you see squeaky clean LDS buff island boys! Seriously, its a beautiful drive, the presentations were excellent, dinner was well organized with tasty native fare, gifts were reasonably priced (outside the swap meet) and the broadway production with lots of FIRE was well worth the wait. PCC doesn't nickel & dime you after you get inside either, lots of little freebies for which Disney would so charge you. They have lots of bus trips that arrive there, but you would never know it as no huge groups of tourists milling about. If you aren't interested in LDS missionary history or the complimentary shuttle to BYU, then skip it. Its not forced upon visitors. Five Stars!
(5)Maria F.
Everything was new for us. Excellent people, shows, food. I really recommend this beautiful place to everybody. the best part: Breath of Life show. it was terrific!
(5)Albert K.
Support the local students AND have tons of fun here! There are SOOOOO many things you can do, view, and learn while here at this cultural center. This isn't any normal museum or anything of the sort. There are many students here from the places you will be learning about and you will laugh along with the performer and "lecturer." The buffet is also very VERY awesome. A wide variety of food to eat and entertainment. I even tricked the hostess into putting my table mate to go onstage for birthday wishes. (He got me back shortly afterwards by sending me and my wife upstage). The 2 hour show at the end is also amazing. I think it was the best part of the Cultural Center! I'm so thankful I got to go here! But the reason why I gave it 4 stars was because IT'S TO BIG! THERE'S TOO MUCH TO DO IN ONE DAY! You'll also probably need a guide to help you navigate through the center and get you to the shows on time. Oh well, there's always next time!
(4)Allen S.
Awesome place. Very educational and a lot of fun, but quite expensive. We just went and visited the villages and it was fantastic. I enjoyed the shows. This is worth the price of admission and it helps support the local college student. GREAT program. Didn't have the dinner there but kinda wish we had. I would have liked to check that out! Next trip for sure! Worth the stop!
(4)Andy U.
What an amazing experience. We didn't know what to expect. We purchased the ambassador tour package, and it was with every cent. Our tour guide, Juice, was a student at BYU next door. We was very informative, fun, and entertaining. Not only did he take us around, he also ran the activities for us, and drove us around in a canoe. The luau was okay, but the late night show, Ha, is not to be missed.
(5)Joe L.
What a great way to experience the cultures from many (7?) of the polynesian islands. Each village is hosted by people from those islands. The PCC provides an immersive experience. It is a great way to step out of the touristy waikiki approach to Hawaii and to be exposed to the actual culture of polynesia. It's casual and fun. Consider getting the Ambassador guided tour. They do other events occasionally as well that most people may not be aware of. There is the annual fire knife dancing competition. They host local elementary schools for custom programs oriented to the Hawaii culture as part of their education. They will do custom programs for other groups coming to visit. This was my second time and the new night show was fantastic. The video theater is a 4D experience where the chairs actually move, scent is part of the film, and it will even spray water mist at certain parts of the video. Very cool. The PCC even has curators, cultural experts, language experts, and craftsman on staff. Make sure to check out the polynesian weapons in one of the shops -- they are carved by master carvers and you can buy them! They have an expert on weapons on staff in the evenings at the shop. It's hard to see everything in one day, they do have a bounce back option for a second day.
(5)Catherine H.
We took the Circle Island Tour with the Ambassador package. The Circle Island tour took 5 hours and we saw very little. 4 1/2 hours in a hot tiny bus, even though it was cold outside. No time was allotted to lunch. We saw very little of the Center on our tour. The food at the dinner was poor and had little variety. The entertainment was just OK. Overall a waste of time and money.
(1)Jeremy B.
So we did a 50th anniversary special here, meaning $50 for the buffet and HÄ: BREATH OF LIFE show after. We got there a little late so all the exhibits were closed up =-C The buffet was not too impressive (no poi???) but filling. Now the show. WOW! Worth the $50! It's about 2 hours long and the seats are uncomfortable as all heck, so bring a seat cushion if possible. The show itself is amazing though. Funny, heartwarming, sad all wrapped in there. If you can take the drive out here, get there a little earlier and check out the exhibits but do not miss this show.
(4)Scott H.
Samoa and Tonga are my favorite villages. While I love the day activities and the show is worth seeing once..... I have never enjoyed the food. The hawaiian dessert (sherbet parfait) is yucky and the dinner buffet was even worse. We went for the day and then found a great dinner at a local restaurant in Laie.
(3)Marie M.
Are you ready to have fun with the Polynesian island culture? This is the place. Lol i laughed so hard, it made my day! Tonga was my favorite! I suggest going on off season and on a weekend. Its so much better with alot of people. This was my second time and I highly suggest coming all day cause they close at 5pm. Theres lots of activities to do and great for kids too;)). Only thing, if you need healthy food bring your own;)
(5)Angeline P.
This place is expensive. There are no bones about it. Not having a rental car in Hawaii, I paid for the shuttle pick up. For the shuttle pick-up and the Island Luau package, it came out to just under $100. This is something you should definitely do if you have never done a luau before, but it certainly isn't something that I would feel the need to do again as an adult (I did it once as a teenager, but remember very little of it, which is why I returned). We did the noon-ish shuttle pickup. The shuttle ride was pretty entertaining, with the host telling us Hawaiian history, and pointing out points of interest, like where Obama went to high school, the Chinaman's Hat (and why it's called that), and other useful tidbits. The drive is very scenic, and if you sit on the right side of the bus, you get a great view of the water. There was a misunderstanding with our ticket, so we had to wait a little bit when we arrived (we had called earlier that day to book everything, but they had booked us for the day after), but it was all sorted out for us within ten minutes. We wandered around and looked at all of the villages, and did some activities at each one. The river parade was good. If you only have time to watch one of the performances, watch Samoa's! There is a guy who climbs a palm tree, and a guy who makes fire. The chief tells great jokes (or terrible jokes, depending on whose side you're on), and reminded me a lot of my uncle. The luau is not the same luau you see on TV. There is no beach, with a pig roasting on a spit. There is no open bar. This place is run by Mormons, so there is a strict no alcohol policy. The Island Luau (which was in Samoa) had decent Hawaiian food (long rice, kalua pig, and taro buns), and some other food, like teriyaki chicken (why you would get this at a luau when you can get it anywhere, I have no idea). It's certainly nothing to rave about, but it's a spread of food of decent quality, and I definitely went back for seconds. The show during the Island Luau gave you something to do while eating, but it wasn't amazing. After the luau, we went to the Breath of Life show. This was pretty entertaining, but it was in the same vein of everything we'd already spent the day doing. I would normally give a place like this three stars, but I'm giving it four stars because of the people that work there. Everyone we encountered was really nice and accommodating, and it's very clear that they are serious about their job. Yes, parts of the PCC are really corny, but it's really difficult to create a park based on six different cultures and pay each culture the respect they deserve. I didn't find the park patronizing to any of the cultures represented, and I think that's really something worth noting. That my money goes to helping the students who work there pay for a college degree is just icing on the cake.
(4)Betsy K.
Definitely a place to visit at least once when in Oahu. We booked tickets with transportation and the island buffet standard dinner. PCC far exceeded my expectations with all the exhibits and shows. HA breath of life show was amazing. Definitely worth every penny! Our tour guide was very nice too. The standard dinner was a bit disappointing. Food selection was limited and quality was sub-par.
(4)Yvonne P.
One of the biggest mistakes I ever made was getting pulled into going to this place for a family vacation. Cultural center? I don't think I learned a single thing about any Polynesian cultures from any of the "simulated villages," which were basically just gift shops and a little bit of entertainment. I went to the Hale Kuai luau/buffet, and the food was awful. The only edible thing was the taro roll, which was essentially a cold dinner roll with some taro mashed into the dough. The Ha Breath of Life show was too long, the stage was crowded, and honestly, not terribly coordinated. The music was a little Lion King-esque, the sound was poorly balanced, and I could barely hear the performers over the speakers. A major thing that everyone needs to know before going to this place is that the Church of the Latter-day Saints built the Polynesian Cultural Center in 1963. Most of the employees at this center are students at the O'ahu campus of Brigham Young University--which is great, because these employees are getting an education through their employment here. However, the money you spend here can essentially be considered as a donation to Church of the LDS. Personally, I don't agree with the political views of the Church of the LDS, and I am upset that my money was wasted here. Bottom line: no authenticity whatsoever, mediocre performances, and even worse food--my worst day on O'ahu. Definitely skip this place.
(1)Katie M.
We went to the Polynesian culture center on an all day tour (and I highly recommend e noa tours if you feel this is for you). We went on e noa tour that took you to Pearl Harbor, dole plantation, north shore, and the culture center all in one trip. At the culture center our tour guide even toured us around the culture center making sure we caught the shows at each of the locations (figi, tonga, samoa, etc.) and then we had about an hour or two to explore ourselves before dinner which we used to do some of the activities at the locations (hula lesson, ukulele lessons, etc.). Then we had dinner at the buffet which was not impressive. There was a lot of food but not much healthy food and only soda's or water to drink....just did not seem healthy or fresh to me (I guess b/c they serve sooo many people). And FYI there is NO ALCOHOL served at the polynesian culture center anywhere b/c the center is a part of the mormon school (they even offer a free bus trip to the Mormon temple). After dinner was the Breathe of Life show which was a luau which incorporated the dancing we watched earlier at each location and at the end there was apparently the best fire show in Hawaii but I had fallen asleep by then b/c by the end of the night we were exhausted! (I also was not fully adjusted to our 6 hour time change). So we later went to a luau in Maui and my husband says the fire dancing in the Breathe of Life show was 100x better than the luau in Maui. The luau's in Maui do have slightly better food and have alcoholic beverages.
(3)Ryan H.
The new ride/film they have is amazing, yet disappointed that there were NO credits for the team of filmmakers that actually made the film. Give credit where credit is due. Other than that, the center is well maintained and beautiful.
(1)Jean R.
A must place to visit if on the Island. Great show, great entertainment and extremely educational.
(5)J W.
This is something everyone should experience. Three things are a necessity when visiting. Water, sunblock and all day. It gets REALLY hot and shade becomes quickly scarce. Nevertheless it is well worth the visit. We bought the Ambassador package which includes entry, a guided tour, prime dinner and tickets to the show. Our tour guide was friendly and knowledgeable. It's worth noting that tours are available in multiple languages. Our first time we did it in English, the second time in Korean. The exhibits and demonstrations are both very informative and entertaining. Most of the tour guides are students and eager to please. The dinner was delicious with choices for all tastes. The dinner is served buffet style with several serving stations. Personally I wish the pie slices are bigger, but hey that just means additional trips to the dessert station. The show is top notch. Very well produced and entertaining. We had an annoying family behind us who managed to be louder than the speaker system. While impressive, still very annoying. We didn't let it detract from our enjoyment of the show. It includes dancing styles from several islands and fire knife dancing. All in all probably one of my favorite parts of the day.
(5)Jean-Marc M.
This was the best thing my family did in Oahu. We went back a second day because my kids all wanted to "do it all over again". Informative and fun!
(5)NoCal S.
Imagine going to Paris, and then going to an unconvincing paper machet and concrete recreation of Paris. Weak exhibits. Bad food. For petes sake, you are IN Hawaii! Go outside and see Hawaii instead! Skip the Luau. The massive buffet you see in pictures includes only three or four different entrees repeated endlessly. It's the beef, and the chicken, and the fish that you'd get in a Best Western. You might not get seconds before they close it down, and you honestly won't care. There is nothing about the entertainment that can be described as being entertaining. The fire show was okay. In fact, I liked it. I just wouldn't recommend it. The whole thing is beyond corny, and for that, I began to enjoy myself. The way I like the movie "Showgirls". And fire is always cool. It was horrifically expensive.
(2)German R.
An amazing experience great food. Awesome show( everyone there is very talented). Beautiful scenery. A must if u are in Hawaii. The drive there alone passes through Amazing landscapes. I strongly recommend
(5)Emily S.
I had been hesitant about coming here because of the reviews on Yelp. Unfortunately a few people and stated that the food was mediocre and the place was too touristy. I decided to come anyway, and was able to get a military discount on the tickets we purchased a few days before coming here. We got here a few hours before dinner was set to start. I wish I was here even earlier than that. There were a ton of cool shows that the PCC put on. There were a few villages where you walk around in. It's like taking a mini trip while in Hawaii! We were able to see Tahiti, New Zealand, Samoa, Fiji, Hawaii, Tonga, and More! A lot of the villages even had hands on activities you could participate in. We had two tour guides when we went because I think one of them was in training. They were good and we got to see a lot. We even made it in time for dinner. I would recommend the PCC to people visiting Hawaii. And the Breath of Life show was GREAT. The food wasn't too bad. I enjoyed my meal and it wasn't the type of food you would get at Medieval Times for example. It was better!
(4)Steve A.
Best Polynesian show on the island. Super friendly. Tasty dinner buffet, but nothing amazing. My grand-daughter had an "accident" and they took her outfit and blanket and washed and dried it and delivered it to our seats before the show. Great service.
(4)Darren L.
Wasn't expecting much but was pleasantly surprised with the wealth of information but also interactive events to do in the area. You can wander around yourself of get a tour guide. I would get a tour guide. I was very lucky to get one of the better ones and he did make the whole experience much more entertaining. From learning how to play different instruments to throwing spears to weaving to cooking, there is a lot to see and do.
(5)Amy M.
Don't sit in the center!!! sit on the edges so you can book it when the show ends and not get trapped in the bottleneck when everyone tries to leave at the same time. If you are taking the Bus from Waikiki to here it can take 1.5-2 hours!!!
(4)Tony C.
The place has changed a bit, since i've been back, over 15 years ago. First off, i got the groupon for 6 people so that saved a lot of money. So i'm rating this at a $20 a person rate, which i feel is worth that cost. PCC is designed so its a handful of polynesian islands all surrounding a long canal, so designed to walk through each island and experience the culture and activities there. We brought 4 kids with us (all under 4 years old), so it was great to see them run around on the large grass areas and wander in and out of the displays. The staff was friendly and welcoming to the tourists. (many of the staff are also students that are going to BYUH next door) I did find the shows being back to back in each island a little tight on time, and we just wanted to enjoy the scenery and walk. Everyone in our party felt relaxed and happy to just stroll around, so that worked out well. but if you're trying to hit all the shows and activities, it will be too tight. I found the shows to be more like talking rather than any sort of performance, which i was a bit dissapointed in. (in Samoa, the guy on stage was just cracking cultural jokes, instead of performing a Samoan slap dance or something) Anyway, each island had some form of food to try, kind of like walking up and down costco sample aisles and sampling from the vendors. It was enough to keep the kids and adults happy. As we got to the end of the canal, it was convenient to hop on the We didnt do the luau or dinners there, because of the prices. so no comment there. but overall, if you're looking for an afternoon activity, its worth about what the groupon provides. Anything over, not so much.
(3)Jenn W.
We LOVED this place! We splurged and got the Ambassador package with the luau buffet which was $126 per adult. Our two kiddos (3 and 1) were free - can't beat that. You do pay $8 for parking which I did not feel was overpriced, as far as parking goes. Everyone here was very friendly and not robotic at all (as described in previous reviews). Our package came with a tour guide - Rebecca - who was fabulous. She took our 3 year old to do all the activities at each village (fishing, tattoos, canoe ride, spear throwing, etc..) while we took in the shows. Our 3 year old also got a "passport" which got stamped at each island village which kept her interested and earned her a prize at the end of the day. The dinner was not particularly tasty but it was entertaining. They had dancers and singing as you ate. In between the dinner and the show my daughter and husband took the Laie tram tour because they wanted to see the Visitors center and the Temple. This was one of many options you could do. You could also walk around the center, visit the shops, or (our package) came with a backstage tour. My little one fell asleep so we just walked around and took in the sites. They have a lot of stuff (pictures, souvenirs, desserts, etc...) for sale - as do most tourist spots - but you are free to buy or not. We left having only purchased The show was a little late and long for those with younger kids - we pushed it through to the intermission (our package also got us a free - usually $5 - ice cream at intermission) and then hit the road. Our kiddos were absolutely exhausted and fell right to sleep! Our 3 year old asked to go back the following day! The negative reviews around this place center around 3 things (1) it's lack of cultural authenticity (2) it being affiliated with the LDS church and (3) the lack of alcohol. To address point (1) - you have to take this place for what it is and not go expecting to have a cultural immersion. We learned a lot of interesting facts about each culture and our daughter was exposed to new parts of the world - all worthwhile. Sure, parts of it are cheesy but it's meant to be entertaining to wide genre of people (ages, cultures, experiences. To point # 2 - there is no attempt to deceive any one or hide the PCCs affiliation with the LDS church and/or the fact that the staff get their education at BYU-Hawaii paid for from this place. We stayed all day and never heard any mention of the LDS church other than the tram tour which we chose. To point # 3 - as a parent, I was glad this was a no alcohol zone - true family friendly fun! We will return the next time we are in the area without hesitation!
(5)Anthony R.
We came thru last night and had a so so experience. To be fair, we did arrive later in the day and didn't get to do all of the attractions. But, we were there for the dinner luau and entertainment. The entertainment was mediocre and non engaging and the food tasted like it was meant to feed 1000 people on a limited budget. I would skip the luau next time. On the other hand, the production of hÄ was terrific. Very engaging and my whole family loved it. If I were to do this all over again, I would just buy the show tickets and skip all of the other over priced touristy stuff. I will add that the entire staff was very courteous and honestly seemed to enjoy being there
(2)Xuannie C.
We took my boyfriend's parents here last night. We got the tickets a bit cheaper than usual because of my kama'aina and his military discount. I lived here all my life and it was my first time here. Too much going on and it seemed like most workers paid more attention to the people on tour groups. We drove here and navigated through the place ourselves. I didn't like it as much or felt like I enjoyed it. We got the Samoan luau which was pretty fun, the food was good and interesting. The only thing that I enjoyed out of everything was the show to end our night...Ha Breath of Life was amazing! I wouldn't go back again, far of a drive and nothing wowed me or blew me out of the water except for the show. I still like Paradise Cove much better.
(3)Leo F.
It's a nice place to visit with so much to see that we wished that we had more than one afternoon/evening to see it. We saw a few exhibits and eventualyl became seperated from our tour group when we literally missed the boat. Afterwards, we browsed the gift shops and had a few snacks while waiting for the buffet dinner and the evening performance. The dinner buffet was decent. It's certainly not a Las Vegas type but the selection was still decent. The decor of the dining hall was pretty good too. The evening performance, Ha: Breath Of Life, was quite good too and I wouldn't mind seeing it again someday.
(4)Mary S.
I am big into the cheese. My middle name is Disney-lol, I had a blast here. If you go though upgrade your admission to the VIP. It is easy, cheap and the way to go. I simply loved all the shows, ( got dragged on stage for one of them) Mormon guides, luau, food, history. I call it the Hawaiian Disneyland with a historical/cultural twist
(4)Amy L.
I guess this place just isn't my style. In my opinion, this is a good place 40+ year olds to spend their money and time, or those who aren't the outdoors-y type. It's very touristy in that they try to sell you so many things. On the bus over there, we were suckered into paying additional for a tour guide, a buffet lunch and dinner, and to see the show HA. I would've loved the PCC so much more if I hadn't agreed to all these add-ons since they were a waste of money. A tour guide promises you can see so much more of the island events since they say there will be crowds. NOT TRUE. Because everyone gets suckered into getting a tour guide, there are actually no crowds at all. The buffets don't have much variety, and the food is not very Hawaiian but very Western, ie spaghetti. The show HA was boring. The dancing was so unexciting, I probably could've danced in that show. Visiting the Polynesian Cultural Center was the least fun I had on my trip to Oahu. Summary: Stick to just the entrance fee, that'll be worth your time and money. - Don't do the tour guide. - Don't do the buffets. - Don't do HA, Breath of Life.
(2)Pie C.
Polynesian Cultural Center, just the name of the place tells you there's a lot of activities happening at this palce. My first time here was amazing, we hired a tour guide which is available in the center I think we only paid $10 for a tour guide, and you can also request for someone that can speak your language if you want. Our tour guide took us to the different villages that was there, they have samoa, aotearoa also called as new zealand, fiji, tahiti, tonga and rapa nui. All villages have something good to offer they show little things they do on their village,like how to make fire from coconut husks and the tahitian wedding etc. they also let you taste their native food that they have from each village. One of the this you must not skip is the canoe show, you'll see a big lagoon there and that's where the show happens each village dance in their own canoes it was pretty epic. there is also the different resturaunts that open at 5pm to 7:30 the prime dinning, gateway (buffet style) and they have three luau (buffet) the luau package includes a live show. After the dinner is the most awaited part of the tour the night show called "HA breath of life" the show is pretty awesome, they serve refreshment in the theater too,.. if you want to just watch the night show the price is $50, and of course locals have discount. Polynesian Cultural center is located in Laie town and it's pretty far drive but the scenery on the way there is pretty nice, the drice may be far but the experience you'll get is so much worth the drive.
(5)J B.
We were offended the moment we entered. This is a terrible example of cultural exploitation. The Mormons use a fake version of Polynesian culture and demand disgustingly high prices to make a pure profit. To call this a minstrel show would be more accurate. The pacific island culture is beautiful and deserves better than what is essentially a human zoo. The smiles were forced and embarrassing to see. I am disappointed and ashamed to have seen this grotesque, racist exhibition. If this is what Mormons really think of the pacific island people then they are truly pathetic. Also I really felt like I was walking around in a cult revival. The other guests were embarrassingly naive and lived up to the worst stereotypes of the ugly American tourist. Food was bland and Americanized. Polynesian food is wonderful and could easily be served at a place that claims authenticity.
(1)j t.
Major mixed feelings about this place. Here's the breakdown: the villages: 4 stars= informative, you get a brief glimpse into each culture floats: 4 stars = another brief glimpse into their different dances in a parade on water luau: 1 star= food was meh. no poke or mai tais. no lau lau or mai tais. no mai tais or mai tais. Ha, breath of life show: 5 stars= entertaining, enjoyable. talented dancers Mormon brainwashing: negative infinite stars= converting Polynesians under the premise of "preserving culture" makes me sick. At least give me a mai tai to numb my feelings.
(2)Lars C.
While staying across the street on the North Shore I wondered over here for the last night of the Christmas Lights Extravaganza. However before that I had to wait 6hrs until the sun went down then another 2hrs. in line to see said lights. This tourist trap offers Polynesian culture, but I couldn't figure out for who or for what purpose? I ask this because I discovered the people who represent the different Polynesian countries are simply hired because they can act, dance, or interact with the public. Not because they are actually from Samoa, Tonga, Tahiti, New Zealand, etc.. As a result unless they have studied the predesignated script they will not be able to answer more detailed questions about specific Polynesian cultures or countries. That said the lights were well done and way over the top for a canoe ride. I could not see myself paying another $74 per person for the buffet so I opted out. Overall if I was not staying across the street I would have never ventured here, too much to do and see in Oahu. If you are going to visit stop by for the Christmas lights canoe ride. Aloha!
(2)Kristine P.
Fun place to come with your family. They have shows in "different islands" almost every 30 minutes so you will never be bored! I've only watched 3 shows and all of them were excellent. They were funny, entertaining, and learned about each Polynesian culture.
(3)Lawrence O.
The different islands are very interesting and entertaining. The luau is a typical luau. HA was amazing!!!
(5)Sonya S.
Anyone that's visiting Oahu MUST visit Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC). Not visiting PCC is like missing a part of Oahu. It's a great introduction to the Polynesian culture. Pick the package that includes the day tour, Ali'i Luau and the night show. I personally have been here 5 times and every visit is equally entertaining. Our group enjoyed the canoe ride, the performances in the different Polynesian villages, the IMAX show, the Luau dinner and especially the night show "Ha"-Breath of Life. The Tonga village drum performance was so funny we cried from laughing hysterically. The Ali'i Luau is entertaining: You get to sample the Hawaiian food while being entertained by the lovely dancers on stage. But I always look forward to the night show "HA"-Breath of Life. It's a great production, very entertaining with lots of lighting and fire effects throughout the stage. The storyline showcases each stage of life, from birth to marriage to death...definitely a tear jerker. And the incorporation of the Polynesian dances throughout the different scenes was seamlessly perfect. I enjoyed watching each type of dance, but my personal favorite would be the Tahitian dance, and of course the fire dancers. I love the band that plays for the night show, they are amazing. I'd pay $100 just to listen to them perform in concert. My 3 year old son was entertained from 1pm right up till 9PM, so that in itself says a lot about how entertaining this visit was for us.
(5)Anna J.
This is definitely at tourist trap but super fun! Considering that Oahu is a small island that doesn't have that many theme parks that we are blessed with in So. Cali, this place is educational and entertaining. Everyone is friendly and hospitable. We always enjoy our visit here.
(4)Phung D.
I learned that in order to enjoy this, you must really want to learn about the cultural or else you'll find it boring. I love Hawaii but not a fan of Hawaiin food, so don't come here for the food either. Price (It varies): -Ali'l Luau Package (our package) -Original price is $92, but if you know someone in the Navy/Army, they can help you get it for cheap which is $58 only! -If you need transportation from them, it's additional $22 btw. -If you ride on your own, parking is $10 Your package includes: - Admission to the center = where all the villages are - Luau = dinner buffet style - Night show = the seating will most likely be on the side for this package since it's the cheapest out of all! But it's still a good view on the side. Time frame: - They open at 12PM, and the villages start hosting their shows at 12:30 - Each village has a show either every 1/2 hr or 1 hr - Buffet starts at 5PM, so if you get there by 1PM...you have 4hrs to check out all the villages - Night show starts at 7:30PM Some Activities That I ENJOYED: 1. TONGA: I think they only have 4 shows throughout the day so you must check this out!!! It was the most FUNNIEST show ever throughout the villages!!! 2. CANOE TOUR: it was nice, chillaxing, AND our tour guide was SUPER FUNNY! I don't know if all of them are the same but the one we had was hilarious!! 3. Tahiti: they teach their dance and had a nice performance. It wasn't bad... 4. Marquesas? New Zealand? : I don't really remember the island but once we got off the canoe tour, we went to check it out and there were some fun games. They taught us how to dance as well! 5. Samoa: We forgot to check this one out but I heard they teach you how to climb coconut tree (fake one btw) 6. Canoe Pageant: Each island had a performance on the boat and it was fun at first but it was getting repetitive. LUAU BUFFET: - They greeted us with real lei (make sure you keep your ticket as well) - It doesn't matter if you have to be there on time or not - Type of food: Rice + Ahi Poke (tuna) + Teriyaki Chicken + Taro Bun + Poi (mashed taro) + Pulled Pork + Salads + Pineapple + Sweet Potatoes - The food SUCKS!!!! But it IS all you can eat! - They also have a short demonstration of how/where they cook the pig, so of course one of your dishes will be pulled pork! NIGHT SHOW: - First part of the show: mostly dancing. The fire toward the end was only the cool part - Second part of the show: more dancing and they wrapped it up with a fire show at the end. The main fire guy was really awesome!
(4)A A.
This place is cruise ship entertainment. It is expensive, staged, food is just OK and they try to sell you something at every turn. In addition to the high entrance fees they charge $8 to park, during a performance they tried selling the audience $5 ice cream, if you want a smoothie during the luau be ready to shell out $10, then during the evening performance they were selling candy, etc. like we were at a baseball game. Shops are everywhere (with even more being built?!) The place is clean and the staff are extremely friendly and welcoming. Performers appear to love what they are doing. Despite these things I won't go back and wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
(2)Randy F.
The Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC) located far away from Waikiki and past the North Shore was definitely a trek out, but the experience, food, and drive made it all worth it. Although I've been to Oahu numerous times, I can't remember seeing a Luau, except perhaps when I was much younger. I did my research and looked at Paradise Cove, Germane, and finally the PCC. Despite a few reservations, I decided to go to the PCC and enjoy both the cultural presentation as well as the location. First things first, the Polynesian Cultural Center is sponsored by the nearby Brigham Young University of Hawaii. The majority of people working at the PCC are students at BYU-Hawaii and the activities and revenue from the PCC supports their studies. The place is extremely well maintained and well-run....think of Disneyland on a smaller scale. Everyone is polite and friendly and the cultural exhibits are educational and fun. It's no wonder this place is popular with families and elderly alike. We arrived early afternoon and still found enough time to visit the majority of villages before the included luau dinner. We missed the Imax showing, but the gorgeous weather and exhibits kept us busy. My biggest worry was probably about the luau. Knowing how tourist the PCC was and how many patrons they probably served, I had very low expectations of the food. It's all served buffet style and isn't much presentation-wise, but the layout of the Luau theatre (with included hula dancing and singing while dining) was quite good. The servers (again students) were extremely efficient and they were able to get the lines going very quickly. Now onto the food: To be honest, I actually liked the food! I thought it was definitely better than expected given the large crowds and the mixed reviews. Among my favorites: Lomi lomi salmon - a refreshing mix of tomatoes and diced salmon. While the entree was sparse on salmon, it was there. Ahi poke tuna - plenty of tuna and many folks were bypassing the marinated raw tuna. I thought it was delicious and had my fair share. My stomach was fine. It looked, smelled, and tasted very fresh Kalua pork - the shredded kalua pork was a nice combination of salty and fatty. I thought it was great and helped myself to several servings. Laulau pork - small pieces of this were given in plastic containers that many bypassed as butter. Salty, smokey, and delicious, it reminded me of Chinese smoked pork. Much better than expected. Chicken Long Rice - extremely salty and mixed with rather soggy noodles. This was ok mixed with white rice, but I can only imagine the sodium intake. Drinks are also included but only sodas and juices. No alcoholic beverages available. Overall, I left very happy after the luau and had enough of Hawaiian food that I actually skipped Ono Hawaiian Foods the next day. A mistake? Maybe, but there are so many other Honolulu cuisine types, I thought the PCC represented Hawaiian food adequately. After dinner, you're allowed to mingle a bit more among the exhibits but essentially return to a newly opened theater that houses their big show, HA - Breath of Life. While the show started slowly with mainly hula dancing, the finale with fire was quite excellent. Again, considering that many entertainers are students, this was a great production. By the time we left the PCC, it was 9 pm and we had a long (45 min) drive back to Waikiki. Driving along the shore and seeing the moonlight reflecting off the ocean, I was happy. The PCC may be far away, but the entire package (exhibits, luau, show) was well worth the drive. Two thumbs up for any first-time Hawaii visitors! PCC accepts credit cards, including American Express. Discounted tickets can be found on their website.
(4)Aileen B.
06/24/11 4.5 stars! Informative, exciting, and hilarious. And those are just the words I'd use to describe the 25-minute presentations I attended as I walked through The Villages- mini-recreations of seven Polynesian islands: Aotearoa (New Zealand), Fiji, Hawaii, Rapa Nui (Easter Island), Samoa, Tahiti, and Tonga. If you like to laugh, you should definitely check out the Tongan presentation! After catching six of the seven presentations, I had my dinner part of the "dinner-show" in one of the several locations, which served different buffet selections w/ different price tags. (I chose the $70 American buffet and show combo, bec. I was told by a Hawaiian friend of mine that while the shows here are the best and quite authentic, featuring performing arts' students of actual Polynesian heritage and cultural backgrounds, the "luau" food served isn't as good as those found elsewhere on the island. I decided to save a little money and look for Polynesian cuisine another day, another time.) I actually enjoyed the few items I tried off of the "American" buffet- fantastic sweet potato salad (which I mistook to be regular potato salad, until I took my first bite, which revealed sweet potato goodness!), mixed greens, BBQ pork brisket, kalua pork, and roasted chicken, w/ my faves being the sweet potato salad and kalua pork. Too bad we experienced heavy rain, which thankfully didn't start till after the village presentations ended, but many dinner guests, including me, had to abandon our tables to search for dryer locations. By the time we found our seats an hour and a half later in the Pacific Theater, a semi-enclosed and roofed venue, many of us were soaking wet! (And yes, that included me.) As soon as the show commenced, though, none of that mattered. "Ha- Breath of Life" was enchanting and beautiful, stirring all of my senses tonight! (I'm including the food here.) While I found all of the islands' theatrical depictions of the circle of life delightful, I enjoyed Aotearoa best, as I've had the pleasure of listening to Maori music through my love of Crowded House, Split Enz, Bic Runga, and other NZ artists. I would pay another $70 to experience everything once more! Well, minus the downpours, that is! :)) p.s. I was able to take advantage of a motorcoach pick-up and drop off from the Hilton Hawaiian Village for another $22 (tip optional). youtube.com/watch?v=6clO… youtube.com/watch?v=oHFU…
(5)S M.
Staff is amazing! They are very hospitable. Did the island buffet and the food was average. The night show is amazing! The drive home at night to Waikiki wasn't too fun.
(5)Anna D.
I love cheesy stuff like this where i can play tourist in a beautiful place i call home. PCC is one of those places that you have to take the time to drive out to (if you're coming from town) and spend the day at. Trust me though, the pretty drive itself is worth it. When you get there the outside is filled with greenery and tiki statues and other things that make you feel like you're going to polynesia. The people are always friendly and greet everyone at every location you're at. What most people dont realize is that PCC is pretty big so I would suggest taking some extra time to walking around and exploring. You may learn more than just a few things about the culture. The buffet is also a good way to go. ALso, the hawaiian buffet here is actually tasty so definitely dont miss out on that-especially the haupia. I love haupia!
(4)Jacqueline R.
I would have given this place 3 stars if it hadn't been for the HA Breath of Life show! I came here a few days ago with three of my friends. Honestly, for us being all college students, we didn't find anything particularly captivating about the actual park. There were villages of the different Polynesian cultures, but there weren't many things to do at each one! There were basically presentations at every village that ran over and over again every 30-60 minutes, and maybe a small replica of something relating to that one culture. We were expecting much bigger villages providing more history about each of the cultures, but really the only information you got was from the presentations at each one. The effort to replicate and educate people on the heritages were evident, but it just wasn't cutting it for us because we didn't find ourselves particularly captivated or extremely interested in any. They had activities for people to do, like spear throwing, trying out a Samoan stick game, etc., but they were mostly directed towards child ages. None were especially fun or exciting. In the evening we attended the luau. I'd also give it a 3/5 stars. I was expecting it to be a lot like another luau I've attended in the past -- outdoors right by the ocean, with just tables set up and plastic chairs. Very homey and not too commercialized. The PCC luau was definitely way more directed towards tourists: it was in this semi-enclosed outdoor area with long banquet tables. You were greeted with an orchid lei which was nice. There were probably around 500 people attending the luau - MUCH bigger than I had expected. The food was great, but didn't feel AS authentic as I had wanted because it didn't seem completely fresh. It seemed too prepared and some might have even been frozen foods that had been defrosted. Entertainment consisted of a small band and a few hula dancers, but it was more of a background entertainment versus a big live show for entertainment while eating. I'm giving this place 4 stars because of the HA Breath of Life show. It was VERY well done! INCREDIBLE choreography, nice understandable story line, and the FIRE JUGGLERS and guys with the grass skirts and the fire were OUTSTANDING! I was in awe with the tricks they were able to perform with fire! Definitely the best part of the show, and my overall PCC experience!
(4)JR S.
Went there with family including 2 kids. I have no problems at all that the place is associated with the Mormon church, It was actually a plus before I went there since my impression is that Mormons are hard-working people. My review is purely on the place and service: 0. Both of my kids were sick the next day after the island buffer, one threw up several times, the other had diarrhea. 1. The place is far away from Waikiki where most of us tourists stay 2. The ha show is too long; only the last 10-20 minutes were exciting. 3. Too many tourist buses, very commercial feel at the park. 4. Very pricey for the service you receive. Would not recommend the place, you probably still struggle whether to go since this place is famous and you don't want to miss out. Trust me, you can use the extra day on Oahu!
(1)Susan R.
This was my first trip to Hawaii, the Polynesian Cultural Center was great.
(5)Julie F.
We weren't thrilled with our experience. First, the weather on that side of the island sucks. There were short bursts of pouring rain repeatedly throughout the day, which is unpleasant when you are sitting in outdoor stands trying to enjoy a show. The shows are very short with lots of canned jokes and every show starts with "Aloha!" Crowd responds, "Aloha!" performer responds, "You can do better than that! Aloha!" crowd responds, "Aloha!!" performer says "That's good but I know you can do it even better! Aloha!" Crowd responds "Aloha!!!," which is cute once but makes you roll your eyes by the fifth time. They also repeatedly tell you that 70% of the employees are students, so "Thank you for coming and helping us pay for college!" I think it's a ploy to keep you from getting too annoyed that you wasted so much on a Meh experience. We took the center's official (10am or noon) bus from Waikiki to the center. The bus leaves to take you back to Waikiki at 9:20pm. It felt a bit odd to be a captive audience for ten hours. Especially when there was an unnecessarily and uncomfortably long wait between the end of the dinner and the beginning of the Ha nighttime show. It was raining of course, so for over an hour, we and hundreds of other guests had to huddle in the shop - how convenient! The luau dinner (we had the mid-priced option) was okay. Tables were dismissed row by row, slowly, to go to the buffet - like at a wedding. The food was edible. The dancers were lovely but they were being poured on, so it was hard to focus on anything other than sympathy for them. Also, there is some connection with the LDS church, so there is no alcohol at the center. A bummer, especially considering the price we paid! We did get coffee upon request at the dinner. I wonder if it was decaf? Anyway. The good - the show, Ha: Breath of Life was AWESOME!!! A very large and well-practiced cast performed beautiful dances and kept us captivated. In summary, I think another reviewer put it best "Tourist Trap." I don't know if they allow it, but if possible, I would suggest that you attend the night show, Ha, only.
(2)Annie W.
PCC!!! Here are some quick tips: ordering on the Internet may be cheaper unless you have some coupons. Call and have an attendant assist you, because the packages can be confusing! Here's all the good stuff that we did there: *Took the canoe ride and saw all the huts, villages and symbols of each Polynesian island. *Got the opportunity to throw spears and learn how they used it for hunting *Sat down for a quick lesson to make a fish out of leaves *Went fishing w/ kiddie poles and watched as the guppies went crazy *Took a bunch of pictures in this picturesque facility *Watched a poi demonstration *Got to catch a quick Tahitian show *Played a leisure checker-like game with black and white stones *Ali'i - more local flavor luau.. and the LIVE show that takes your breath away... "HA, breath of life" is the most amazing display of the mixed cultures of Polynesian Islands. Outstanding and so worth every dollar spent there. This place is huge, keeps you entertained and try to come early so you don't miss any of the shows, demonstrations or even participate in some of them too.
(5)Greta Y.
We were a family traveling with some young boys. We decided not to take the guided tour and that was the right choice. Many of the exhibits (dancing, tahitian wedding ceremony, mat weaving) are really geared to adults and my kids would have been bored looking at that. Instead, the kids and I just wandered from village to village and played the many games while my folks did the more adult activities. We did some Tahitian fishing, spear throwing, Hawaiian bowling game, Hawaiian checkers and the Maori stick game. But it was really really hot, particularly in the early afternoon, and the kids quickly had the wind knocked out of their sales. Thankfully, there was shaved ice. And there were also canoe rides which the kids got a big kick. Most of the acvities are geared for older guests, but the boys did appreciate learning a little about polynesian culture. It was something to fill an afternoon but the kids definately wouldn't have hung around more than once on the vacation. The simple play and family time was refreshing in this era of mobile phones and videogames. We did the cheap buffet (not the prime dining or luau). The food was just alright-- chicken, brown rice, some dry pork (you get what you pay for). The downside is that you'll finish the buffet quickly and afterwards the park is closed. So you just have to sit around without much to do for about an hour until the luau finishes. This being a Mormon park, there is no alcohol, which would also be a bit of a downer at the Ha show. The show itself is a little long and overly dramatic for kids. They were expecting to see the standard fire dancers, and Tahitian shakers. Instead, there were some incredibly beautiful numbers from throughout Polynesia feature large cast of dancers. The plot of the show is a little hard to follow, but adults will find it beautiful, if a little long. My bottom line, if you are looking for a luau with alcohol, or you have young kids that get bored easily, this is probably not the place for you. If you are looking for a wholesome experience, led by various clean cut, friendly and overly anxious students from across the US and Polynesia, and are really curious about the life style of polynesia, then this is the place for you. p.s. if you are not Mormon, skip the temple tour. Only members of the faith can visit the inside of the temple, and there are some non-pushy attempts to get you interested in the religion.
(2)Jacqui F.
Skip this! It's just a bunch of hokey skits aimed at turning you LDS (trust me read between the lines)
(1)Gerald C.
For $20 I could get an delicious, authentic Hawaiian meal for 2 at a local restaurant in Honolulu. $88 per person for a horrid buffet? You got to be kidding me. That buffet better come with caviar-encrusted filet mignon steaks. Not even allowed to park in the lot for more than 30 minutes to visit their overpriced tourist shops.
(1)David G.
This review is from a visit on January 23rd, 2012. Before I start I want to mention that this review is for the cultural center only and I did a separate review on Ha Breath of Life. We purchased tickets on line and planned our whole day around this event. The first shocker was the charge for parking, really? We paid an enormous amount for tickets and now you are going to charge for parking. No Bueno! As we entered they had young college kids asking for us to take a picture and they were they ultimate grouches, like they didn't want to be there and we were bothering them. Wow seriously if you didn't want to come in to work call in sick. The sad part is we started noticing a trend. All of the employees there were of college age and all were grouches. The older people that worked were the most helpful. This place was compared to Disneyland and I agree. Everything was touristy and everything had a price on it. They were constantly pushing ice cream and smoothies all day and every time they did a show or demonstration they stopped to mention that they were part of the school and money goes towards their education. One thing that I noticed that was the ultimate form of nastiness was a young Asian kid pulled down his pants and peed right there on the walkway. I guess things happen and he was a small kid, but two employees walked right buy and laughed. No clean up, nothing! If this happened at Disneyland the whole area would have been on lock down. The food was pretty good, I was a little surprised that the Luau didn't have macaroni salad. As others have mentioned they start off by saying to eat and eat a lot, that they welcome you to come back up many times. I am a fast eater and when I went up again the food was almost all gone and slllllooooowly getting replaced. This for us was a one time thing, one of those things you have to do once when you are there. But I wont ever be coming back.
(2)Hana J.
I had so much fun here! We opted out of the tour, saving nearly $20 a piece, and we got to do all that we wanted to do. We saw 3 shows, got on the canoe tour; we were really proactive. Samoan show is a must; my dad was in tears because it was so funny. Lazy people; join a tour ;) We went to our Luau dinner early, getting prime seating just a couple of feet away from those dishing out big bucks. The all-you-can-eat dinner is more like single serving dinner; they ran out of food and desserts quickly, and no one rarely gets up for another portion. Drinks, supposedly unlimited, were only coke and sprite, each losing fizz as soon as it was poured into our cups. But it's not about the food; it's about the dancing and music! All of that was really interesting and fun; I would recommend it to anyone visiting for the first time. Just beware; DO NOT buy anything there except maybe touristy photos they snap of you; they will rip you off like mad. The HA show was pretty good, except we left early knowing how it was going to end. The mini shows are more entertaining and personable.
(3)Ken G.
Nice to be back at the PCC after my first visit 10 years ago...and it's still great. One can learn and experience so much of the rich traditions of the Polynesian culture. I believe many of the performers and those that help with demonstrations are students and it's great to see such an interest in their heritage. It reminded me of my time being involved with student organizations in college and it's great to have the opportunity to share your cultural traditions with others. This is perfect for the family...I was a bit disappointed with the luau buffet (I remember being much more impressed 10 years ago and this time the food just didn't taste as great and there weren't a lot of options during the meal), but everything else was fantastic. Definitely see Ha- Breath of Life...it's an amazing show!
(5)Celeste B.
Booked this tour with friends through the Discover Hawaii website. This tour also included a tour of various parts of the island on our way to PCC. Our tour guides were all male and unfortunately one of my friends fell delusionally in love with our guide! LOL. The center itself was huge and very beautiful as well as informative. The tour covered pretty much the entire day so we had lunch and a dinner there as well. We got to take a canoe ride, visit very realistic villages, watch the island parade and we even learned how to make a craft that day. For lunch we were served buffet style and everything was delicious. For dinner we attended the luau which was pretty much a reenactment of how the ceremonial pig would be buried to cook throughout the day as they would have done years ago but the food was not that impressive. After dinner we were allowed to tour the grounds as well as the Mormon church which actually runs the PCC. The church was beautiful but I found it a little sneaky how they threw the religious aspect in at the end of the tour. They also showed a short film in the church about their involvement however, they did not push their religious ideals. I would recommend a visit to the PCC but the luau in my opinion is not a must do.
(5)Julia P.
First of all, do we all know that this place is Mormon owned and we're giving money to Mitt Romney's campaign because we came here? (mostly kidding but it really is owned by the Mormon church and profits go to give scholarships to students at Brigham Young - Hawaii). The place was not as good as it was eight years ago when I first came. Basically came to see some of the exhibits I had already seen and enjoy a luau with the dinner show. The luau was the same food but I got seated in a different dining area this time and the entertainment did not seem as enjoyable as it was a different MC who, though was good, wasn't as funny as the one I had before. They have this new dinner show called "Ha: the breath of life" which although entertaining wasn't as fun as the show I saw before (more singing and dancing this time instead of awe inspiring human tricks). The yummy pineapple treat in the middle was the same though. I don't mind coming here to learn about the Polynesian culture (it's quite interesting) and get a refresher on various aspects of life on the islands but the pricing is not something I'll probably go for again until I have kids to take here.
(3)Crystal R.
If you are in Oahu, highly recommend this spot for some history and culture. We are in the North Shore so the drive was about an hour from Haleiwa... If you are in Waikiki, it will take awhile to get up here because of the traffic through the North Shore spots. We ordered our tickets in advance because the PCC offers a discount if you book at least two weeks prior to your visit. For a family of 6 (4 adults and 2 kids) the savings was close to $100! If you have kids 12 and under, there is a children's price. We decided on the general admission, Alii luau, and Ha-Breath of Life package. We arrived at the PCC around 2pm which is just in time for the canoe pageant. We also watched the IMAX show and visited a few of the island presentations. The kids and I made fish out of ti leaves, learned to play the ukulele, and hula history lesson. The luau show was nice to watch, the food was just ok. Next time, I would try another food option... The night show, Ha was amazing! The fire dancers are my favorite. It is a pretty long day with the drive and all of the events if you are bringing the kids but worth it. Giving it a 5 for the place itself but had to take away a star because of the food.
(4)Caitlin P.
We bought tickets to the Ohana Luau. The food was horrible and the selection was dismal. There was an hour and a half gap between dinner and the show, but the entire center was closed down except for the gift shops and activities that cost extra money. If you want an incredibly fun luau with amazing food and entertainment go to GERMAINES LUAU. NOT the Polynesian Cultural Center! This place is a scam and a rip off.
(1)Teresa S.
We had an amazing day at Polynesian Cultural center. We booked our tour with Discover Hawaii and was pleased with their service. The cultural center is GORGEOUS with beautiful events from different islands telling their story about their history and culture. We spent the entire day there and had a BBQ buffet lunch which tasted better than the dinner. For lunch we had BBQ chicken, salad, fries, drinks and dessert and it was delicious. We enjoyed the canoe ride and all of the entertainment with the handsome men. :-) Our tour guy, Collie was just a fine piece of eye candy from Fiji that kept our tour very interesting. The luau dinner was whack, it reminded me of a huge wedding buffet style dinner. The shows during dinner was cool and the wannabee pig roast was a B for effort. After dinner we took a bus to tour the college and Mormon church where most of the employees at the PCC were students from the college. We saw "Hawaii's Most Authentic Luau" and the Ha: Breath of Life performance which was good but it was so late and I was exhausted at the end. Definitely a place you want to visit where you will be treated like "family or cousins" as we were called throughout the day.
(5)Carolyn E.
Expensive! Not necessarily worth it if you aren't going to the luau. I really wanted to learn more about Polynesian Culture and I probably should have just hit up a museum or wikipedia. Our tickets for our 2 hour visit were ~$30 per person. If you are having a short stay, you can get refunded a portion of the full admission amount. We also arrived just after 1pm and after 1 visit to an area they had "activity time" so we really didn't get to experience very much. If you can only make a short visit, I suggest arriving early.
(2)Ed K.
when you go back home from your trip to Oahu, your coworkers, friends and family will probably ask you how your vacation was. and you can tell them all about the nice weather, good food, friends you made, and nesian hospitality you recieved. polynesian cultural center is a must visit destination. beautiful scenery, polynesian traditions kept alive and well. the hula show always goes above and beyond my expectations, each performance more impressive than the previous, with the colorful dress and dance motions telling a story. there are times when the tour is interactive, and u get to participate in making crafts or canoe paddling. other times, you may find yourself wandering so it would help to have an itinerary or agenda to follow so when you stick to the script, all the criteria is coverred smoothly (for yourself and your followers). the luau is a feast and celebration all combined in one before you watch the fireshow. after a day's worth of entertainment, Hawaiian Styles, theres gonna be an urge to splurge at the gift shop, so have some cash alocated at this place for gifts for loved ones, aloha attire, jewelry, crafts or collectables and find out: soo thaaats what polynesia is all about! =)))
(5)Michellea D.
On our vacation to Oahu, we stopped by the PCC. We had a buy one get one free admissions from the Entertain HI guide, but the coupon is also in one of the tourist mags at the airport. We only had 2 hours to tour PCC, we needed more time. I loved the informative presentations on the culture of each Polynesian island. We loved the drum show and the fire show. Again I wish we had at least one more hour to spent here. Run by students from the Mormon college next door. They did a great job.
(4)M T.
This place is anything but a cultural center, you barely learn about the cultures that are supposedly presented here. It is a complete tourist attraction run by students from BYU Hawaii Campus.... We had the Luau which was horrendous, cafeteria style self serve mush. The show was fairly decent and that is about the only thing I would recommend at this place.
(2)Kathy F.
Well, I wanted to like this place because it sounded informative and exciting. I purchased tickets on Sunday, for Monday's activities. There was a thunderstorm warning on Monday, so I sent an email on Sunday night inquiring about whether the center would still be open. I got no response. So on Monday, I waited to be picked up by the transportation I had paid for already. After waiting for over half an hour, I called the center. I heard an automated message saying that the center was closed for the day, which would've been fine, except for the fact that no one ever informed me of this. No one ever answered my email, no one called to let me know, and days later, I'm STILL waiting for a call/email and a refund. Based on the experiences I've had before ever even stepping foot on the PCC's grounds, and after reading other people's reviews, I'm actually GLAD I ended up not being able to go.
(1)June L.
I got the package of ali'i luau which includes the show at night for our family of four. The total price for all 4 of us came to about $310 (online pricing plus an additional 10% discount for booking 10 days ahead of your scheduled visit), which was pretty decent for a dinner and a show. For the buffet, I enjoyed the live music and luau performance, though it was tough to concentrate on the performance while eating and vice versa. We were pleasantly surprised at the organization. It didn't feel chaotic at all. The buffet does not have a huge selection: chicken, fish, kalua pork as meats; salad bar; and mains such as white rice, hawaiian long noodles and sweet potatoes. The dessert bar had a good selection of treats. Overall we thought the food was pretty good. The show was definitely enjoyable. There were lots of dancing, which we enjoyed. It was a great way to showcase Hawaiin culture. I would definitely recommend this package to anyone who wants to try luau for the first time!
(4)Scrub G.
Kids loved it. Food is decent, but if you're going here for food then you're missing the point. It's like a museum but not as dull. Yeah it's cheesy, but everyone is friendly, and the singing and music are really nice. Kids loved the tat, fishing (caught 2), music, and Samoan coconut tree climbing. They also both were mesmerized by the show..and they are 1.5 and 3 so that's saying a lot. Coconut fish was pretty good, but the pork loin dry. But again, didn't do it for the food, did it for the experience overall.
(4)John S.
Great place to learn about the many cultures that make up and influence Hawaii. It is certainly a tourist trap but big deal - that's not always a bad thing. This place is worth seeing if you are visiting Oahu. The dinner show was very entertaining, but the food was just okay. I think the Ali'i Luau had it's cheesy moments but it was all still very respectful to the culture and very worth it. Don't skip HA: Breath of Life. Get a close up seat if you can. These performers are amazing. Singers, dancers, musicians (there are some that do it all) work really hard performing flawlessly. I was SO impressed with their level of performance. The lighting and sound is also impressive. This is not something you'd want to miss at the PCC.
(5)Amy Y.
I've been there a year ago. I waited until now to write a review for this. Even if it was a year ago, I can still remember the performance, the good, and the fun. It was really AWESOME. I realize for my 20 years in Hawaii, I never been to PCC. I got the chance to go because one of my friend whose originally from Hong Kong came to Hawaii. So me, her, and our other Hawaii buddy went. It was around $60 and that includes, the morning mini shows, the Ali'i Luau ( the cheapest one), and the HA Breath of Life show. Those early mini shows were entertaining and funny. I think we visited all of those. I realize I learned a lot from there even if I been living in Hawaii all my life. It's interesting to learn different cultures. We headed to the dinner around 5. It's like a buffet style. The food isn't that bad. It's Hawaiian food. I got full from it. After dinner, we waited for the show to start. The show was pretty heartwarming and dramatic. I had a great time that day. One thing that bother me the whole day while there was...I missed a greet and meet with Wongfu Productions(Youtubers). I was kinda upset cause I missed it.
(5)Denise M.
Before our trip, we had googled "best luau in Oahu" and the Polynesian Cultural Center came up. I liked all the extras and attention it seemed we would get with the Ambassador tour, so we booked our reservation. When we got there, we were given very pretty shell leis and assigned a tour guide (there were approximately 15 people in our tour group). It was great not to have to figure out where to go and what to do on our own - the tour guide made sure we got to each island presentation on time and added interesting facts as we made our way between each one. The reservations had recommended we get there at noon, but we had another activity planned for the morning and frankly didn't think there would be a whole afternoon worth of entertainment to be had at the Polynesian Cultural Center, but we were so wrong and I wish we had gotten there when they opened, instead of a little after 1pm. The island presentations were so much fun - informative but also interactive, which we really enjoyed! Especially the stick tossing in New Zealand (Aotearoa) and the bamboo drums in Fiji. Some of the shows asked for volunteers to come up, and my husband was on stage starting fire with sticks in Samoa! It was also neat that many of the dancers and presenters are actually from the islands they are representing - they are attending the nearby university. The Polynesian cultural center is non-profit and the money they make goes to scholarships, etc for these students. There was also a canoe pageant that was a unique way to demonstrate all the islands - each one had 4-6 dancers in full beautiful costumes do a dance on their flat raft as they floated by and the announcer gave information about the dance and the island - really a neat experience! The luau food was excellent - especially liked the pork and the taro sweet rolls! They asked the audience to indicate if they were on a honeymoon or celebrating an anniversary and they asked those to come up and played the Hawaiian wedding song and we danced - as this was the actual day of our 5th anniversary, it was very special to us. After dinner was the "HA, Breath of Life" show - the story was moving, and the dancing again was so interesting and impressive. The best part was the finale, though, where the dancers had fire poles - this was just amazing and has to be seen to be believed! All in all, it was a fantastic experience and I would recommend to anyone to make that 45 min/1 hour drive from Waikiki to experience this!
(5)Denise K.
Opening night for the Haunted Lagoon was out of control! There was a line that wrapped around the parking lot. The wait was over 2 hours for a 20 minute scary canoe ride. Granted, the ride is super fun but I would NOT wait that long. Good thing I scored VIP fast pass tickets through Yelp!
(4)M F.
Great day filled with constant activity. While the storyline of HA made no sense the dancers were crazy talented.
(4)Joe S.
Where do I start. First off, when I heard about our group going to this place, I thought it was truly a center to learn about the Polynesian culture. You know, like it was a not-for-profit center ran by the state government with museums, history infos and the likes. I was more than thrilled about it. However, upon arriving, I quickly realized that it was a for-profit center and I can forget about learning anything Polynesian. The name was very misleading. This place was not about history or culture preservation, it's about getting every dollar you have. You must pay to park. You can take group photos for a fee. The price of the luau was steep and the food they served was disgusting. I couldn't take more than a few bites and had to have the server take away my plate that was full of food. Service was poor. A lot of the staff members had a very uninviting attitude - no smiles, just blank, drone faces. It was like they were rude and clearly didn't want to be there. I definitely didn't feel like a valued guest, after all the money we were spending there. Let me keep going... The pina colada was so sweet and way overpriced. You can't buy alcoholic drinks because they don't serve them. Then there were all the shops with which you could buy useless things that you don't have a need for. You can't even get to the luau stadium without going through a maze of racks and shelves of things to purchase. I will say that the luau was pretty entertaining but then their was the 10 minute intermission where you can buy a pricey cup of icy ice cream. Oh wait, then there was a guy walking around flashing DVDs that you can purchase. It just kept going. Now I know why they want you to start at noon, all the way to 9PM - so they can squeeze every last cent you have. One of us decided to research on who owns the center and we discovered it was own by Mormons. This explains why there were no alcohol served on the premises. Whether it is own by Mormons or not, I would not come back. The experience was a horrible one. We felt cheated. A true waste of money and our vacation time was robbed.
(2)Christine Y.
Fun! You end up being pretty entertained, learn a bit about Polynesian culture, and leave feeling pretty full if you get the luau buffet option. Sure it's pretty touristy, but tey do a pretty good job of trying to take you away from that once you're inside the park in each individual area. We both really didn't want to drive at all on our vacation, but the place is an hour away! So what to do? Hop on board a huge bus and be driven to our destination. A guide on boar will end up entertaining you for the next hour, teaching you a few Hawaiian words, and then sell you on taking them up on their offer of being your tour guide for the rest of the day along with a bbq lunch buffet for only $25. Very well done and a good way to see everything and not worry about finding things for yourself. If you're into that. Out of the entire bus, only 6 of us went off on our own. DIdn't quite feel like being led around and went off to explore on our own. We didn't see every little show there was, but we just did our own thing. There is plenty to do here with each island having their own area and their own little shows. Even where there isn't a show you can wander around to look into how they live, or participate in a little arts and crafts. The Samoan islands entertain you with showing you how to make a fire, climb a palm tree and get a coconut, and then how to open that so that you can eat. At the back of that area, you can use palm tree leaves to make a fish on a fishing rod. In the Tahiti area they teach you how to dance. And educate you on the difference between a Tahitian dance and a hula. Those fast moving hips? Not hula...Tahiti. At one point in the day they have a river parade. Each island rows out a boat with dancers. The luau is decent. They just cram you in according to what you level you paid for. Each guest gets a lovely lei of real white and magenta orchids. Then you eat standard Hawaiian food. Not the best food ever, but good enough. They also encourage you to try poi, basically mashed taro. Which isn't so tasty...but the Hawaiians apparently love it! is a great way to end the night. They do a great job of storytelling and dancing to make it very entertaining and moving all the same. The stage is lavishly decked out using plants, a waterfall, and drapes of cloth that they use for transitions between scenes to project parts of the story on. Yes still very touristy. Lotsa little gift shops all over, they try to sell you stuff before every show, and it's all about entertainment. But oh well, still very much fun.
(4)Ling Ling R.
1(bad)-5(excellent) 5 stars: FIRE SHOW 2 stars: for the rest of the show- 2 stars bc my seats were nice! 2 stars: buffet-pork was excellent, no mac salad??, bread is purple and nasty. 0 stars: no alochol?? 0 stars: staff was rude! Maybe bc we werent on a tour or in the VIP sitting. 5 stars: hula and Hawaiian guitar lessons **recommend you going to PARADISE COVE and get the DELUXE PACKAGE***
(2)H R.
$$$$$$ , very touristy, and reminds me of a huge gift shop. The dances were beautiful at the end of the evening. The history was interesting, and the coconut tree climbing was interesting. Wear comfortable clothes, shoes and pack water. Food is not good. Served family style with 100s of other ppl .
(4)Jo A.
A good experience for those who are interested in learning polynesian culture. Price is worth it.
(5)Elaine Y.
1. Discounts on PCC: The only discount I was able to find after thorough research was through Entertainment Book, for a buy-one-get-one-free (for General admission.. if you buy a package you pay the difference). The EB was $10, so total for a family of four we saved $80. 2. Tour guide upgrade: We ended up upgrading to the tour after meeting our guide on the bus there. After many laughs, we felt that the tour guide was probably a good idea for a 42 acre park. What I realized at the end of the day, however, is that the tour guide essentially just makes sure you are at the right place at the right time, and make as many of the village presentations as you can, and that you don't waste time getting lost on the property. If you are excellent with a map and planning, you could definitely make it through the park/through the village presentations without the $25 upgrade. **For families with kids: I would skip the village presentations and plan your day around the different activities offered in the park. From temporary tattoos to making a fire, these are for sure to be more interesting for them than the anthropology/history aspect of the village presentations. 3. Villages: Samoa and Tonga (hilarious-- a must see), Fiji (was good for an overview of polynesia/melanesia/micronesia), New Zealand (somber). Didn't get to visit Hawaii. 4. Luau: We were most impressed with how efficient and structured the whole place was run with THAT many people and servers walking around. The food was just okay-- not horrible, but better than what you would expect for 300 people. The pork wasn't as dry and tough as people describe it to be. I probably would not have purchased the Luau package if I could go back in time. 5. Ha: The show is a must see. Started off kind of slow, but picked up in the middle. I'm not sure how accurate PCC's depictions of the nations are, but it was fun. Lots of fire, sweat, muscles, hip shaking and hair. Kids will enjoy it (a bit long though) 6. Make sure you're okay with indirectly supporting the Mormon church before touring Hawaii's number one paid tourist attraction. Most of the employees are BYU students on scholarship, and work to pay for their tuition. Throughout the day, my sister and I often wondered about how we felt about contributing to a scholarship for a student from Polynesia that sent them to a University thats affiliated with the Church (or religion for that matter). I haven't been able to find ANY opinions by a Polynesian BYU student in the programs online, so I wonder if there is some sort of confidentiality agreement they signed.
(3)Val B.
So I've gone twice and I'm still in love with this place. My friend and I want to be retired volunteers here. You learn about different cultures. The shows are so much fun. They are very interactive. There is a lovely buffet at night. Followed by a night show to link all the cultures. The story line is a good one. Brings a little tear to the eye. Love the part where the sexy half naked men twirl a stick of blazing fire at each end.
(4)Zeel J.
I'll keep this short and simple. The Park ------------- There is a lot to do here, so you can easily spend a day walking around. But in my opinion, 2.5 or maybe 3 hours walking around is all you need. And things I'd recommend are: - The show in "Samoa". It was hilarious and awesome to watch too. - The spear throwing. Always fun to throw a spear - The Canoe ride, because it is a great overview of the park Besides that, there are a whole bunch of other small shows and things to do, so you will find other things that may interest you. But not a full day's worth. The Luau ------------- If you're staying for their main main show, "Ha Breath of Life", then have the Luau. Food isn't great and performances aren't bad. But otherwise, you can get better Hawaiian food at other places on the island The Main Show -------------------- THIS was the highlight of the trip. It was a great performance. "Ha Breath of Life" carried a great story with it, while throwing in some great performances and throwing in a dash of humor. And the performances with the fire were definitely great to watch. In my opinion, if you go here, make sure you watch this show, and plan for some time prior to the show and Luau to see the rest of the park.
(3)Rolena I.
Went here the summer of 1992. It's like nothing you've ever seen...unless of course if you've ever gone to Polynesia, Tahiti, or someplace similar. Eight island cultures are represented where you learn all about each culture in various aspects. I remember going on a boat tour. There's lots of great gift shops and the place we went there to eat was great! The people were nice & I'm sure it's probably a whole lot better nowadays. When I return to Hawaii, I'll definitely relive this experience that's been far too long since I've been.
(5)Kiko' N.
It is good place to visit. see shows about culture of these islands but way to expensive!!!
(3)John M.
It's like the Disneyland of Hawaii, very theme park-ish. The PCC center was a lot of fun for us while we made our way from island to island. It's tourist central but if you have never been to Hawaii before, I would recommend that you spend at least half of a day here to learn about the multiple island culture. I did not go to the luau because we were already set up to go to a luau on the other side of the island. Next time, I will go to the luau here.
(4)Dons A.
enjoyed luau HA show chartered bus for 20 awesome for learning and stop for dried aku in kahaluu before getting there. good to stop for poi at poi factory and in hauula for poke too
(4)Michael J.
Because I'm cheap and because I already attended a fantastic luau on Kauai, I did not stay for the PCC luau and the evening show. So my rating does not include that. I also did not take the tram, so my review is absent the Mormon conversion tour. Instead I paid the basic admission price and walked around the park on my own. This is the main reason why I gave the park three stars: I think it's the only way to really enjoy the place. Get yourself a map and a schedule, and attend each island performance at your leisure. Some of them are very entertaining, like the Tonga show with its drumming, the Samoa performance which had a hilarious host making milk, fire, and climbing trees, and the Aoteroa (New Zealand Maoris) which featured a really nice storyline and of course the haka. The Fiji and Tahiti performances were lame. Fiji was just pounding the ground with a hollow wooden stick and then watching some Fijians sing their national anthem. Tahiti wasn't much better. Rapa Nui (Easter Island) is just a bunch of poorly made imitations of the famous statues on that island, with information you could just as easily gleam from a few minutes on the internet. You can also see the mid afternoon canoe show, which I thought was pretty cool since they do some fantastic native dancing. Find a good spot in the shade about 30 minutes before the performance, though, or you'll bake in the sun. The activities they have for you to try (spear throwing, weaving, etc) are pretty pointless. You don't actually learn anything significant, you just try your hand at it and fail miserably. Couple of notes: Oahu doesn't have any good luau shows...they are ALL touristy, expensive, and poorly done. If you want a good luau, head for Kauai or Maui. Second, I do understand some people were disappointed with the shallow, artificial feel of the place, but keep in mind that the average American is barely aware that Hawaii is a state or that Polynesia is not the name of a venereal disease...so an in-depth introduction to the cultures of Polynesia is simply not possible. The goal of the place is to allow native peoples to share a "little" about their home islands with you, and that's what you get for the basic admission price and a few hours of walking around. I do agree that, considering this, the place is vastly overpriced...also taking into account that there are enough videos of the place and its performances loaded online for you to experience it that way, if you so choose.
(3)Erin Y.
Don't come for the food. You will definitely be disappointed. Come for the experience and the touristy shenanigans that you can only find here. We came on a Friday night and paid extra for the ambassador package. If you can find the extra money, I would definitely suggest doing this. You get better seating at the show, free intermission dessert, and a whole crapload more of food at the buffet (including crab legs which you don't get with the regular package). My absolute favorite food was the Fijian curry, which I thought was just delightful. The sweet potato chips were also a winner. The buffet seating starts at 5 and you get to eat until 7. Show starts at 730. I would suggest timing it so that you have just enough time to eat. If not, you're kinda waiting around in the gift shop until the show. Dangerous. We got there at 6, so that was just perfect for us. I see this place for its cultural value. Its worth the drive and the money.
(4)Francis U.
Everything that's been said about PCC has pretty much been said with the other hundreds of reviews, i'll stick to a few points based on my experiences: 1. It is pretty pricey. Luckily we got the kama'aina rate because we have family who live in Honolulu. That being said though, as soon as we stepped onto the tour bus that picked us up, we were immediately in the middle of cousin's "upsell" spiel to purchase the tour so that we can make the most of our time. Our party did eventually upgrade, and we don't regret it. Cousin did a good job at getting us to about 4 of the villages with great seats to watch the demonstrations and shows. Just be aware that I couldn't help but feel that they were constantly trying to get into our wallets either by selling you additional services or goods (But what tourist attraction DOESN'T haha). 2. The grounds are beautiful! You can't take a bad picture here. They've done a wonderful job of keeping the place beautiful despite it being constantly bombarded by tourists. 3. Food was alright. We opted for the lunch buffet and Ali'i Luau. They had your standard fare of luau food. Nothing particularly stood out, but I was full and satisfied. I'm actually kind of glad that we opted for the buffet lunch. As we were walking the grounds, it looked like food options were a bit sparse in terms of options if you DON'T go with their buffet lunch. 2. The night show, HA! Breath of Life, was an excellent show! They did a great job tying in all the information you learned about throughout your day excursions through all the different villages. With wonderfully choreographed dances to the beat of harmonic song and melodies. The fire dances in the end were pretty awesome. We definitely enjoyed the show. Ultimately, we really did leave as satisfied customers, but I can see the reasons why people can love and hate this place haha.
(4)Daniel M.
What a wonderful experience my wife, our 1 1/2 year old and myself had here. We bought the luau and the night show and it was WORTH IT. The night show has a story that any parent could relate to. (or anyone with a father or mother which means ANYONE.) I seriously almost found myself crying. We upgraded to the better seats and it was worth it. The luau was great but honestly you don't need to pay for the better seats closer. You can see at just about any location. The food was pretty good and the non-alcoholic drinks (they serve no alcohol) were tasty. They do try to sell you ice creams and stuff and I can't blame them for trying to increase revenue. They run off of these "donations" and they make great use of the money. Men, beware of the two young guys that climb the coconut trees wearing nothing but grass skirts and no shoes or shirt (its an outside show free) My wife couldn't stop bugging me to text her the pictures of these two "hunks." :-/ LOL I asked her what they had that I don't have and I was met with a wall of silence. :(
(5)Cam And Jess T.
Compared to some of the other tourist attractions on the island, this place was pretty good. It's deceptively large, and the majority of the employees are young, energetic college students who remained enthusiastic and friendly throughout our visit. I would take anyone visiting the islands here, totally appropriate for all ages. This could be an all day event, or a few hours depending on what you're looking for. We didn't go to the luau yet, although several friends said it was pretty good compared to others on the island. The grounds are beautiful to walk through and each "island" or culture is very interesting with detailed presentations. There is a "stream" that winds through the property that is used for boat rides for guests as well as presentations and fishing for the keiki. Check this place out.
(4)Van L.
We got the Super Ambassador package. It was well worth the expense. We got our own personal guide whom our daughter absolutely adored. Her name: Orange. She took care of everything including saving us front row seating for every show which were super entertaining. She made us feel extra special, and our daughter loved her. Ice cream during the shows were yummy. Dinner was excellent as well. Great foods, great entertainment, and great service. Everyone that works at this cultural center is fantastic and accommodating. We couldn't believe everyone were students including performers. 1 day just isn't enough here. We wish we could have come back. We'll definitely schedule in multiple days next time and will recommend to our families and friends.
(5)Zar A.
Buffet Luau - Not bad. This place has actual Hawaiian food such as lau lau and kalua pork. They also have a good amount of "normal" food for those that are not accustomed to Hawaiian food. I found some other places to have terrible "Hawaiian food". And since I realize that most tourists/visitors are not accustomed to "Hawaiian food", having normal food is nice to cater to their different tastes. Special tropical drinks are also available in neat Pineapple fruit cutouts, but are for an extra cost. Luau show - Pretty cool. Show casing a variety of Polynesian dances with short stories beforehand, I really enjoyed the performances. Tips: +Make sure you come as early as possible and save the entire day here. You will need the entire day to get your money's worth. There are so many different activities, performances and "villages" to check out. +Try to volunteer to participate! It's free and makes your experience much more worth it! +Make sure your tickets are at a discount! Get your money's worth! =D +Take lots of pictures. This place is made for picture taking! Also, the staff here are so nice. I once forgot my ID somewhere here and it was mailed to the address on my ID! I was really surprised!
(4)Apple V.
I feel like i wasted a day of my vacation, in my opinion it looks way more fun in pictures than what it actually is. Do your self a favor and if you plan to visit i say arrive a couple hours before the night show and thats going to be more than enough the villages or islands, dont remember what they call them, get annoying after the second third one. The only good thing is the night show. Wouldnt visit the center again.
(2)Viv S.
This was my family's favorite party of our vacation. Great shows and the interaction was awesome. I'm not sure how productive it would have been without a tour guide. Our guide, Ash, saw to it that was got the most out of our visit. Navigating the show times and seeing everything throughout the day made it well worth it. $25 per person was the charge for a tour guide, but for my family it was worth it. The dinner show was an amazing way to end the evening. We visited PCC with our Go Oahu card so it was a great savings for admission. Highly recommended for a family activity.
(4)Jerry E.
The PCC is a wonderfully unique experience. In all my travels, I've never been to anything quite like this. It's an interactive show, a parade, a museum, and theme park all at once. Combine that with the fact you're enjoying this in Hawaii, and you're in for a real treat. Our experience was awesome. Our guides, Matt and Amanda, were a lot of fun and very informative. We didn't know our way around or how the shows and demos were scheduled, so being with a guide and small group made things a lot easier. They took us to the most popular shows and demos, and arranged our schedule so we would always have good seating. The beautifully crafted grounds are amazing, you're magically transported from one culture to the next. One second you're learning how to Hula, and the next you're watching tribal dances of New Zealand. The park was a LOT bigger than I expected, and it requires a lot of walking. There's always something different around every corner, so make sure you explore. Main piece of advice: plan and prioritize your time here. You won't be able to do everything in a day, so you're going to have to make some decisions as to what shows/demos you want to take part in. Look at a schedule beforehand, as each exhibit has it's own unique times. For example, they do hula demos every 15 minutes or so, the big shows every half hour, but the ukulele demo only runs for a 2-hour block of time. So decide what you want to do and when. My favorite parts? The Samoan show is entertaining and informative- Kap puts on a great show. The Tonga drum show is hilarious, do not miss it! And I found the Aotearoa show/demo to be the most informative and educational. Oh, and go to the HA Breath of Life Show, that thing is epic. If you're on Oahu, definitely try this place at least once. You won't regret it!
(5)Skyler C.
It was amazing here and the service was great. The dancing was super fun and plenty of time to party with your family and friends. And that's what it is all about!!!
(5)Tom P.
Not worth the money or time to get here. It's like an amusement park but with no rides and no adult beverages. We left prior to the dinner and breath of life that we had prepaid for because the center itself had no appeal to us and we couldn't quite bring ourselves to stick around..... Go elsewhere.
(1)Paul B.
Experience It's okay, nothing spectacular. Food Lousy food. And it's super busy since there's about 300 people there at the same time. Show HA Breath of Life show was pretty much the best part of this place. Overall I would never go back. Just too much money for what you get. As a first timer, maybe...but def not again...
(3)Melissa R.
Its the best place i live this place, especially the buffet. Theres this one drink that you get when you enter the buffet, it has coconut milk & pineapple bits. Does anyone know what its called or knows how to make it? Please help i freaking LOVE it so much.
(5)Jen R.
PCC is definitely a wonderful place to bring the whole family to. I've been to PCC twice. The first time was with my brother and sis-in-law last year and the second time was a couple of weeks ago with my immediate family, aunties and my boyfriend. If you are going to pay the amount of money to visit the center, might as well reserve the whole day of fun with the family. The shops open at 11am, and the individual islands open at 12pm. Since a lot of Yelpers have provided useful information about the center and what Polynesian Islands are represented on here, I will provide you my favorite moments of PCC. === FAVORITE ISLANDS TO VISIT === TONGA: The presentation of Tonga provides a very comical show of Tongan drummers. The Tongan host will ask for 3 male volunteers to come up on stage and learn the ways of Tongans and how to drum. I guarantee you will be laughing so hard at the volunteers performances. If you are a male, volunteer to go on stage and have fun! Make sure the audience gets you on video! I wish they allowed female volunteers though so we can have fun with them too. The Tongan show is very entertaining. TAHITI: The presentation of Tahiti is teaching how to dance Tahitian. Tahitians are very proud about their dancing. The female host will ask for 3 volunteers, one lady and two guys. At the end of the presentation, there will be a dance off! SAMOA: Have you ever seen someone open up a coconut? How about climbing up a tall coconut tree? What about seeing fire made with wood and coconut husks? Well come check out Samoa and see it for yourself and learn more about coconut in different ways! The host is very comical too! AOTEAROA (NEW ZEALAND): This village has a lot of fun hands on activities. My favorite is learning how to swing the poi balls. You can get a painted tribal tattoo. You can also play numerous games with long sticks with a big group of people! === CANOE PAGEANT === This is a definite must see. The pageant starts at 2:30pm and you get to see numerous canoes with dancers performing. Each canoe represents a Polynesian Island. === FOOD === My family and I went to Hale Aloha Luau around 5pm. We were all greeted with fresh flower leis. The luau host reminds me of a carnival cruise host with his showmanship voice. They have dancers on stage and also demonstrated the preparation of Kalua Pork by presenting a pig. The food itself was buffet style and the food was OK tasting for a buffet. If you want to be supportive all of the students/dancers from each village, purchase ice cream or a smoothie in a pineapple for $5. The money will go towards the students' education at a University on the island. === HA: BREATH OF LIFE === Best light show ever on Oahu. Also, the show has a beautiful story about the life of a man named Mana (from childhood to manhood). The dancing / fighting choreography of the actors, the singing and music playing are eye-popping amazing! Best way to end your long fun filled day at PCC.
(4)Chelsea C.
High price!!! Terrible food!!! There are very few good things about the Polynesian Cultural Center... you get to see beautiful traditional buildings and beautiful male bodies~ I went to island buffet dining, and the food was terrible!!! YUK!!! I'd never eat here again~!! I'd probably won't visit Polynesian Cultural Center again~!
(2)Gloria L.
Had high expectations based on reviews. .. that should have been my first clue. I found all employees very kind. However the map and lack of schedules is very frustrating. We struggled to find out what was going on when. Ugh! Exhausted walking around asking about events and backtracking. Would probably not come back.
(3)Nari C.
F O O D Buffet is horrendous. I felt like I was transported to a grade school cafeteria. Their ribs tasted old, as if they've been sitting there for a few days. Their salad was not fresh at all - half the moisture in the greens were sucked out. Don't get me started on their pineapples. So disappointing. Felt like serious needles in my mouth. I thought Hawaii could never mess up on pineapples, but they proved me wrong. To leave on a more positive note, their purple samoan bread is delicious. That's it. A T T R A C T I O N S I thought they were very creative with their showcases. They try to get people involved as much as they can. My favorite show was the coconut one, the guy was just hilarious and the crowd loved him! We wanted to see the drum show, especially after hearing all the laughter, but when we got there, it was pretty much over. Sad. We also went on the canoe ride, where the tour guide gave a little history about each island - thought it was interesting. Then they forced us into a hulu tutorial thing, where we learn some hulu moves. So awkward. This has nothing to do with the Polynesian Cultural Center, but if you came with a Korean tour guide like I did, one word of advice. There's a local Korean boutique nearby the Polynesian Cultural Center where tour guides love to stop by. They sell all types of popular goods to bring back to friends and family at home. DO NOT BUY ANYTHING FROM THERE. Little did we know, they overprice the items like crazy. You can find them at the local grocery store and purchase them for waaaaay cheaper. I'm talking about $10 cheaper, folks. Save that money and buy yourself some pineapples, papayas, and apple bananas instead. YUM.
(4)Jac B.
The cliff notes version of Polynesian history. Not geared to grown ups. Lots of friendly faces in the staff. There was a wide variance in entertainment levels between village shows. The package we got had the prime buffet, which was only OK for the price. The show Ha had a few people who seemed to know and be excited about their routines, the others were just going through the motions. The audio was amateur, often completely distorted. At half the price I would still tell people to save their money and do something else.
(2)Allen W.
I enjoyed my day at the Polynesian Culture Center for the most part. The different villages were interesting to explore and there was a variety of activities going on throughout the day. The show at the end of the night was pretty good too. As for the things that I didn't like, the luau was extremely disappointing and the food was bad, the tickets were extremely overpriced, and it made me uncomfortable learning that this entire organization is run by a religious group and completely for profit and benefits the Polynesian community in no way. That being said, I did enjoy the experience overall. I just won't be returning in the future.
(3)Noaman V.
I'm a little surprised by all the 5 star reviews. I think the tickets are dramatically overpriced. The different islands are probably interesting if you have children. It's educational and with each presentation lasting about a half hour, it's palatable. that said, 3-4 hours of this is tiring and i would have rather spent it sitting on the beach. There is a 4D theater that is similar to a 4d show you'd find in disney. The evening show was worthwhile for us. we are vegetarians and weren't interested in paying a large sum of $$ elsewhere for a luau. The evening show offered the fire twirling that we were hoping to see. In retrospect, I would have just gotten tickets for the evening show and spent the morning checking out the coast. Avoid the tram tour. It's 100% proselytization. Two mormons, who have nothing to do with the PCC, take you on a guided tour of the mormon temple. At the end of the tour they ask for your contact information to proselytize some more. The PCC was built and is owned by the adjacent Brigham Young University. Parking was $7 or $8. Really?
(2)Sonnie A.
Ambassador Tour was worth the moolah. Spot on in terms of entertainment. Luau food was ok, but what kind of Luau doesn't serve Mac Salad?! Other than that, service was good. Oh and make sure you insist on seats that face the stage otherwise you're craning you neck to try to enjoy the live entertainment during the Luau.
(3)Tiffany O.
Enjoyed a fabulous time at PCC! We loved the canoe pageant and the islands of Samoa and New Zealand. The activities were fun for both the kids and us adults as we tried to make fire, weave a fish, twirl a fire sword, and try not to bean ourselves with a poi balls. The Ai'i Luau dinner was good for a large group dinner buffet. Don't expect it to be a fabulous island dinner but a general meal that they serve to the masses. The pork was a little dry and their fish choice was talapia (kind of rubbish). The show with dinner was OK again nothing special. Think Elivs "Blue Hawaii" sort of feeling. We did enjoy the breath of life evening show. It told a great story incorporating all the islands and of course my nephew loved the fire portion. Keep in mind that you should show up at Noon right as the park opens or you won't be able to visit all the islands before dinner. Once dinner starts everyone is performing so that if you finish early and want to visit the islands, no staff are present to do the crafts. If you haven't been its something you should see at least once.
(4)Andrea P.
The PCC was amazing! My kids loved it, I liked that it kept them entertained as well as my husband and I. It definitely takes the entire day to experience all of it and it's well worth setting aside an entire day to do so. The staff were all very friendly and helpful. We went to the luau and it was nothing special, the food was okay, but not anything to write home about. Overall, we had a wonderful time.
(5)Greg L.
Let me clear things up regarding the 2 star review (I would say 2.5 stars actually) I came here with an unknown expectation as to what this place was. I heard about it and saw stuff in brochures and thought to myself, meh lets check it out. When arriving at the parking lot I noticed lots (and I mean LOTS) of tour buses - red flag number 1 Walking into the gated area where were very long lines for the tickets. Nothing cultural here though other than a few information signs about the different areas and just globs and globs of tourists. EVERYWHERE - red flag number 2 Prices are really expensive for the tours and events. Yeah you get to "experience" (I say that loosely) the Polynesian culture but one can easily spend over $150 a person here for the all day event - red flag 3 Upon entering and walking around, I was being guided by somebody who wasn't even remotely close to being near any sort of Polynesian decent. Although they were somewhat knowledgeable about them. But when I am getting informative lessons and "experiencing" Polynesian culture by some mid 20 year old girl with blonde hair and a British accent, it somewhat ruins the mood. - red flag number 4 Everything from snack items, to gifts are EXTREMELY over-priced. Something you would find in any given tourist trap... ah ha! and It hit me.... Thats where I am at... At this point I have come to the conclusion that I have fallen in a classic tourist trap. Everything is geared around taking advantage of tourists and all the stereotypical touristiness is here. The day wasn't a waste however as the fire show at the end was good to see. I would say that was the highlight of the trip. Expect to spend all day here though I will not return though, too expensive and too cliche tourist wise. It made me leave with a feeling like I just got suckered out of a lot of money.
(2)Jenni A.
Worth every penny!!! Why travel to an exotic destination like this and not find out about the history and ancient culture?! This place will tell you all you ever wanted to know! We left with a feeling of satisfaction that we knew more about the history of the island . Paying for the personal tour is worth every penny!!! They get you the best seats for everything and prevent you from aimlessly wandering around! A MUST if you travel all the way here!!
(5)Raeesah K.
Cool place! Show was great, my one year old daughter sat thru the whole show without a fuss;)
(4)Nikki N.
I love referring out of towners to this place. You get the best bang for your buck with dinner and shows. It is a full day of entertainment. The Ambassador package is $124 for a full day with show and a huge buffett while the Atlantis Sub for an hour is $123. Tell me that ain't a deal??? It is pretty far on the north shore but the drive is good and they don't open until 12pm so you can enjoy the shrimp truck or waterfall before you get there. I also just did the Haunted Lagoon and it was AMAZING!!!!!! They put a lot of effort in the special effects, lighting, costumes, and it blew me away. Hands down the best Halloween attraction yet with the super awesome sound effects! $30 for the fast past was soooo worth it. I will be going again next year for sure! However, back to PCC for the regular tour... It is all worth it. Especially with all the cultural aspects of it. I would highly reccomend every one to go there. Even if you live here! They have crab legs and the chicken cordon bleu with taro rolls is bomb! This is only the package with the Prime Dining though, not the free buffet or luau...
(5)Aiz S.
It all started when we arrive infront of the gate and someone helped us what we wants, i told him i wanted the one with a tour guide since its our first time. So he suggested this and that.. And so i decided to get the Ambassador. He wrote it on the paper and told us to give it to the cashier. When its our turn, a japanee or maybe shes a korean i cant tell, helped us, she smile a bit and just asked how were doing and there never smiled at all and never say anything, never repeat what were getting and never asked if were Kama aina! She just handed our ticket and told us to enter at our right. And when were about to enter i wandered why we only paid $97 each so there i saw she gave us the Ali'i Luau Package. I told one of the employee that this is not the ticket that we wanted so he told us not to worries bcoz u can do the upgrade. So he accompany us at the cashier and told them to upgrade it to Ambassador . The one who helped us at the desk is a filipino, a fellow filipino yes it is. I asked him if he's giving us the Kama Aina discount, and answered us .."so both of you are KamaAina's?" I said "Yes!" And he replied right away that NO he cant give us the discount coz were only upgrading our ticket. Im like WTF already, im starting to get pissed and wanted to shout at him and to the japanee/korean beside him who gives us the wrong ticket THAT ITS NOT MY FAULT THAT WERE UPGRADING OUR TICKET RIGHT NOW BCOZ U GAVE US THE WRONG ONE!! " ...but oh wells its my birthday i dont wanna ruin it so i just calmed myself, paid our balance and walk away. Our tour guide was awesome tho, she named our group to Lily's Family. And at the Luau Buffet the waiter told us to wait since were only 2 and then he let a family behind us and helped them first and another family behind us again. Proly he notice my eyebrows met and so he lets us in and he cant even decide where to put us at . Wow just wow. The Ha:Breath of life show was kinda boring. No. I m not gonna visit this place again.
(1)Michael C.
The people working this place were very nice. Made you feel like part of there family. Its well worth a visit. Will try to write a more detailed review later. Make sure you go to Tongo
(5)Amy W.
I'll be honest, I had more fun in the night market outside the paid portion of the park than inside. There was different artwork to see. Once inside, it was all right touring the different villages. Most had shows going on. A few art stations. There wasn't enough for me to read and learn, not enough for me to come back, but I guess at least do once. It was a pretty park.
(3)John H.
Very touristy and didn't feel authentic. Went to the luau and got the ambassador package and they wanted 10 dollars for a smoothie after paying 120 for the ticket.
(2)Hector P.
Absolutely the biggest waste of time and money. At first I was disappointed that the luau package was sold out, however this turned out to be the only saving grace with this experience. I spent -$170 with parking for a family of four and most shows or attractions where set up to cater to large tourist parties. The concept is good however more effort is needed to help keep ones interest. Again this was a lame experience and we will not return. I gave then center 1 star for their friendly staff.
(1)Scott C.
Here we go. Had very mixed opinions about this place after a day there. First, for the prices you pay to get in, having to pay $10 to park was just lame. Now on to the rest. My family and I really enjoyed the different cultural areas you can walk between. My daughters really enjoyed all the games and arts/crafts from the different cultures. If you are going to experience this area, definitely get there when it opens because there is more than enough to keep you busy from noon-5:00pm. I will also say the prices for the food/souvenirs were pretty darn reasonable for a place like that on and expensive island to begin with. So we really enjoyed that part of the experience. Now, after that , it went down hill. We did the luau package and did not care for the dinner at all. The food was just decent and there was VERY little selection, and virtually nothing for kids other than fruit and desert. They should know not all kids like the native food. Plus for the prices charged there should have been a MUCH bigger selection of food. I was al title shocked how little there was to pick from. Meat, rolls and salad was basically it. The dinner entertainment was pretty lame as well. Now for the main show. I work in entertainment, so keep that in mind while you read this review. I just didn't care that much for it. Before I go any further, I thought the kids in the show did an EXCELLENT job at performing, I could tell they were working very hard and doing a great job. It was the production itself that bothered me. It was just over produced. I don't need all the canned music, projectors and effects for a Polynesian show. There was so much talent from the performers, the rest of it took away from what they were doing. All the theatrics just weren't needed. After watching it, if you didn't come away thing you just saw a reenactment of the LionKing, you probably weren't watching to too much! :) Along this lines having it spoken in English or having a narrator would have been great. I would have loved to have known more about the dances performed. That would have been far more interesting than the circle of life story being told. And finally the elephant in the room: The place is owned /operated by the Mormon Church. I would love to know how much if any or the history being told was filtered by by the church. In conclusion, it is worth spending the day there to see the village experiences, but if you want a Luau, go to the Old Laheina Luau on Maui, it is so mud better for food and show.
(3)A R.
My boyfriend and I went the PCC on a Saturday night. It was $75 per person for Day Admission, the Luau, and Ha Breath of Life (the evening show). (DISCLAIMER: It's not the kind of luau where you are thinking of sand, beach, etc. It's more like a theme park, like Disneyland.) Overall, the entertainment plus food was worth $50-65 where we paid $75 per, but the performers were awesome and very nice when interacting with them and the staff is very helpful and genuine. Keep in mind there are extra costs. Extra Costs: Parking - $8 Food and Beverage - ranges Souvenirs ***No Alcohol served*** To get your money's worth: We arrived around 3. The confirmation e-mail suggests arriving at 12 to experience all the different villages and their shows. Since we had dinner at 5:30, I felt like arriving at 2 would have allowed us to grasp the concept of each village and any other entertainment the Center had to offer. Each village pretty much is the background information of the culture and ties it into the evening show, but it's not necessary if you don't want to attend. It is a lot of walking back and forth and sitting. You also get to see the short performances throughout each village at the evening show but more elaborate. Luau: Depending on the package you purchase will reflect your food. We had the Luau package, one of the cheaper packages. Food was decent, nothing really stood out to me foodwise. However, they have little smoothies - pina colada, strawberry, and mango (YUMMY!) If you order one, they serve it to you in a pineapple with two straws and a garnish - $10. It's super cute and very picture worthy! However, The desserts were bland as well as the main course and I ALWAYS make sure I make room for dessert. Not my favorites. The entertainment was cute. Nothing over the top. After Dinner: They have shops open so you are able to walk around the shops and buy souveniers but all the other sites/villages/entertainment are closed. So, walking around the shops and looking at pictures taken from dinner and other events are pretty much all you have to do. It would have been nice to have some entertainment in between to fill the lulls. Lull = Dull. Ha Breath of Life: It was a bit long, but still VERY entertaining. The story line could be shortened down by 30 minutes or so, but they did a great job with the fire part of the show. Definitely our favorite act of the whole show.
(4)D K.
Ok...i have read some of the reviews. If there is anything bad to say....keep it to yourself. Very nice place and the food was authentic. The Breath of Life show was WONDERFUL!!! Being an alcoholic I did not miss having alcohol. There was so much going on here that the alcohol would have ruined it. Very good show and very well organized. This was mine and my wifes first time here and WE WILL BE BACK!!! Just lovely. Mahalo
(4)Samantha M.
We arrived around 2 pm, and were part of a small tour group (only 7 people in our group while some others were much larger). We purchased the Ambassador package which included a guided tour. This was very helpful as he greatly facilitated navigating the different shows at the center and allowed us to see the highlights.
(5)Jessy P.
I visited here that Friday before the tsunami (lucky me!), interesting that the students that work here get tuition aid, no so interesting that Mormons run the place, jack up the prices and if you happen to take the tram ride (I was warned ahead a time) you will get it forced down your throat! Anyway here goes! Towns: The demos at the villages were pretty informative, the Samoa host was super funny. The Hawaii instrument and hula demos were very informative, though the girl seemed to be slightly uncomfortable. Tonga was a trip! Greatest part was when they put one of the Japanese tourists in native attire and him play the drums, it was like one of those game shows or something. Buffet: Standard buffet, Hawaii with a whole lot of mainland. Not too shabby if you don't do the pig thing. Personally, I would hit the snack bar and grab a burger or grilled cheese. (we got lucky and got free ice cream since they made too much for a group ahead of us). Shops: They have some good stuff but most of it is overpriced stuff you can find anywhere else in Hawaii. The cheap things are the things with PCC on it, check the store that says "SALE" outside for the standard stuff without spending TOO much. Show: Ha-Breathe of Life was pretty good, I wish there had been more language going on, with less video screen usage, as a theater major i was finding myself giving mental notes to the actors. I will give the set designer serious props! That was something you get in some of the shows here in Chicago! Never have I seen so much fire-knife dancing and not been afraid that something was going to set on fire!! Oh they have the DVD's on sale outside, we bought 2..it was from like the first show, not with recent actors at all, very disappointing and very high school film class feeling. With all the money they make here, you;d think they could get someone better to film and during a dress rehearsal! Overall, if you look a this as an Anthropologist, you will HATE it, but if you can relax and enjoy it, you will love spending the day here! Lots to see, do and try BEFORE you drift to the stores over by the theater. I will bring my mom here though since she will get a kick out of it!
(3)Darin O.
The newest show is Ha. The show has a story- it is the same old thing but the cartoon movie that goes along with it is better than the show was before. They still go to all the countries to dance but now they have a reason for going to the countries. It's better now. The luau food is not a good as it used to be. At least now they they serve soda that has caffine in it like Mountian Dew and Pepsi.
(2)Joe C.
I believe I came here some 10 years ago and wanted to revisit since its the 1st time coming back as an "adult" (not sure why i put quotes there =P ). We did pretty much a 1/2 day there visiting most of the mini shows, had the luau, and saw the evening show. Everything was..mm fine? Nothing was overwhelming yet too underwhelming. It was what I expected from the PCC and a good way to kill a day if you have nothing else to do. It is of course on the pricey side and definitely is a once in a 10 year thing (or if you have kids). The luau is mediocre and lacks the intimacy and feel of a traditional luau. The show was entertaining especially the ending fire sequences. A-ok.
(3)Nina Y.
I really enjoyed my visit here today. I wasn't the person who had to pay, but yes, it is quite expensive to get a nice full day worth of fun and excitement. We bought our tickets downstairs in the lobby of our hotel and received a 5% discount for being AAA members. Or at least that's what my dad...told my mom. There are many other places that do deals if you go watch an hour and a half of commericals and stuff. I always feel like those things are scams...so I would suggest you not to do it. To start off, we got the Ambassador's Package with the Crab/Rib dinner apparently. We didn't get the fresh flower lei's which makes me a bit sad, but it's okay. My parents promised they would buy me one at the airport before we leave. The package includes a tour guide which took us to quite a few of the shows. Our tour guide, Jethro, is new to the place got us a great location for the canoe pageant. That was pretty awesome to see various different dances on canoes which was like an introduction to the various different cultures. They're not very educational, but they are entertaining with the people inviting audience members up to participate and such. The shows that I got to watch were the Samoa, Tahiti, and Tongo ones. They were all pretty entertaining and interacted with the audience! The dinner at the Ambassador's restaurant was truly just average. I mean, yes it was nice to get crab legs, but they were beyond salty. The mahi mahi was smothered in this coconut sauce which was interesting, but not the best thing. There was a macadamia nut crusted chicken that was pretty good. There was a wide variety of fruits and desserts to choose from. We had a strawberry shortcake and an oreo cheesecake. I had the oreo cheesecake and it was really nasty actually. The fruits were nice and fresh though. The show - HA: Breath of Life - was amazing. It's like a Circle of Life with people and fire. I don't want to give too much away, but the fire show at the end was really amazing. I know that people do that for a living, but still, it was super cool. That was probably my most favorite part of the show. Overall, I thought it was a great production and the whole experience I had was very nice. I know its weird to think about, but most of those people who worked there were probably my age, or maybe younger. It's weird because most of them did look a lot older and I don't know...having a job is just a reality that I haven't realized yet. Many of the workers go to BYU and a job at the PCC pays for their education. Good or bad, that's the reality of the situation.
(4)Steven K.
This is a class act. The Staff are amazing and oh what an experience.
(4)Josh S.
Average entertainment at a very high price. Skip the dinner, the food is horrible. There is a McDonalds out front on the highway that tastes better or go to Giovanni's shrimp truck just north on the highway. The shrimp truck won't disappoint you.
(2)David R.
I was lucky enough to get a free ticket to come here with a friend from a Yelp Elite event. We arrived later in the day, so I missed most of the village, but I did get to experience the buffet, and the show HA. While the price was right, and this is definitely a tourist destination, I really must wonder how they accomplished the epic task of providing so little quality for so much expectation. The food was good, but reminiscent of a middle class Chinese buffet (Hawaiian). The village was well built and pretty, but the people working there are all slave labor imported under the guise of Mormonism. These poor brain washed souls are forced to perform monotonous and often unskilled tasks under the vise of generic aid, and waived college tuition. These people are then probably forced, and conditioned to the belief system of the ridiculous Mormon faith. While I personally believe most religion is a little bizzare, and have no real enmity towards one over the other... Per Se Mormonism, I did find it funny, how everyone had to be super thankful for their opportunity to go to this Mormon university. The whole time I was there, I got the feeling they pulled people out of the campus, and forced them into some form of hoakey and artificial work study involving faking Hawaiin cultural, of which they generally knew very little. All said with a gimicky and tourist centered falsetto. The show HA, had elements of entertainment, but I think the real reason they call it HA is because it must be some kind of joke. A high school performance perhaps? Coming from NYC, I generally expect more of my shows, especially at the price which is asked. Utterly over priced. The one beneficial aspect I can say, is the whole thing is supposedly non for profit, and I hope goes to preserving and disseminating Hawaiian cultural. The buffet is easily worth 25 dollars if it was around the corner, and the village is a nice thing to look at. The whole package is worth going to, but only if you take it lightly as a day waster.
(2)Beth K.
Do NOT waste your money. Advertised as a very authentic luau, but is SO far from that. The food selection is minimal, and the quality is mediocre at best. No cocktails are served because it is a Mormon-run operation. As for authenticity, it is so far from being authentic, that it's actually somewhat insulting. It's run by all the BYU students, and essentially exists just as a place to employ students while they are at BYU. The Haa show was ok, and the fire dancing was awesome, but overall, what a waste of time and money. We were staying close by so at least we didn't have to drive far, but I would have been seriously pissed off if I had traveled all the way from Honolulu.
(1)Cat D.
The PCC center was a lot of fun. I enjoyed learning about the different polynesian islands and seeing all that this place has to offer. I really really enjoyed the HAA Breath of Life show. I see the hard work that was put into this show, it was awesome! We got the Luau buffet and unfortunately the food was not good. it was OK... but the shows make up for it. If you want to try good Hawaiian food, I suggest going to "Da Kitchen" in Waikiki. They have a Hawaiian Feast entre that has all the food a luau should have and that was delicious. I would come back to PCC but only for the day activities.
(4)Cindy P.
This was my second time here, and it was still awesome. The first time I was here, we did the buffet dinner. Basically, we paid for the cheapest package available. This time, we went with the Luau Dinner and paid extra for the guided tour. Our tour guide was "the main man"!! Honestly, we had such a lovely time here! The lunch buffet here was nice and the luau was awesome! They gave us fresh leis and took our photos! The highlight of the day was definitely the show in the evening with the fire man! Beautiful! They changed up the show since I've been here years ago with more technological enhancements. I didn't like the fact that we felt a bit rushed when enjoying our meal, but it was worth it since it was good! Overall! Awesome!
(5)Jackie N.
Pricey and enjoyable. All the performers are students on scholarship so it's a nice touch. Pros: -staff and drivers are super nice and funny - beautiful inside. gardens huts and everything. -luau is nice. -hot buff guys climbing up trees. how is that not a pro! - funny entertainers. highly recommend the Samoa - Ha! was an amazing show. Weird story line of how all the islands got together but still amazing -the canoe pageant was decent. great dancing. boring at some points. Cons: - Long ass drive. About an hour of so. At least you get a nice tour around. - pricey. Got a luau package for $70-80 each person. -finding your way around here is crap. -since i wasn't an ambassador, i had to find my own list of things to do. Kinda confusing and boring. Every where we went it was a lil deserted. -total tourist attraction. back home for this price I can go to Disneyland and still give it 5 stars. -they make the entertainment revolve around the ambassador tours. unfair for people who are trying to save money. They make it so that the people who paid a lot get more fun. - luau food was comparable to a crap buffet Yeah this place is nice but save your money. You're not really missing out on anything. It's nice information and good entertainment but not for the price.
(2)Shirley N.
3.5 stars for overall experience 3.0 stars for the Ali'i luau 4.0 stars for the Ha Breath of Life show It's been many many years since I last came to the PCC, but my memory of it was that it was very boring. So this time we paid extra for 1) transportation from Waikiki that included a narrated bus tour guide on the way to the PCC, and 2) guided tour of the PCC with the same bus guide and 3) included a BBQ all you can eat lunch. The PCC bus picked us up at 10am from our hotel, and we returned to Waikiki around 10:30 pm so it was a very long day. Rather than walking around by ourselves aimlessly like in the past, our guide took us to the various villages knowing when each show was going to start and gave us hints on the best viewing spots and places to sit like for the canoes parade. We also played a few games that had we been on our own; we probably would have skipped or ignored. The highlight was the coincidental visit from the head of state of Samoa and his wife. We were fortunate to witness the various ceremonies held at several villages due to the Samoan head of state stop at each village. The Ali'i luau - food was average. And not very authentic from others served at a hotel luau. We arrived late so by the time we got to the buffet line, not much food left. Not much of a show on stage either. The venue is huge. Ha Breath of Life show - explained in song and action the Hawaiian history, and ended with a fire dance which was breathtaking. We'd probably could have saved some $ had we purchased a pre-bundled package, but we didn't buy in advance thinking we were going to rent a car and drive up on our own.
(4)April W.
We have visited Oahu many times and been to the Cultural Center only once before for the Ali'i Luau & Evening Show (2002), but this year we took our children and spent the day visiting all the cultural sites and exhibits and watched the canoe parade. I was a bit skeptical before going about how each culture would be portrayed and how the influence of missionaries would be handled since the center is connected to BYU, but I was glad to see that each group had a knowledge of their own language and could translate a phrase for my kids (we chose Happy Birthday). Also, it appeared that each group's autonomy was well- respected and represented authentically. Quite frankly, the fact that the Center supports scholarships for the students who work there made me glad to spend my tourist dollars there and give my children the opportunity to learn about the many cultures that make up the Hawaiian Islands.
(4)Andrey Y.
This review is from memory from like a year ago so sorry about that. I think if you are visiting here, or just to check it out once, this place is decent. I really liked the spear throwing at one of the areas (I forget which). You pretty much have to hit an impossible target which is a big blow for competitive people. The canoe/boat ride was also nice. After walking around and you get bored, just grab a shave ice and relax. I think for friends visiting I may recommend this place if they have like 2 weeks to stay. Obviously, you have to go to the luau if you bother driving over here. 365 Challenge: #81/365
(3)Junko S.
After several days in the sun and in the pool, we decided to take a break from the water and venture out to the Polynesian Cultural Center. The entrance fee is a bit steep, but I didn't mind since a portion of the proceeds go to scholarships for students attending BYU-Hawaii. Many of the employees are students at BYU and everyone that we spoke to were incredibly friendly. We chose just the day pass and opted out of their lunch and luau dinner since we wanted to try out the local nearby shrimp truck Giovanni's. But if you want to make an entire day out of PCC, you certainly could. There were plenty of exhibits to browse and performances to watch as well. Make sure to catch the canoe pageant where dancers from each island perform their native dance. If you are wanting some exposure of the island traditions and culture, you should definitely put the PCC on your list when you visit Oahu.
(4)Ben M.
After seeing the other reviews, glad I only went to the show. As soon as I walked in the gates I knew it was a tourist trap. The show was good, but EVERYTHING was expensive. However, we reserved tickets and the man who answered the phone gave us excellent seats, he saved this place from me giving 2 Stars.
(3)Lissete D.
Our first visit to PCC was in '07. We had purchased the Ambassador Prime Rib package and used the coupon in the Entertainment book which chopped off about $40 from the total. The Prime Rib buffet was actually pretty good and Horizons was amazing plus we had fabulous 2nd row center seats! Our tour guide was not the best and actually got us to the village shows after they started, so we ended up standing most of the time. So this time around, we weren't going to purchase any food option but the price for the luau was just slightly more then getting just the general admission & show option. We were very disappointed with the luau. The food was not very good and it all felt kind of cattle call-ish. BUT everything else was still great! The villages were fun and my personal favorite is Samoa. HA! Breath of Life is AMAZING! That in itself deserves more than 5 stars.
(4)Nina B.
I love this place. Very educational and the staff is phenomenal. The luau is a lot of fun and the night show is really cool. I would recommend this to anyone looking to understand the culture of the islands!
(5)Jeremy B.
Wonderful place to visit for all ages. We recently spent a week on Oahu and the highlight of our entire trip was our visit to the Polynesian Cultural Center. Everything was perfect. From the food to the amazing show. Highly recommend this place for fun and culture.
(5)Cheddar F.
Very pricey, little boring and far from Honolulu. One time visit is sufficient. Would not go back.
(3)Michelle L.
My club for school got an AMAZING deal to visit the PCC yesterday and our itinerary included: tour of the restaurant kitchen/storage, free time to roam, dinner at the Gateway buffet, Ha, and the Haunted Lagoon. Being there felt like I was on another island. I've never really had a chance to explore the PCC until yesterday. Experiencing so many Polynesian cultures made me so happy to live in Hawaii. Don't watch the IMAX movie if you're on a time constraint, it was 45 minutes and took away a lot of of island village time. I wanted to go fishing :( The food at Gateway was not bad. The desserts were really yummy. The dining area is kinda outdated and so are the tables and chairs. The Ambassador side (for you VIPers) have it good! Sit-down personal waiter kine service! Next up was Ha. That show was awesome! I loved the dancing and the storyline. They incorporated all the islands cultures PCC showcase into one fantastic show. I don't care if you're a visitor or a local, just watch it! My most anticipated event, the Haunted Lagoon! It was good and worth the wait! The front got the most action but regardless of where you sit, you won't be left out ;)
(5)Adeile A.
So before I go on about my time here, I'm giving the PCC a 5 star to make up for the crazy folks who gave them a 1 star. OK MOVING ON... So I'm Samoan and going to this PCC seems sort of redundant, but there were things I wanted to learn about the other polynesian islands. To be honest I thoroughly enjoyed my experience here. Tonga, Aeoteroa, Tahiti, Fiji, and Hawaii were all covered. We are POLYNESIA. I did not make it to every island but for the islands that I did get to stop by and tour was great. People are very friendly here. Majority of the employees (if not all) are students of BYU or have just served their mission (Moromon religion) and are working for the center. The Mormon religion wanted to share the polynesian islands with those who are not aware of who or WHAT polynesia is, so if you didn't grasp that concept and wanted a full on tourist luau, you got the wrong place. Go to a fancy hotel on the shore for that. I bought Ka'amaina tickets, and we were lucky enough to go with family who had extra HA Breath of Life tickets and our uncle paid our buffet (which was discounted). So I can totally understand how some people may think it is pricey, because it is. The food was ONOLICIOUS so IDK why people are complaining about the food... it was delicious. I love the sweat potatoe salad and the kalua pork. YUM!!! The HA Breath of Life was amazing. If you wanted a play by play of the dances you should hire someone to sit next to you and explain the dancing. Or take a course on POLYNESIAN DANCING. Their movements are telling a story... listen to the music and watch their moves. DUH!!! I'm Samoan and I do not always understand what their movements are but if you just watch them you will slowly understand the story of their dance. I loved the show!! I probably would not go back, but I would definitely recommend others to go and just take a quick tour of the different cultural lifestyles. Do let them know it is extremely pricey, but if youdo it once in a lifetime, you're good. Until they change the shows I probably wouldn't go again. I could easily just go to Ha Breath of Life and the buffet!
(5)Maria J.
I was really excited to visit the cultural center, eat at the luau and see the show. I did not find out until after buying the package online that this establishment is owned and ran by the LDS church. Being a supporter of women's and gay rights, I became a little skeptical at this thought. The center is very nice, however is very commercialized. The tour guides are not needed, as you can navigate the grounds on your own. The best entertainment are the true natives and not the students who work at the center part time. The luau does not have the greatest selection of food, and the entertainment is enjoyable at most. The evening show is very commercial, and as I have heard from locals, does not showcase the best talent on the island. If you have a family, and have the money to spend, and don't mind supporting the LDS church, this might be a good destination for you. But, you may get a truer experience at other luaus.
(1)Vicky L.
So apparently this place is run by Mormons. Of course it doesn't really alter my opinion about the PCC.. or at least I don't think so. It's a good place for first-timers to the Islands, because it's pretty informative and has some cool little side shows and exhibits about the different cultures. However, if you get there without a tour group or like, 5-10 minutes after all the shows start, you'll probably find yourself wandering around aimlessly, looking for something else to do, or waiting for the next show to start. The dinner was pretty awful, and right afterwards it started raining, so we ended up just skipping the show and driving back to Waikiki since we didn't want to drive back too late in the POURING rain. Next time we'll probably just go for the show, since we've been reading good things about it on Yelp. Other low points: - We took the canoe ride (where you have to help paddle), but after asking where we were from, our "guide" didn't say anything else for the entire trip up and down the "river." Um, awkward? - They pretty much force you to take pictures with them, and then try to get you to buy the pictures. Ugh. The funnier part was, instead of giving EVERYONE leis when they enter (you only get them if you buy some deluxe ticket package), they put one around your neck for the photo, then ask for them back. Thanks. - There's nothing to do between dinner and the show, which is another reason we left. Dinner starts at 5, the show doesn't start until 7:30, the exhibits close down at 6. So uh.. yeah.. *twiddles thumb* Anyway, hopefully if I return again to see the show it'll wow me so much that I'll give this place another star, but for now, 3 stars for the pretty cool village/island exhibits.
(3)Hannah S.
The bloom is off the rose. It pains me greatly to admit that my love affair with this once-lovely foray into Polynesia is most definitely dead. Having visited twice when I briefly lived in Hawaii, I was once enamored with the PCC. The culture of Polynesia is extraordinary and enthralling, and the PCC used to bring it to life with incredible flair. Sadly, these days, it feels more like a trip hocking timeshares than anything else. This time around, I booked passage from Waikiki on one of the center's buses. It was reasonably priced and very comfortable, but our "guide" spent the entire drive trying to sell us a tour package. I hate guided tours, so I wasn't gonna buy no matter what, but the sales pitch totally turned me off and left my cranky on arrival. Once we arrived, it was chaos. Having not bought a tour, I was totally confused as to where to go. Our guide led us in, then disappeared and told people that he'd be back. I went to will call, they told me I had to wait around for him to come back and give us our tickets. It was SO confusing. Finally he did, but it was a good 20 minutes wasted when I could have been walking around the park. Then, upon entry, the TACKIEST experience of the day. They force you to do a "welcome" greeting, where they hang you with a fake lei, then take a picture of you with some of the "hot" performers (all so they can attempt to sell you the photo at the end of the day). Grudgingly I did it, then as soon as the photo was taken, the dude who was in the picture with me was like, "Please give back the lei. It's just for the picture" with a total attitude. WTF?! That is seriously the cheapest, tackiest, rudest way to "welcome" a paying customer. Manners, for realz? The rest of the day was equally unimpressive. The performances didn't seem nearly as entertaining as they once were, with the exception of Samoa. There's an older dude who's been there for decades, and he's HILARIOUS. My mom fell in love with him back in the day and was stoked to hear he was still around. He never gets old - literally and as a performer. He's a must-see. But the rest left a lot to be desired. What happened to the MAGIC? The whole experience felt chaotic and unplanned. Everywhere I went there were tour groups, and it left me confused as to where I was allowed to go, and what was "tour-group only". LAME. In addition, at one point in the day, there was ONE, yes, ONE working bathroom in the WHOLE PARK. For thousands of people. That's a mistake I can't easily forgive ... I realize that the impetus behind this effort is providing a college education for Polynesian natives, which is all noble and such - but they could take down the money-mongering a few notches and let us enjoy the damn park. Not to mention, their motives aren't entirely unselfish, given that the park is run by the Mormons, and they serve to propagate their own religion along the way (the park offers free tours of the "temple", etc). In days past, I was enthralled by the charms of this place. Like a love affair with a glowing young thing, I was charmed. But sadly, she's grown old and tired, and seems interested only in buying her way into a comfortable retirement. For $70 total (not including dinner or the evening show), it felt like a sadly disappointing day.
(2)Derek S.
There are a ton of reviews so i'll keep it short. I would recommend going to this place on your own. Don't take the guided tour with one of the guides. Don't bother going to the Lu-Au . The HA show is an hour and a half of filler until the fire dance at the end. The performers are very fascinating. Definitely check out Samoa, Hawaii and Tonga. The place can be quite informative if you ignore all of the Mormon B.S.
(3)Chad Y.
The Polynesian Cultural Center is located pretty far from the city and is off the beaten track, but it certainly offers a unique experience and a great way to learn about island cultures. The tour packages are a bit pricey, but many include a shuttle service from Waikiki hotels. The center itself is clustered around villages for each of the cultures with shows scattered so that you can experience all of the different nations within the day. Each features an interesting experience that includes learning in a pretty funny or engaging way. Be sure to take one of the canoe rides! If you stay for the luau, they offer one of the better ones on the island. Although, the food is just so so for me. Avoid the Gateway Buffet btw...went once and it was overrated with the poorly prepared food. Ha:The Breath of Life, which is their evening show is pretty good and entertaining. The downside was the huge amount of time between the luau and the show (almost 90 minutes) which seemed excessive considering the exhibits were closed and all there was to do was shop in the Pacific Marketplace. Parking is readily available if you opt to drive the hour from the city to Laie. Although they charge $8.00, but the plus side is the ticket is good for three days! woot woot! (sense sarcasm here)
(3)Consuela P.
Polynesian Cultural Center is definitely an all-day experience. This past weekend was my fifth visit to the PCC and I (we) have enjoyed it every time. Each Polynesian 'village' has its own shows and activities throughout the day. The Canoe Pageant was definitely a good way to kick off the day - I (we) enjoyed that, then I (we) took the canoes to the other end of the park to walk back through the different villages. The dinner buffet was ok, but not great! The evening show Ha: Breath of Life was incredible. It was a superb production with a very talented cast. It was without a doubt the most pleasurable 90 minutes of our entire day. All in all, it was a fun time and would recommend a visit!
(4)Ray R.
talofa, snitches! you go hawaii, you go here. the night before we went to the waikiki public market and go the elite package cause we figured that it was our first time and we wanted to go all out. we paid about $115/person for entrance to the park, a park gift (turned out to be a necklace of those black chestnuts), a souvenir dvd, a tour guide (who was nice and kept referring to us as 'cousin') and the 'elite' buffet - on top of the normal buffet, there's an elite buffet with unlimited prime rib, crab legs, and other specialities that are not part of the 'normal' buffet. i felt like the price was definitely worth it. think of a theme park with different themes within the park, except no rides. lots of exhibits and hands on activities exploring various polynesian cultures. my favorite area had to be Samoa. there was this guy who showed how to climb a coconut tree and how to make fire using a husked coconut. HILARIOUS! he also taught me how to say two words - talofa and milli! i think what made our experience here even more fun was that we had the oppurtunity to rent scooters! have you seen the hoveround scooters commercials? that's what we rented! it was $18 per person. i asked them if we had to be disabled or have a medical condition and they said no so we rented 5 and that was the most fun i've had in a long, long, time haha we were scooting everywhere, i was jumping off curbs and trying to pop wheelies. anyway, everyone here was so friendly and i enjoyed my time. definitely come here next time you visit oahu i miss you, my hawaii...
(5)Scott P.
I have to say, this place is a little overwhelming with all the possible shows and sights to see. My girlfriend got us all tickets for the day, the Luau experience and the new show called HA. Wow that was a jam packed day. The village opens at around 12pm, so it feels like the day goes by fast. We were able to stop and watch a few of the shows which were very enjoyable. The Rainbows of Paradise show was my favorite as it included all the villages and the performances were on canoes. It was great. The people that work at the village are very friendly and open to talking about what village they represent and customs which I found very informative and entertaining. There are a lot of hands on things to do including dancing, and spear throwing to name a few. The luau was nice. We were greeted with fresh flower leis, and quickly got to take a group picture. We were then seated and each section was able to get up and go to the buffet in order. The food was pretty tasty and overall it was a good experience. I missed a lot of the show while we were in line at the buffet and eating. Our seats were also not facing the show, so it made it a little difficult to watch for long periods of time. The final show, HA was pretty interesting. It incorporated all the different villages in one performance about the soul and life. I don't want to give it away, so that's all I'm going to say except stay for the end as there is a pretty cool fire scene. Overall this was a great day and I only wish I had more time to see more things. I recommend this for anyone that enjoys culture, history or just learning in general.
(4)Jody S.
I think the last time I went out to Polynesian Cultural Center was when I was 10 and family from the mainland came into town. We ventured out to the north side of the island for a unique trip into paradise. Flash forward, many moons later and I was heading out to PCC with my daughter and her BFF in tow. We were heading to the All Star Weekend concert in their Amphitheater. The drive for one, is absolutely fabulous! It was refreshing to drive Oceanside checking out the surfers, the waves, the crowds and the sheer beauty of our island. We arrived at PCC and it was packed! I must admit I was shocked and pleasantly surprised at the crowd. I guess I hadn't been there in so long I forgot how popular the place was! The Amphitheater is amazing! The acoustics state-of-the-art and the faclity ample in size and space. The concert was fun and memories were made that will definitely last a Iifetime. The next time we head to PCC, it wll be to enjoy the rest of the park!
(4)Steve T.
Well worth the drive from Waikiki. The Luau dinner and entertainment were great and the after dinner show "Ha" was awesome. There were about 50 performers complete with great polynesian dances, drums, music, and fire-lit batons. A great show!
(5)David P.
Very good time. I believe we got the "Ambassador Pkg". We had a small group and a tour guide who made sure we made it to each of the different island shows and experiences. Great time, saw everything and had a wonderful Prime Dinner buffet. The shows at each island experience were great. I would happily do them again! The river show at 2:30 was a great show of all the island styles & cultures. I would suggest anyone/everyone visit this place!!
(5)Kimberly H.
Loved this place! It was fun to learn about the different Polynesian cultures. I was a bit worried my husband and I might get bored because of what other yelpers said but it was fantastic. We did the luau the food was awesome... our waiter did seem a little lost... but he was both new to the job and the the US, so i decided to try and just go with the flow. I didn't feel bad about the cost... I actually think it is a brilliant way for students from the different Polynesian countries to come and share with visitors a part of their culture and customs. In return the money visitors pay goes to help pay for their education.... I was sad to see others say its the Mormons making "pure profit"... maybe they meant "pure prophet";)
(5)BagLady M.
Went for the dinner buffet and Ha Breath of Life Show. The buffet runs from 5:00-7:00. We had to go through the "Islands Dining" entrance; as we were led to our seats I was surprised how huge the place was, and it was nice! Kinda like being in a Harry Potter movie. We arrived at around 5:45 (pau hana traffic from Ahuimanu side) so the buffet was well under way. There were several areas/lines that served the main dishes so you don't have to wait in long lines. Although it wasn't a Hawaiian luau, the food was good! Coconut milk fish, beef was tender, turkey with stuffing and mashed potatoes was good. Nice salad bar. Had to have the fresh pineapple. Dessert station was right in front of us, so tempting! I really liked the sweet potato chips and haupia. The kid loved the haupia and went back for more. We headed to the open air theater around 7:10--no need to rush because everyone has assigned seats. The air had a little chill; be sure to bring a sweater. The show was good. The cast/dancers looked like they really enjoy what they do and made all that dancing look like so much fun! There was a 10 minute intermission where you can purchase fruit sorbet bowls for $5, but we were still full from the buffet. Lots of people were getting them, though. The show ended around 9:00. Glad we did the "tourist thing" (I haven't been here since 4th grade field trip!) and with our kamaaina discount, you really can't go wrong!
(5)Linda N.
this is a great place to learn about the Polynesian culture. the center have 5 different villages to learn about Fuji, Hawaiian, Tongan, Samoan, Tahiti, and Aeotearoan culture. At each village there was also activities to participate in.it is a great place to bring kids. If you come here it is a all day event. We did the Island buffet and it was okay. it is a buffet so you can't expect much. But the "HA" evening show was great. it is a must see theater show. the best way to describe this show is it is the circle of life. in addition, if you are in the Tonga village, check out the shuffleboard game. I could of play it for hours. The Samoan and tongan did skit sand the skits were hilarious. the guys will keep you laughing.
(4)James D.
Obscenely tourist. Better ways to spend your time on the island!
(1)Desiree S.
We had a great time, every one that works there is super friendly. We were there all day and enjoyed it. It seems there was not a lot of activities in the different villages going on though, not sure if it was the day or what. But still a good time.
(4)Stephen B.
From the first experience to the last I felt like this place had their hands in my pocket the whole time. To begin - they charge $8 for parking. I found this horrible. For the amount of money they charge the least they could do was charge for parking. It wasn't like space was at a premium. It's 1 hour from our home in Kailua. The experience there felt very staged. It reminded me of Disney land. The luau was OK. The pig was moist but for desert no fruit - just cakes. I had to sneak back into the main food buffet to grab some more pineapple. Finally the show was not good and we left at intermission. Again, before during and after I felt like we were being sold something. Much preferred Paradise Cove which we did a few years ago.
(1)Barb M.
This was my second time in the past 6 years visiting here and the Center didn't change must except the show at night. This was far better than the other show. The show is long but very good. Extremely interesting depiction of the Hawaiian culture. Dinner in the large family restaurant was very bland, would not recommend eating here.
(3)Judie H.
One of those, go to at least once places. It is owned by the Mormon university and students work here as work study. Even though it has that history, religion isn't pushed in your face so that's nice. Do head to the next door McDonalds before you head in for snacks and then take an extra 5 min to strategize before attacking the villages. I would choose two presentations you want to for sure go to and then go from there. We opted for the dinner buffet which was pretty fine. The best dishes were the terikayi chicken, sweet potato salad, and haupia pie. I'm pretty sure if you buy the upgraded tickets the good quality increases as well. You must not miss the show at the end. It summaries everything you learned during the day into a story. I would recommend buying tickets in advance to score good seats to the show, it sucks to be all the way in the back. What is really cool is that some of the students you meet during the day end up in the show. Sorry I had to give one star down for over working the exhausted students, sometimes you can tell during the day they are really tired. Awwwww poor students hard at work. I wonder how they find time to study =(
(4)Rebecca O.
Before visiting the Polynesian Cultural Center, I had high expectations for what the experience would encompass. Being a University of Guam alum and a fan of Pacific Island culture, I was excited to learn more about Polynesia! (That's right, I said Guam - look it up people!) Sadly, the overall PCC vibe was more game-show than educational, but I will give the student performers points for friendliness and enthusiasm. The only real stand out was the Samoan performance. That guy gets 4 stars. He cracked a coconut with a rock, made fire without flint, and then put it out with his foot. Don't mess with Samoans! Additionally, the noise levels, presentation styles, and activities were not well suited for young children, or people who have a genuine interest in being educated about the indigenous cultures of Polynesia. Learning to say hello in another language and banging a stick or a drum is underwhelming at best. What I didn't realize until spending the day at the PCC, is that it's basically a Mormon operated version of The Polynesian at Disneyworld. Once you're inside the facility, you're greeted with an array of cheesy "island" shwag to purchase, Pepsi products, and crappy American concession stand food. How about offering some food native to the places whose cultures are being represented? Novel concept, right? The value of the experience relative to the cost, minimally $50/adult, simply isn't there. Thank goodness we didn't opt for the paid transportation, tram ride (to the Mormon temple), or pseudo-luau! In each of the "cultural" presentations I attended, the MC espoused how much the BYU students that work at the PCC depend on its work/study scholarship program in order to attend college. I found this to be misleading, as the LDS are netting millions in tax free income from "Hawaii's number one paid tourist attraction". As other reviewers have stated, I would've liked to know upfront, before purchasing tickets, where my money was really going. Had I realized that the same organization that gave $8.4 million to support Prop 8 in California was also operating the PCC, I would have spent the day at the Bishop Museum instead.
(1)Mami S.
went to the show HA breath of life recently. wow it was amazing! the guys who danced on fire were amazing and the music great. a must do if you have a visitor to the islands. ready for the improvements at the pcc with the new shops and hotel. should be good for community and visitors a like. would give it five stars but I have been to broadway shows so have high standards that my be unreasonable enjoy
(4)James S.
From what I can tell, the Center is run by the Mormon Church, and the performers are BYU scholarship students. Ha is amateurish. The Center does little to educate the public on, or promote, Hawaiian culture. I was very disappointed.
(1)Amanda H.
Interesting tourist destination...it is owned, funded, and run by the LDS Church. They have brought their own interpretative narrative to the Hawaiian & other Pacific Islands. Nice family place, but there is no alcohol so don't go if you're wanting to let the kids run and the parents hang out.
(3)Gil G.
It was our first time here. We thought it might be a good place to take our 4 year old daughter. It was just OK. For parents with young kids, I would recommend going elsewhere. There was a decent variety of things to do, but a problem was that we kept missing everything. We got there just at 2 pm. Well, everything we tried to see was closing to get ready for the 2:30 boat parade. That parade had some good moments, but I felt sad watching it - things felt so contrived. Each country had a different color. My 4 year old watched it mostly with disinterest, as did some random 5 year-old sitting nearby. In order to find seats, you have to stake out a place about 20 minutes in advance. Waiting around with a young kid isn't the most fun thing to do. The cultural events were hit-and-miss. There are games scattered here and there, such as a ball toss at the Hawaiian station, but most are not good for young kids. My daughter wasn't coordinate enough to do these games and just got frustrated. They might be more suitable for slightly older kids. Doing the day at the center, then dinner, and the Ha show was a bit too much for a 4 year old. Part of it was trying to figure out what to do to kill time. What saved the day was feeding the fish. Pay $0.50 out of a vending machine next to the little river. You can stretch that food out to last 20 minutes. Yay. The Ha show was OK. I really applaud the students performers. I spoke with one young woman who confided it was her first show. I think supporting students, regardless of one's feelings about BYU, was great. But, the show itself was basically a variant of The Lion King. I'm too apathetic to see who copied who, but the two shows felt interchangeable with regards to theme. Circle of life - very cliche. After the first 15 minutes, you can pretty much predict what's going to happen and how the show will end. Some of the dancing was nice, and watching people twirl fire is always a good time. So, pretty much deserving of 3 starts, leaning on the edge of 2. I wouldn't recommend this for parents with young children. Having gone once, I wouldn't ever go back. There are far better things to do on the island that you can spend your money and time on.
(3)Kelly G.
Although PCC is a unique attraction, its not a must do in my book. For an hour'd worth of driving, I hoped for more. Even Ha: Breath of Life could not keep me, my boyfriend, my two college aged brothers, my aunt and my mother entertained. The canoe ride was fun. Buffet was blugh. The only highlight of my day was watching the Samoan show. The guy who demonstrates Samoan cooking was HILARIOUS. Kept the crowd entertained.
(2)Monica M.
If you're like me and hate a tourist trap SKIP THIS PLACE! It's so expensive and you can smell the stench of props and Disney-like feel. If you really want to know the history of Hawaii there's a wonderful plantation in Pearl City that's much cheaper ($15) and it's a guided tour with free fruits and macadamia nuts! Plus, you don't have to pay for parking! Fellow yelper, save your money and don't go here! XX
(1)Jarrett H.
I love going here. I take groups here every other year and it never gets old. I have taken friends, family, and half an entire school here. The service here is unreal! They are so polite and helpful. I had a group of over 150 people and they really made us feel at home. First of all try to do an all day tour. A morning tour is just too short. I've had students interview workers at the different island stations and everyone was helpful to them. Some would sit and talk to the students for a while, telling stories about their home, economy. and environment. That is impressive. There is different crafts and activities in every station so no one really gets bored. I've gone to St. Germaine Luau and Paradise Cove, PCC is, how do you say this?..ummm...less westernized. I have a more authentic feel of Aloha when I come to PCC. I have one suggestion, if they are playing the coral reef adventure in IMAX, you must watch it. The colors are even better in IMAX. The Polynesian Odyssey is just plain weird. Its a semester of Pacific Island Nations in 1 hr. Dinner was provided for our tour. I like it here. All you can eat. Fried Chicken, Sushi, all you can drink soda, etc. Ok, for a foodie it may be just ok but the service and amount of food was just awesome to me after a long day of trekking through the villages. They gave an entire section to my students. They loved it. I love the night shows. Ive always gone when I get the chance. Ha was good but you might be disappointed if you expect something completely different from the original show. It is basically the original story with a plot. I'm not saying it is bad, just don't expect something very different. With saying that, I really liked it. It added more color and some film to it. Going back to the service, we had a slight problem with the ticket count and the front desk as so helpful to me. I really appreciated that on a day that was stressful with moving students, parents, and teachers around. I read some of the other review and honestly, if you are expecting Disneyland with mickey mouse coming out and hugging you, its NOT going to happen. If you want to learn about Pacific Island culture and great service, this this the perfect place to go. I've had friend, family, students and teachers love this place. I highly recommend the place.
(5)Jane H.
This is a must-do when you come to Hawaii. It is very educational, and great for children. Lots of activities, and interactive cultural learning. The people who work here are on work-study at BYU, and I think it is a great way for people to learn about their own culture while getting scholarship for education at the same time (just remember when you feel bad for these kids -- there is no such thing as free money). Tips - come EARLY! We came a little after noon, and we couldn't finish visiting every island site. We missed Hawaii and Fiji. Come here when it opens! The luau was fun, and the food was not bad. The haupia was the best part. The punch they serve tastes kind of like Hawaiian punch, if you like that drink... The show at the end is one of the best parts. I have to say though, the story we saw lacked some explanation -- why did they keep moving from island to island (with the exception that they wanted to show case the cultural differences of the islands). If I come back with kids, I would come again, but it is rather pricey to visit.
(4)Eric Robert R.
Polynesia... Is it a state? Is it a country? Is it a continent? No. Polynesian... Is that a cereal? Is it designer? Is that even edible? No. The answers to all these life altering questions can be found at... THE POLYNESIAN CULTURAL CENTER! I was born and raised in Hawaii - Proud too! Also, spent half my adulthood in California, but yet always retained that "island boy" in me. I had no regrets moving away, but it also made me appreciate "the islands" more! I studied Hawaiiana and World history too, yet many questions are still unknown, I mean c'mon now these are text books! To understand Hawaii and Polynesia it is always best to live it... Okay, I really want to give this place 5-stars, but I can't get over the "Disney/Hollywood" like ambiance here. I mean it's entertaining, minus the roller coasters, but so not Polynesia, per se. Yet, it's fun enough and at least allows the younger "short attention span" generation from kicking themselves with boredom. Ride a canoe, take selfies with Tikis, hangout with a RL 7-foot Tongan, eat coconut from a real coconut, toss a spear, feed the ducks & even bigger birds that quack, of course the best part is the Polynesian foods, oh and Italian gelato, yes gelato! Yes, I recommend this fictitious place called... THE POLYNESIAN CULTURAL CENTER! Think of "The Brady Bunch" Hawaii episode or "Gilligan's Island" on fire... FIYAAA! That's if you don't mind the Disney glitz and Waikiki-like luau. Hey, it's an escape! If you want the real stuff... I suggest the Bishop Museum, or walking the historical district of downtown, preferably w/ someone who knows and understands the significance of each building or place! Someone who knows REAL Aloha... Now the answers... Polynesia is a subregion of Oceania, made up of over 1,000 islands scattered over the central and southern Pacific Ocean. The indigenous people who inhabit the islands of Polynesia are termed Polynesians and share many similar traits including language, family, culture, and beliefs. Many historians consider Polynesians as the worlds greatest sailors, who used stars and wind to navigate during the night. Agriculture were a big part of the ancient Hawaiian lifestyle, many outsiders don't realize this fact, but it's true. In fact, many districts in Honolulu were used for farming pre-western contact. Cool, huh? THE POLYNESIAN CULTURAL CENTER! A place for locals to enjoy with a grain of "Hawaiian salt." A place tourists can enjoy and not feel guilty of the injustices of the past. A place to get that "Lilo & Stitch" vibe on, or even get a Maori "TÄ Moko" face tattoo and scare the Haole Grandparents. And no worries, the tattoos are temporary... I mean let's not forget that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints owns and runs this place - you'll get some clues after seeing how close Brigham Young University Hawaii - is located, many students actually work on the premises! Lastly, don't worry about being solicited with joining the church... It's really a resort "feel good" environment, and who knows maybe Donny and Marie Osmond might popup behind a coconut tree.... Or perhaps, The Mormon Tabernacle Choir singing "Joy to the World"... Marie Osmond /sigh. Yes, I love her, tots! Aloha! OVERALL GRADE: 4.0-STARS! BIG KAHUNA TIP: Entry Fees & Packages vary, so I won't attempt to be accurate in that department. Calling is your best bet and know that Kama'aina, children and groups are discounted. Again, call or book in advance (a 10% discount too, if booking online, in advance). YELP REVIEW #475/500
(4)Annie M.
I wanted to do some touristy things while on vacay in Oahu. Hubs & I decided to do both the Dole Plantation & the Polynesian Center on the same day. Boy, were we brave! We arrived probably a half hour after opening & took the canoe thing to the back of the center. Bring an umbrella or hat as this place gets super hot! Plan ahead to get to the shows you want to see. I highly recommend the Tahitian wedding vows show as it only happens once a day. You also get to renew your vows Tahitian style if you go with your boo! Another show to get a good seat for is the one where all the islands perform on a raft down the river. Great for the whole family & lots of interactive crafts. Great learning experience for everyone. If you need to cool off, head to the theater for a movie in an air conditioned room! We opted for the luau along with the show, Ha Breath of Life, afterwards. The luau was certainly quite filling, but nothing really stood out to me. The show was probably my favorite part of the day! It was absolutely breathtaking & I totally forgot that I was melting in the heat/humidity! Wonderful story & combining the different Polynesian cultures together. Definitely recommended! If you love culture & learning, I'd definitely suggest a trip here! Pricey, but totally worth it :)
(5)Alex P.
This place is a tourist trap. My fiancée and I were lured in because we wanted to experience a luau in Hawaii. We paid $75 each for the dinner and show package which included a basic buffet and seats to Ha: Breath of Life. The buffet was terrible. I didn't think that the buffet was going to be good by any of the reviews that I've read, but I also didn't think that it was going to taste that bad. The only positive thing I have to say about the food was that it was edible. Not delicious, but edible. Do yourself a favor and eat elsewhere if possible. The show itself was entertaining at first, but then I found myself drifting off to sleep. The only cool part was the last 10 minutes or so when they had the guy fire dancing. After this experience, I have concluded that this place is whack.
(1)Carol H.
This is a must for first time visitors to the Hawaiian Islands. It's a nice overview of Pacific Island cultures. The PCC is set up with villages featuring different island cultures, their crafts and dance. Do stay all day to enjoy all that is offered including the evening buffet/dinner and show. The boat parade showcases costumes and music of the various island cultures. Beautiful gardens, villages, crafts and demonstrations. Total immersion in the history of island cultures. Not to be missed!
(5)Annie P.
This place is done horribly wrong. The costumes were bad and so was the production. They should charge less for the quality they give. Everything looks cheap, low budget, and bad. The dancers look miserable while dancing. During the main show I looked around and saw 6-8 people sleeping. The whole day is repetitive and once you see the float dance you see it all. The island buffet was horrible. You get 4 different entrees: pasta, soggy fried chicken, mash potatoes, and chips. The only thing good the whole day is the fire guy in the main show that lasted 5 minutes. I would not recommend this tourist trap!
(2)Jason W.
I visited this AWESOME place on Monday May 11, 2015. I purchased the Ambassor Prime package which includes a tour guide, canoe ride and many other fun activities which ends with dinner and premium seating at the HA: Breath of Life show. For those who say Disneyland is the "Happiest place on Earth" have obviously never been here! Now I understand the phrase refers to the paying customers (and BOY do you pay at DL) but at Polynesia Cultural Center not only are the paying customers smiling but the employees just look so happy and relaxed to be there. It's also a very educational place, and they teach you alot about each of the islands. I left with so much respect for this culture. The Tonga show and the Samoa show were amongst my favorite, very entertaining and funny. So the reason it didn't get 5 stars, I opted for the "Prime Dining" over the "Luau Dining" and I thought it was just ok even though several staff told me the food was going to be much better. The Luau dining consists of more 'Hawaiian' food and includes a show whilst you eat whereas the Prime dining includes Prime Rib but no show, I should have chose the Luau.
(4)Chantia R.
It was so easy to get lost at the Polynesian Cultural Center all day. This is for people who want to immerse themselves in the culture, rather than just a Luau! Great experiences throughout the entire day! Good time for all ages! Definitely worth spending the extra money on the full experience to tour the Islands, dinner Luau, and the amazing show at the end!
(5)Ika I.
Exceptional performances and bang for the bucks! This is my first time visiting Hawaii and I am so glad to have visited the Polynesia Cultural Center today! The center features many traditional dances and lifestyles of many Polynesian islands. My favorites are the Samoa and Tahiti performances, as the dances and customs are most enjoyable to watch. Many of the workers and dancers are students at Brigham Young University next door and they are super friendly and professional. I got the $99 package which includes the day time village shows, a dinner buffet and an evening dance show that lasts about 2 hours. I was at the center for over 6 hours and still could not see the all. If you are looking for an educational and yet fun AL day event, the Polynesian Cultural Center is a must see.
(5)Vanessa S.
It was very interesting about learning the several cultures who immigrated to the isles of Hawai'i but its mainly geared towards families. The dinner was a very bland buffet which was super disappointing for the amount of money you have to pay for the whole PCC experience. The HA Breath of Life show at the end of the day was well choreographed and the story line was cute (kinda cheesy) but the fire scene man those where AWESOME! Only downer was you couldn't record the show but that is a plus too so no annoying screens to ruin your view. Go with a native kama'aina or someone with a military id to save money on this place!
(3)Jboogie B.
Thee place to Come and enjoy and learn about the islands! It's the total experience. Tita's Grill is a BIG MUSTfor food. Bomb.com .
(5)Brian P.
A little pricey when it's all said and done but a must visit in Oahu! I would recommend going with the Ali'i Luau package as we did which includes a traditional luau and the Ha: Breath of Life evening show. If you book a package you can also book coach bus transportation from Waikiki. I believe the cost is $22 per person, but is well worth it considering how much cabs and car rentals are in Hawaii. PCC is cultural and educational park that is split up into 6 villages: Samoa, Tonga, Tahiti, Fiji, Aotearoa, and Hawaii. At each village you can see observe ancient tradition and culture, see how people dressed, and what the plants and dwellings look like on those islands. There are things to see and do at each village as well. At Hawaii we saw a hula demonstration and had a poi tasting, at Samoa we watched a coconut tree climbing demonstration and at Tahiti we observed a traditional wedding ceremony. It's a little difficult to be able to see everything by the time the luau rolls around so we had to skip a couple things. Be sure to time your visits to each village otherwise you may run out of time too. There is also a 4D IMAX movie experience about Hawaii and canoe ride that goes through the park that are included Each village also has a snack bar in case you get hungry or thirsty, which you probably will because it gets super hot and humid when you're outside walking all day! Most of the snack spots sell the same thing. I recommend getting the island delight if you like ice cream :) soooo good! Just don't snack too much or you'll be too full for the luau or buffet!
(5)Lindsay D.
This is a good place for tourists to visit. We only came to the main shopping part to check it out, but it seems like a fun place to get your cultural learning on while having fun. A good place for kids and big groups. The staff lives and breathes the Aloha spirit!
(4)Jose A.
Tourist trap, avoid! Cheesy college kids dressed as Hawaiian people. Food was as bad or worse than the Hometown buffet. But if you want an eight dollar coconut on top of the $60 entry fee to ride in a fake plastic canoe this is the spot for you.
(1)Dawn H.
Truly Amazing! Loved every detail about it! The food, the people, the atmosphere. So blessed to have experienced this show!
(5)Paul P.
We went to the Polynesian Center to fill out our last day on the island. I would recommend the dinner and final show to you, it was with it. The other attractions at the center like this history and mini shows are worth it if you are interested in only the kinda westernize / Disneyified / nice version of history. A really good thing about the center is that a portion of the funds raised go to fund Polynesian students education.
(4)Jenna H.
The PCC is very informative, like a solid field trip, for learning something about the variety of island cultures. In that regard, it is very pleasant, clean, friendly, etc. My gripes are that we bought Ambassador tickets for the day, had read all about the neat activities - like spear throwing, or hula dancing... and our (VERY hard to understand) guide, kept looking at her watch, hurrying us from exhibit to exhibit, and generally pushed our group from one thing to the next. We had to refuse to go on unless we could do some activities that were offered. And even then, she knew the spear throwing was closed, but yet told us we could go in and try it.... and then the Tongan performer came over to stop us, to which our incoherent, chatterbox of a guide suddenly clammed up and practically hid behind us! We got there when it opened and were dragged through until it was time to go eat. No time to shop, try crafts, and didn't even see a few of the villages! I highly recommend just strolling through on your own and checking out the stuff offered. No need to feel like cattle headed for the barn. The luau was nice if you've got a big group and never been to a real luau, then it is a happy, acceptable dinner. If you HAVE been to 'real' luaus, it feels like a cheap hawaiian-themed cafeteria. That serves JELLO. The 'HA, breath of life' show is very beautiful though! Such wonderful dancing and storytelling. Sorry to say, the PCC was a total waste for me. And with a group of 10, that was a pretty big cost as well. Save your money and go cook your own picnic at da beach! It's mo better. :)
(2)Michelle T.
This place is filled with so much energy! Every tribe puts on their own show multiple times a day and there's one show by the water that's called the "pregnant show (I forgot the exact name)" where each tribe comes out on a boat and perform their traditional dance. I was intrigued throughout the entire show by all the details in their outfits, the girls' hair (all of them have very long frizzy hair) and the screaming sound they make for no apparent reason. I'm still wondering why they sometimes scream out of no where. Their screams; however, gives off a very fun feel to their performance - lots of energy and you can feel that they are having a blast. There are different activities in each tribe that you can participate in such as learning how to make a crown out of leaves, playing traditional games, rowing a boat, and learning how to play their instruments. I got the Ali'i Luau package and the food at the luau was okay - not something to rave about. They have a short little show during dinner to keep you entertain while you eat which includes a fire performance, a dance performance, and an activity that gets the audience involved. At the end of dinner you can take pictures with the performers. The luau ends about 1.5 hours before the Ha Breath of Life show. Which gives you plenty of time to walk all the way over to the theater at the other end of PCC and check out all the shops along the way. The show was really good. I thought it was a lot better than the show at Paradise Cove. I got here at around noon and didn't leave until after the show, and had plenty of things to see and do while I was there so it's best to plan for an entire day at PCC. You won't regret it. I didn't opt for the guided tour because I didn't want that structured of a visit and felt we covered pretty much everything pretty well during our visit. One thing I wish I did was plan better show I can see more shows. I saw 3 shows and they were all really good.
(4)Cynthia B.
It's changed 100% since my initial visit in the 1970's. The Polynesian Cultural Center is not more Disneyland-like, but in a good way. Very personable staff, IMAX movies, canoe rides along the waterways, several different villages with demonstrations, plenty of Polynesian food to purchase. The dancing is beautiful and the history amazing, arts, crafts, and story telling are observed in each of the villages. Experience the cultures of Fiji, Hawaii, New Zealand, Tahiti, Marquesas Islands, Tonga, and Samoa. Don't expect any alcohol on the premises as this is a Mormon establishment. The evening luau is first class (alas no Mai Tai's) with the unearthing of the kaulua pig and a pageant of Hawaiian royalty. Each guest receives a beautiful orchid lei. It's almost impossible to experience all of the 42 acres in one day but the good news is that you have a couple of days to use your ticket. Buy tickets directly from the Polynesian Cultural Center site for best prices. Call and speak to one of their representative if you have any questions. Friendly , kind service is endemic to this island attraction. Polynesian Cultural Center Luau 5 STARS Authentic Luau Minus the Mai Tai The food and entertainment at the Polynesian Cultural Center luau is unrivaled. Lomi lomi salmon, kaulua pig, laulau, and every Hawaiian celebratory food is enjoyed at this buffet luau. Throughout the meal, Polynesian music and dancers entertain the crowd. Visitors are greeted with an orchid lei and a glass of Hawaiian punch or lemonade. The preparation of the dishes was excellent, including cooking an entire pig in coals underground. We definitely missed having the mai tai, but since this is a Mormon establishment, alcohol is not allowed. Nevertheless we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, including getting up to hula with the professionals.
(5)Leslie T.
Luau was great! Had a blast, actually learned a lot and enjoyed the food. I went back for 3rds! The pineapple bars and poke was the best! Highly recommend.
(5)Veronica F.
Me and my husband and our 18 month old went here to make a day of it, we bought a package for general admission to the Polynesian Cultural Center, the Chief's Luau, & the Breath of Life show. The experience was pretty cool, and would DEFINITELY recommend to anyone that is out here, tourists or residents. It's just one of those things you're going to have to pay for to see. Only issue I really had was that it was so expensive! And do NOT take your young child. Lol. At least not for an all day event. As you can imagine, we got there at 10AM and had to leave before the Breath of Life show was over. I wish they would schedule it so it wasn't so late in the evening. Our son was ready for bed by the time the show came on, so naturally he was cranky because it was almost 9PM.
(4)Tamika H.
No trip to Hawaii would be complete without a luau. There were a few that we could have chosen from but we wanted to spend the day at the North Shore so it made sense that my family & I attend the PCC & we're so happy that we did. Parking was a breeze & quite easy to travel by car from Waikiki. The luau was authentic & very tasty. The entertainment was great too. However, the highlight of the night was watching the "Ha-Breath of Life" show. It was absolutely incredible! You can tell these actors & their production team work very hard on delivering a spectacular show for their visitors. No details were left short. It's a must see!
(5)Eric C.
The place wasn't really for me and I probably wish I had my time and money back, but I'm mostly compelled to review based on some of the other reviews. The food did not kill me (I actually thought it was good), they didn't try and convert me to be a Mormon (I probably wouldn't have had any idea had i not read the reviews) and they didn't hold me hostage until I bought souvenirs or frozen drinks. I was actually apprehensive about going after reading the reviews. If you think you'll like the shows and learning about the culture, don't let those comments stop you. My only complaint is that there aren't even any ceiling fans in the luau or Ha show. I wasn't happy spending $500 to sit and sweat for four hours. I get it's going to be hot out, but no fans... c'mon.
(3)Hilary M.
The cheesy factor is strong with this one. I've heard it's worth it to check out PCC at least once. My husband and I arrived around 2:30 and only had a little time to tour the villages before lining up for the Ali'i Luau. We were able to see presentations from both New Zealand and Fiji. I'll admit that was pretty cool. We chatted at length with Seamus Fitzgerald in the NZ village and learned a lot of things about the symbolism in their traditional architecture, etc. Then we got to be a part of the presentation/ welcoming ceremony. A very unique experience! The luau, however, left much to be desired. Overall the food was pretty good. Feeding that many people buffet style is not an easy task. And as for the price, it seemed about right. What was terrible was the dinner show. Oh good lord, the emcee was so cheesy. Not necessary at all. If they just had some music and dancers it would have been fine. I feel like this luau experience is very geared towards the visitors who have no idea what a luau should be. As many other reviewers said, it's a very Disney-esque production. The after dinner show, Ha: Breath of Life was pretty neat overall. Again, kind of cheesy with the story line but the dancing was great and you can tell the performers love to do it. Consumerism is really pushed here (again, like Disney) so that kind of takes away from the experience as well. We purchased our luau photo (for a whopping $18!) because it was really the only good photo of the two of us from our trip. We had no idea this place was owned and operated by LDS. Many of the workers are students at the next door BYU campus and are in some sort of work-study program it seems. I thought it a little odd that they included a tour of the temple with the purchase of an entrance ticket. If we were to ever visit again I'd skip the luau & evening show and just go to see the rest of the villages.
(3)Areli V.
THIS IS A MUST DO!! I went here Saturday afternoon, and was amazed at the beauty of everything here! There was so much to learn, and everyone who works there is nice. My sister and I purchased one of the packages, which included a buffet dinner and the Breath of Life show! The food was amazing, the presentations captivating, and the Show i was SPEECHELESS!! I loved it! It felt so real, so nice, so peaceful. Great atmosphere, great crew, delicious food, yummy pina coladas served in pineapples, and lots of learning. I saw a guy climb a coconut tree! Dope Stuff! Oh girls, some of those dancers got some good looks, and they dance pretty damn good, better than guys here in LA. Anyways. I loved it, and would do this again and again!
(5)Kayla W.
Sort of on the fence about this place. - I'd give it another half star if I could but I will just stick with 3 since it feels more "in the middle". Overall, it is good. It is informative, they represent many cultures, and there are plenty of dances and performances to keep you entertained. Lots of people are saying "Like Disneyland". Eh, kinda but not really? Yes it's like Disney with the super enthusiastic young people working there, yes there are actors and performers representing various cultures. Plus, (in my opinion) overpriced souvenir shops. Otherwise, there are no cartoon mascots or tea cup rides... It is 110% Mormon owned and operated. So I think some of the enthusiasm comes from the Mormon culture, which is a pro and a con. (Pro: Tour guides are super friendly and polite. Con: I think it was announced that our money goes to BYU students about 35 times, which felt very forced.) There is also a portion of the visit where you can visit the Mormon temple, but this is not a mandatory part of the tour, it is just an option during a "free time" period. We opted to go take a behind the scenes tour of the stage, where we saw students and performers rehearsing. The buffet was between OK and pretty good. Do not expect some extremely fancy buffet - there is a nice variety of food; fish, pork, and beef, salads, sweet potatoes, etc and a few different Hawaiian-themed desserts. It was filling and tasted good overall. Ha breath of life was cool. Very impressive dancing. So, long story short: A package here (Ambassadors) takes a full day and a big handful of cash. If you feel tight on time or money, don't go. Sunscreen, water, extra cash, and enthusiasm are a must. If you lack any of these things, probably best to do something else. Overall my day here was interesting and included a few good laughs, but I can't say that this was the highlight of my trip.
(3)Linda S.
I came here for the prime dining buffet and show only which totaled to 80+ bucks. Dinner starts at 5pm, the show at 7:30pm. The basic luau buffet line was super packed to go in but the prime dining line wasn't. It was a 20 bucks difference. Now the show was so well worth it, entertaining, and beautifully choreographed. There was never a dull moment. Chee hoo!! Remember to take pics afterwards with a couple of the performers outside the theatre.
(5)G H.
Tips: We went to the Polynesian Cultural Center in late February on a Wednesday. It was hot so wear sunglasses, make sure to wear sunscreen, wear a hat, and/or bring an umbrella. Bring a backpack. I filled mine with water bottles. Wear shoes. There's a significant amount of walking involved especially if you're planning to visit all the villages
(4)Daniel M.
My friend told me BEWARE but I thought "it can't be that bad, it's put on by the Mormons." Let me tell you about my day. The Polynesian Cultural Center was the biggest waste of a WHOLE day in Hawaii. I would have preferred to stay in the hotel and watch CNN while tied to the bed with my eyes taped open! Sorry to see the LDS Church taking money from people like this... If they wanted me to donate to a college fund for "less fortunate" locals, just ask me and I'd give them the money!! I'm a Mormon and I was embarrassed with what a cheesy attraction this place turned out to be. And what was with the food?!? It's like they got Golden Corral's "special" Hawaiian cousin and let him have his way in the kitchen! So now I'm extra pissed, because not only have I missed a fun day in Hawaii BUT I've missed a quality MEAL too! Every "eating moment" on the island is sacred and now it's gone forever on a food like substance I wouldn't serve at the prison. With that said, prior to our arrival, we stopped for lunch up the road at a place called "Seven Brothers" and they served me one helluva burger! (SEE MY SEVEN BROTHERS REVIEW WITH PHOTOS) Should I EVER find myself having to go back to the PCC I will drop everyone else off, hang at the beach along the North Shore for the day, have dinner at Seven Brothers and meet them at 7:00PM for the final show of the night. It had lots of fire and Danny likes fire!
(2)jacoba a.
I loved it. The show at the end, 'Ha the Breath of Life' was the best part. If you like musicals this should be on your top of things to see on Oahu. I know someone else mentioned it's like going to the zoo and gawking at people from other cultures but I disagree. If I could afford to go to all of these islands and learn about the cultures in person I would but these people are paid and if you actually talk to them they take pride in teaching about where they are from and their cultural activities. I fould it to be a lovely day long activity.
(5)Mike B.
Great cultural experience that will take all day. Here's valuable advice... If you can, don't go to full day at Center and then Luau. It's too much for one day and you don't appreciate the Luau and performance enough. This was our 3rd trip and we just get burned out from it despite our behind the best on the island. . Next time we'll go only to PCC and then to luau in Ko Olina (cove something which we've enjoyed in the past too... Though it's not as good as PCC) or just break it up.
(5)Leiah L.
Lots of interactive fun for the whole family! I'd skip the buffet though. Friendliest place in Hawaii!
(5)Kate K.
The show was amazing, I didn't try the food though. It is worth of watching. The entetainers are so friendly and approachable. We got some good pictures with them at the end of the performance.
(4)Lex J.
Such a great experience. Definitely something everyone should go to to learn about all the history and to learn about the various Polynesian cultures. There are tons of little educational shows that cycle through time slots informing you about each culture. They have lots of hands on things to experience also like dancing the hula or Tahitian. Try some coconut bread (tasty and we definitely took a pic of the recipe). You can even take a canoe ride or play the Aotearoa stick game or so many other traditional games. Learn how to throw a spear too. I hit the circle on my third try :) It is all very interactive and a lot of fun. If you are not familiar try the mochi. It's a great snack and a good deal for a place like this. It's ice cream inside a dough. They also have musubis for $2. What is really great is how they are non-profit and all proceeds go to help pay for scholarships and after completing their education they return yo their native island to provide leadership and skills. It always feels good to pay it forward :) Didn't do the luau b/c it was a little too rich for our blood w/ the least expensive running $96. At least it includes entry and you do get the Ha show.
(4)Felicia L.
My boyfriend and I usually avoid touristy things whenever we are on holiday, but we decided if we do one thing here, it would be PCC... as my boyfriend is Samoan, haha. Luckily we were able to score some discounted tickets, which include standard entry to all the villages, dinner, and admission to see the night show, Ha: Breath of Life. We didn't expect to be there the entire there, but there was so much to do, we spent the whole day there! We got to the see the canoe parade, which was impressive to see all the cultures and their dances on canoes! We went to visit a few villages but not all (seriously, there's so much to see!). We went to the villages of Samoa, New Zealand, Fiji, and Tahiti. Out of all of them we enjoyed Samoa and Fiji the most, as the Samoan village was humorous, and the Fijian village involved music and audience participation. We wanted to check out Tonga, but didn't get a chance to :( We had the buffet dinner before the luau, which was pretty standard buffet food... nothing really special. I was more impressive on how big the dining room is, and the artwork inside the room! The artwork included murals of all Polynesian cultures as well as the history of Hawaii itself. I enjoyed looking at the murals more than the food here, haha. I enjoyed the night show, Ha Breath of Life. I enjoyed seeing the dances of each culture, as well as the story and the overall production. My boyfriend, on the other hand, wasn't impressed, haha. This is only because he has watched the PCC shows on video since he was a little kid, and he liked the older shows better as they focused more on the cultures; he thought adding the storyline was unnecessary. Whatever, I enjoyed it, haha... and I'm sure a lot of other people would like it too. Overall, we surprisingly had a good time. I'm glad out of all the touristy stuff we could have done, we enjoyed this one as there were many activities to do, we learned a lot (especially me, being the girlfriend of a Samoan guy), and overall had fun. I also would like to mention, a lot of the staff here are BYU students. If you do something fun in Hawaii, I would recommend PCC! Not only would you have fun but you would learn multiple Polynesian cultures and support college students working here. Enjoy!
(4)Allison S.
We spent the better part of a day at the Polynesian Cultural Center. The canoe pageant, performed mid-day on rafts in the canal, was really exciting to watch, as were the drumming performance and small craft demonstrations. Some really great cherry and pineapple ice cream with fruit and a spot in the shade helped us cool down as we watched performances in the different "countries" or regions of the park. I'd definitely recommend bringing a hat here! If we could do this over again, we'd only purchase the park admission and skip the luau and evening show. While the food and entertainment were great and the employees had a really great sense of hospitality, the performances felt redundant, and we were spent after being in the sun all day long. It was also interesting to me to find out the center is actually owned by the Mormon Church, and many of the Polynesian performers are students on scholarship at the nearby Brigham Young University satellite campus in Laie. I didn't detect much religious undertones.
(3)C J.
I have to say one of the best experiences I have had in all my stays in Hawaii. Stayed at Maui and Oahu, by far greatest esperiance. The 42 acre place is huge, in prestine condition, with lots of great attractions to kill the time. You can enter at 1230, luau dinner at 500pm, show at 730pm. The food was average for serving so many people, but you get a really entertaining show while you eat, and the Ha Breath of Life show is spectacular. You feel the amazing chemistry between the 100+ cast members. Most polite crew as well, always asking if we need any help. Greatest experience so far in Hawaii. Tips: bring water for there is lots of walking, and a stroller if you have small children.
(5)Rogelio V.
If you are to get your monies worth arrive before opening so that means be there at 11am. The place is huge and with different island shows going on like clockwork every half hour you need to get in as they open to catch them all. They offer a guided tour but we did that and we recommend to do it at your own pace. The tour guide can give some quick tips but you feel rushed from place to place and only see the island shows that they like. I was amazed that our tour guide memorized all of our names, the group was about 15 people. This is an all day adventure so plan as such. Bring appropriate clothes, strollers, etc. PASS on the evening show of "HA". Once you sit and eat the buffet, watch the luau lets just say you reach your limit on all that is going on there. Don't forget your drive back if you stay for the show is about an hour long and you are driving in the evening hours and a location you are not familiar with. If you miss your turn on the highways the next exit is about 15-20 miles away and if its in the night it adds tremendous stress. If you leave after the buffet and luau its a perfect time as there is still sunlight and you get back to Waikiki for some time on the beach because hey you didn't fly all the way to the island to be sung to. They take your pictures throughout the center and sell them to you for about $20 and are really nice about it, not pushy.
(4)Jimmy C.
I can't say much more than this place was spectacular. Definitely exceeded my expectation. It brought and showed me great culture, exposure, family feeling, comedy and enjoyment. I purchased the Ambassador ticket with the Luau and night show included with full tour guide from 12-5pm. With the staff being the majority of the local BYU school... it was great to see them enrich me and my family with all the knowledge of the Polynesian culture that I never knew about. The staff is awesome... and super friendly. Make you feel relaxed and like old friends. Respect their culture is all they ask. Take It serious. I did. I enjoyed every minute. It is a high price tag on the day but it was worth it to also know that I'm helping the students with their studies. For family with kids.. plenty of things for them to do. My kids were 6 and 4 and they were never bored. They loved all of it. Even the HA: Breath of life show. Specially the fire scenes. The LUAU food was great. From the purple bread and salad to the pork and desserts. All was delicious. The Night SHOW (which is not the luau) was awesome. My 4 year enjoyed every min. He loved it. The intermission free dessert with the ambassador purchase came in handy as it was a hot night. That sherbet and fruit was delicious. One per ticket. Can't go wrong. Our tour guide was great.... TAKOYU (aka Taco Bell) I believe his name was. Thank you for being so kind to the kids and showing them around while we enjoy some of the shows. You were easy to trust and know the kids were safe. My wife enjoyed the CANOE PAGEANT... it was a good show. It was a great expression of the various islands. I have to say I learned ALOT that day. Between the Luau time and the show... I didn't get to take any of the extra tours... I didn't want to feel rushed... but we missed the movie and the two other available tours. One to the BYU campus. Its ok... a break before the big show was what the kids needed. Thank you! (ok.. I said ALOT)
(5)Lareen S.
I remembered the PCC as a great experience when I went years ago. But this time is was a huge disappointment. I enjoyed the Hawaiian village and historical information. That took fifteen minutes. The buffet was awful. My daughter was sick all night after we got back to the hotel. I fought it off. I kept telling her the show was great, and she wanted to stay to see it. The last fifteen minutes of the show was good (the fire parts), but the first hour felt like a very long slow motion version of The Lion King meets My Turn On Earth meets Johnny Lingo. The day we spent at the Polynesian Cultural Center is the one day on our Hawaiian vacation I wish I could get both my time and money back.
(1)Steve M.
First time visiting Hawaii, and very happy to have visited the Polynesian Cultural Center! Its a great place to learn and have fun. There are many things to do and see, staff was pleasant and very helpful. The highlights are Kap in Samoa (awesome presentation and very funny dude), the luau (good food, great performances and Cousin T was a great host!) and of course the Ha Breath of Fire show. All in all, this is a must see spot for anyone.
(5)Aimee T.
On my recent trip to Oahu, my husband, mother-in-law and I went here. We took the canoe tour, which gave us a nice visual tour of all of the exhibits. We saw some fast hip dancing in Tahiti, learn how to make coconut bread, watched fire staff twirling, canoe boat parade, got authentic tribal tattoos, and more. What I really like about this place is that all the money goes to support local education. The con side to this place, is that it is very crowded, and hard to see many of the show exhibitions. I really got to learn and experience a little bit of culture. It was really a lot of fun. The downside is there is a lot of walking, and it was really very humid. You have to travel kind of far to get to it. During the canoe boat show, a couple of the performers fell off the boat. It was crazy. It was kind of cool to see them all dance and perform on the top of the canoe. There were times where I was concerned someone would fall, sure enough it did happen a couple times that day. On the way out, I got some mochi icecream, which was 3 for $5, which is relatively cheap. It was delicious. In all, I had a great time, and would recommend people to come check out, and support a good cause.
(4)Bethany R.
Expensive but totally worth it! You are never just sitting around doing nothing! Fantastic staff! Great learning experience. You get to learn about all the cultures that settled Hawaii. The actors are actually from those areas so it is much more authentic. The shows are entertaining. The students will bend over backwards to help you! The center is just beautiful with the many waterfalls, river, and lush vegetation. The little villages are really neat! Plan on spending the entire day there especially if you are going to the luau and show. The luau was really good. They have it down to a science! You never wait long to get your food and it's all you can eat. (And we ate a lot!) Good, good food! Something everyone has to try at least once!
(5)Jess K.
we came on a rainy day :( we also had a toddler with us who wasn't very interested in what the center had to offer. but for the short amount of time we were there, i found the activities entertaining and educational. we caught part of the presentation on samoa, so funny! the group tours seemed cheesy but some tourists eat that ish up--to each his own. bring extra cash (ie. $4 guava colada and $8 half moon pie) seeing the performers after their dances/acts and witnessing the transformation of their plastered smiles to brf makes you wonder.. Reminds u of forgetting sarah marshall :p fyi, check groupon for discounted tickets!
(4)Ruby W.
This place was very disappointing. From the beginning to the end. The shows were not entertaining besides the part where the guy teaches the audience how to make fire and open a coconut. Snack bars were sold out of majority of their food and was not restocked. Canoe ride was short and felt pointless. The buffet was the worst! Waited in a long line to be seated at a dirty table and the food was limited and nasty. There was nobody to even get you silverware or drinks.
(1)Linda H.
If visiting Oahu, then I think this is a place to go to at least once. It's more family-oriented then what I hoped for (I was in Hawaii on a single girls type of vacation so was hoping for something more along those lines but there are still a lot of fun things to do here and it's an interesting way to learn a litte bit more about the culture). I mainly purchased the tickets for the luau, hoping it'd be like what I would see on TV but this place doesn't even allow alcohol on the premises and had more of school field trip feel to it. You know, still fun but more educational and g-rated. The Good: - The activities. Weaving, spear throwing, etc, were all fun, fun, fun and I wish I had time to do them all! - The photo ops (grab a spear and pose next to a hut, act like you're falling off the canoe, imitate the various statues) - The SECOND HALF of the show (Ha: Breath of Life). I have to admit, I dozed off a little during the first half but everything after intermission was awesome. I especially enjoyed the fire dancing. Look, I understand that this is supposed to be an educational look into Polynesian culture and blah, blah, blah but I would be lying if I tried to pretend the fire-dancing didn't turn me on. The peekaboo effect (as the twirling fire briefly lights up various parts of the wielder's bare and glistening body) was something to be appreciated. - The education. If you wanted to learn something, you could -- and I'll admit that I'm a front-of-the-class, hand-raising, geeky kind-of-gal. The Bad: - The buffet. I'm sorry, but that food was nasty. I like to try everything so I'm somone who does experiment when it comes to food. The poke was actually good but I'm not much of a raw fish kind of gal and could only eat so much. If it wasn't for the taro rolls (which just tasted like plain, steamed buns), I would have starved that day. The coconut jelly dessert, however, was pretty damn tasty. Unfortunately, it was cut in cubes that were smaller than a spoonful each so, although seconds and thirds was still not enough to satisfy, the risk of feeling like a greedy chump just by participating in the act of taking fourths or fifths was enough to deter. - All of the designated smoking areas lacked shade and/or seating areas. The Ugly: - The attitude of a lot of the staff. I kind of found it revolting that the staff seemed so money-hungry and rude, despite the fact that a lot of them were in Hawaii, getting a FREE college education. The tour guide practically begged for money during the whole hour long bus ride there. The paddler for the canoe ride, tried to convince us that the ride cost $5 each (even though it was actually free) and I strongly suspect he would have taken our money if my friend didn't object. The snack bar attendent served fellow employees before paid visitors (I actually had more than 5 of them cut in front of me). I'm still paying for my education so the take-it-for-granted attitude disgusted me.
(3)susan n.
We had a Fun but LONG Day at the PCC - If I had it to do over again- I would pay 25 for a tour guide to help us hit each center at the correct times- I would have NEVER let my children know about the punch stamp for each Island- The prize was cheaper than any 10 cent toy you could ever find in a gumball machine. Plus finding the exact spots to have your booklet stamped added a little stress. My children were 15-10 and 5 I felt that they each learned a ton- however If I had it to do again I WOULD NOT take them all to the show- It was to late for the 10 and 5 year old and the content was a little harsh for younger children. so Bottom line don't try to do it all - dont take young children to the show :)
(4)Luna C.
Nice experience. I would definitely recommend to anyone who visits the island of Oahu. We arrived a bit late so I think we missed some stuff but I'm not sure exactly what. The employees were really friendly. We got there on time for the canoe show which was somewhat entertaining. We then were entertained by this man who was Samoan and he was cracking jokes through out his presentation. extremely funny. The rest of the tour felt like a field trip. The luau was okay, you sit with a bunch of strangers and we were the youngest ones at the table. The food was pretty good which was surprising because I'm a picky eater. The Ha! fire show was decent too but my boyfriend didn't like it because he wanted more "action". The grounds are beautiful and well-kept. The price is pretty high. I think it was like 120 a person.
(4)Rodney O.
This place is a great place to learn about many different Polynesian cultures and is really an awesome place to visit in Hawaii!
(4)S U.
I think I could've spent the whole day here. It looked pretty huge, but my bf and I weren't able to go to all the stations. There were a lot of people in line to get in to the luao. I was afraid we were gonna get a crappy seat. To our luck, it was a good thing we were towards the end of the line because we were able to snag 2 seats in the front! Before you are seated, you take a picture with "locals." After dinner, you can look for your pics in the outside of the luao place. The food was great! I hate so much poke, I got sick of it...didn't think that could happen because I'm pretty addicted to poke! mmmmm I was actually looking forward to seeing our pic because my parents took a similar pic on their trip to Hawaii 10 yrs prior. Seems like everyone who travels to Hawaii has a pic with "locals." Hmmmm, we couldn't find our pic. The worker told us that it should be in the very front by the entrance. So, we go to the entrance.....hmmmmm, our pic still isn't there. The manager looking person told us to stop by again during the intermission of the show. Intermission....hmmmmm, still can't find our pic :( The photographer told us she accidentally deleted it :( Sensitive me got teary eyed. My bf asked me what we should do. I was like, "there's nothing we can do (eyes welling up with tears)." Photographer lady felt sorry for me. She set up a little station for us and took several poses of my bf and I wearing fake grass skirts and hats/halos. That was very nice of her. I'm sure if she didn't feel sorry for me or see that I was able to bring on the water works, she wouldn't have gone out of her way to take pics for us. Regardless, that was so sweet of her. My trip was no longer ruined. Sure, we didn't have locals in our pics like I was hoping, but it's better than nothing. 1 of the workers was so cool...he was telling us to take all the poses home for free. But the mean manager came out and he couldn't hook us up anymore. Shout out to the nice photographer lady and guy who almost hooked us up!
(4)richard l.
I have lived in Hawaii for the last 15 years and have always wanted to try this. This place is run by Mormons so everyone is very nice. There are different options you can purchase. We went for the later half day with the "ambassador dinner" which was plenty for us. We experienced Samoa and New Zea land shows (about 25 min each). We were sitting in the back of the room during the "Samoa" show and had a difficult time hearing the performer. After that, it was dinner and the show "HA, Breath of life" which was the best part. This show was 90 minutes long and the best I have seen thus far. The dinner buffet was one large room divided in 2 sections. Basically, the ambassador side additionally has crab legs and shrimp and the other side did not. Other than that, both sides had the same good food choices. Overall, the experience was not Hawaiian but very well done. It is a mix of many culture's. I prefer to experience Hawaii while in Hawaii. Unless it's raining or you have many vacation days, I suggest going to a Luau at a resort that has fire dancers. You will experience similar entertainment just not as long and you can have a Mai Tai.
(3)Justin W.
We came here to watch "HA - the breath of life". Upon arriving you are going to have to pay $6 to park your vehicle, not all that bad, but it is pretty pricey for admission. We showed up around 4 to grab our tickets, since this is what they told us on the phone. Well we could not, the girl at the counter said oh you are on the Kama'aina special, you can't get your ticket till 4:45 at the earliest. Granted the buffet opens at 5pm. Well we were stuck just sitting around for a while since we couldn't get the tickets. Once we got our tickets we went into the buffet and there is a lot of delicious food. They have tons of it, lemon chicken, kalua pork, mahi-mahi, rice, corn, mashed potatoes, fried chicken, salad, soda, dinner rolls, and a ton of desserts. On to the show that starts at 7:30pm. This show it self I found very interesting and good, there were some parts where I was not sure of the significance of all the people, but for the most part the story is easy to track and there are little animations that they play as they travel to the different islands. The set is very nicely done, and I am pretty sure most of it is real. The theatre seating is all stadium seating so you can see the performance. During this by the way they sell bottled water for $2.50, candy for $1.50, and then during the intermission they sell a pineapple sorbet w/ pineapple chunks at the bottom for $5. It is pretty big too. The show is 90 minutes. And they get 4 stars because of the food and the show. Very good! Go see it.
(4)Danny From Da Block L.
Very expensive place to visit. Luau was okay. Breath of Life was pretty fresh. On the downside, this place is run by mormons. Near the gate, some chick asked if I wanted to see the temple. Uh, no thanks. Joseph Smith sucks. On the upside, I was surprised that they served caffeine (Pepsi/coffee).
(3)Beznas M.
Absolutely fantastic. Out of this world. The show is awesome. Why it's not a Five Star: ------------------------------- Skip the buffet. The food is a joke and I'm not a fan of poi. If you're jewish or muslim they only have pork for meat. Also they make you pray in a Hawaiian pagan ritual. Not good if you have an other religion that forbids participating in pagan prayers.
(4)Steven J.
Place is great for families. Our family (wife and 2 kids ages 6 and 8) really enjoyed the interactive and hands on activities. Was a learning experience for all. Some of the reviews indicate taking the shuttle. We opted to rent a car for the day. To pay $22 per person when you can rent a car for $65 all in plus the $8 parking at the cultural center was a no brainer. We started out early, by hitting a few sights along the way. It is about 1 hours drive from Hilton Hawaiian Village. We stopped off at Pali lookout, but be forewarned, there's a $3 parking fee at the lookout. If you don't want to pay the fee, drive a bit further down and there's a vista point with free parking. After that, we stopped off at a few beaches along the way. If you want to visit all the "islands" you'll want to get to the cultural center by about 11:45am. There's a McDonalds conveniently located right next door. We got to the center early, had an early lunch, got a great parking spot and headed in. Definitely try the coconut tree climbing. Harder than one thinks! Skip the luau, but definitely see the show HA. I gave it only three stars, because while it's a good place to visit, it wouldn't be a place I'd go back to and it is quite expensive.
(3)Kim H.
This is my 3rd Luau type thing in the past 6 months (I just moved here and all the friends are visiting). I would recommend the PCC IF, you want to totally immerse yourself in the culture. The HA: Breath of Life Show was good (long), and the day was long; The food was OK, I don't mind the buffets, and there was plenty of food, but nothing special. I think it is OK that you can't drink there, because you'd fall asleep! The entertainment during the dinner was just OK, the lady next to me kept complaining that the singing was terrible, I didn't mind it. Over all, I am glad I went, I won't go again, and thought it was over priced (plus you have to pay $6 for parking). Otherwise, go for a shorter day, have a few drinks at either the Hale Koa or Paradise Cove!
(3)Heidi D.
Disneyland takes on Hawaii best describes the Center. Plenty of shows/culture for the entire family. My recommendation, arrive early and extend visit over a couple of days if you want to see everything! Villages are fun and interesting - but way too much if want to attend luau and Ha...Life of Breath show - reserve for another day! Not recommend visiting in the rain and guided tours are well worth extra money:)
(4)Linda C.
Very very touristy. All man-made stuff that after a while, you just get tired of it. The performance was interesting for the first 1 or 2 villages, then it is just repetitive and boring. Food is mediocre, only a few items were worth tasting because they are classic Hawaiian such as Taro salad, small beef chunks and chicken thighs. Pig tasted very bland. Our 2-year old showed no interest in this place at all. Another thing is they pretended to be all friendly and offered taking free photos of you in a few places. Before you know it, they were displaying all your photos in public and charging $18 each. Ridiculous. Overall this is over-advertised touristy trap and NOT WORTH THE COST!!! You can have much better experience elsewhere in nature or a really nice restaurant by spending $180 for 2.
(1)Dianne C.
I thoroughly enjoyed myself, so beh to haters. As everyone is comparing it to Disneyland or Disneyworld, I can follow suit. Yes, it is pretty much the same - especially if we're talking about Epcot Center's World Tour. Just as you know you're not really getting all the cultural stuff but still learning some interesting things from Epcot's World Tour, it's much the same when we're talking about the PCC and Polynesian culture. We get a glimpse of fact and culture.. which we can try to find out more about later if we want to (by actually going to the represented places or attempting to confirm them with other resources). The PCC isn't your one-stop shop for EVERYTHING Polynesian. It is also very commercial, and a lot of things are rather expensive. But let me get away from that now and talk about how I enjoyed it. The bf and I went on a Monday, literally from opening to close, though there's really no rush to get there right at Opening anyway, since all you can do is wait around until about 11:30-12 when they open exhibits. The 11 opening time really only works if you had reservations for the lunch BBQ. We went through the villages, exhibits, and shows in the following order: Rapa Nui, Tonga, Tahiti, Marquesas, Canoe Pageant, Hawaii, Fiji, Aotearoa, Samoa, Ali'i Luau, Horizons. We tried to watch all of the special shows for each village, half-running between villages at times, and we pretty much succeeded, except for the Samoan show, for which we attended the family show. I enjoyed the music and the narratives, what little information they were able to put up for each "model" village. The presentation leaders were all entertaining. The Horizons show was beautiful. The luau presentation was rather "eh"... but I'll appreciate eating buffet style, and not have to make too many decisions about what to eat, when my brain's already fried from the full day. I wish the shake in the pineapple was less expensive. (Then again, I wish a lot of the stuff sold within the PCC was just a little less expensive.) Given the amount of stuff to do there, the PCC allows you to return once within three days of your first visit (or within five days, since we reserved online, said the lady at the kiosk). I regret not going back to go around at a more leisurely pace, but we really were in Oahu for only 5 days and there were still a great many things to see. I loved going there, and I think it is worth at least one visit, especially if you like doing the tourist stuff. Hah.
(5)Dean C.
Pretty much spent all of Friday afternoon and evening here for the luau as well as doing the typical tourist thing. Many of the performances on each individual "island" was both a comedy show as well as being educational. Just the mention of "boom boom" and "this is why I'm hot......" will evoke at least a few chuckles between my wife and I. I like the fact that the IMAX theater was a full IMAX system (screen and audio) vs. the crap that most "IMAX" theaters claim to be. However, the movie about coral reefs was able to bore me to the point where I fell dead asleep. At the luau, a great show and great food was had by all. Of course its buffet all-you-can-eat style which means you can eat as much as your GI tract will allow you. I wasn't able to eat all could eat partly due to my wife, but that's OK. Shortly after the luau was "Ha: The Breath of Life". Basically its the current theatrical production by the center and it was a great finale for the night. The show ended around 9pm-ish. It'll be pretty late for those staying in Honolulu area and that 1-ish hour drive back, but it was a hop and a skip away from where I was staying in the North Shore.
(4)StinkyTofu S.
ummmm......I think this is a more family oriented thing than for some young bucks on the prowl. If I had 3 kids under 12, this would be the ideal place to take them. This place is too pricey!!! $85 per person for the time in the park, buffet, and a show. The food was not so good. I felt that the luau pork tasted like the pork used in Chinese soup where my mom would say, "don't eat that!! there's no nutrition or taste to it". The guava cake was yuck, can't compare to what we have in Japan town or Aki's in San Jose. The only thing that I like from there was the poki and the chili. I'm not saying that it was good, it's just something that would eat because everything else was not up to par. The show was ok and was definitely the main attraction of the whole package. This is something that I would definitely NOT do again unless I'm 55 years old and my wife wants to check it out. Even then, I would have to roll my eyes and be reminded how cheesy the place is. Oh yeah....girls would like this place. All the guys looked like they were extras from the movie 300. Geezzzz...I hope girls don't expect everyone to look as cut as these guys. Queenie that works there is so cute!!! It was so nice meeting you! stinky tofu
(1)Lili X.
A great introduction to the many aspects of Hawaiian culture. They also include a luau which was fun, and fairly tasty. Ladies, get ready for some eye candy with some hot muscular dancers. Wowwee! Be prepared for excessive sun or periodic rain, since you will be outside for most of the day. Make sure your camera is charged because there will be LOTS to photograph.
(4)Erich S.
Wow, I'm a fan of this place. Not only was it very informative and full of friendly people, the food was awesome!! I read some reviews on yelp about the food and ticket prices before I went and they didn't really have anything nice to say so I wasn't expecting too much heading into the buffet dinner. Boy was I wrong, the food was fantastic, even the little food stands they have set up throughout the park were amazing. This place definitely needs more time than one day to explore. My favorite activities included the funny man of Samoa, the canoe ride and the fire dance at night,
(4)Kamalike S.
I love all the little islands of Polynesian culture. My favorites are the island of Samoa, Tonga, Tahiti and New Zealand(the Maori Tribe). It is very beautiful and entertaining for tourists. Also, the locals that work there are students. Many Polynesians are given the opportunity to reside here while working while getting there education. Your purchases of souvenirs, arts and crafts they make, help cover some of the expenses. So if you visit this place please take that into consideration. I myself am not a Mormon, nor do i have anything against Mormon beliefs, but I believe it is such a beautiful thing when someone takes the initiative to educate themselves.
(5)Khristine R.
A few hours ago, my aunt, mother, and I returned from visiting the Polynesian Cultural Center, and I could not wait to write this review! The first event we attended was the long canoe pageant. It was very entertaining. Each canoe represented an island/village. Those on the canoe dressed traditionally to represent their native land and performed their native dances. Throughout the day, we visited different islands/villages and learned quite a bit, as "Cousin Billy" offered to be our tour guide until our luau. He really maximized our our experience at the PCC. Mahalo, Cousin Billy! My family opted for the Ali'i Luau package. It cost us $113 each, which included having a tour guide and round-trip transportation. The entertainment was great at the luau. Please note that the performances at this luau are Hawaiian-style only. The food was excellent. I absolutely loved their renditions of kalua pua'a, lomilomi salmon, pipi kaula, and poke. I enjoyed a pina colada served in a pineapple with my dinner, although all other drinks--coffee, herbal teas, juices, soft drinks, and water--are complimentary. FYI: Alcohol is not served at the PCC. You have plenty of time for dinner before heading off to the final show of the evening, plus you have reserved seating, so go back for seconds! Our last stop was "Horizons: Where the Sea Meets the Sky." I truly felt this show delivered many great performances. This show sealed the deal, and I do plan to return to the PCC the next time I am in Oahu.
(5)Kristine T.
I came here for the first time when I was 12 and really enjoyed it. I headed back, now that I'm 26 to see if the experience would still be enjoyable. It is a gorgeous....theme park, I guess you could call it. My bf and I found it entertaining and education to visit each of the villages and learn about the difference islands of Polynesia. Our package came with the luau dinner. The food could be better, and it grossed me out a little that it was in such an open areas that flies were near/on the food but if you can get over that it's a fair meal. The show afterward is what really made it worth it. It showcased the different styles of dance from the islands, with a light and fire show. And while I drink, I can appreciated that since it is a family environment they don't serve any alcohol on the premise. I would def. recommend this to people, I never interacted with any staff member that was rude or pushy. All were extremely hospitable.
(4)Lily T.
I came here for the first time and it was so much to see and do. It was fun especially getting on the raft heading to different island. I like how there machine where you insert a quarter and receive fish food to feed the fishes in the river. I learned how to throw a long spear across the field. The luau was great and the pork was tender and juicy. The"ha" "Breath of Life" show at the very end was super great because the story line was excellent.
(4)Faryoung B.
I feel bad writing a so so review for the place but it is what it is.. Great place to take you're family to if you have kids. The day starts around 12 and you tour the entire center learning about the different tribes of Hawaii. You get to experience authentic huts and boats and demonstrations that you can participate in. It is going to be a long and hot day so please dress comfortably. Canoe rides with the tour and many many hours later is the luau which you can decide whether to have the hawaiian buffet or American. I decided on the Hawaiian and ended up eating almost nothing. The food wasn't really to my taste and in my opinion.. cant really be considered a buffet with only a salad and 4 other dishes to choose from. If you pay a bit more you can upgrade your seats closer to the stage where they put on a little show.. a bit of dancing.. a bit of singing.. a bit boring. My biggest gripe were the seating. We followed a guide to a table who promptly made us walk all the way to the other side of the room and then back and forth until another guide realized we were lost. We were seated next to the buffet yet the guests seated nearest the stage went first so another long wait til we could eat. After dinner another hour wait before the show called Ha? Breath of life? It was a bit boring and understandably so.. It was much too geared towards being family friendly... bordering cheesy. I had read that of all the Luau's offered in Hawaii theirs were the most authentic. The dancing was pretty cool but I was looking forward to the fire dances which lasted a total of... 5 min in the nearly 2 hour show. By the end of the night we were too tired to do anything but go back to the hotel. A friend who went with me had been to the Germaine's Luau and told me that was a bit better.
(3)Derrek O.
This was my second time to Hawaii and I wanted to make sure to attend a luau because it's something I missed out on my last trip here. The admission into the center is expensive, but I think it's worth it considering it consists of a whole day's worth of activities, dinner, and an authentic cultural experience. We opted to pay for the lunch buffet, which was a steep $15, and honestly a meal I didn't particularly care for. The only thing I liked was the chicken. The entire complex is made up of different villages representing the various Polynesian peoples (i.e. Hawaii, Somoa, Fiji)...and there are presentations about each culture. The luau dinner I really enjoyed because I got to eat the kahlua pig...something I've always wanted to try. Simply delicious. The show at the end of the night was definitely the highlight of the entire experience here....I would come here again if revisiting Oahu.
(4)Joey L.
The center is a fun activity for kids with crafts, stories and more. Can be somewhat boring. The HA show is the best part (A+). The trip to the center is the best - stoping at the local arts & community shops in northshore.
(3)R The V.
We took our kids to the Cultural Center recently. I was not sure what to expect. We had purchased the amabassador package that allowed three day entry. The experiance on the 1st day was so positve that we went the next day. We felt that 1st day was a bit rushed with "escorted" tour guide as there is so much to see and expericance -diffrent countries, culture, activities, canoe ride and paegent, luau, and the show -Ka. On second day we toured on our own but still could not finish it all. We highly recomment the vist but if possible give yourself time -2-3 days.
(4)Rachel L.
In a nutshell PCC (Get down with the lingo because I am not going to continue to type Polynesian Cultural Center this whole review!) is like an Epcot center but Hawaiian style. Lots to see, lots to do but not enough time believe it or not. If you're planning to visit the PCC be prepared to spend the whole day. (Good thing is if you spring for a high enough package price you can go back to visit free within a 5 day span from your first visit). So the PCC enables visitors to walk through different exhibits and see the different islands and cultures. It's an awesome trip through the islands without having to hop into a plan and island-hop. Be prepared for tons of walking and dress comfortably. I highly recommend bringing a refillable water bottle of some sort. You'll be thanking me later. So in terms of entertainment it's a great place to spend the day and browse through the various islands. My attention span does not allow me to sit and chat with the different people from each represented island. I'm more of a "browse and walk by" kind of person. That's why I gave the place 3 stars.. it just became redundant after the 3rd village. The luau itself was cramped and pricey. If your looking to go someplace for a decent luau experience and good food, I highly recommend you check out the Paradise Cove Luau! The shows are again amazing but if you're traveling with a young child or an inpatient "browse and go" person like myself, it's a bit painful to sit and watch a 2 hour long show after sitting and having a buffet dinner.
(3)L Y.
I enjoyed my time at PCC. We got Ambassador's package (which came with a tour and luau). If it is your first time, I recommend going with the tour group and closer sit to the stage for the dinner and the show. However, I don't think we will ever purchase this package in the future. Friendly staff, good food and good show. I like it much better than Old Lahaina in Maui. "Ha" is one of the best show I ever seen.
(4)Tamara H.
So we took my mother in law here Tuesday this week, and I must say had I not been here before, I would have been annoyed and not impressed starting at the reception desk. But since we have been here several times and have had a terrific time I tried to overlook the surIy young man helping me. I had a Yelp 1/2 price for an annual pass coupon and the young man, from Pennsylvania, I looked because he was so unfriendly just wish I had remembered his name, anyway I got a pass for myself and my daughter, and I'm pretty sure he overcharged me although I don't know for sure because he never printed me a receipt! Even when I asked again for the total he told me but never offered a receipt! My mother in law was waiting for me so I let it go, but I was pretty unhappy and annoyed when we started our visit. We did have a good time, and stayed for the Island Buffet which was fabulous, as usual, and for Ha The Breath of Life which is such a wonderful show. Everyone else was wonderful and friendly and helpful, and the Center is so well kept up and clean you feel like everyone really cares about it. But the way the day started really stuck in my head, now I'm annoyed I bothered to get an annual pass.
(3)Matt E.
Arrived at 12:30 so was able to see all the live exhibits before the Luau and the evening show (Breath of Life or so-called 'Ha'). I was at first skeptical of the exhibits but they won me over. The Samoa performer is the best. Funny, talented artist, and expert at his craft. The New Zealand (Maori) was next best, and both of these are a must. The Luau was good, and like other reviewers I really enjoyed the fire dance at the end of the evening show. Negatives are there are too many items for sale being pushed... and they are expensive. Photos, drinks, and other items. I guess this is part of the game, but it gets annoying. Still I would go back and I recommend it. Was staying in Kailua so the drive was not bad... going from Waikiki would be a hike.
(4)Mimi C.
Being a resident here I usually get the grunt work of playing tour guide whenever family flies in from the states, now usually I would grumble and moan, like ughhhh mom, why do I have to hang out with the oldies??? but whenever she says they want to check out PCC I'm always on top of it... It is so much fun here, shows how beautiful the Polynesian culture really is, the staffs are very friendly, and most shows I find very funny, ESPECIALLY SAMOA other must sees are Tonga, and of course Tahiti (my husband loves Tahiti, I suppose you can guess why) Anyways, like most people, I don't really care for Hawaiian food, I once chose the Ali'i Luau which wasn't what I expected, I figured there would be more service because of the higher price, however, you still had to get up and grab your own food (buffet style) ummm okay, I am sooo tired do I really want to get up and wait in line? and on top of that take turns because the children were cranky??? anyways, so the next time I came here we settled for the cheapest package with the dinner buffet, man oh man, the food was extremely salty, my children who usually eats any and everything could not swallow this one, I tried to give them extra rice so it would balance the saltiness, but we could not shake that... my poor kids they just ate sweet potato salad which was the best dish they had there that night, I, well... I drank allot of water =) moving along, the evening show was so beautiful I totally forgot about dinner, I was enjoying myself so much, who cares about that now (okay, so you've redeemed yourselves)... I love how they have a story behind the show, they've added allot of props and high quality lighting to enhance the performance, it was a two thumbs up, and did I mention all of the guys in the show are uber HOT!!!! they have bodies of gods lol, anyways, if you're looking for a cultural experience without the dinning, then this is the place to be, or just coming for the evening show alone is not such a bad idea.
(4)Emily S.
Yeah, if you've NEVER been to Hawaii, then go here. I've been there a handful of times and already know that poi is like eating your friend's vomit that just attempted to eat mash potatoes with grape juice chasers. BLEECH.... The luau: The different levels of packages are confusing... and you feel like a complete loser if you don't get an upgrade. But don't... because it all looks the same and tastes the same. The ride is long and it is really touristy and CROWDED.
(3)B B.
Too much information to describe it in a narrative, so I'll use bullets: - No alcohol. NONE. - You CAN bring outside food in. - Center was started by Mormons. Helps fund education of International Mormon students. Almost everyone we met there was Mormon. - $5 for all day parking. - Get there by 2:15pm to see the 2:30pm Canoe show. A nice highlight of the center. (3 minutes to find parking, 8 minutes to check in. 4 minutes to walk to the Canoe show.) - Village hosts are usually hilarious (especially Samoa and Tonga). - If you've been to a luau before, you can skip the buffet dinner and just get the General Admission ticket. You'll see plenty of luau type action during the presentations at the 8 Villages that come with your GA ticket. The food at the dinner is average. - The Horizon show is like a big version of the luau. You sit in an auditorium. Again, if you've been to a luau before, you can probably skip on this, and save a nice chunk of change.
(3)Sandy T.
I did this for my grandma. She went here 30 years ago and made me swear for one of my trips I would go. So I did. It was great in idea and entertaining to walk around and see the various differences in the cultures. I did learn a few new things. I felt like a tourist. So, ok maybe I am technically a tourist, I just don't like to be a gawker. No alcohol for the luau. I don't even drink that often but it would have made the experience a little less awkward. The food was pretty good compared to the Atlantis luau we did a few years back which pretty much sucked on all levels. The show was pretty cool.
(3)Camlin R.
This review is for the Twilight Package - Ambassador level for the Polynesian Cultural Center. Unfortunately, the experience began on a sour note. The driver was obnoxious and offensive. He asked me why I was alone. I explained my boyfriend was stationed in Kuwait and won't be back until August. He told me, "what happens in Hawaii, stays in Hawaii" (wink, wink, nudge nudge). If I was a violent person, I would've given him both barrels right in the crotch. Everyday, I pray for my boyfriend's safe return. I didn't even want to go on this vacation without him, but the trip was paid for long before we met. The journey itself did not get any better. I was picked up in Waikiki at 2:30pm. We arrived to the center at 3:45pm. The bus had NO air conditioning which made the ride awful. It felt like a hairdryer was blowing on my head. For goodness sake, even the city buses have air conditioning. The driver was non stop loud bantering using toilet humor and sexual innuendo in a pathetic attempt to keep us entertained. The silence on the bus was deafening. On occasion, someone let out a half hearted sympathy chuckle. Once we arrived to the center, I conferred with a fellow passenger who concurred with my assessment of the driver behaving like untamed swine. I was able to visit 2 of the islands, and enjoyed watching a performer. The cast at the villages are enthusiastic and engaging. Dinner began at 5pm. I paid the the top tier feast because the website clearly states attendees would enjoy a traditional Hawaiian feast. I was surprised to find a buffet line that consisted of common food items such as sushi, turkey, eggplant parmesan, and spaghetti. Now, I don't claim to be a cultural expert, but I'm pretty sure spaghetti and meatballs is not authentic Polynesian cuisine. I thought there would be a pig roast, and asked a waiter about this. He told me that was being served at the Luau feast on the other side of the center. That was a cheaper dining experience which I skipped over because the website said what I was paying for was the real deal. Granted, most of the food in the buffet was of decent quality, and there were a few items that seemed to be authentic Polynesian cuisine. But they were the exception. I expected it to be the other way around, mostly traditional cuisine with a few common food items. This made my dining experience disappointing. The show itself does not begin until 7:30pm. I don't know anyone who takes 2 1/2 hours to eat dinner. Most people arrived when the doors opened, and no one was left inside eating save a couple of hefty sized people by 6pm. This wouldn't be an issue except the villages begin shutting down by 5pm, with the last attraction closing at 5:30pm. Interestingly enough, all the stores managed to stay open. The message I got from how this event is structured is the emphasis is more on getting you to buy their overpriced stuff, rather than entertain you. The show is why this review gets 2 stars instead of my finger. The story was very entertaining and the dancers mesmerizing. During intermission, I chatted with a fellow sitting next to me. He told me he paid for the Luau feast, (the same one the waiter told me the pig roast was at), and how disappointed he was with the meal. He told me there was no pig roast. It was common food, and not very good quality. It was an enlightening conversation. During intermission, people who paid for the higher level package could redeem their voucher for something called, "pineapple delight". Don't waste your money, people. It's cheap ice cream with canned fruitcocktail and food coloring dumped on it. I took a few bites then threw it away. The second half of the show was better than the first. They definitely saved the best for last. The firedancers were the highlight of the entire experience. By the time the show ended at 9pm, everyone was loaded back on the bus by 9:30pm. I reached my hotel shortly before 11pm, completely exhausted and not very happy. In hindsight, I should have done a little more research before booking this attraction. My recommendation for those interested in the Polynesian Cultural Center, is to go see it, if you happen to be vacationing in the area. It's not worth the long painful drive in an unairconditioned bus. Don't do the Twilight package because you won't have time to thoroughly experience all the islands. Definitely do NOT sign up to do any of their feasts. It's a colossal waste of money. You could pack some snacks to nibble while you're visiting the villages, then take your family out for a nice dinner for a fraction of the cost and get the exact same food. I take solace in knowing the money goes to a very good cause. It helps to pay for the employees' college tuition.
(2)lulubelle l.
Beautiful theme park (that is what it is!) featuring the different cultures of Polynesian islands. Didn't realize that the late entry tour/luau meant only 1 hour of touring, since it started at 4pm and we had to lined up for the luau at 5pm even though it started at 6. Food was okay, nothing special, and there were so many diners we felt like were at Sizzlers, eat all you want for one low price (except this was not a low price!) The evening show was spectacular, although I almost laughed out loud when the announcer said that the native people welcomed the foreign missionaries in their lives...a bit of propaganda since this is a church-run theme park?? Next time we will spend more time visiting the different "villages" and will skip the luau.
(3)Jane H.
Culture and entertainment is very impressive! Food is not great.
(3)Stephen D.
This is my third time visiting PCC. I really enjoyed it and it's like visiting the first time. The staff there are really helpful and there to make you enjoy, laugh and experience their culture. The drive wasn't bad about 45 minutes or so. Just keep hydrated especially on the warmer days.
(4)Keane L.
I learned to make poi, climb trees, roll coconuts, and make leis. Screw you college degree, now I can get a REAL job!! The boatride is the coolest part. There is a giant hula show with a crappy buffet if you order the more expensive package.
(4)Michelle T.
I had a blast here. The activities and performances were entertaining and I loved how they were very interactive. They had little shows/presentations on the different islands (fiji, tahiti, hawaii, etc..) and in between shows, activities to participate in (spear throwing, hula lessons, making fire with wood, weaving, and poi tasting). This is definately a great tourist spot and excellent for kids. It is very crowded so keep that in mind. The dinner was our first luau and unfortunately i was a little disappointed. The entertainment was good, but the eating area was more like a huge, open cafeteria area. At least the buffet offered good quality food. Luckily, we were advised to wait in line at least 30 mins before the start. We were able to get seats near one of two buffets and in front of the stage. That was probabaly the only negative. The show after was lovely. The stadium is a good size, so as long as you're not on the very side, your view will be sufficient to appreciate it. It was a nice place to go on my first trip to hawaii, but probably won't go back until I have kids to apreciate it with.
(3)Warren C.
This place is a must if it is your first time on Oahu. It gives you a basic background on the cultures of Polynesia. Things to see....villiage of Tahiti (try and do the dance when they ask for audience participartion), villiage of Samoa (really funny), the Rainbows of Paradise show, and the Horizons show. And, of course, don't forget the luau!!!! Tip: If you've never had poi, know that it tastes really bland. Eat it with something, not by itself.
(4)Maria B.
Definitely expensive, but worth the trip to the North shore. Its an hour from Waikiki so if you are staying in waikiki get the most out of the PCC by joining a guided tour. I recommend that if you have a few days to spend in the area, get a guided tour your first day and then come back and go around on your own and do the different activities. Great for kids and definitely informative for tourists with no knowledge of polynesian culture. The shows are interesting and everyone that works there are sooooo nice. We did the whole luau and show, I could have done without the luau, but the show was definitely worth it. The dancing was great, and overall was a good ending to the day.
(4)Hoa Q.
It was unfortunate that my bf and I were only there during the afternoon of our last day in Hawaii. From what our friends had told us, we were under the impression that it was a recreational center where you had to pay for individual lessons. The PCC is actually a museum in the form of a theme park. The tickets may be extremely expensive, but they're good for three consecutive days. I'm not sure if it's different during the earlier hours of the day, but the park was pretty quiet after 2PM, so it made for a relaxing afternoon of exploration. Of the seven island presentations, if you only visit one, be sure to visit Samoa's. We found that one to be the most educational and entertaining. For us, the luau was worth the extra $25 because despite our search, it was the only encounter we had with actual Hawaiian food during our trip to Oahu. And it overshadowed L&L Hawaiian BBQ by far. Oh, and if you're wondering what the Deelite Dessert is, it's just rainbow sherbet with mango slices.
(5)s w.
good for the culture thing as in the name implies. it is great for an education of the Hawaiian culture, the Ha show is good but it was really dragged out. lots of picture opportunities for them to snag a few $$$ (well some one has got to paid for the education) the parade was not too much fan fare 6 floats with 6-10 dancers each in them . disney is 10000% better. the show and tell village is ok the main money maker for them is the $5 bowl of fruits and ice cream. sold everywhere before each show in every village and even the parade. sit out in the hot baking sun over head and out comes the cool refreshing ICE CREAM.,,,, Cha Ching the luau are a distant, trailing behind the moon, dead last. (paradise cove is the best of the best luau). the gateway buffet - well school cafteria is better, can ham, deli turkey, fake sushi, super salty chicken and they even messed up the fountain soda. last. the bring lots of sunscreen.
(2)Varghese M.
This is a MUST visit, if its your first time in Oahu. Its just amazing the attention to detail they've brought to each village. It teaches you so much about different cultures. And deftly .. deftly do not miss "HA" the musical.. It was brilliant. The only thing I have against the whole experience was the Luau. The food wasn't that great!!!
(4)Kelsie W.
The Ha Breath of Life show was amazing! Definitely worth it. The luau was good with good food. I just felt like a cow in a herd, having dinner with hundreds of other people. We had the ambassador package for the good seats and the tour. The seats were good, tour not. As far as seeing the different villages... we were forced into a tour and never really told how the whole thing worked (kind of shady). Then we were rushed from spot to spot by our tour guide. It all felt very hurried and we had no time to stroll and actually learn more about the cultures. Very strange. The people sitting in front of us had the super ambassador, or whatever it is called. They got a private tour and gushed at their guides at the end of the day about how wonderful it was--even gave them hugs! So, maybe that is the way to go. I would recommend going, but I would not take the tour again. Just educate yourself before you go, check out the map and things, and do your own thing. And stay for the show!!!
(4)Eugene H.
The luau and night show are pretty fun to watch. The tour is pretty fun as you get to learn all sorts of interesting facts. I think they overuse the word 'Aloha' here and that makes it a little weird.
(4)Bella A.
Our experience with the Ali'i Luau package at PCC has been wonderful. It was like going into a wonderland, or a theme park, everything is new to me and we were taking pictures non-stop. It was most definitely money well spent as we spent the whole day with the guided tour exploring different cultures. We didn't miss anything! The dinner was great, so many people were there the hall was full. I love the crown of leis placed on my head, I felt like a princess at a royal dinner. Well, that was a feast fit for a Royal indeed. The night performance was spectacular. I would recommend anyone who is on the fence about going. GO!
(5)David D M.
The mormons built this place. Think what you want of that, but they help many Polynesians, from many different islands, get a degree. I like that. And at the same time, educate people that would otherwise not have known a lick about Polynesian culture and how expansive and diverse it is. Mission accomplished. Having said all that, there is some cheese involved, even though there are no cows in sight. Part of it reminded me of the tiki room at disneyland.. I will probably burn an extra hour in hell for that. I recently went here with a friend that lives in Waipahu. She's a hula dancer. The evening show made her a little bit angry, maybe upset. "She's not doing that right!" "Jeez, she's not even from Hawai'i, you can tell. Some other island." Were some of her comments during the performance. None the less, I learned some basic truths about the various islands found in the Pacific. And how many places, even in Hawai'i, have people from New Zealand, Fiji, Tahiti, Samoa, Tonga, Guam and Marquesa all together? Men in lava lavas! You gotta love it!
(4)Janet K.
Had an opportunity to take my 4 Grandkids (2-8yrs) to the PCC a few weeks ago. I was impressed with how many interactive things they had for children and they loved the booklet they could get stamped at each area they visited. (We were disappointed in the little seashell they received after getting all their stamps, an imitation Lei would have been better.) We arrived at noon and kept busy until our buffet dinner followed by the Luau. A long day indeed but worth it. The "Samoan" area demonstration was the best by far. The Luau show had wonderful dancing, music, and color. The fire show at the end was fabulous!!! They followed a storyline throughout the show that took away rather than enhancing. Why on earth do they need a storyline with all that talent? I know it was showing the cycle of life but I came for the dancing, drums, fire, and music which was EXCELLANT - not for a life lesson. The facility gets 5 stars! Well constructed and maintained. Everyone was very friendly throughout the grounds. A cheerfull positive Aloha spirit prevails! I'm glad we went, I love the polynesian culture and appreciate what the PCC has done to not only help preserve it but to share it in such an organized facility.
(4)Ashley B.
In '06 a group of friends and I went here and had a blast. We spent the day at different 'islands' learning about Tahiti, New Xealand, Hawaii and the others. The landscape is gorgeous and you can take a boat ride. There is arts and crafts, entertiainment, dance lessons, body art, performances and a floating parade. In the evening there is a luau with traditional food and an awesome awesome performance. Fire dancers included! It was well worth the $90+ since it was a highlight of our trip!
(5)Robert M.
Didn't like it that much. It is more like a theme part than a cultural center, although they do try hard to make it a more "sophisticated" experience, it just reeks SO much like a theme park back on the Mainland. The food at the gateway buffet is not very good at all, and all the other packages seem to cost more money than they are worth. Their current show, "Ha", is quite poor also. This is a better place for kids who actually care about the little attractions at each island, but adults should be able to find something more fun to do.
(2)Hello.kitty.kat S.
we stayed in waikiki and this place is on the north shore so it was a drive up there. rented a car on the recommendation of my gf's coworker. she stated that there were places we would want to stop that were so beautiful. there were places that were pretty but not so pretty that renting a car was worth it. should've taken the bus here. got here later than expected cuz we went to hanauma bay in the morning (that was worth it). only saw 2 villages: samoa and new zealand. samoa is funny, definitely watch that. it was hot out here. the luau was ok. they sat us next to this filipino family and this couple was in front of us all pissed off at something the host said to them. they were immediately rude and dismissive towards us as if we did something wrong! dude, the fucked up thing is that me and my gf are filipino too and normally we are all friendly with each other. anyway, my gf said that bitch was muggin' me... i don't know what was up her and her man's ass but they were givin' out negative vibes. we eventually asked to be moved. food was ok. luau was not as i expected. their was singing and dancing on the stage but when I think of luau, i think of eating on the beach. no beach in site. the food was ok. no alcohol. the show "Ha - breath of life" was ok. boring in the beginning. saw much of the same stuff they did on the New Zealand island. i suspect they borrow fr the shows of the other islands as well. the only cool part was the fire show at the end. i actually dozed off during the first half. the show was like a vegasy-hawaiian mix. the whole time i was there i was wondering how mormonism and hawaiian tradition could be related. i thought it was funny how they call it a temple but it's just a mormon church which are all over the place here. temple sounds more exotic. we didn't get to go to the tram tour to the "temple." it is all just strange to me because all the mormons at my high school were all white and wore birkenstocks with socks and could not date. A far cry from the shirtless males dancing around like natives (which was nice). It seems like the church is just profiting by exploiting hawaiian culture. i know they say it's non-profit and the money goes to the students but they invested a lot of money in this place... it's like san diego zoo without the animals and universal studios with the faux rocks and waterfalls. next time I want to go to Paradise Cove and get a real drink while i'm on vacation. i don't want to necessarily support the mormon religion.
(3)Justin C.
Fun stop if you're a tourist. Just cruised the market area and had a lot of fun looking around at the shops. The employees there are super friendly and really nice. Would've liked to check out more of what the center had to offer but was pretty tired from a day of activities.
(4)A W.
What a colonial abomination. A theme park about peoples and cultures? Ridiculous. This is Hawaiian and Polynesian culture reduced to caricature. It's like attending a zoo and gawking at PEOPLE, accompanied by incredibly obtuse and basic information/education. The "luau" was an embarrassment. Worst food I had anywhere in Hawaii. Buffet-style dining, vats of poke (mass-produced raw fish is NEVER good, nor is it sanitary), and the driest Kalua pork known to man. Keep in mind that this park is owned by the LDS/Mormon church, further reinforcing a colonial undercurrent, not to mention raising questions of ideological intent. It is primarily a commercial venture, despite their lofty advertisements declaring that a small amount of the profits are used for scholarships at BYU Hawaii. Horrifying in concept and in practice.
(1)Nancy T.
My new hubby and I stopped here on our Hawaiian honeymoon. We got there and they said the Ali'i Lu'au package was sold out and we'd have to upgrade to an Ambassador Package if we wanted to tour the center. The ticket lady said the Ambassador package was much better anyway, because you get the best seating for everything and you get a guide to walk with you through the center. Although we were hesitant, we said fine and paid the extra $64 for the upgrade. Our hotel was 1.5 hours away in Ko Olina and we didn't want to have to come back another day, plus she said we got better seats. As it turns out, the better seating part is not true. There's no reserved seating at any of the village shows. You fight for seating just like everyone else even though you paid more. As for the guided tour, our group had 14 people in it (1 person was in a wheelchair), so things moved slowly. I think we would've seen more if we toured the center ourselves. We ended up seeing two shows plus the canoe pageant (standing), took a canoe ride, and then it was time for the lu'au. The lu 'au seating was good, but our table was empty when we were seated and no one told us to go to the pit to see the imu being unearthed. By the time we figured out where everyone was, folks at the pit was coming back to their seats. It would've been helpful if our host would've told us what was going on. Made me kinda disappointed that we paid $120 each and saw so little (of villages and imu). After dinner, we went to their Horizons show. It was pretty good. Lots of dancing and music. Kind of long and repetitious though. Needs to be more interactive rather than one continuous dance number after another. My husband was really excited to see the fire knife dance. That was the last number before the finale. I was excited too, but then got tired. By the time it finally happened, I was ready to go home. So my suggestion would be to get the package you want by buying it online early . The guided tour was not worth it, and there was no special seating for the village shows with the Ambassador package. Tours can slow you down. The lu'au lei was nice, dancers were really good, and the food was actually very well prepared. The kalua pork was moist and tender that night with just the right amount of seasoning. I say "that night", because I am sure it can vary somewhat from night to night depending on the conditions of the pit.
(3)Marjorie B.
This is the premier event to set for an entire day dedicated to learning about the rich culture and heritage of the island nations in Polynesia. Their tours through each "village" representing any of the islands range among Samoa, Fiji, Hawaii, Tahiti, Tonga, New Zealand, Marquesas and a few more. At each, visitors are encouraged to participate in interactive demonstrations of various aspects of work and play. Around lunchtime you could hit up a snack stand for a sandwich in a plastic box while watching a pageant on the banks of a river where each island performs dances on their own raft. This is a great deal for people staying mainly in one island in Hawaii but desiring to catch a glimpse of the rest of Polynesia. Just hope you get a good tour guide. Most of them are on a scholarship program from BYU who runs pretty much the entire operation whose proceeds go mainly to defraying the costs of education for many of the students working in the program -- pretty much a solid win all around. By dark, after all that walking in the heat you get to fill up at a large buffet before feasting your eyes on all the islands come together for a big finale on stage to perform their colorful fiery dance performances. The layout of the parkgrounds itself is awesome and rife with waterfall structures, a large river and bridges, the villages themselves host myriad genuine cultural architectural implements including a 30-40 year old thatched hut whose wooden beams are held up solely by coconut husk rope. The demonstrators are also very knowledgeable and are available for questions after each showing.
(4)B W.
We got the PCC special general admission + show and Gateway buffet tickets for $69 for adults and 1/2 price of $27 for kids. We didn't do the more expensive Ali'i Luau because with young kids, you'll be spending more money and they may not eat too much of the food. My husband and I have been to PCC once before years ago and wanted our kids to experience it for the first time. We took the canoe ride first, then we went around the various villages. The kids liked spear throwing and making a fish out of coconut palm leaves. We saw a fire dancing demonstration. The funny thing is that the guy got one of the fire knives stuck on the protective netting and burned a piece of the netting. The host said that's never happened before. The fire dancers doing the demo were probably not the same ones in the show because the ones in the show were awesome! More on that later. The Gateway buffet was decent. There was kalua pork, chicken, and mahi mahi. There was lots of food and it was more than adequate for our family. After dinner, we went to the theatre to find our seats. We were in section 1, lower level and the seats were very good. It is stadium style so you get a good view of the stage from almost any seat. The Ha Breath of Life show was amazing! It does start off a little slow in the beginning to introduce the story. You'll get to see the main character "grow" from a baby to man. They've incorporated different Polynesian cultures into the mix. My son liked the warrior scene and my daughter liked the hula dancing. The finale was the awesome fire knife dancing! It amazes me how they can twirl those fire staffs so fast! And there were several of them on stage. After reading yelp comments about other luau shows in Oahu, I'm glad I picked PCC to attend. We felt we got the best show and dinner for the money. We drove our rented car from Waikiki to PCC and made it a day trip. We stopped by Kahala Beach, Waimanalo Beach, Byodo Temple, and Kualua Beach (Chinaman's Hat) along the way. The kids had fun taking pictures with the large tiki statues. There were photo souvenirs you could buy, but we didn't.
(4)Donna C.
I have been to the Polynesian Cultural Center many times in the 10 years I lived in Hawaii. It was always a great place to spend the day with family and friends that come to visit the islands to share in the culture of the islands represented at PCC. I have since moved to Arizona and make it a point to go back to Hawaii every year. I was in Honolulu again in September for my honeymoon and I made sure that I set aside one day to share the experience with my husband who has never been to Hawaii before. He loved every minute of the day there. I was sorry that we didn't arrive right when they opened this time as we got there at 1pm and didn't have the opportunity to see all of the shows that day. However, I knew which were my favorites and we didn't miss those. I definitely recommend getting there right when they open for anyone who doesn't want to miss anything. I have taken advantage of the buffet dinner and nighttime show in the past, but thought I'd try the luau this time. I wasn't impressed with the entertainment and the food is exactly the same as you get at the buffet, which costs less than the luau. In either case, it's a great way to sample the cultural foods. Surpisingly, my husband enjoyed the poi. I love the chicken longrice and kalua pork. The Ha, Breath of Life show at the end was delightful. It helped to know the storyline beforehand so we could understand the meaning behind it all. It made it much more enjoyable. The guide on the boat ride shared the insight with us along with a lot of humor. That's what I love about the PCC, is the humor they add to all the shows, along with understanding about each culture represented there. It is well worth a day of your vacation even if it is a costly experience. I would recommend PCC to anyone who has never been.
(5)Mike M.
My wife and I visited while on our honeymoon several weeks back. Let me preface this review by saying that we purchased late entry tickets and skipped the night show all together. Basically, I can only review the PCC from a food standpoint, but let me tell you, that part was more than enough to earn 5 stars, IMO. The chicken and pork are so tender and flavorful, they nearly fall off the bone and dissolve in your mouth. The poke is to die for, and the sweet potatoes are equally amazing. The desserts are in abundance and all are equally excellent. Throughout the meal, there is tasteful entertainment done by the moderator and band. They take time to honor all newlyweds which meant that we got to go up on stage and dance in front of the audience (which was pretty cool). I thought it was just an excellent experience, and had we not had have had to leave early the next day, we would have definitedly stayed for the show (which I've heard from numerous people is equally awesome!) Don't waste your time at Germaine's or any of the other Luau's. Go to the PCC and enjoy the experience.
(5)Angelo A.
Always a good place to take family and friends visiting Hawaii for the first time. Very informative and entertaining. Save some money and skip the package deal/luau/buffet/show. Stroll around at your own pace, then have dinner on your way back to town. Be sure to take advantage of the kamaaina rate (if you can). And bring sunscreen and a hat if you're going during the day. It's HOT out there! Everything is outside and there's very little shade.
(4)Jeff P.
I would recommend going to the Polynesian Cultural Center if you are interested learning about the different islands in Polynesia and willing to do different activities. I learned that New Zealand was part of Polynesia, I had no idea. The bus ride from Waikiki and our tour was very entertaining. Our guide the whole time was Cousin Rudi. They make you feel like family there so they call everyone cousin or family. Basically you get to visit all the islands of Polynesia do activities in each island, ie. play the bamboo instrument in Fiji. They teach something about each culture on each island. The tour was followed by a buffet luau, then the finale Horizon's show. The show was great but I was worn out in the middle of the finale. Make sure you are well rested prior to going to the Center because it is a long day.
(4)Kris A.
I know it maybe a little too touristy, but when you're touring with the family and kids. This is definitely one great place to go (esp if you're an old skool Tahitian/Hawaiian dancer).. teehee I love their costumes and performances. I love diversity and admiring the different cultures among us. Great food and great entertainment. The kids love it! They get to appreciate history and the different forms of dancing from each island.
(5)Dee L.
The Ali'i Luau food is ok - not great, just like cafetaria food. The shows are great, getting there by noon is highly recommended so you can do all of the activities & watch all the shows.
(4)Robin R.
I did the Ambassador Package and this was my first time going in April. I am glad I had the tour guide because I would have missed alot of things. I was there the whole day, I took the first bus that went out there. When I got there I went to the McDonalds across the way. I am glad I did because the food that was served at the Lu'au was not that good and there was not that many choices.
(4)Josh A.
We came here, because it sounded pretty cool, which it was. What we didn't know, is that you need to give yourself enough time to see all the villages and have enought time to go the luau. We came kind of late and had enough time to catch the bus ride to the temple. We were thinking polynesian temple, but were greeted by the Mormon temple. I have no problems with mormons at all, but we were told we could catch the last bus to the temple, so what we got and what we were thinking was completely different. What stunk, was that when we got back, we had to rush through and get to the luau. Not sure why they offer a tour of the temple, which includes a nice little movie about being mormon, but to each their own I guess. I will say it was pretty and the landscaping was very nice as well. Anyway, we got the luau and got what we expected... minus the alcoholic drinks, minus the coke, and minus the coffee. I have friends that are Mormon, so I already knew they didn't drink alcohol, or at least they aren't supposed to. I had no idea they couldn't drink coke though. So we got lots and lots of juice, which was good. The food was ok, I've had better. The show was nice, but the evening show was much better. I guess it was educational and now I know what it means to be Mormon. Thanks, but I'll stay being a crazy Catholic.
(3)T Q.
There is definitely lots to see and more to do. It's a lot of educational type of shows about the different island cultures of Polynesia. Samoa was the best! The guy was sooo funny. The other island shows were okay too. It has become quite commercialized since the last time we've been there. They definitely try to sell lots of stuff there. We had booked a tour from our hotel and our guide (Germaine) on the bus heavily suggested upgrading to the ambassador package, which we did and then he was our guide throughout the park. I really didn't see the value of this upgrade, since he said he would take us through to get better seats. This really wasn't the case cause we got the same kind of seats as any other attendees. Also it was a bit boring for our kid and I brought it to his attention. He was moderately helpful but not much. I think we could have been better off exploring the park by ourselves. The food at the luau portion was definitely an improvement from the last time. It was buffet style and we got to try the roast pig amongst other good stuff. The show was good since it had a story line and it weaved in quite nicely to the dancing/fire show. If this is your first time to Hawaii, the PCC is a good option to try.
(3)May B.
This place is a must visit for at least one time. I had to pay $8 for parking even though I got there after 4pm. I pretty much missed the whole day festivities. I think you can come after 4 and pay only $50 for admission which includes admission and the show package. The admission is actually good for 3 days. However they were also running a promo so by paying $10 more, I got the Gateway Buffet added. So paying $60 for the show and buffet I thought it was a pretty good deal. The buffet is nothing to brag about but I couldn't complain cuz I was able to find something to eat. I also enjoyed the show "Ha, the Breath of Life" . Expect the show to be more of a storyline production than a dancing show. (think Lion King, the circle of life) The fire dancers at the end was the best part. I would drive thru by using H2 instead of H3 cuz I believe you will get to the place a lot faster since it's on the north shore side. Plus you can stop by the shrimp trucks/shacks for a snack.
(3)Amity L.
I'd go for just the activities. There aren't many activities you can do starting at 4pm, so I'd suggest at least half a day there.
(3)Nifty G.
It's the worst place to visit. its all the hype and their Luau had the worst food and few selections to make. The only thing they knew was selling their freshly made pineapple juice and other stuff which doesn't cover the 90-110$ package you shelled out in first place. There are few good things, like their canoe pageant and dance which was something different and Ha-breath of life show.. So don't go with their package instead just go for their Ha-breath if lives show and that too as your last option. If you got better things to do, u can just skip it and believe me you haven't missed anything. Before I forget, I want to mention that Tonga village folks did really entertain the people with their skills.
(2)Jessica P.
It's expensive and a little hokie-touristy, but still a lot of fun. The luau isn't bad. Just don't look at the pig while it's roasting. Oh, and when the Fijian boy climbs the tree, it's poor form to look up unless you want a show you didn't pay for. :)
(4)Cheryl L.
I give this spot 3 stars because they have an AMAZING show and there are endless activities. The food was great. This place would be a total 5 star for anyone there with family, or young children. Great activities and a fun way to learn about the different Polynesian islands. However, minus two stars for 1. Not having alcohol 2. Boring (I'm young and there wasn't a fun kind of "partttty" vibe) 3. No coconut bras. Seriously. The tahitian dancers didn't have any. Come on, those are fun! I really do think this spot is a great place for families and younger children though, and the food was pretty good for a luau. I think the reason why there is no alcohol and coconut bras is due to the fact that the PCC is run by the Bingham Young University (predominately mormon). I'll be back here when I'm 40 and have a kid. Maybe.
(3)Eve F.
Glad we went but once was enough. Tour bus picked us up at 10:15 in Waikiki. Took about 1 1/2 hr to get there with a couple of stops to pick up people. We had breakfast but were talked into the buffet lunch for $15 on the Ambassador Package saying that the food at the center would be at theme park prices but I saw hot dogs for $3.Although as it turned out there wouldn't have been time to eat with the tour and the lines were long. But decided to go with the lunch which was pretty good - bar-b-que ribs, salads, sides and drinks and dessert. This was already about 12:30 and we were going to eat again at 5:00. Pkg included tour guide but with a map we could have done just as good and probably gotten to see more. We didn't get to see everything but honestly there wasn't that much left. Didn't have time for the behind scenes tour and the University tour. No big deal but it was part of the Ambassador package. Should have just gotten the Ali'i Luau pkg and saved $50 ea. Luau was o.k. Big crowds, seems like it took forever for our table to head to the buffet line. Don't care too much for Hawaiian food but glad I tried it. Kalua pork was delicious and I had enough to eat. We just had enough time after this to go to the shops for a little while and it was time for the show at 7:30. The Ha Breath of Life show was very good. Truly enjoyed it. There are at least 3 opportunities for pictures at $18 ea. Don't miss the canoe pageant where all the representatives of each culture dance on boats passing by. Everything else is demos of different things. Loved all the dancing by the different islands. Very interesting and I'm glad we went.
(3)Barbara S.
Wonderful day! Something for every age. Guides were great and patient with little ones. Very entertaining and educational. Something to do every minute. Memories for a lifetime, but we r going back.
(5)Junel L.
I LOVED IT HERE!!! the polynesian cultural center is a great place to show a friend who's never been to hawaii, you learn so much from the culture , makes you feel like you're part of the ohana. of course the interaction with the guests makes you feel special!! towards the end of the night you see all the cultures in the luau and give you one FANTASTIC performance!! gotta try the ice cream its delish!! not sure if the guy is still there he's covered in tattoos!! very friendly..
(5)Carrie M.
The Polynesian Cultural Center was lovely, but I wish I had known that it was created by the Mormon church, and the funds you spend there support their operations. We bought a package to visit, be a part of the luau, and watch the show, and were in the middle of the luau when my husband and I put two and two together, Googled the place on my iphone and realized it's affiliated with BYU Hawaii, and the LDS church. There were even tour buses to take you through the nearby Mormon Temple. We're from California, and the Mormon church's support of Proposition 8 was appalling, and incredibly destructive. Yes, we are lefty-liberals; my 12 year old daughter cried and cried when she realized she was in a LDS organization that we had now given a sizable amount of funds to. My point being; buyer beware. We did speak to some incredibly nice customer service folks; they were there on scholarship to BYU working off their tuition at the cultural center, and they were quick to point out that it was allowing them to receive an education that would otherwise not have been possible. I don't begrudge them their education; I simply felt duped for not being informed of the connection to the LDS church in advance. We would certainly not have spent the money we did, and are now making an equal donation to an organization in support of overturning Prop 8. And go to a different luau - this one was pretty cheesy.
(1)Trina A.
I agree with all you yelpers..PCC totally reminded me of Disneyland! It was totally tiring because its an all day event. Visiting all the villages was very interesting because you get to learn a little bit about all the Polynesian Islands. My favorite village was Samoa! You get to see a guy climb a coconut tree, and my bf got on stage and learned how to husk a coconut. I really enjoyed the dances and I appreciated learning about the different types of dances in each Island because I do Tahitian dance. The night show is sooo awesome! The fire tossing..wow! I Oh..and the drive there is about an hour, but the guys are pretty entertaining, and the view...oh my. I definitely recommend PCC to any first time visitors to Hawaii
(4)Colleen M.
We started the day on the Circle Island Tour and Cuzin J was a brilliant tour guide. We all tried to be last so we could do the hula while he played his ukelele....PCC is a great place to visit. All the staff are so friendly and helpful. Each Island was great and entertaining. The Samoan and Tahiti ones we saw were excellent, the Samoan was funny and we were laughing the whole time. The lagoon pageant was great to watch, get seated early in the shade as there is not a lot of seating. It was very hot while we were there and the staff came around selling icecream for $5 a dish, we thought that was a bit rich and didnt buy any. The prices for all the food and water was double what we were paying in Waikiki and my advice would be to bring lots of water and snacks to tide you over till the Luau at 5pm. There were lots of activities for kids and seemed to be family friendly. Overall it was a great experience.
(3)Britney A.
This was awesome! I've never been to a Luau though :( Well, hope things are going great....HAPPY NEW YEAR
(5)Ani R.
My only qualm, was that I wished everything was more authentic. This is definitely a touristy location which caters to haole. It's all about the entertainment factor, with glitz and glam. I think the audience could have been better educated about the Polynesian islands beyond the dancing, and acrobatics. :) I really enjoyed the enormous dinner, nighttime performance, and the mini-parade/dancers on the riverboats. Overall it was worth it for those three things. The entire staff was extremely friendly, warm, welcoming, and always eager to help. I appreciated that so much! I also loved the traditional hula performance, and fire dancing/climbing up the tree! There are many "mini-shows" throughout the day where they re-enact/show the audience parts of Hawaiian history and culture. These can get pretty crowded, so know which shows you're really keen on seeing, and get there first!
(4)Pete M.
Overall, we were entertained for the money that we spent. The food was decent, and there were plenty of entertaining shows and interesting exhibits. I echo the sentiments of other reviewers, however, in raising concerns about the heavy LDS (Mormon) Church influence. The park is owned by the Mormon Church, and offers regular shuttles to the Mormon Temple. Most of the performers are students at the Mormon BYU University. This wouldn't necessarily be a problem if this was a regular theme park, but it's purportedly a celebration of native Polynesian culture. There are all sorts of conflicts of interest that make me question the quality and authenticity of the information. (i.e. does the park really value native culture when they're bussing tourists over to the LDS Temple from the park?) Another example is the exhibition Polynesian canoe that you can explore. It is called the Iosepa, which is the Hawaiian word for "Joseph". Yes, it is named for Joseph Smith, the white founder of Mormonism. That's very weird. And as others have mentioned, there are many things like this that lend colonial overtones to the experience, which may make some people uncomfortable. The point of my review isn't to discourage anyone from going, because there is plenty to do. But just take it for what it is--a theme park run by a church. Don't think you're immersing yourself in the native culture of the islands. It's an uneasy mixture of LDS and Polynesia. But if you go in with that expectation, then it can be interesting as a study of cultural appropriation and the LDS movement in Hawaii.
(3)Vittaya V.
If you are looking for some more traditional hawaiian food....with plenty of choices...this is the place for you.
(5)Sheena Y.
I think the Polynesian cultural center is great to go at least once to check out the island culture. There's so many things to do there that you can't even finish it in one day. Its also a long ride from waikiki so be prepared. Some people had tour guides with them but I think it's better to explore the park on ur own. You don't hire a tour guide at Disney land right? It can be a long and tiring full day so be prepared and if you're watching the main fire show, you can't take photos or videos. I do have a video in the day time where the island of Samoa did a quick fire show. You can check it out at youtu.be/X505AunTe90
(3)D J.
Despite the horrific shuttle service (which, mind you, is NOT run by the PCC but rather a contracted company), our experience was phenomenal!! That being said, let's get to the details! While the cost of the Super Ambassador tickets are fairly expensive, you certainly get your money's worth. We were treated like royalty the entire time! We had a very knowledgeable and extremely friendly guide that led us around throughout the tour, and he was dedicated to us and no one else, so the experience was very personal. We had bought a "selfie stick" so we could take pictures of the two of us on our honeymoon, but our guide very frequently offered to take pictures of us together so we didn't have to bother with that. Each section of the PCC had a different island theme (Aotearoa, Fiji, Tonga, Hawaii, Samoa, Tahiti), and each had their own show and demonstrations. While we watched each show, our guide proceeded to the next show to reserve front row seats for our next experience. The individual shows, while short, demonstrated the unbelievable abilities of the performers. The long, strenuous hours (6 days a week) they put into practice are very evident and they will impress even the toughest of audiences. The luau at the PCC was outstanding. Our tickets again gained us front row seats to the dinner show, which featured many male and female dancers and even a very young kid who showed off his unmatched abilities with fire dancing! The food was a grand feast and featured kalua pork (pu'u) prepared in the traditional manner in an underground oven. The biggest highlight of our evening was the show afterwards, "Ha, Breath of Life." This performance raised the hairs on my arm and even moved me to tears at a point (no spoilers). Again, we had front row seats and we could feel the great heat generated from the fire dancing finale. The performance, despite being in a language the we do not understand, was so well constructed and expressive that we comprehended its meaning throughout. Consider the best package at the PCC for an evening you will not forget!!
(5)Kimberly K.
We had a fun time here. A local suggested we check out the Polynesian Cultural Center at least once in our lifetime. Tickets are pricey. There are a bunch of different packages, check their website for more details. General Admission is $50/person. Tickets can go up to $200/person. The Polynesian Cultural Center brings to life the traditions, history and hospitality of the islands of Polynesia. You can visit authentic villages and watch natives from seven Pacific cultures demonstrate the arts of dancing with fire, making clothing from plants, jewelry making and preserving history without a written language. Experience ancient life in Tonga, Fiji, Tahiti, Hawai'i, Aotearoa (New Zealand), and Samoa. The General Admission Package includes: - canoe ride through their lagoon and a performance at their canoe pageant. -Explore Polynesia- an immersive cultural experience in 6 island villages -Canoe Ride/Tour -Historical Tram tour of Laie (a city of refuge) -"Go Native" hands-on activities for the whole family -Canoe Pageant -"Hawaiian Journey" cinematic experience I'm glad we got to experience the cultural center, at least once. Lots of talented people who shared their gifts with us. The drive here from Honolulu was beautiful!
(4)Anson W.
Fellas, does your lady really love you? If you're uncertain, bring her to the Polynesian Cultural Center. If she's still with you after seeing all the muscular, shirtless Polynesian performers here, you'll know she's a keeper. Only in Hawaii can you find a theme park dedicated to the islands of Polynesia. Fit Polynesian guys and gals do dances and other physically exertive activites, and all you have to do all day is watch and eat - that's the American way, yo. SIX ISLANDS, ONE BOAT: ----------------------------------- Hawaii: Watch a girl do the hula, an interpretive dance, as a guy sings and plays various instruments. Tahiti: All about the grass skirt dances! Be prepared to do some dancing of your own, too! Tonga: These talented drummers put on a hilarious show and recruit a few members of the audience to participate. Aotearoa: Really cool show where dancers swing around poi and toss sticks back and forth. I was on the edge of my seat worried that somebody would drop a stick and ruin the rhythm, but these people are really talented! Fiji: Learn about Fijian musical styles as the whole audience participates in this interactive show. Samoa: Probably the funniest show of them all. Watch as muscular guys climb trees and make fires while wisecracking jokes the whole time. Iosepa: A sailing canoe that was built in Hawaii using Fijian wood. Pretty cool to learn how the ship was made using traditional Hawaiian techniques. DETAILS: ----------------------------------- Admission for the base package including dinner and the nighttime show was $75 per adult, and round-trip transportation from Waikiki was $22 per adult. Rather than paying more for a guided tour, we went off on our own, looked at the schedule and were able to make it to every single island (not every island has a show during every half-hour time slot), plus the Imax movie about the island of Hawaii. During the day we also caught a reenactment of a Tahiti wedding, plus the mid-day boat pageant where performers from each island come out on boats on the river that runs down the middle of the park. Unfortunately, you are only given a few hours to see everything, so you won't have time to see all the shows AND do the activities at each village. Dinner at the Gateway Buffet was so-so, nothing over the top. My favorite thing at the PCC is the "Ha: Breath of Life" show in the evening. A really cool production taking you through the different cultures that you've learned about during the day. Lots of fun, and more educational than Disneyland!
(4)Andy O.
All the people here were super friendly and welcoming, and the shows were somewhat fun, I guess. It definitely felt like some kind of giant church camp, which it essentially is. Run by Brigham Young University in Hawaii, I was honestly expecting some kind of convert-to-Mormonism-NOW kind of approach, but luckily they didn't push that once. However, they must have asked for donations in one way or another at least every fifteen minutes. The MC during the luau was trying to sell shit several times during the meal. It's also super SUPER touristy, not that I wasn't one myself, but it's still a bit extreme. Also, they say,"Aloha" like WAY too many times. I'm serious, they'll say it like eighteen times per sentence. And they put some serious grunt into it, as if they're frustrated with you for not being able to understand their soul -their very inner being- from hearing them say that word alone. After leaving this place, I really never wanted to hear "aloha" again. Like, ever... If they could drop the sales pitches and the aloha-bombs, this place could be a 4-star spot for a visitor to Oahu. As it stands though, I'd give it 2.5- to 3-stars at best...
(3)Kirsten A.
The ABSOLUTE BEST part of the PCC is the Samoan island presentation. Don't miss that one. It is so hilarious!!! And, not only that, it was really cool to see him break open a coconut and climb the palm tree. The dancing routines and presentations on the other islands were good, too, but the Samoan was definitely the greatest. The luau was good, entertaining, but not what I expected. Because there are so many people at this luau, everything is too organized. I think I was halfway expecting something out of an episode of Saved by the Bell when they went to Hawaii, so having assigned seating at dinner with a stage and someone telling me when to get up and get food was not expected. But, regardless, it was nice. The food was good and the virgin pina colada served in a pineapple was delicious! The show was a little boring. It could have just been that I was a little sick (a cold) and extremely tired (jetlag), but I completely fell asleep throughout most of the middle of the show. I woke up just in time to see the fire dancers, which I assume were the best part.
(3)Ka'ili H.
I truly enjoy my experience whenever I visit this place. Perhaps it's because I love the Polynesian cultures and I am Polynesian as well, in either case this place is pretty neat. My friends and visited P.C.C recently and we made a weekend of it by staying out in Punalu'u, so we don't have to drive all the way back to town after watching the Ha breath of life show. We went to a couple of the villages as well as took the canoe ride through the center. Even though all of us are pretty educated about the different Polynesian cultures we learned a lot. We visited the Aotearoa village (New Zealand) where they do the traditional protocols when entering the marae. I have to tell you these people have so much passion when they are doing their hakas and chants, just beautiful. We learned about the haka and the poi dancing. Next we went to the Tahitian village and learned how to shake our hips Tahitian style. Talked with the friendly Tahitian guy about Tahitian ukuleles then ended our day at P.C.C. at the Tongan village, hilarious!!! We came back later in the evening after dinner to watch the Ha breath of life show. It was truly spectacular. The show follows a boy growing up going to 7 different Polynesian islands. At each island we learn of their native dance and song. There were funny parts, sad parts, romantic parts, and pure joy. I enjoyed the fire knife dance part, amazing. If you ever make it down to La'ie go to see the villages and the show, you'll learn something, maybe about yourself or the island you live. It IS hot there so wear sunscreen, drink water, and a hat. The students there are very helpful and many of the people who work at the villages are from that island. I know i'll be going back for the world fire knife competition in may.
(5)Wayne S.
Ha was a good fun show. Lots of yelling and stuff I didn't understand but it was still fun. Ok talk about Disney style break into song or dance.............. some dude throws a spear and kills the main character's brother or someone close like that. Then later that group comes back to their island and start fighting.......... then BAM! They decide that they don't want to fight anymore and dancing together sounds like a better idea. The dancers were talented, the fire dancers were the highlight of the show. wow! and how do they sit on the fire like that? who needs Brazilian waxing when all you need to do is sit on fire. But its a nice "circle of life" story..........wait, didn't someone already do that story? haha Buffet dinner was kinda just ok.
(3)Huy P.
Got there about 4:30pm for the Luau dinner buffet and the Ha Breath of Life night show. It took us about 1.5 hours to get there from Waikiki. The traffic getting there can get heavy so plan to leave early if you plan to check out the place. The buffet was decent, I liked the clear noodles, pork, and sweet potato salad. The $8 smoothie-in-a-pineapple was the best smoothie I've ever had (got the pineapple, strawberry, and pina colada mix). Entering the buffet, they give each person an orchid lei and snap a picture that can be purchased at the end of dinner. After the buffet, we headed to stage area for the night show. It's just how I remembered it as a kid, the grand finale is the best part! Overall I enjoyed it, but it's out the way (although the drive is really scenic).
(3)Jason C.
Ahhhh the PCC, a place where you can go and see and learn all about the different cultures of the Polynesian islands from people who are not actually from the islands and pay an outrageous price in doing so! What's that? How can a place that's called the "Polynesian Cultural Center" be a complete waste of time and money? Well, believe me it is and they do it in a ever so sneaky way too. By the time you realize that you've been taken for a sucker, it's too late. My wife and I came to Hawaii for our honeymoon and we heard from some friends that the PCC offers a Luau as well as some other interesting attractions. Thinking we were going to get an authentic Polynesian experience, we booked our tickets and transportation to and from our Waikiki hotel (which cost around $300 for the two of us). Included with our tickets was a Luau show, buffet dinner, guided tour and the evening show HA: Breath of Life. Our PCC experience wasn't until the end of the week (Thursday), and we had already booked a circle island tour with another company called 'Discover Hawaii Tours' (The tour was excellent btw). The reason why I bring this up is because during our tour the guide mentioned the town of Laie and how it's a Mormon town and there is a BYU campus located there..... along with the PCC! This should have been my first clue that we made a big mistake in buying our tickets to the PCC, but I thought nothing of it at the time. Thursday comes and we our promptly picked up at our Waikiki hotel in a really sweet Mercedes charter bus to take us to the PCC. The bus ride was about an hour and a half long, since we had to pick up other people around Waikiki and the PCC is located on the north side of Oahu. We had a tour guide on the bus, who was very enthusiastic and said that our bus was the "Happy" bus and kept asking "Is everybody happy!?" about 20 times..... it got old after the second time. When we arrive at the PCC around 11:30 the guide tells everyone where the bus will be to take us back to our hotels and asks us to wait just outside the front of the entrance so he can get our tickets from inside. Once we have our tickets he mentions about how we can do one of three things: 1) Take the guided tour which will take you to a min. of six shows. You may or may not decide to eat lunch, if you do that's on you and will miss the rest of your guided tour. 2) Take the 'Lunch Tour' which is basically the same as the one above, but you eat right away and after you take the tour and see six shows. 3) Do everything by yourself, no guided tour just wander around just like you would at any other theme park. We decided to go with option 2, only thing is that that costs $15 a person. I didn't even realize that wasn't included in our ticket price, but whatever it didn't bother me since it would cost about $15 to eat anyway. We get our tickets and we are ushered to the eating area, which is a buffet style dining. Food was decent, nothing too fancy or special. Once we were done, off to meet our tour guide and see some of the shows. I won't bore people with the details, but we only saw four shows.... that's right! We were told if we took the tour we would see a total of six shows, but there was no possible way we could do that since as soon as the one show ended, the next one started... but the thing is you need to trek across the whole center to see it, which would take about 5-10 min depending if everyone in your tour group meet up on time and are fast walkers. Needless to say, we weren't so lucky with our group. So you say this wouldn't bother you so much, just show up to the show 5 min late, right? Unfortunately, there are only so many seats at each show and they were always crowded that we were only able to sit down for one of the four shows. Luau was average and I thought the one at the Hilton Hawaiian village was better! I thought the food was better at the PCC, until later my wife got sick from eating it! Like others have said, the only saving grace at the PCC is HA: Breath of Life. I really enjoyed it, which is amazing since I was so upset from our experience to that point that I didn't think I would walk out happy. So, is the PCC worth it? Not a chance! Save your money and get a real Polynesian experience that isn't tainted from the hands of some religious institution. I can appreciate the fact that everyone who works at the PCC is getting an education from BYU, but I don't like the fact that the money spent on our tickets is going to the Mormon Church. Next time, we are going to paradise cove.
(2)Ruben A.
Reading some of these reviews, you wonder if people went to the same place. Like for example, some of the opinions used to bash the PCC's owner, the Mormon Church. People if you hate the Church that much don't go to the PCC! Please! So anyway, I loved it. Been twice and this is the first time I saw the new evening show, Ha: Breath of Life. It was definitely professionally done, high energy and very entertaining. It is a great way to use one story to tie in the cultures of many peoples. The dancers are very skilled and entertaining. The villages are also entertaining. I will admit that on the second time, I gave a miss to many of them. I wanted to see the French Polynesia, New Zeland, and Samoa exhibit and they were all great. The numbers seem like they are done more by students---most seem like natives of those lands, rather than performers that do this for a living. But nonetheless, the exhibits were great. if you have never been to any of these islands, they are a good intro to their culture and you've gotta try it once. Bought the Ali'i luau for a Friday in august 2010. Great food. Some people were surprises that all they had was Hawaiian food. I guess they thought they were going to some mainland buffet. But the food was good. The line was fine. I was starving and had to wait about 15 minutes before our table was lead up to the food, but it wasn't bad. They have various Hawaiian numbers and performers entertaining you. It was all a very positive experience. PS, yeah they sell stuff everywhere just like everywhere else on Oahu. Don't have to buy anything and no one was pushy about it. If you buy the Al'i luau package you get the villages, evening show, and luau and that is all you really need. You can buy some souvenirs there you might not be able to buy elsewhere. But most you can get elsewhere for cheaper, e.g. Aloha Stadium swapmeet
(5)Mia L.
The Luau was the Shizzz Nizzz, my fam and I arrived at PCC around 4pm. It was pretty late to check out any happenings around the villages. So it kind of sucked at the beginning. The buffet was actually good. My bro-in-law said the last time they were there it was crap. ha ha. So overall I guess we had a good meal. It was expensive however if you go there around 12ish and spend all your time exploring the cultures of each village it would be well worth your money! PCC is mentioned everywhere, and so why not?
(5)LA E.
This was a very memorable experience for the entire family. The show was spectacular, the meal was surprisingly good for a buffet style meal, and all the guides were warm, energetic, funny and very lovable. They call you 'cousin, and you really do feel like they are treating you like family. It was educational for the children, but in a very fun way.
(5)Margret C.
This was one of the stops on the Deluxe Circle Island Tour (highly recommended for newbies BTW), in an air conditioned deluxe tour bus, and we came here once on our group trip on a driving day- so we've been here twice for two different reasons. So, my husband had gotten this brown t-shirt here at one of the gift shops on our first trip (when he was 2x/3x). Our second trip here, he was on a mission to find the same one, in a smaller size. This shirt was featured on Adam Sandler in the movie, "50 First Dates." No luck (not surprised, it'd been two years since the size change). Shucks. It's a neat place, but if we wanted to get the whole tour along with the luau (BTW no alcohol/mormons- the students are also performers/staff), it would be somewhat of a day trip. We did have lunch here on our first trip, but sort of a turnoff with the flies near the food. I think it was build your own sandwiches. From the reviews here, the luau looks like the better option. So, we might do this whole day trip one time.
(3)Merrill M.
This review is for the prime dinning experience. We came a bit late around 6:30 and were still able to get a seat right away. The buffet was great. The prime rib was tender and juicy. The crab legs were super fresh and didn't need any butter or lemon. The poke was OK but the fish in coconut milk sauce was bomb. I couldn't get enough of it. Service was on point and so full of aloha. Definitely worth the price. The interior of this building was fabulous.
(4)Chrisy Y.
Lovely place! Great place to take a day to really learn the Hawaiian cultures. The luau was awesome. That was probably the best luau food I've ever had. ... That's not really saying much though because it was only my second luau, haha. Oh and the show is fantastic! (:
(5)Sarah B.
Very fun for kids if they are prepared for "real" activities and not a video game or iphone. They can fish with dough, climb a coconut tree, sample coconut bread, ride the boat tour, all kinds of things. (Come right when they open to do those things) The food is authentic hawaiian food. If it's not as flavorful as some complain about, it's because it is made how it was originally made, and no alcohol was used to make it. (which I like since this place is meant to teach about polynesia) *There is no "slutty" entertainment with butts and boobs popping out all over (If you need alcohol and perverts surrounding half naked women- other reviews are correct- this is not the place, Hawaiians weren't slutty, that's "Americans") - Night show is so awesome!
(5)wendy b.
Been twice. One for the luau pkg. and another time with the Ambassador pkg. Huge difference! Skip the luau. You're packed in like canned fish, treated like cattle, the show is amateur and the food is not good. The Ambassador seafood buffet with prime rib is incredible! Fresh peeled shrimp, fantastic soups and salads, You sit at your own table and are treated like a guest. Having a tour guide was a treat and dessert during the night time show was big enough to share, so we did with the service men seated next to us. If you're going with a dinner pkg. then NO complaints! Awesome day. A must do when you visit Hawaii.
(5)J Z.
We came here the day before New Year's. We had tickets for the island buffet + show in the evening. We also purchased annual passes at the kamaaina rate. The 4 stars is for the Cultural Center. As for the island buffet and the evening show, we did not have a very pleasant experience. In hindsight, we would have either skipped the buffet or upgrade it to the prime dinner or luau. The island buffet reminded us of school cafeteria food on cheap plastic plates. Don't expect any service. We walked over to the prime dinner section (segregated in the same building) and quickly noticed that they have better plate wares and utensils. We also noticed that there were significantly more Asians eating in this area than the island buffet. They had sushi, crab legs, prime rib versus what we had...ham (I think), mashed potatoes (out of a box), chicken (that didn't taste like chicken), dinner rolls (more like a rock)... Although we left early, we thought the show was good, great performers.. As we were being seated though, a lady told us to wake our baby up because we had to close up our stroller. Then another worker told us that it's ok to park our stroller in the handicap area. Moments later the same lady told us (rudely) that the handicap area is reserved for disabled people. So long story short, we woke our daughter up and she cried and cried. We couldn't sit at where we paid for (near the center area) and ended up sitting high up away from the stage and off to the side. Nobody was sitting in this section. There was another family who experienced the same thing. All in all, I think we would come back for the Cultural Center but not for the island buffet or the show...maybe when the kids are older.
(4)Mai L.
The first thing I noticed about this place was that there were many BYU students who worked here and that everyone had such a warm welcoming smile. The Luau was a fun experience. There were plenty of food for everyone. The food was well prepared and very tasty. The taro bread was delicious with the butter :) There were dancers, a band and the host who entertained us while we ate. I regret not getting here sooner in the day. There's tons to explore on each island at the PCC. The show Ha:Breath of Life was amazing. All the dancers were spot on que, and the costumes were pretty. I enjoyed how it touched base with all the islands and showed it's diversity. The ending with the fire and torches was my favorite. Very daring and entertaining. I applause the performers for their performance and for their hard work. I saw many of them working throughout the villages during the day. It's no wonder how they all stay in shape. The price is a little high but we got a discount for purchasing it at least 10 days in advance. It is well worth it. We had a great time here and would highly recommend the PCC if you're looking for a good time Luau.
(5)Ken G.
I was really surprised at how much this place has deteriorated since my last visit. Many things were closed or being renovated. If there is a maintenance department, they are failing miserably. Run-down and dirty areas make me not want to return. Luau was just OK. Not worth the price of admission, meals, show tickets, etc.
(2)Sam C.
This is a great place to come learn the history of the Polynesian Islands. Man we had a blast with the entertainment from the dancers. The show was probably the coolest with the fire dance.
(5)Sarah G.
I really wish I could give half stars, because this place really deserves 3.5 stars and not 3. But for how much it costs to come to this place, I rounded down... My mom and I came here and we got their big ambassador package which came complete with a shell lei greeting, a luau buffet and show, and a private tour guide for the entire center. We were here pretty much all day, because also included in our package, and probably the best part was the night fire show "Ha Breath of Life" where we got front row seats and coupons for their tasty ice cream to watch all of the students that make this center possible perform in a show written for the center. Seeing these undergraduates toss fire that high made me feel like my undergrad experience was nothing!! So definitely go here for a hawaiian show, because that was awesome. That was probably 4.5 stars! This entire center exists because of the BYU Mormon school and they use it as sort of a work study type program where they invite low-income polynesian students to come to their school and in exchange for room and board and tuition they have to work--but the work they do is VERY different than the work other students do. Based on what country they are from, they are assigned to either be a tour guide, dancer, or a Polynesian island representative (yes, that does mean that if you were a student from Samoa you are pretty much forced to dress up in Samoan gear and teach visitors about aspects of your island's traditions). You can either walk around here on your own, there is also some mini boat cruises you can go on too, and stop at each of the Polynesian islands and learn about them. I had no idea a) Hawaii was a part of Polynesia and so is New Zealand! There were some cool dances and activities and we definitely learned some things, and this place would be even better if you are a little kid. But their luau dinner? One of the corniest things I've been to I think. The food is pretty good, but it is in a buffet style format similar to Home Town Buffet which just takes away from it being "authentic" which is what they call it in brochures ha. And it is pricey to come here...I guess your money goes to support the students here and the BYU Mormon school so as long as you are okay with that, then you can think of your money going to a good use. And you can tell how appreciative the students are that you are there, I'm just not so sure all of them really want to be parading around on behalf of their country in a disneyland type of attraction....
(3)C J.
Temperature: TOO HOT, don't go in September. We were sooo tired by the time dinner and the show started. The villages are campy, so if you have limited time in Hawaii, skip this. Otherwise, you'll learn alot about the culture(s). We bought the Ambassador package with the Prime Dining option; food was great and service was great. BUT NO ALCOHOL:(
(2)David O.
Because my family have timeshare in Oahu, I know Oahu well. When I was new to Oahu, I went to PCC the first time. (I think that was about 7 years ago) Since then whenever my family and (or) I bring someone new to Oahu, We bring the person to PCC. No matter what language you speak, you will enjoy this wonderful place. Since some of my family member only speak Japanese, we were able to get a Japanese guide for the whole place. When I go there, I like go there with my rent a car. I think most of people take a PCC's van, but I love the view while I am driving to PCC. There are many beautiful beaches along the way to PCC. I strongly recommend this place to anyone who visit Oahu.
(5)Mike D.
Right from the moment I drove in I could tell this was a place that was out to take advantage of me in every way possible. Even then, I had no idea... I wouldn't say that the exhibits themselves were terrible. Nor that I loved them either. What *really* rubbed me up the wrong way was just how underhanded everything is. Charging $8 to park when the place is in the middle of nowhere; having big signs over the ticket office telling you all the details of the different passes *except* the prices... Seriously, they don't miss a trick here. The first exhibit I went to actually had an intermission right after they got started so that their attendants could go round the audience trying to sell everyone $5 ice-creams. But you'll soon learn that their most deeply-hidden deception is that it's not really a cultural center at all, but an arm of a religious organization trying to milk all the money they can get out of unsuspecting tourists. Pretty telling I think that they save all mention of their affiliations until after they've got you inside. Thoroughly hated every moment. Don't go. You'll come out feeling like you've just mailed a check to some stranger you met on the Internet claiming to be an exiled prince.
(1)Hector O.
Great day for the family. Interesting presentations, great performances, and top-notch set designs.
(5)Lawrence L.
Disclaimer: I am a jack Mormon and had worked at PCC one summer in the 70s while a student next door. I've been back as a visitor to PCC with my family and friends every time I was in Hawaii. That's more than six times. Love it! Well worth the money! I was surprised to see complaints about "authenticity" and "no alcohol". This place is for entertainment! Take a "Polynesian Study" class in college if you want authenticity; five hours touring several Polynesian villages for about half an hour each can barely give one a taste of the Pacific before dinner at 5. Need to drink that bad, go get your water-down "free" three drinks at other luau ventures. Mind you, any drinks fancier you need to pay extra there. I've been these luaus too. No comparison. The grounds are much bigger & better, and well maintained at PCC. The Ha: Breath of Life is fantastic; this time the theme is new & different than ones I saw before. Let me focus on the positives. Once the door opens at noon, there are plenty of activities to keep one busy. Several villages have short but entertaining & often humorous shows which are repeated over the course of several hours. In between there are craft and music lessons, show and tells, exhibits and gift shops to pass your time. At 2 p.m. or so there is the river parade that runs thru the middle of the grounds. We covered most of these but still missed a theater and for sure couple other events, before the dinner bell rings. We bought our tickets for 2 adults and 2 kids online long before our trip so we got 10% discount (discount applies if bought 10 days ahead). At the door we showed a coupon from Entertainment Book which was honored and got a refund on 1 adult ticket. Bottom line we paid $194 for four including a buffet dinner and reserved seat evening show of the Ha: Breath of Life. Dinner was wonderful, especially it was included in the admission price. One week before we went to the another luau in Kapolei on spur of the moment to kill some time, at a cost of $227 for four. We know the difference: the price, the food, the stage, the performers, the grounds, the seating, the entertainment, etc. etc. PCC is the best!
(5)Alice H.
So it was a little bit kitschy and probably more entertaining if you have kids or a significant other on vacation with you, but I still had a good time with my parents. We purchased the "Ambassador package" I believe, which included a guided tour, VIP seating for the buffet, and tickets for "Ha: Breath of Life". Touring the villages was pretty fun; my favorite parts were visiting New Zealand to spin poi (which are surprising similar in weight to glowsticks, in case anyone wanted to know haha) and watching the drummers in Tonga (reminded me of my old taiko days!). The buffet was pretty good; the clear noodles with chicken, kalua pig, and taro buns were all great. We also splurged on the smoothie-in-a-pineapple, which was delicious and very filling. I think I got mango. Yum! What really made the extra cost of the package worth it was the seating for Ha. We were right in the second row, stage left. Pretty awesome! The show was high-energy with an easy-to-follow plot and lots of entertaining acts to move the story along. Watching the fire spinners at the end was definitely my favorite part. While I dislike following tour groups and having to adapt to preset agendas, I think the package is a great way to see a good variety of what the PCC has to offer if you're short on time. It's a busy day though; wear comfortable shoes!
(4)Craig K.
Had an amazing experience being led around by CHIEF HENRY. if you ever get the chance, find this man and don't let him out of your sight. He's been doing this for 43 years and knows all the highlights, used to be a performer as well back in the day. Great personality and tour guide :) center is rich with captivating history. A must if you are a first-timer! If you are going to wander around alone without a tour guide, be careful because the PCC is HUGE. I can see how easy it is to get lost.
(5)Alysha R.
I cannot stop talking about my visit to the PCC and its been over 2 years!!!.... This was one of our family/day trips for my cousin's wedding...while I visited O'ahu...and it was one of the best days in my entire trip.. We had a whole bus just for our family.. think we paid $75 each? We had our private tour guide...who explained everything and gave us some really good stories on the way up....and remained with us for the whole day... Leon was his name...and we were his Ohana! (family)...and would not let us out of his sight! We had the whole day here....got there when it opened (11:30am?)...and I recommend doing the same. Your time should not be rushed here... it should be a relaxing day of learning...exploration...tasting...understanding..Â..and soaking up the many cultures of Hawaii and its islands. The performers are students who are giving you a taste of what life is like on their respective islands (Hawaii, Tonga, Tahiti, Aeotearoa, Fiji, Samoa, etc).... Visiting each village was amazing....wathching the demonstrations... making fire...grating coconut... making coconut bread...tasting freshly baked coconut bread.....me being the only chic there that had rhythm to do the hula properly!....lol.... it was great.....(watch me on video...lol) ( youtube.com/watch?v=xUDb… ) The luau was really nice....but as many people said...the food could have been tastier...but when you're feeding THAT MANY PEOPLE at the same time.... everyday....I would think its a bit harsh to bash them on it....as it's really A LOT of people that they serve.... I mean the food is clean....there are lots of choices.....and I did enjoy...but it was not a first class meal... When I went..it was the Horizon's show....and we all really enjoyed it.... I even bought the DVD of it to show my friends back home... I did not want to leave this place... I stopped and talked with so many of the students.....I loved being able to have that interaction with them.... they weren't actors...or people impersonating.... they were from their island...working here in exchange for their degree....and will return to their islands after to better their communities..... Our guide was returning to his island as he just became an attorney!..... I can only speak very highly of the PCC - and anyone who misses this on their visit to O'ahu..has certainly missed a cultural gem! PS - Samoa was my favourite - TALOFAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!! :) (anyone who's been there can understand.... lol)
(5)Lissa o.
The reason this doesn't get a higher rating from me is that you have to pay $8 to park and then $50 to get in for just general admission. Luckily, my 2 year old was free and the trip was really for her so that made it worth the price. I looked at a tour book from 2004 and the admission was $27 so I guess inflation has really hit the island. Anyway, my daughter and I arrived just as the park opened and were able to take boat rides, fish, all sorts of stuff that is fun for kids. I visited PCC several years ago and it's much more showy than before and also more pricey. They give kids a passport to go through all the areas and that was fun for her to get her stamps. Also several of the displays give kids tattoos (stamps) and that was super fun for her. There was someone at the front charging for airbrush tattoos so I'm glad I hadn't been tempted to pay for it and then get another for free later in the park. As an aside: If you have visited here before and have gone to the McDonald's next door before.... don't expect the beautiful waterfall. It's broken and the place has become run down. Eating at the park wasn't as expensive as the zoo or aquarium so if you didn't pack a lunch, you don't have to sweat it too much.
(3)Jamie J.
First thing's first, if you come here, make sure you go fairly early. We arrived a little after 2pm and we probably should have arrived between 12-1pm. Polynesian Cultural Center has about 7 "villages" to visit and we missed 2 of them. Second, book online and do it fairly early. They don't have an unlimited amount of all the ticket packages, so they can run out. Which unfortunately, happened to us, since we came late. We ended up forking over additional money for a higher-priced package. Which, in all honesty, was still worth the money. To make the upgrade even more worth the money, they actually allowed us to come back another day for free, which because of the long drive from Waikiki, we didn't take advantage of. Like I said, there are about 7 villages to visit and each of them are pretty cool to visit. Samoa was informational and funny, Aoteraoa had some activities and games to play and also a show, and Tonga had an interactive musical show which again, was pretty hilarious. There is a lot of information they teach you about Polynesia here and they do it in a funny way. It's great! Our tour guide, Jarom, was a great example of this. We also had the Luau buffet as part of our package (some packages have a different buffet with a regular buffet). This was probably the only part of the package that wasn't that memorable. The food didn't really stand out as I thought it should (although, the chicken was decent). The show during dinner was nice and the service was good, but this is an open air dining area and it was really hot and humid with no breeze going thru. Be prepared to sweat. Oh, and note to management: please have more of the hula dances geared towards the women. No offense to the dudes, you guys are good and all, but when I think of hula, I think of women shaking their bon-bon on stage. It seemed that 75% of the dances at dinner were you guys dancing! Boo! It's bad enough that the men do the cooking (you'll learn that in Samoa) and now dancing?!!? A little interesting side note: a lot of the performers here are students. So, you're support helps put them thru college. That's awesome! Lastly, I would have to say the best part of the package and our visit, was the Ha: Breath of Life show at night. More on that here... yelp.com/biz/ha-breath-o…
(4)Kyle G.
Loved this part of our trip. So cool to learn about the different cultures. Would love to come back and bring the kids!
(5)Mikako D.
I've been there many times but never be bored. I love their evening show, it is fantastic!! I love their hospitality!! I love Ali'i Luau dinner & show!! PCC is "Must to go!" place in Hawaii!
(5)Matt S.
Positives - Samoans climbing palm trees and the fire show at the end of the main theater show. and that is where it ends. Negatives - Food (seriously - do not try anything here ... ever), paying for parking (you mean the HIGH FEE of getting in doesn't cover that?), high expense for pretty much everything - can you say feels like Disneyland? I have gone several times (different years) and the food is never good. I think everyone should do this once in their life, but thats it .. I have just had to go back because of groups I am with etc. I imagine this was cool 20-30 years ago, but today ... it has lost the luster.
(3)AdnerB M.
We decided to come here after my parents had told us it was a must on our first trip to Hawaii. We booked through the Pleasant Holdiays folks because all of our trip was already through them. We had no car so it was roughly 110 a person (2 of us total) for the dinner, show and transportation there and back (HUGE motor coach bus, I think it even had a bathroom in it!) On the way there our tour guide (Vetti) said he too offers a tour around the park for $25 more a person including lunch! Because it was our first time here, we took him up on it. He was the reason we were allowed in the more the "backstage areas" and shortcuts as well as trying the musical instruments on several villages! If we wouldn't have done his tour we so would've been lost! His tour concluded right before dinner as he lived nearby, at the college, and didn't return with us. He, like I want to say 80% of other employees go to the college you can see from the park and participate in the work study program. So basically you going here and spending money is helping them go to school. I didn't know this until now but that's really cool and a plus in my book! Way to go Polynesian Cultural Center for working with the school to do this!! The dinner was good, I was missing my alcohol, but what are you going to do. Have to hold off on the lava flows for now I suppose. They do offer you a smoothie for $10! in a pineapple, uh we passed on that! The show, the breath of ha, was amazing. Now this is what made coming here worth it. The amount of fire that goes on at the end, wow! The only downside to this for us was the fact that some obnoxious human being brought like a 2 year old who did not want to sit still throughout the show (duh, he's 2!!!) and the parents kept lifting him up, BLOCKING OUR VIEW on and off during the show. Really, no this is not the place for your 2 year old, in case anybody is wondering. I really doubt he will remember the show! Oh and fyi, for those of you ignoring the multiple signs saying to not take pics or videotape, they are serious about this one, this same obnoxious couple decided they would try to video some and an employee was quick to come over and ask them not to! Again way to go center!
(4)John S.
Definitely a must see while visiting Oahu! My wife and I bought the Ali"l luau package and arrived around 2pm just in time for the beautiful canoe parade. Wish we had arrived sooner. We were able to see Samoa, Tahiti, New Zealand and Tonga demos, but didn't have time to see Hawaii or Fiji. The Samoa show was funny, the Tahitian wedding ceremony was beautiful and came with a free dance lesson, the New Zealand show involved some cool story telling and the Hakka, but the Tonga show took the cake! Dinner was delicious and came with more luau demonstrations and beautiful Hawaiian music. All that would have been worth he price of admission, but we got to see Breath of Life and it was outstanding. Amazing dancing and lots of insane fire juggling. The whole experience was well worth the money, really fun and the kids working there really give 110%. You will have an awesome time, will probably get picked to be part of the show and no one will try to corner you about the 'good news'. We will definitely go back next time we are here
(5)Erica S.
If you're planning to go to the luau, you should make reservations online as you can save 5% by filling out a short survey. It was a big mistake to not get here until 3PM as all the attractions pretty much closed at 5. I guess it was true when all the guide books advised to come when it opened at noon. Because we got there late, we were only able to visit 4 of the 6 villages: Aotearoa, Samoa, Tonga, and Tahiti. We wanted to join some of the cultural classes they offered, but we had no idea how to join or sign up since most seemed to be on tour with a guide so we decided to just focus on going to all the shows instead as that was the main entertainment. Through the shows, we were able to learn about the islands and their culture. We especially enjoyed the show at Tonga. The staff was very enthusiast and made the crowd laugh so hard. At 5, all the attractions closed so we had no choice but to go to the luau. This is where I got my first orchid lei so I was happy. They took our photos and seated us accordingly. It was a buffet so we had to wait patiently for our turn. Was looking forward to eating real Hawaiian food. During our wait, there was some entertainment. They showed us the roast pig, but I'm not sure if they served that specific one. I tried the Lomilomi salmon, poke, kalua pork, chicken, clear bean noodles, white fish, salad, rice and taro roll. The lomilomi salmon was like a ceviche. Kalua pork was nice and tender. Taro roll was a sweet bread. Kinda weird to see purple bread. I was surprised how full I got considering half my plate was just salad so we skipped dessert. My experience with Hawaiian food was okay. At least I can say I tried it. Since the Ha, Breath of Life show didn't start till 7:30, after the luau we decided to go on the tram ride to the BYU campus and Mormon Temple. Listening to the history was interesting, but it was uncomfortable when they took us into the Mormon Temple Visitors Center. I felt like they were trying to convert us. So we just walked in for a bit and walked out. Ha, the show was pretty good. The story line encompassed all the islands represented at the PCC so that was cool. All the various dances and the guys with the fire batons were the highlights. Overall, it's a fun experience, especially for families with kids. Just wished we came earlier to fully take advantage of everything. Couldn't believe they charged for parking though: $8.
(3)BERT O.
My wife and I set out to go here for $100 each on a bus, arriving at 4:30 pm. We did the canoe ride which was very relaxing and also visited some of the villages. There were some really nice events and luckily we were walking around the Hawaii village when a couple of young men were actually practicing doing the fire scenes. It was nice to see it close and personal. The food at the luau was actually pretty good. Let me put it this way, it's not a huge feast in the sense of the word. Instead it is a huge buffet. I really liked the raw salmon, the cook salmon was nice, and I enjoyed my salad. I loved that purple loaf. My wife really liked the pork with the BBQ sauce on the side. The pork is pretty much grinded, there is also teriyaki chicken, and some other stuff. I think what people were expecting we're huge pieces of meat, instead you get a little bit of everything. One thing that did disappoint me was that I thought the villages were going to be more traditional, instead it's something that is set up. This is where the Disney factor comes in. The best thing was probably the show. I've seen many shows and none have compared to this one. My favorite part was the fire scenes in the show. Amazing!
(4)Gabriel T.
I went down here one time for a school field trip with a bunch of kids. It is a very nice getaway excursion from town whether you are a tourist, local, guest, visitor, etc. The drive is super far all the way in the North Shore in Laie town. If you are going there in the day time then the excursion should be very nice driving through the North Shore, going through scenic routes/vies, and arriving at the venue. The whole experience can be a but pricey depending on what package you get but overall it is culturally uplifting and educational for all peoples. PCC focuses more on the Polynesian spectrum of Hawaii and it's peoples. They have a lot of interactive activities which present and showcase the Polynesian arts and culture through stuff like the canoe rides, arts and crafts, chants, songs, dance, food, and many more. The arena that they have is almost like a stadium which can probably fit a ton of people. They do all of the main Polynesian shows over there. They also have a very nice IMAX like movie theatre where you can watch shows. There are different villages that you can travel to and experience a different activity. I would probably go here again with visitors and guests. This is probably one of the main locations that you should take them if whenever the time comes. Yelp 365 Challenge #230/365
(4)Rob C.
Great show! Best Luau I have been to, thus far. The Polynesian village is above and beyond the introduction into the Pacific island culture. The reason for 4 and not 5 was the food. It was on average for luaus. Nothing spectacular. It was good, just not exceptional. However, a better luau than most. If you are looking for a luau in Oahu, this is the place to go. You will get the experience of the luau and the same quality as any luau in Waikiki. However, you are going to get so much more with the time enjoying the different villages learning about the culture, being immersed into the Pacific island life, and enjoying a show explaining the concept of "Mana" or "Life Force". However, if you want a booze luau, don't go here. It is run by the Mormons and is a dry site. However, for me, it was well worth the lack of alcohol. This place is a definite "Go!"
(4)Tina S.
This is such a must see... I had to see it twice. I highly recommend their tours as a first time visitor. Come right when they open and stay until they close. There is so much to see, this is a day trip. I came back the second time without taking a tour and was able to see the sights I wanted to see, at my own pace. Get admission plus buffet. You can try the various foods they have and complete the cultural experience. Slather on the sunscreen and drinks tons of water! Bring a hat and camera!
(4)Georgina B.
Great family activity..been there a few times and this place is great for tourists! the buffet is good but out of everything I wish that they kept the old show...Ha Breath of Life isn't as entertaining...and the old school service of ice cream in the scooped out pineapple--definitely wish they kept that....if you're a visitor, try to find a local to get you cheaper tickets! aloha!
(4)Shari Z.
This place is such a freaking tourist trap. If you get free tickets like we did through Costco, then fine, go. Go eat the free luau food, watch the Ha show, and take pictures around their beautiful grounds. Seriously do not plan to spend an entire day here...B-O-R-I-N-G. There were two things my significant other was excited to do here: 1. Climb the tree - the guy before us tried and ripped a chunk of skin off of his foot, then the attendent told us, "yeah this is dangerous so just be aware" ...no thanks, I almost hurled when I saw the skin hanging off the dude's foot...nasty 2. Spear throwing - Would have been a positive experience except the dude running this activity was grumpy as all hell. My partner in crime went for it anyways but on the 3rd spear the guy said "last one" as he handed my dude the spear...keep in mind this place was empty and as we walked up this guy was just messing around with his buddies...RUDE. I thought mormons were supposed to be nice??? The luau was a ridiculous love boatesque show with a host that was super slimey. The silver lining was that the food was okay and a cute asian couple got engaged on stage which was truly adorable. After the luau we had a ton of time to kill before the Ha show. We drove to Hukilau beach to just hang out until 7ish. If you'd like to experience a conversion attempt feel free to take the tram ride to the BYU campus and mormon temple...we passed on this exciting offer. The Ha Breath of Life show was AWESOME. I highly recommend this show...this was the PCC's saving grace...thank you to Turtle Bay for reserving us front row...also free through Costco!! The dancers were talented and it's a beautiful story.
(2)Shauna B.
4.5 stars! While attending BYU-Hawaii over ten years ago, I worked as a Japanese Tour Guide at the Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC), so my opinion might be a little biased. The majority of employees working here are BYU-Hawaii students--in fact, many of the Polynesian students fund their education by working at the PCC. The PCC is organized into seven different Polynesian villages you can visit throughout the day: Samoa, Tonga, Hawaii, Aotearoa, Tahiti, Fiji and Marquesas. You can either walk through them or take a canoe from one end of the center to the other and then walk back through the villages to experience their individual shows, presentations and crafts. The Samoan village is probably the most popular with a daily show put on by Kap Te'o-tafiti--it's a hoot and he interacts quite a bit with his audience. While there you can also see a couple of Kap's Samoan brothers climb a coconut tree. There are two dining areas at the PCC--the Gateway and the Ali'i Luau (in addition to standard concession stands). You can actually watch them remove the roasted pig from the ground at the Tongan village at the end of the day before it's taken to the luau. I must admit that the food, while good, isn't the best on the island. But it's still appetizing and worth the convenience and atmosphere (the luau has a show you can watch while you eat) while at the center. The Ha Breath of Life show, also called the 'night show,' is the best part of the Polynesian Cultural Center. This amazing performance introduces the audience to the different Polynesian cultures, both their music and dance, while telling a beautifully captivating story. In addition to that, you'll see Samoan fire dancing that's, true to Samoan form, humorous and entertaining. I believe the Polynesian Cultural Center is one of the most authentic attractions in Hawaii.
(4)Ryan B.
This was a highlight on our trip to Hawaii. It is quite a ways from Waikiki, but definitely worth the travel to and from. The shuttle ride takes about an hour one way. I would definitely suggest shuttle service vs. driving or bus as if you take the show package, you get out pretty late and don't want to be driving in unfamiliar roads at night while it is raining. We had a package that included a private tour, lunch, dinner and show. Highlights were the canoe pageant and of course the main show at night Ha - breath of life. The production was awesome, this is way better than a luau production. Our tour guide cuzine mane was awesome, he kept our group moving from one presentation to another on all the different villages at the center. This is a great way to go because you don't want to be sitting there planning on what time and which presentations you will attend. The tour guide plans this all out for you and gets you really good seats for each presentation. Very entertaining, enriching and educational. This is a really neat idea to expose us to the Polynesian cultures around the world.
(5)L V.
I really wanted to love this place..... I have played rugby for many years and some of my friends are from Samoa, Tonga, Fiji...... I thought that this would be a great place to learn about their culture...... this would be a great (expensive) place to bring a family...... but it is far more Disney than it is Smithsonian....
(2)Karen J.
A little on the expensive side but an experience you will never forget! A taste of so many cultures, foods, music and history. The Luaus are great, the main show is INCREDIBLE!! Spend several hours and make memories for a life time!
(4)Punynari P.
Recently, I took my fiancé to the Polynesian Cultural Center for the luau and show. She was visiting from Missouri and said that she really wanted to go to a luau for her first visit to Hawaii. Personally, I usually despise touristy stuff but it really wasn't that bad. Both of us had a good time. When we got there, we had to pay $8 parking in rural Laie. Kind of pricey... Then they gave us Hawaiian leis and we joined all the other tourists at a large seating arrangement and buffet. It felt kind of cheesy but the food was pretty good. But, most of that stuff I could get at L & Ls, Zippys, or The Grindz for less than half that price. After the meal, we walked around the grounds of the center and it was pretty beautiful. They have artificial waterfalls and a general "Disney Land" feeling but it's perfect for a romantic walk and some photos. Later, we went to the show called "Ha the breath of life". Basically, it's a dance and musical show set to the same story as the Lion King. It was fun seeing all the outfits and whatnot but we really were having fun picking out all the religious references. Laie is a Mormon town so there's subtle and not so subtle Christian influences throughout. At the meal, we said "grace" with our heads bowed with everyone and holding hands. ^^; During the show, there was a death sequence with angels too. Didn't know Hawaiians believed in that. lol So, all in all, the Polynesian Cultural Center can be enjoyable if you don't take it too seriously. Just think of it as a Hawaiian Disney Land and enjoy it for what it is.
(3)Raj V.
Think of the PCC as "Cliff Notes" for Polynesian food and dance. You're likely in Hawaii for a very short amount of time so this is an excellent way to hit the ground running (unless you have a badge and "Hawaii 5-0" tatted on the side of your cop car). [Cue theme song] Bom chik bom bom Bom chik bom bom "Do do do do do dooooo do do do do dooooo...." With over 400 reviews of this establishment, I'll save you the dread of reading yet another similar review; how do I do this? ...by adding something new. Here goes: I have been to the PCC *TWICE.* That's right. Two separate trips. Came once with the fam bam and about 5 years later with some friends. Guess what? Have you ever been to Universal Studios more than once? It's like the space-time continuum froze while you were away no matter how many years passed. The second time you go to Universal, *nothing* has changed. Sets stay the same. Wait a minute, there's Jaws. Oh, here comes King Kong. In a few minutes you'll see a huge flame from Backdraft. Yessir, "predictability." (Noun) "A good trait in a girlfriend or significant other." Not so good in a tourist destination but also entirely expected. So, I dock a star from PCC for having changed absolutely nothing since my first visit. One of the demonstrators (I believe from Samoa) has been mentioned in the reviews below. Dude really is hilarious. Comedic timing on point. However, 5 years later, the *2nd* time around, I knew which jokes he was going to make b/c I'd seen the show before and was telling my buddies, "ok, now he's going to climb the tree" and sure enough I look up and see this impeccably tanned dude scampering up the Palm tree. His script stayed exactly the same between my two visits spaced a half decade apart. Actually, everything at PCC was the same except everyone had a few more tribal tattoos since my previous visit. What I experienced: -Poi (like a purple Hawaiian mashed potato) - not half bad. -Tongan, Tahitian, Hawaiian, Samoan dances - pretty entertaining, even the 2nd time around. Perfect tans on pretty girls shaking their hips in grass skirts? Sold. -Picture perfect environment - great for your family wall of pictures encased in 80's framing that will never change. -My Mom doing the Hula the first time around (classic). The pic went up on the Wall of Fame mentioned above. -Luau - it's not bad; it's not amazing. Kinda cool if you've never had one before or if you have a thing for rotisserie pig. -Got Lei'd as soon as I entered the "park" from the tram after disembarking from the air conditioned tour bus that picked us up somewhere in Oahu. Yes, this joke is dumb. And old. And repeated. PCC inspired me. -Being COLD. Yep -- I saw an IMAX film here about Mt. Everest (weird, I know). I swear watching the movie, my body temperature dropped significant degrees and I was feeling chilly. Then I walked outside and lo and behold -- whoops, I'm in Hawaii - the land of Pleased Weather Gods. -Night time performance of all the dances/regions/fire/etc. Worth seeing once. -A quick solicitation for BYU/The Mormon Church; didn't bother me. Quick notes: -PCC is touristy. Guess what? ALL of Hawaii is touristy! (Actually, huge parts of it are ghetto but you won't see those areas as a normal tourist). -PCC is pricey. Guess what? ALL of Hawaii is pricey! It's a tourist destination. It also has minimal natural resources so unless you plan on strictly eating lava and coconuts during your stay, you might pay a bit more for food but pricing is nowhere near as ridiculous as Miami (i.e. $4 bottled waters). -PCC is an all day affair. You drop $100, get your money's worth. There is a lot to see. Bus to and from/admission/fire show was included. -Food/drinks available for purchase. -PCC is Hawaii's Disneyland. No 3 foot long churros though. :( I wouldn't ever have 50 First Dates here. Two was enough, but if you've never been - you should check it out. Bring ALL your friends and family together so that you don't have to go again. Forget Sarah Marshall!
(4)Brooks C.
First, beware that you are funding Mormon missionaries by coming here. 70% of those who work at the PCC also go to the local Brigham Young University work 20 hours part-time, 40 hours at PCC when school is not in session. Most will fully pay for their education by the time they leave. I was happy to hear that my money was going towards education. I wasn't happy that it was also being used to spread the mormon religion. I was particularly unhappy that none of this was made clear until I had arrived at the park. I'd have preferred if the PCC was more up front about all of this while making clear still it's not a mormon themed event. I'll note other than a few comments from the guides, you didn't hear about the church, etc. My family paid for an ambassador package, for 7 of us including transportation from our waikiki hotel this cost over $1000. What that included is: 1. Roundtrip bus transportation between a nearby hotel and PCC 2. Park admission 3. A personal guide in our group of about 20 4. Preferred seating at the canoe show, and the evening theater event 5. Admission to the evening theater event and the luau dinner The luau wasn't very good and seemed overpriced for what you got. They ran people through pretty quickly before removing the dinner for desserts Certainly a disappointment and not something I'd do again...
(1)Clinton L.
So forget the whole Mormon thing for a minute. Seriously, you're supposed to review the place, not the organization. I'm giving this place 3 stars. Basically this place feels like something concocted by Disney himself. It's like a large theme-park attraction without any theme rides. There are several areas that are based off of different Polynesian cultures. We went to go see most of the different areas, and felt that although it was nicely presented, I was incredibly bored. The presentations are nice, but the highlight was definitely the guy at the Samoan exhibit, showing us how to husk a coconut, and getting coconut milk out of it. He was also pretty funny. The canoe pageant was good too, as you got to see the different dances. We also got the luau and dinner show as well, but both were also kind of mediocre. I fell asleep at HA, and felt that I was watching one of those really artsy shows on PBS. If I had to do this all over again, I probably wouldn't have come here. It's good for maybe large groups of people, or families with young kids, but definitely not something for teenagers or young professionals.
(3)Mo M.
A very nice place, although it rains when we went there... They sell poncho, I think it was $2. Somoan guy was the best!!! The buffet was very good although we don't like the seating arrangement... We were celebrating our 15th anniversary and we we're seated with like 20 people on a long table. The host called all those couple celebrating anniversary and they let us dance on stage... A memorable one! The highlight of the night HA Breath of Life, it was an amazing show! Worth every penny and worth the drive! Don't miss this if you're going to O'ahu!
(5)Stephanie L.
My mom said this place was like Disneyland. She said it was so fun and that we HAD to go see the Polynesian Cultural Center. We arrived a little late in the afternoon, not really sure what to expect. I thought we were just going for a luau, but instead we watched a few really fun and entertaining shows. The Samoan Island show was exciting! One of the guys climbed up this Palm Tree like a monkey! Mind you, he wasn't wearing a shirt and only had this skirt/like short thing on. HELLLOOO Samoans! The main guy running the show was hilarious and kept the audience entertained throughout. I have to say I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would have. After the show, we headed to this little hut behind the stage where we learned to make this fun little fish toy things. They were made out of coconut leaves I believe. I played with mine so much it broke by the end of the night. =( Next, we headed for the Tangan Island and sat down to watch their show. The host called up three different men from different countries and had them do traditional drumming and dancing on the stage. Sadly, the guy from US (California, specifically) was a bit of a let down. But the guy from Japan was my absolute favorite. He was so excited to be on stage and was ridiculously adorable. We then went on the little canoe tour through all the islands. Our guide was full of personality and very entertaining. The best part came next--THE LUAU!! I was SO excited for the food, for the show, but mostly for the food. They took the pig out from the sand and chopped it up for us. It was basically a buffet of lots of different things. I didn't really enjoy the pork that much, but they had a variety of dishes that were all pretty good. The biggest let down for me was the dessert table. There was like 2 types of cake and a jello? Anyone who knows me knows that I love dessert. So when the desserts aren't yummy, it makes me a little bit sad. Oh, one thing you should order are the slushie drinks they have. We ordered the strawberry one that came in a pineapple--it was delish! The show was okay. Finally, the last part of our night was the "Ha - Breath of Life" Show. I was thinking I'd see lots of fire being tossed around and dancing and such. There was some of that, but not much. It was a really long show and I almost fell asleep. The only reason I didn't was because the seats were uncomfortable. Perhaps it was also because we had a long day. Regardless, I did have a great time at the Polynesian Cultural Center and would recommend going early enough to experience all the islands.
(4)Clara L.
I LOVE ITTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I cannot say enough positive remarks about this place!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! After a long 2 hour bus ride to check out the PCC, my friend and I were immediately impressed with the look of things! After purchasing our tickets ,we were hesitant on whether we should follow the tour guide or not, but we decided to do it since we didn't know our way around. Our tour guide was HILARIOUSSSSSSS, and so was each and every performer in this place!!! I HONESTLY cannot remember laughing so much in one day. Most (or all?) of the performers are students, so it's really nice to know that these students work hard to earn their education, makes me respect them a little more! I really learned a lot about the every day lives of all the different cultures they had to showcase. The luau was...okay. The buffet didn't have many options, but it was such a miniscule part of the trip that I don't even mind. The "Ha, Breath of Life" show afterwards though, was seriously breathtaking!!!!!!! We got hooked up with front row seats, and I was on the EDGE OF MY SEAT with all the excitement and passion that the performers put into the act!! Forget the performance though, a bunch of perfectly tanned guys with beautiful pecs and abs, along with talented dance skills and dashing good looks equals 5 stars in my book ANY DAY.
(5)Xixi C.
HA Breath of Life was a fantastic performance! As cheesy as some of you might think the storyline was, I was very touched by the performance. I was reminded of Disney theme parks the minute I walked in PCC. It was surreal, beautiful! I loved the mini waterfalls, river surrounding the entire PCC, exotic looking trees & flowers and refreshing Pina Colada. Can you tell I was in vacation mode? Some of the village demonstrations were very entertaining, especially when they incorporate audiences in the performance. Great time! The only downside of PCC was the buffet. I didn't think the food was that great, but it's HI, nothing can go wrong when ur in HI.
(4)Brian C.
It is very odd at the reviews here and even the amount of people that I know that told me this is a "MUST SEE" attraction. The entire park is an amusement park. We paid $111 pp for the Ambassador luau package with tour guide. Perhaps, my whole experience was flawed once I found out my hard earned cash went to fund an occult. 95% of the staff are college students from nearby Brigham Young University. They work there, or shall I say overworked to provide their college education. The Mormon Church owns and operates this place. There seemed to be references made about the church all the time. After our last village tour and the Luau, we had 3 options before the show started (HA, the breath of life"). You either shopped for overpriced Souvineers, took a back stage tour of the show we were about to see, or jump on the conversion train to the LDS Temple. We chose "None of the above". I wasn't really interested in taking a tram to see what the church was about . I was really disappointed that they would mix the morman religion in with the culture of all these islands.
(2)Goro S.
my rating is 4 this week's 50th anniversary special where kamaainas can get in 4 only $2...well worth it 4 me just to look at all the sailing canoes...also got 2 c their parade of canoes youtu.be/7464x0V2ORk didn't pay the extra $20 for the show though...no trade winds and a beating sun make for a hot day...good thing they sell lots of ice cream and shave ice...
(4)Rosaline Z.
Do I think it's a tourist trap? YES. Do I think it's worth it? YES!!! C'mon people! You know you're going on vacation. Of course you're expecting on spending tons of dough on a place like this. I do feel it's super worth it though. I love everything from learning the different Polynesian cultures to the free buffets. The fact that they're trying to sell you overpriced crafts that can potentially be made in China is kind of annoying. But at least they're giving scholarship to Polynesian students. Here are some awesome highlights from my PCC experience: 1. The boat pageant shows 2. Traditional cooking shows 3. Interactive shows from various Polynesian Cultures 4. The fact that the landscapes at PCC are so pretty and you can take great pics from anywhere you stand 5. Free Hula Lesson 6. Historical lessons about each Polynesian cultures 7. THE LUAU BUFFET OF COURSE!!! 8. And....the awesome Ha Musical show to end the night Hope you'll enjoy it as much as I did. Just consider it as a Hawaiian Disneyland. Have fun and Mahalo for reading :)
(4)Cach C.
A big circle of shows. It's like a museum with live entertainment. Just look at the attraction map before you go and you will have a pretty good idea of the whole park. I would say the shave ice was the best thing about the place. Shows are very original and planned out. Hey it's a tourist location. Great place for grandparents.
(2)Kenny P.
The area is not as big as i thought. You should be able to cover all islands in about 4 hours. The buffet is not a blast ! However, shredded pork and teriyaki chicken were good. The show is the big point here ! the dance, the acts, the music... just stunning.. totally recommended for the HA - Breath of Life show !
(4)Julee H.
Here are some key things you should know about the PCC: 1) The center is ran COMPLETELY by students at the nearby college. (this does not discredit it in any way though) 2) It is located on the country side of Oahu so it's a bit of a drive from the city. This place really delivered everything it advertised. You can drive there yourself (not recommended) or have a bus pick you up. Once you get there, they're going to really urge you to pay a little extra to get the tour guide so you can see the whole center and all of the shows. Which is true but honestly, how many times can you really see Polynesian style dances (from a tourist perspective) before they all start to look alike and you get kinda bored? Don't get me wrong, the guide and the shows were very informative but just became a bit repetitive towards the middle of the day. My suggestion to you is to skip out on the guide and browse around the center yourself. Get the fake tattoos and all the good pictures without having to be on a schedule! Grab the lunch OR the luau dinner but don't do both, they have almost the same food. And finally, skip out on the horizon show unless you are really longing to see someone perform with fire (because 80% of the show is more hula type dancing!) You may or may not want to spend an entire day here, but I'm not sure you would have a choice if you take the bus - although I vaguely remember there being a half day bus which if there is, I would highly suggest! Hawaii is a beautiful place in its very nature and though this center is great at recreating Polynesian culture, you may want to pass and just explore the culture for yourself!
(3)Helen S.
This place was meh. It's one of those places you have to visit when you go to Oahu simply because it's a landmark, and I probably would've enjoyed it more when I was younger (my little sister had a blast). It's like a Hawaiian Disneyland, but with less rides.
(2)Craig S.
Over priced. It is a good opportunity to learn about Polynesia, but not worth the price.
(3)D.J. Y.
We passed on the overpriced over-hyped premier packages and got into the PCC for cheap, no luau, no guide, no DVD, heck if you really want it you can buy it at the souvenir shop near the IMAX theater! If you want good lau-lau, check out Times supermarket! The day we visited it was raining so the grand pageant that usually takes place on the water was hosted in the covered-outdoor theater, plenty of good seats were available just before show time and really there wasn't a bad seat in the house. I can see how locals would get bored with this place, for my first time here it was a hoot. Again, we didn't partake in the "luau" so our pocket books were saved from getting fleeced. The interactive programs were a blast, the park doesn't open until noon and is closed on Sunday, FYI. We were there as the doors just opened and bounded past all the tour groups. $3.50 spent on rain ponchos were about the only thing we purchased as my kids got plenty of woven headbands and fish, made out of coconut fronds , as "thank you" gifts if you partake and "volunteer" to become apart of the program. Starch-boy, our son, got to peel a cocoa nut, drink the water from it and taste some of the meat, afterward he told me he'd never forget that experience, that in itself was well worth the admission price! Veggie-girl, our oldest daughter got to help weave a coconut leaf dish and now has it proudly displayed over her computer in her room, again a great learning experience for the kiddos. While I can see locals becoming tired of this place, it is after all a "learning" experience for tourists, that being said, I enjoyed our time there and I think our 15, 12 and 4yo kids did as well! Big hint, partake in the events, hang loose, have fun with it, learn something new, enjoy the cultural event and most of all gain a new respect for different cultures. It was a blast!!
(5)Shecky S.
I thought the entire experience was kind of boring. The "Ha" show was also very boring until the performers began playing with fire. The flaming wand performance was pretty cool. The buffet blows.
(2)John L.
Wonderful time. We bought the Ambassador package which provided guided tour and luau. Our guide Azzaya from Mongolia was so attentive and caring. She kept us on schedule and to all the special events. So much fun to interact, from basket weaving to spear throwing. We highly recommend this package.
(4)Rachel S.
Really fun day and very nice people. Skip the luau if you're hungry - the food isn't that good but the presentation is your run of the mill touristy thing. I love how you can participate in everything. We skipped the Mormon tour thing and just enjoyed all the presentations. Extremely well done. Oh, and don't buy the pinapple coconut thing they try to sell at the first presentation - you'll realize they sell it at every presentation so just buy one if you're hungry (they are tasty.)
(5)Eric K.
It is very hard to quickly review something that includes cultural events, dinner, a show, and so much more spread over 9 hours. But I'll try my best. Here is the cliff note version - you won't be blown away the whole time, but there is enough interesting and fun things to do at PCC that it is worth the price. I would suggest the ambassador packages for the guided tour and better seating at dinner and the show. Whatever you do, at all costs make it to the Samoa presentation. I'm not sure I would go more than once but it was worth the first visit. Now the long version... We didn't have reservations and when we got to the ticket counter last Friday they were out of the Ali'i Lu'au package tickets. We were kind of bummed because we had to go up to the Ambassador Ali'i Lu'au tickets at $120 each. We ended up getting a 10% discount (we had a large group) so that make it really only $20 more than the Ali'i Lu'au tickets. Although it was pricey it ended up being a very good decision. The ambassador tickets get you a guided tour, a DVD Of "Ha: Breath of Life", better seats at dinner, and great seats at the show. I strongly believe that the guided tour was worth the extra money. We pretty much went from place to place nonstop (except when we sat early for the canoe pageant). We barely had enough time to see everything and I seriously doubt that people touring on their own could get even close to seeing everything. With that said we were pretty much taken from one presentation to another and didn't have time to explore. If I were to go a second time I might just pay for the ticket to just explore the "islands" and just walk around at my own pace. I wouldn't want to do that the first time though. I want to specifically call out the performance at the Samoa island. The guy who presented how to get to the coconut juice and milk and who showed how to start a fire was hilarious. And I mean almost falling off your seat hilarious. He had this very distinct, quiet and almost monotone voice yet almost everything he said had me cracking up. It is a well known presentation for a reason. I was expecting a bit more from the Lu'au. It actually turns out to be really difficult to pay attention to a show while trying to eat. Especially when you have to get up to go to the buffet and there are always people walking around you. I was kind of worried the food would be like bad buffet food but it was good (but not great). The night show was a bit slow at first but definitely picked up as it went on. I really enjoyed the short projected videos they had at specific part of the performance and the use of fire at the end of the night. It's a show that definitely ends with a bang. And quickly I want to bring up that the PCC is run by the BYU campus on Oahu. I was a bit concerned about a private religious school running a center about cultures that are not their own, but they use authentic people on the islands and have a Hawaiian study program and other programs at the school. Other than the mention that a lot of the people that work at PCC go to BYU and the job helps pay for their education it wasn't mentioned much. There was a tour of the BYU campus offered but going to an IMAX movie or just relaxing (what we did) were also options. So overall it was a great experience. But at just around nine hours walking around in the sun and the heat it got pretty tiring. The price is also kind of steep but if you buy the ticket at PCC you can come back for three days (or if you buy it online for five) after your first visit. I don't believe the return visit includes everything but you can at least tour around the islands, etc. There also some parts that were less exciting to me, but there wasn't a point where I felt I was bored and wanted to leave. As a safety note, please be sure to wear lots of sunscreen and drink lots of water at PCC. You spend a lot of time outside and so you need to be aware and prepared for that. It was kind of frustrating starting touring at noon but not getting to eat until 5:30 or so. I was starving by 3:30. So you might want to purchase or bring some food along with you. Overall I give the PCC a strong 4 stars and recommend people check it out if they have the means and the time.
(4)Mia L.
We went here recently (June 14, 2011) and I loved it! It was sooo much better than Paradise Cove because it had MUCH more to offer. The Breath of Life show was extraordinary! They had many activities and different shows/demonstrations for guests, some of which guests participate in, and the park was bigger and better than Paradise Cove's. I went to both recently during my vacation and found PCC to be better hands down. I'd recommend getting a tour guide so you don't miss any of the good shows. It was more organized that way. I'm an organized person/neat freak and I knew that it would have been difficult for prioritize certain shows since there were so many. I wouldn't have known which ones were good/bad/which ones to start/end with. I appreciated the canoe pageant and the little shows each Polynesian culture had to offer. There are shows and activities for each village..ie: Hawaii, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, New Zealand, Tahiti. I learned a lot about each culture. There were also free canoe rides that brought you to different villages. The ticket prices are high, but it's worth it esp since it's helping students pay for their tuition. Our total for two people was $238 and that included transportation, entrance to the park, BBQ lunch buffet, a tour guide (which I highly recommend), shows, demonstrations, activities, buffet dinner, and Breath of Life show. We had Germaine or Jermain (idk the spelling) as a tour guide who was also a part of the grand show. He was amazing! He made sure that we saw all the best shows in the park and guided us throughout the entire day. At the end of the tour, we were able to go on our ways and do whatever we wanted in the park as there were still shows and activities going on. At that time, we went to the IMAX and saw this nice mini-movie on polynesian culture. It was a great way to cool off and rest after all the walking. Then we had dinner and watched the Breath of Life show. Did I mention this Breath of Life show was SPECTACULAR? It was a GREAT way to end the night! I highly recommend going to PCC. It's a must if you're in Oahu.
(5)Pritika C.
If you go to Hawaii, the island of Oahu to be exact, going to the PCC is a MUST!!! I loved everything from the different cultural exhibits to the people to the show. On a separate note...the Polynesian people are beautiful ; )
(4)Blanca L.
I loved it! My first trip to Hawaii last weekend and came on Saturday and bought an ambassador and Ali luah package.. It was worth every penny! Had so mich fun! Don't doubt on coming even though it's quite a drive it's worth the experience! It's a must!!!!!
(5)Kerry B.
we got there for luau and show and we were really disappointed with the luau. food was downright bad and luau was tacky. have seen much better, interactive luaus in Maui, where they actually serve you a drink during the dinner/show. the mormon influence is really strong, no alcohol on premises, women in show are all in long sleeves and long skirts. The show was good, fire dancers AMAZING, but all in all not worth the $$$$$. I felt like i had fallen in a tourist trap.
(2)Alison V.
My friend and I got here when it opened at noon and stayed until the show ended around 8:30 or 9 pm. We probably could spend another day there just to see all the stuff. Each village puts on a show and has all day long interactive things. We managed to make it to all of the shows. Some had us in tears laughing while others were very informative and somewhat solemn at points. All were extremely educational however. The canoe parade was a great way to see a bit of dancing from each culture. It was also a great time to sit down and grab a snack and some Shave Ice. The luau was pretty neat. Food was served buffet style and all you can eat. For packing a lot of people into one area it was quite orderly done. The food was delicious. The pork was fantastic and the beef jerky was beyond yummy. I'm glad the snack in the day wasn't bigger because I definitely stuffed myself here. Their new night show "Ha - Breath of Life" was fantastic. The plot was easy to follow (I'm told especially in comparison to the old one) and the dancing was great. The fire twirler at the end of the show was fantastic. To the level you'd expect to pay a lot just to see the show of in someplace, like Vegas. We didn't even have time to go see the BYU campus or watch the IMAX movie. There were also lots of other displays we missed and would probably take another half a day to see the rest. You won't run out of entertainment here. Overall if you have a free day on your next visit to Oahu, spend it here. You'll learn a lot, it's a scenic drive out there, and once you pay the admission fee you can get away spending minimally all day.
(5)Heather P.
I'm really surprised that PCC only has 3 1/2 stars on yelp. I love PCC. I've been there three times and I would rate them 4 1/2 stars...but I'll round up. You get to learn about the different cultures of the Polynesian islands. It is an all day event. It is pricey but with that you get to learn about Hawaii, Tonga, Samoa, Tahiti, Fiji and Aotearoa all in one day. Its educational, entertaining and fun. No, there is no alcohol at PCC...andb I love me some drinks, but I've never had a problem with that.
(5)Donna Lyn B.
Took my relatives who were visiting from New York here for the all day activities, the Ali'i Luau, and the "Ha: Breath of Life" show. EJ at the ticket booth was very friendly and was very efficient in handling our upgrading of tickets and adding on more tickets for my party. As soon as we got in, we were just in time to catch the Canoe Pageant. Then we caught the Samoan activities with the demonstration of the coconut husking, grating, and tree climbing. Those Samoan guys are still hilarious with their jokes and teasing of visitors. We made our way back to the entrance so we can catch the canoe ride. Our guide was polite, but he was soft spoken and not very energetic or funny. Everything is pretty much the same as when I visited PCC about two years ago except now visitors can paddle canoes in the lagoon and there's construction for a new exhibit. My only gripe is with the bathroom by the entrance. The women's bathroom stinks. If PCC could invest in some air fresheners or toilet bowl fresheners, it would make the trip to the bathroom more bearable.
(3)Jay K.
Oh Joseph Smith! You almost got me again! I finally got your minions trained not to knocked on my door anymore but I never expected that I would have to be on my guard at a Polynesian theme park in Hawaii! So for $80 you get to wander around recreations of Polynesian villages from 6 pacific islands. The stories about the Villagers are completely fabricated. If you pay attention you can see the Mormon messages embedded. The tram will take you to the Mormon temple where you can be converted and issued a special pair of magical Mormon underwear. Then you and your spouse can go to your own planet and populate it with spirit babies! The proceeds from your tickets go towards brainwashing the employees........ I mean helping the employees with tuition at the neighboring Brigham Young University. The buffet meal is pure slop. You might as well be eating out of a trof. The IMAX movie was especially hilarious. The only redeeming quality was that it was in an air conditioned room. I love how the Mormons just "make stuff up!" Very amusing! Please save your money! The PCC is the biggest waste of time and money on the island. It supports a group of people who suffer from "rational thought neglect" and encourages them to continue!
(1)Jeffrey C.
I would definitely give this place 4 stars if it weren't so pricey. I just got the Admission & Show package which came with the free buffet for about $65/person. Keep in mind you have to pay for parking too. The place was fun and got to experience and learn a lot about the polynesian culture. I also got to see Hula dancing for the first time on Hawaii. There are definitely a good amount of shows and activities for you to do there but nothing too thrilling. My favorite show was the Tonga one. You can definitely spend a good 6-8 hours there if you also get the night show, which was called Ha. The buffet was terrible, they served Hawaiian food like kailua pork and other stuff but a lot of the meats and fish were overcooked. I'm usually not one to waste food, but at the same time I don't stuff myself with poorly cooked food. Regardless, it was a buffet and was full. Ha, the night show, was awesome and very entertaining. The best part was the fire show at the end, though they did drop their fire batons not one, not two, but on three occasions. But...I'll let that slide since it's definitely hard to play with fire (sidenote: even Ang had difficulty learning firebending his first time!)
(3)Andi H.
An overpriced, gimmicky, in-the-middle-of-nowhere tourist trap. I'll start with the luau, the main reason why I went there the first place- The pork was good. Juicy, tasty, but that's pretty much what's good about it. There was nothing personal, nothing intimate about he luau. We sat in a big room with what must have been 250-300 people and fetched our food from a dining hall-type buffet. Next time I'd like to go to a more intimate (=less patrons) setting where you perhaps can see the food being cooked. Also, no alcohol served at the luau. Big thumbs down. The location- Well it's really in the middle of nowhere. We drove up from Waikiki and it took us an hour to get there. I guess it's in between Waikiki and North shore but still quite a drive to get there. The exhibition- This was the biggest disappointment. Their focus is to entertain, while neglecting to educate. Sure it's fun to see them perform the haka, but I'd love to hear/read about what role the haka played in their history and how it is performed. It was nice to taste the poi but what I really wanted to see is how it's being made. There were nice exhibitions of the houses of the tribal chiefs but there were no place to read/learn about the famous chiefs in their history. The show "Ha"- We gave up during the intermission. The story line just couldn't hold our interest. To be completely fair though this was at the end of our visit here after we were already disappointed by the exhibition and the luau that we had little patience left. Price- Approximately $90 per person for the luau, show and entrance. Complete waste of money.
(1)Calin P.
If you are in Oahu, you have to visit this place. First time we went in there we got the Ambassador Package. It is a guided tour and they take you to each place and activities. Breath of Life show was amazing. You have to see it. We returned there a few days later. We did not get the Ambassador Package anymore, but it was still a lot of fun. Without the tour we had more time to spend on each activity. Employees were really nice and helpful.
(5)Jeff S.
Pricey, but a good way of experiencing Hawaii's unique culture. The Aloha luau food was good and the entertainment passed the time. Dessert was apparently an afterthought, however. The service was friendly and attentive. The Ha production was worth sticking around for to complete the Polynesian excursion.
(4)Alecia S.
nice to come visit, needs a couple hours to see it all i coupled this with a luau and Ha and it was a long long LONG day. If I go again I will break it up especially since on the bus ride over the guide tells you that you can come back within the next 2 weeks.
(3)Melody M.
If you want to see some really well organized and informative shows about the cultural backgrounds of over six groups of Islands and their people, this is a great place. Drawbacks: It is expensive. $45 for a simple park entry fee and significantly more for package deals including food and night shows, etc.. We brought a packed lunch and were not allowed to bring it into the park because they boast "We have plenty of food here." Yes. Maybe you do. But I have food allergies and am vegan - can you accommodate THAT? I do wish that the association with the Mormon Church had been made more obvious before I paid my entry fee. It really should be included on signage so that you know where your money is going. I mean...if you visit the Vatican, you're pretty sure that you're contributing to a church and all that it stands for - and people still do not turn away because they want to see a piece of history. The same should be true here. I am all about helping pay for the park's employees to have an education, but I am NOT about supporting a church that becomes more and more entrenched in politics and political stands that are intolerant. After finding out that we could take a tram ride to the temple, I just kept thinking - this church helped pass Proposition 8 in California and I just gave them money to potentially recruit more people.
(2)Christine P.
The Mother-In-Law told us that we had to go to the PCC on our honeymoon and since I had never been to a luau before and was in Honolulu anyway, I decided to be as touristy as possible and go. All of the other packages were sold out so we bought two of the Ambassador Packages. This included a guided tour of the PCC, a shell lei, priority seating at the luau, reserved seating at the Ha Breath of Life show and a Pineapple Deelite dessert during the show. We were sent to the gift center and greeted by a lot of enthusiastic tour guides. Ours ended up being "Joey," a Korean student who was studying at nearby Brigham Young University, Hawaii. "Joey" was a terrific tour guide, very knowledgeable and friendly. To be honest, I felt a little uncomfortable during many of the presentations. I couldn't help but feel that we were somehow exploiting these cultures and quite literally putting them on stage to be stared at and to do tricks, like zoo animals. I did enjoy learning about the different cultures and tasting fresh poi was a great experience (it's delicious fresh and not so good in luaus because it ferments quickly and turns sour). The Ha Breath of Life show was really good. I loved it! And the Pineapple Deelite dessert was tasty, I'll admit. All in all, the experience was I'm glad I did but also glad that I got over with.
(3)Adrian J.
I wanted to like this place since it was mentioned in pretty much every tour guide of Oahu but it came down to being disappointed for the amount of money spent. On their website they offer several different packages depending on what you want to buy. General admission only, admission + buffet, and admission+buffet+show. There are several levels of buffet and show tickets. It depends on how close you want to sit next to the stage at the buffet and show. I chose the Ali'i Lu'au package which had and upgraded buffet with regular seating and tickets to the show. These were around $88 a person. A little pricey. But I thought why not. I was only in Hawaii for a short while. It is probably one of the biggest tourist traps you can find. They don't tell you that parking is $8 until you pull into the lot. After paying close to $90 a ticket, I find it had to swallow another $8 for parking in the middle of nowhere. This is not located anywhere near Waikiki so parking should be free. You have the option of returning within 3 days with your ticket and parking so it is a 3 day pass. But they don't mention that anywhere on the website. Once there, the villages play out like a polynesian themed great america only with no rides. There are plenty of activities for each island but the scheduling of the shows makes it difficult to do more than 2 before you have to line up for the buffet line. At all points throughout the day they are trying to sell you something. Ice cream, cold drinks, and snacks. All ridiculously over-priced. And they keep marketing the hell of out of them reminding you at all times what they have available. It was quite disgusting by the end of the night to be constantly harassed. The food was decent. They do a show of bringing out the pig. But you don't get to eat the pig they bring out! That's just for show. You eat another one they already have set up. I was a bit disappointed by this since it really didn't seem like a real Lu'au. No alcohol anywhere since it was founded and is run by the Church of Latter Day Saints. You have to pay close attention but there are subtle religious overtones everywhere. I was told multiple times how the Polynesian people were saved by the Christian missionaries. Really? I paid $90 to have a lecture on religion? No thank you. This alone makes me tell people to steer away. The show was decent. It was pretty boring until the fire-knives at the end. But that was only for 10 minutes out of a 90 minute show. Ending up leaving around 9pm after being there for 7 hours. Wish I had used that day for the beach instead. Avoid at all costs unless you want lectured about religion, a very unauthentic lu'au and being sold something every 2 minutes.
(1)Johanna P.
Previous yelpers covered the main stuff like, it's Disneyland but with an educational spin on Polynesian cultures. I highly agree. I went with a tour package but only got to experience the second half of the day as "late admission". We were still able to attend shows and demonstrations like Samoa, Tahiti, and Tonga but we wished we had time to see and do all of them! The luau buffet was just ok, they only had 2-3 Hawaiian dishes while everything else is very HomeTown Buffet. Don't depend on this place for a good reputation of Hawaiian cuisine. Watched their Ha-breath of life night show. It was actually entertaining but the plot was too similar to Lion King. Overall, we had a good time. Don't buy their souvenirs unless your pure intention is to solely support their education. It's all pure rip off. Have fun!
(4)Brandon G.
PCC is a great place to bring any guest that you have visit you on this great island! Or, if you just want to get away for a minute. It's one heck of a drive but worth it. Make sure you wear a hat though, that canoe ride was killer! But they have little shows here and there and activities such as mini fishing, spear throwing, necklace making and you'll learn a lot about the culture and history. The food was pretty good and it was a buffet, so thats a plus. But if memory serves me right, they had no alchol, :( The staff was really friendly, a lot consisted of college students making their way through school. The tree climbing speed was crazy too! Not a place I'd keep going back to over and over though. Definitely give it a try!
(3)Ashley C.
If visiting Oahu for the first time and have not been to a Luau and are looking for a fun experience, check out the Polynesian Cultural Center. It's an all day thing and you finish up with a wonderful Luau and fantastic show. Make sure you arrive early so that you can visit the various cultures and catch each presentation. Each one is fun and interactive. Samoa was my favorite. The difference with this Luau is that you can learn about the cultures as opposed to just going to a sit down dinner show. I won't lie...it's touristy but a lot of fun!
(5)Arnel D.
I'm a fan. Well worth it to unwind and have a blast. Great way to learn about the Hawaiian Culture and customs.
(5)Y C.
$8 for parking and ~$40 per person for the "2-hour special" (~$80/person for full-day general admission). Well, I'm curious about Polynesian culture, but not THAT curious ... at this price I prefer Disneyland where I get to take pictures with Micky Mouse.
(1)Hillery G.
A great way to cram a lot of Hawaiian culture into a day. My favorite show was the man who does how to climb a palm tree, crack a coconut, and start a fire without match. The food is cafeteria, but the evening show was really excellent - fire dancing, hula, and Tahitian.
(4)Jason R.
NO ALCOHOL ON PREMISES. I thought I would lead with that, because for many people, Luaus and Tropical Drinks go hand in hand. But back to the beginning. First when you finally do get to the luau after passing through a pseudo-disney world of polynesian culture. You get a Lei, but it is only about 15% flowers, most of it is composed of cheap plastic spacers. Then when you do get seated, they explain about the various types of food you are about to taste, but because they hold them in plastic cups, you can't see what is inside, so you don't know which item they are describing. The food was mediocre at best. The aesthetic of eating out of commercial chafing dishes at a 'luau' destroys anything that the rows of tables set up like a high-school cafeteria hasn't already killed. In summary: No beach Cheap lei's Mediocre food No drinks
(1)Jo R.
We got the VIP package with a military discount which was not bad at all. This place is a must-see when you visit Hawaii. I was really excited about the Luau but everything from the beginning of the tour to the end was fun! Our tour guide..."Cousin Lloyd" knew his stuff! Our tour started with a canoe ride and the Samoan guy who took us was really funny! The tour consist of different parts of the Polynesian Center from Fiji, to Samoa, Hawaii, Aotearoa, and Tonga teaching their ways of life. My Favorite parts: -The Samoan guy who did the fire show was hilarious! -The Luau...the food was really delicious. (Buffet!) -The pineapple drink. -The show: Hawaiian dance, the yelling, the fire dance. -Spear tossing Go check it out...you wont be disappointed.
(5)Brandon B.
Hats off to my fellow Mormons for maintaining such a great center. I skipped straight to the dinner, there was a minor hitch when they couldn't find the tickets that I had purchased online, but we made it in time for the family style all-you-can-eat buffet of Hawaiian foods, which was good but not top notch. Entertainment was provided in the form of the usual things you would expect at a cheesy luau. The later show was quite impressive with great percussive music, dancing, history (Disney-fied/Mormon-ified), and flame juggling.
(4)Diana C.
I just don't even know what to do with this review. I had major reservations about going to this place, but my friend really wanted to go see some Hawaiian dancing/show and experience a luau. We settled on the late entry with luau and show, since most of the package options are very expensive, and I personally did not want to spend an entire day here. Since we got there later in the day, we didn't really get to see all of the demonstrations & villages they had set up. But what I did see reminded me of Polynesian Disney. Kind of watered & dumbed down for the masses. All the staff kept trying to get us to get on the tram ride, which I foolishly thought would just show you the villages, but no, it takes you to the Mormon Temple. Uh, no thanks. Then there's the luau. While the entertainment during the luau was at least somewhat ok, the experience itself was kind of underwhelming. First, they shove a several hundred people into this huge amphitheater with tons of tables. Then you remember that this is only one of three huge luau arenas. Yikes. While I'm not a huge expert on traditional Hawaiian foods, I imagine that the buffet is kind of like if Denny's had a luau. It was ok, but not really great, nor how I envision a luau--standing in line behind a bunch of tourists, many of whom balk at the idea of eating any of the more exotic foods offered. The poke was at least pretty decent, but the desserts were kind of bland and boring. And then, there's the show, Ha: The Breath of Life. I don't even know where to begin. I was hoping for demonstrations of various dances from different Polynesian cultures. And I got that, to an extent. It was made into a crazy musical production with a ridiculous story that made no sense and went on far too long. The performers themselves were great, but sitting in the dark on the hard metal seats for an hour and a half made it a chore. The whole experience was obnoxious. It's crowded and expensive. We were only there for about 4-5 hours and we felt that it was too much. I cannot imagine having an all-day pass. The Bishop Museum in Honolulu has much better examples of Polynesian culture and history, if that is what you're after.
(2)Dee L.
This place is awesome! You are immersed in the Polynesian culture. Don't expect any roller coasters or rides. It's all about learning/feeling the culture, which was all new to me. You get a whirlwind cultural tour through the island villages of Samoa, Aotearoa, Marquesas, Fiji, Hawaii, Tahiti and Tonga. This place is non profit and provides scholarships for the workers attending BYU behind the center. Our guide was peppy in teaching us the villages. Did some hula, spoke a couple of Polynesian words, nice canoe ride around the villages, learned to play tititorea, watched the opening of coconut with a small stone, and enjoyed the whiff of noni. The center has so many lush trees and blossoming flowers, reminds me of walking through hiking trails. After the tour was over, we had dinner at the Gateway Buffet restaurant. Nothing really Polynesian about the food. There was mashed potatoes, miso soup, fried chicken, kalua pork, cucumber rolls, etc. I was kind of disappointed with what seemed to be american food being served here--guess the real food is at the luau. The horizons show made up for dinner. It was an amazing wrap up of the tour. There must have been hundreds of students/employees performing. I loved the performances and dances. Great way to end the night.
(4)Mark S.
The shows here are pretty funny. The fire dancing show "Ha - Breath of Life" was pretty good. However, sometimes the costumes that people were wearing looked a bit odd. Like too fake? Too colorful? Either way, the people were nice and it was entertaining. Wish it was a bit cheaper though. But the ticket prices do pay for the performers' college education.
(4)Cheryl K.
I have been here numerous times for field trips as a child. I must say they have beefed it up since those times. We visited PCC since my niece and nephews were here from Vegas and they have wanted to go for a while. Theres lots of tourist but you can totally tell the locals that were here for the Kama`aina special that was $25 bucks per person for a buffet dinner and the Ha show. Anyways the buffet was so-so. There were "choke" people and the food was decent. I think what made it junk was that it was super hot where we were sitting and you can tell the heat got to the food. The sweet potato salad to be exact. It was a little spoiled tasting. Anyways I always love Polynesian culture. I was super stoked that my niece and nephew were enjoying the show. It was actually a pretty lengthy show but it was a good learning experience for the little ones since they don't see much of that stuff in Vegas. The Ha show was pretty good and the story line was easy to follow. I actually really enjoyed it. Especially the fire dancing dude. Overall I gave it four stars more toward the Polynesian ambiance on the grounds and the Ha show. The minus one star was the food and the buffet experience. Probably would go to a shrimp truck along the way instead.
(4)Denny K.
Came here expecting pork just like the brochure and what they had right in front of me but was served some cafeteria pork. It made me a VERY sad customer. This rating is purely based on the food.
(1)Mike G.
Did you see the movie "The Transformers"? Well, I avoided it, like I do any film by Michael Bay. Why? Because I knew exactly what this movie would be. Dumbed down garbage for the lowest common denominator of our society, filled with lame dialog, lots of explosions, and a bunch of tough talking military types. I had zero interest. But the thing that I couldn't understand was, all these people kept telling me how good the movie was, and how it WASN'T like all of Michael Bay's films. This one was different. Well, by the time it got to cable, I decided to watch it one evening. I mean, with all these people telling me it was surprisingly good, maybe I judged it too quickly. Unlikely, but just maybe. Well guess what? IT WAS EXACTLY WHAT I THOUGHT IT'D BE!!! Now here's the kicker. When I went back and told those people what I thought of the film, they said to me "Well, what'd you expect???" So I learned a valuable lesson. Trust your instincts. That's pretty much the same way I feel about the Polynesian Cultural Center. I've been on this island for 5 years now, and have never had a desire to go. But the other day, my coworker was telling me all about it, and for $25, we can enjoy a buffet dinner and see "HA". Well, for $25, you really can't beat that. I guess it's worth a shot. My bottom line is that although you do get your money's worth, it's nothing to really write home about. The buffet was marginal. It's a step up from Sizzler or Golden Corral, but those of you who've been there know that's not saying much. The problem is that since the Mormons run it, there's no caffeine or alcohol. I couldn't even get iced tea with dinner. But they had fruit punch. And Mountain Dew. It was like Vegas without the alcohol, gambling, or prostitutes. The food was OK. Just OK. The show? Again - OK. It looks like it was supposed to be a large scale production, that somehow fell short. I don't know what it was. It was not epic, although that's how they were trying to promote it. It had fire, waterfalls, huge video screens, and yet somehow, it seemed like it went on a half hour too long. It could have been something bigger, but somehow wasn't. Summary, not bad for the money if you are Kama'aina, but don't expect too much.
(2)jen a.
This is one of the must-do's on Oahu. Honestly, felt like I could have watched a documentary on the Polynesian islands and it would have been the same as coming here. It is definitely tourist-y, from the scripted tour on your bus that takes you there, through the different villages, etc. Now that I've visited once, I don't feel like I have to go again. One big plus: it is cultural preservation at work. The students who run the PCC seem genuinely inclined to keep their traditions intact.
(3)Kai T.
I had a blast! Would like to go again. Tip: Go early, it takes awhile to do everything. I went late and didn't get to see everything. Tip: Get the Ambassador Prime Rib package. I got treated like royalty and the prime rib was amazing.
(4)Michael J.
Have you ever been to all the islands of Polynesia? Well I haven't, but this is probably the next best thing. I love being immersed into different cultures and foods and can I say that the PCC sure does that. This place is located on the other side of Oahu away from all the touristy parts of Honolulu, but it is definitely worth the trip out for a great experience you will never forget. This place is like a large polynesian theme park and displays 7 islands/villages of polynesia. In these seperate villages you will be able to immerse yourself into the dance culture, arts and crafts, way of life, and just history of those native places. Since there is so much to do here, you must and I say MUST!!! get to the PCC on time. Do not arrive in the afternoon as the programs are on a tight schedule and if you don't plan accordingly you will miss a presentation. There are limited shows for each village and so if you miss time one you may miss it completely. However, with admission to the PCC you are allowed to visit again with your previous ticket within 3 or 5 days depending if you bought it online or not. Not all tickets though will give you this benefit, check the website for more details. On my visit, I travelled to 7 islands, talked to some pretty cool people, watch a long canoe pageant which was a parade of the 7 villages on the water, took part of the amazing luau, watched an IMAX documentary on the islands of polynesia, and an evening show that was just amazing. Did all of this for just under $90/person and if you fill out a survey online you can get 10% off. Overall, this is a must see attraction. I hope you are excited to check this place out as I was to experience it.
(5)Les M.
"Buffet food is weak, best thing was the ribs. The show was decent, would be better if had no announcer and all dialogue but i guess cant complain, they're only byu students so i hear. Fire dance best part. Girls wore too much clothing, mad religious undertones." thats exactly what I wrote and saved on my Iphone as a draft and I feel that it is all this place will get out of me.
(2)Dean H.
OK don't shoot the messenger ok? The reason for the 3 stars..... The good.... 1. Great job on the islands, dance, culture 2. Nice layout of the islands 3. Good learning experience 4. Great way to raise $$ for the college students 5. Nice cultural sharing in a "real" fashion 6. "Ha" show was a WINNER, must see..... The bad.... 1. Updated maps would be nice 2. The buffet was REALLY terrible, they need to either down the different kinds of food and make it better OR upgrade the quality of the food OR make better choices availiable. It was really bad. 3. Offer docents for school groups so they are not floundering around trying to make sure they find a good place or go to the right place. 4. Stop choosing people from the audience that doesn't want to be up there performing in the first place. I think if they asked for volunteers that would be the best way. The ugly....well.....I just had to say that...... Anyways, the "Ha" show was wonderful. A great showing of all the polynesian cultures in one show, no surprise--let's bring someone up to the stage that really doesn't want to be there. There was tons of great, well rehearsed dances and story line. It was really a MUST see for even us locals....seriously..... BUT, please eat before or after, skip the buffet, go for the island visits and the "Ha" show is a must.....
(3)Nancy T.
This is a great place to go for a day trip. The stage show at the end of the evening is fantastic, better than any luau show you'll see in Honolulu. Their version of a luau is also really good with great food and entertainment. The villages are interesting, but I wish the demonstrations and shows were timed closer together so you didn't have to spend so many hours there to see them all. I've been twice and spent from 6 to 8 hours there (including luau and stage show) and wasn't able to see all the village shows. One big negative is that they hit you up for money every chance they get. There's always a "special offer" or "upgrade" or "treat" they are passing around, trying to get you to spend more money on top of the steep entrance price. Also, there's a full hour between the end of the luau and the start of the stage show when there's nothing to do in the park except visit the gift shops. They really REALLY want your $$$.
(4)J Y.
I think this is a must visit in Hawaii, as it is Hawaii's most popular cultural center. Admission isn't cheap, but I really enjoyed my day here. The performers put on quite an authentic show (at least to me) and the evening show was great! As for the food, I'd say its not as bad as other reviewers have said it was, and I actually liked that there was a lot of selection. The desserts were very good, and the gift shop has a lot of really nice little souvenirs that are actually worth buying.
(5)Shane H.
I love the PCC!! It's just so much fun and so so funny! I love how authentic everything is. That almost everyone in each village is actually from that island. I also love how the culture shines through in their presentations so well. There's the very serious and warsome mauri tribes from New Zealand, the dry (but hilarious) humor of Samoa and the laugh out loud drum show at Tonga. I learned that they do this on purpose because the people and cultures are very much this way. Cool!! I can't wait for the haunted lagoon in October!!
(5)Armando G.
the food was not as good as the price paid but then again, I LOVE McDonalds. the show was too late in the evening to enjoy and at times slow. I think there was too much dancing and not enough story. Not good for kids because of the time the main show starts.
(1)Alan H.
This place is a full day event, ie. from 10:20 am to 10:20 pm. I got the Ali'i Luau packet, which was a bit pricey at over $100 but it was well worth it. I boarded the bus at the Hyatt at 10:20 and had an excellent guide Cousin Leon. Cousin Leon has worked the tours for 3 years and is a 6'5 samoan who knows the area well. He made the 1.5 hour ride to the site rather enjoyable. As for the center itself, it is packed with things to do and watch. There are 6 distinct identities or islands to visit (hawaii, new zealand, fiji, samoa, tonga, and tahiti), each with its own unique games, dances, and performance. You can also play games like stick tossing and poi-poi. And even though I got to the park just as it opened, I was not even able to see all the performances in one day. Luckily, the Ali'i luau packet allows for free re-entry within 3 days. In addition to the islands, there is also a canoe pageant and canoe ride. The luau was excellent, with fresh kalua pig, poi, peppered steak, purple potatoes, taro buns, fresh fruits, and more. Absolutely delicious and with entertainment on the side. The main attraction is the the performance HA: Breath of Life. The show is one year old and full of color and dancing. For guys, you get to see lovely ladies shake their booties like a quarter on the very end of its spin on a table. For the ladies (and maybe a few men as well) there are really tough chisel guys wearing dresses and they also serve ice cream. Even, the kids who performed were good. Screw child labor laws, those kids are talented.
(5)Christopher P.
We attended "Hawaii's Most Authentic Luau" and the Ha: Breath of Life performance. All visitors BEWARE! This place is a complete tourist trap. There is no beach, no alcohol, and no pig roast - just thousands of tourists. The Polynesian Cultural Center is owned and operated by the Mormon church. All proceeds go to the benefit of the Church of LDS. Nowhere is this advertised prior to or after your purchase. Dinner began with a nice Mormon prayer. Prior to the "luau", the hosts unwrapped a cooked pig, which is weird because it was never served. The guests then learn that the luau is actually a dinner buffet. Guests sit at assigned tables and are dismissed one table at a time, while actors dressed in plastic costumes imitate the Polynesian culture. While attempting to enjoy your meal, the Mormon church perpetually tries to sell you $15 alcohol free Pina Colladas and "authentic" jewelry. Ha: Breath of Life is in a large amphitheater filled concession vendors roaming the aisles. It is a long, drawn out show that climaxes with an impressive fire dance performance. If you would like to save your time, money and your sanity, simply watch Disney's Lion King, as the plot is taken directly from the movie. It is completely disingenuous for this place to be called the "Polynesian Cultural Center". A more appropriate name would be Mormon Hawaiian Disney Land. There is not a single point of time from entering the grounds that the church doesn't try to sell you something. At least they didn't make us pay to leave the parking lot (parking is $8). On the bright side, I can write off the expense because I inadvertently donated $79 to the Mormon church.
(1)Mrs. B.
We had fun. We paid extra for the "guided tour" and we were glad we did, otherwise we probably would have wandered aimlessly and missed all of the good stuff. The lunch buffet and luau were okay (not amazing, not terrible), and the night show was pretty good.
(4)Derek A.
To all the people talking negatively about this place, you guys must be really hard to please if something as small as "its run by mormons" or "theres no amazing special effects in the show" will make you give the PCC 1 star while the countless other attractions get no mention in your reviews. YES, you learn that island culture is nice and hospitable but it doesn't mean you should expect them to kiss your rear as if you're Kamehameha yourself! I THOUGHT THIS PLACE WAS AMAZING! I got the full luau package for a pretty good deal which included a park tour, luau dinner, and magic of polynesia show for about $89. There was a prime rib option available but you can get prime rib anywhere and can't get authentic luau food all the time. On the way to the PCC, we had an entertaining tour guide who gave us little facts and trivia about the islands and would crack jokes to make the drive go by a lot quicker. Definitely set the mood for the rest of the day. Who knew that exploring the park you could learn so much about the beautiful culture of the Pacific Islands. So many exhibits to watch, activities to do, performances to see, it was not easy to do and see everything in one day. Seeing dances, music, chants, rituals, history and common everyday activities for each island was very eye opening and entertaining at the same time. I even got a free ukulele lesson at one of the gift shops. The park itself is just beautiful with all the trees, streams, and tiny villages around. The luau was a great experience too. The menu consisted of kalua pig, rice, long rice, poi, lomi salmon, and chicken to name a few. You could even order different smoothies and have them blended tableside and they would be served in a coconut shell or an empty pineapple which gave it a nice presentation. I made sure I tried everything at least once and everything was delicious. Finally, the Magic of Polynesia show to end the night. I must say that the show itself was amazing! I have never seen anything like it. The dance choreography was beautiful getting many different dancers at a time to dance in sync takes a lot of hard work. All the islands were well represented by showcasing dances in the show too. My favorite segment was the fire knife dancers. I really wish I videotaped it but it is still vivid in my memory. For the ignorant people I mentioned earlier, do you wonder why there was no special effects? BECAUSE EVERYTHING WAS NATURAL TALENT! All the dancing you see is done without CGI or similar. Was the story not clear or did you not notice one? THE STORY IS TOLD THROUGH DANCE! PAY ATTENTION TO THE MOVEMENTS! The hands, hips, feet and just about any other moving body part does its share in telling the story. After coming here, I have a bigger appreciation for island culture than I thought I already had. The entire PCC is run by college students and our proceeds for tickets and such all help them get through school. Being a fellow student I appreciate the hard work that they put on in order to get an education and I would do the same if something representing my culture was available for me. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND COMING HERE ON A VISIT!
(5)Yvonne R.
I have been to the PCC before almost 20 years ago and enjoyed it then but I enjoyed it even more recently. First of all I booked on the PCC website and was amazed when my seats for the show HA was on the first row. It couldn't get any better than that. Starting with the bus ride, our tour guide was very nice and funny. We opted to pay the additional $25.00 per person to continue on with the personal tour of the PCC with him and it included the lunch buffet. I was able to see and do more of the activities by having a knowledgeable guide. The food at the Luau was very good. And the show "Ha" was very entertaining and heart warming. I would highly recommend this place for everyone including children. It is a great way to learn about the Polynesian culture. If you go to the Luau here you do not need to go to any other Luau's. The food here was better than others that I have been to.
(4)Greg J.
I love the Polynesian Cultural Center! I've been there a number of times throughout the years and it's always a great experience. I especially love the Samoan village, and the tour guides. I definitely recommend the tour. I highly reccomend the PCC
(5)Kelly T.
I'm such a tourist but sometimes that's the best mindset to have when going to these things. After a satisfying lunch at Giovanni's shrimp truck my sister and I arrived at PCC shortly after. We really enjoyed our time here. We decided to buy a package with a guided tour. The tour guides take you various villages and you learn about customs and cultures of each place. This usually takes up most of your day. It's fun and interactive. Learning how to make coconut bread (and eating it), hula, play with poi balls, watch someone climb a palm tree to retrieve a coconut, and lots more. The "Rainbow of Paradise" water show is great as well. Especially when we were served haupia ice cream during the show. It's been about 4 yrs since I've been here so maybe the food isn't as good but my sister and I were in love with their buffet. I don't remember the various dining options they had but it came with the guided tour. A little more pricey, if I recall. We got sooooooooo full off of the King Crab legs. And they were warm king crab legs that you dip in butter. YUM! After dinner you see their main show in the amphitheater. It's like a summary of what you've seen/learned/did during the day in each of the villages. Overall, if you're on Oahu you should try out PCC at least once. It's pretty fun.
(4)Charissa P.
I had fun even if it was tourist trap. Very interactive. Aotearoa was my favorite spot. My cousin has a girl crush on one the chicks that starts off everyone. I think I even have a girl crush on her. haha! Her voice is amazing. I just wish I was able to see all the places. The guy in the Samoa section was funny!!! Too funny! Loved every minute of that part! The floating dances were decent but damn talk about having crispy shoulders the next day! My family and I had the luau but I don't know... it wasn't what I expected. I expected to what I see in movies and whatnot. haha! The food was decent. I tried poi and I don't hate it. haha! Decent shopping but I wish the flat penny had an option of the PCC. I don't collect the flat pennies and I just get them for my brother. He prefers with the name of the place on the penny than just images. I enjoyed the show. I even exchange one of the tour CDs to get the $5 off. I just keep watching the Aotearoa over and over again on the DVD. aha! TIP: BRING SUNSCREEN!
(4)Rodel R.
What a fun fun FUN day! My family and I had the $96 tickets, I forgot what they called it, but I know we weren't Ambassadors LOL. This included the Luau Dinner Buffet along with the Ha Breath of Life night show. At first I was all "wow I already paid close to $100 at the door and I still have to pay for absolutely everything?" Everywhere you go someone is trying to sell you some overpriced soda or fruit ice cream. As the day progressed, I saw how much was going on and was impressed at everything going on. This place has stations dedicated to places like Hawaii, Tonga, Fiji, and the list goes on! So many demonstrations at every single themed land, and all very entertaining! I especially liked the Tongan station which had a very entertaining music themed demonstration, palm leaf crafting, and even spear throwing! Dinner was pretty tasty! Fish, Chicken, and Pork, how can anyone complain with these three? Also included are a salad station, assorted fruits, purple bread, rice, and silver noodle (rice) soup. Service is pretty good too, and they don't accept tips either... probably included all in the admission charge? Excellent, breath taking show! True you probably won't understand a word they are saying, but wow, there is some major talent going on here. The show portrays the life of a Child from birth to Adulthood. It also features amazing fire dances and choreography. LOL @ the fact they still were trying to sell me ice cream here too! Well worth every penny, especially when you go Luau + Meal + Show... wow
(4)Tim C.
Compared to what you pay at the other luaus I have been to (Germaine's and Paradise Cove), the Polynesian Cultural Center was a great bargain. First off, I didn't attend an actual "luau" dinner here. My group only got the "Admission and Show" tickets which included a free buffet dinner. But with all of the cultural activities and demonstrations throughout the day, there really is no need for the whole "luau" part. At $70 per adult, you get to spend way more time experiencing all of the different island cultures and exploring the nicely landscaped grounds. The buffet dinner that was included in the ticket was not necessarily 5 star quality, but definitely a good meal still. And, the Ha show was quite nice to watch as well. You can easily spend most of the day here, where as at one of the regular luau's, it's only a late afternoon/evening thing. Definitely worth what we paid for it. NOTE: if you're not staying near the eastern side of the island and have your own rental car... it's also worth it to head north of the PCC to check out the shrimp trucks/stands... Romy's had some of the freshest prawns I've ever eaten.
(5)Julie C.
While vacationing in Oahu, decided to visit PCC, unfortunately we found out it was over-rated. Since we brought our 18 month old, we decided to forego the luau buffet and evening show. Thank goodness we decided to this, I don't think we would have lasted until then. We were there when the center opened, was able to grab a quick/expensive lunch, before exploring. We decided to start out with the canoe ride. It was ok, it gave you an overview of each of the villages. But it was extremely hot, sitting in that canoe, so bring a hat or umbrella to shade yourself. Each of the villages has a scheduled show/demonstration, my suggestion is to map this out before you explore. I highly recommend the Samoan village, the host was funny and entertaining. Also, make sure to plan ahead your viewing area for the canoe parade. Try to scope out a place in the shade, it can get extremely hot. Food/drink is very expensive, so be prepared to shell out some serious cash for it (ice cream was being sold for $5.00-don't think that it was worth it). Overall, I didn't think that it was worth the money to travel over an 1hr to the PCC. Only good thing is that you can stop by the North Shore for some shaved ice and pay a visit to the shrimp trucks on your way back.
(2)Jen C.
I'm a local Hawaii resident my entire life and I haven't been to the Polynesian Cultural Center in 20 years! The reason why I returned was for the 50% off local resident (kamaaina special) which was $30 for the Gateway buffet and the new show Ha. For the price of $30, it was a deal. Decent buffet with chicken, mahi mahi, salad bar, desserts, and other food. The show was also pretty good, the best part is the fire dancing at the end, don't leave until you see the end! I did not see the rest of the park so I cannot comment on that.
(5)Jay M.
This place provides a fun way of learning about the surrounding cultures. It was like a Polynesian theme park. For $60, my friends and I got admission to the park, a ticket to the buffet, and admission to the finale show: HA Breath of Life. Since we arrived late, a staff member recommended for us to take the boat ride for a quick and easy way to explore each village. The buffet wasn't good at all. I couldn't finish my food. Maybe the Luau is better. The show was entertaining. It's interesting to watch how they implemented the different dance suites into a story line. But why wasn't I allowed to have a pineapple delight? =( I recommend going early so that you can explore each village in detail. Make sure you check out Samoa- the presenter is hilarious! He's got some mad skills in shredding a coconut and making fire out of hibiscus branches.
(4)Jack Y.
Excellent! Everytime I visit Hawaii, I would stop by here! Booked the Super Ambassador package and everytime it's been outstanding! Show and performance was supurb!
(5)Lexi P.
After living here for 3 years I went to PCC expecting a tacky tourist trap and was pleasantly surprised. It is kind of pricey but you get hours of entertainment and dinner and a show so it's worth it. If you don't have extra money you can trim things off- like you don't NEED to get a tour guide (if you do, you're basically buying some awesome companionship for the day and get to feel good about putting someone through college. But seriously any ding dong with a map could navigate the shows and villages and manage to get good seats). I was most surprised (based on other reviews) how little I felt the Mormon/salesman influence. We did not get exposed to religion converters (however we didnt take the laie byu tour), ice cream pushers, or photo ops with the Lei being taken away from you and a receipt for the photo in its place. Everyone we talked to today seemed genuinely happy, helpful and open to making more sales but nowhere near pushy about it. Yes the waterfalls turn off at 6 pm. Yes everything you see and hear might not be an entirely accurate depiction of the cultures. Yes the luau food wasn't the best food on the island. But the Kalua pork was tender and flavorful, the grounds were gorgeous and the activities and presentations could keep your attention for an afternoon. After going to luaus on Maui this was a little disappointing but just because we didn't know what to expect. The dinner luau almost feels like the filler for the day. The music and dancing is no biggie compared to what you see later. People didn't seem to be conversing as much at the tables (maybe because it's a dry dinner?) and it felt like everyone was in a rush to leave? The staff was awesome though so no complaints there. The real star of the day was HA. We got seats right against the stage. We could feel the heat of the flames, see the sweat fly off the dancers, get sand kicked at our feet... It was fantastic. The story was lion king cheesy but the dancing was unbelievable! Most talented dancers on the island! I swear the male dancers had extra layers of muscle to fill in the cracks in their abs. It was insane how in shape everyone was! Very visual and enjoyable performance.
(5)Kimberly S.
So much fun! I loved it! People always tell me if I go to Hawaii I must go to PCC. Yes it is expensive. I think it's worth it, for all the entertainment and all the things you get to experience and learn there. I normally care for pricey things, but since I was on vacation, I didn't care to spend the money...it's HAWAII! This is an all day thing, so be prepared to wake up early and be out until almost 10pm. The area is so beautiful, the tour guides get you involved in activities, and you get fed pretty decent!
(5)Amber W.
AUGUST 27TH-VIDEO If anybody was there on August 27th and have a video of when the drummer(my husband) was showing the guys how to play. Can you please send me an email, I will buy it from you. I wasn't able to record it and I'm so upset.
(4)Devon S.
I have lived in Hawaii a little over four years now. In all that time, though, I learned more about Hawaii and the other Polynesian islands in one day at PCC than the entire time I have been here. This place rocks! My Aussie people (miss you, Bec) were kind enough to purchase a ticket for me to come along with them and I am forever grateful. Wow...just wow. We had our own tour guide, which made navigating this enormous world of cultural enlightenment much easier. He was very kind and helpful. Always waiting for the entire group to come together before moving to the next area, answering as many questions as he could. There was alot of walking to be done so be sure to wear comfortable shoes. And if it starts to rain, don't worry. The guides come equipped with plastic panchos ready to hand out in the event of a rainstorm, so you can continue to enjoy yourself. Gosh, so much to learn, so much fun. From poi, to the emu, to how to start a fire with sticks, to music making, to hula vs Tahitian dancing (even I got out there a shook my butt a little), etc it was a great time. And of course, we cannot forget the food. Depending on the package you get, you have a choice of a luau-style dinner or an all-you-can-eat prime-rib buffet. Well, we had been to a luau already, so we agreed on the prime rib buffet and it did not disappoint. All-you-can-eat crablegs!? Yeah, I'm done. The buffet also has mac-nut crusted chicken, full salad bar, sushi, etc. All of which were very good. The highlight of the evening was the new live theater show; Ha, breath of life. Wow, wow, and wow. It is a story of the circle of life. I wont go into it much because YOU SHOULD GO AND SEE THIS! Ok, ok, i will say this. What those guys do with the fire...wow. LOL The best thing about the whole endeavour is that all proceeds go to paying for the education of the students of BYU's Hawaii campus. People who would normally not have a way to attend school, esp those from the other islands such as Tonga, Samoa, Fiji, etc get a chance to gain a college degree thanks to your support. And believe me, you will definitely get your money's worth here. "S"
(5)Irma R.
I loved learning about all the different cultures. You can spend the whole day here and learn about all the different cultures of Polynesia - Hawaii, Samoa, Tonga, Tahiti, Maori. They list a 6th culture but it was under construction (I think?) the day I visited. The brochure/map they give you at the entrance has a schedule of all the cultural shows/displays. If you've come this far, you would really benefit from participating in all the cultural shows. They're about 20 minutes long and to see them all you'd have to get there at 12pm. What I really feel good about is that the fee you pay to get in goes towards scholarships for students of these cultures to earn a higher education. The Luau was great! The evening show, "HA", was great. If you didn't see the shorter cultural shows then the dances in the night show won't make much sense.
(5)Shauna J.
Read the reviews & glad I did! 1.) PACKAGE: Do the Ambassador package which includes the tour of the villages, dinner, and ha the breath of life. Our tour guide was Kit and he was the best tour guide we could have had for our children. The guide takes you from village to village. I noticed that you do miss a lot because there is so much to do. Therefore, if you keep your ticket stub you can go back for a second day within 2 weeks. We went back a week later and did the kid's passport which helps you check off all the things to do. We ran into our tour guide & my kids were excited because he remembered all our names a week later. 2.) FOOD: SKIP the luau & do the Prime Dinning. I read this, but didn't listen. Our friends loved the food at the Prime Dinning and we felt like we had cafeteria food at the luau. The show was not that great, but my kids loved it since they went on stage. 3.) SHOW: Ha the breath of life! WOW! Don't skip this it is amazing! 4.) OPINIONS: This is a tourist site which was clean and polished like Disney which I liked, but some yelpers have not liked. Also, it is educational with games and activities. If you don't like to learn and participate, sit on the beach instead. Even my 6 year old loved the games, dancing, and activities. My children never complained of being bored, but were so excited when they found out we got to go back for a second day. 5.) $$$: It is pricey when you have a family of 5, but when you consider that you can go back for a second day it helps. Also, the entertainment guide book has a coupon for an adult ticket. The book is $35, but you can get it for $5 when they go on sale in August. You will say by the end of the show Ha, it was worth the $$$! Plus, I think it is fabulous that it helps put all the students through college. You will notice that the place is not short staffed, but there is a friendly face to help every time you turn around! P.S. GET THERE EARLY OR WHEN IT OPENS!
(5)Jen T.
First of all I think it's really cool and a fantastic opportunity to learn about the different Polynesian cultures (Hawaii, Somoa, Fiji, Tahiti, Aotearoa and Tonga) In my opinion,. it's even cooler that majority of the employees are from their originating island...they are given scholarships to come work here and teach us about their culture..a Win, Win situation! Then most go back to their island with an education and skills. Rules to follow: -Go Early, when it opens. (Opens at Noon, Closed Sunday) -1 hour or a little over drive from Waikiki, a good scenic drive too -The Basic package for more than perfect for us (I personally don't think you need to upgrade to Ambassador, yada yada) We paid $62.95 (got a discount from the tourist desk) Included: -Full Admission -Buffet dinner, surprisingly good and a lot of options from the traditional Hawaiian pork, corn, baked chicken, miso soup, sushi, rolls etc, desserts, soft drinks, tea and hot coffee. -Admission to an A.M.A.Z.I.N.G show...HA! Don't leave until the shows over..you'll miss the most amazing Fire Dance by CAP. (* FYI, he's at the Samoa exhibition, be sure to check his fire making and coconut cracking skills, plus he's a comedian!! (FYI $9.95 for second day admission, if one day isn't long enough or you loved it that much)
(5)Camille T.
Great place, worth the price.
(5)Sandy H.
Great place to visit with family & learn about the Polynesian culture. There are different Polynesian islands you can visit throughout the center and participate in different activities. The center is beautiful and picturesque. On the canoe ride, we had a young Tahitian man paddle our canoe & he mentioned how all Tahitian men cooked for their women. Next time I come to Hawaii, I'm going to find myself one of those! lol The luau buffet was really delicious & had to go back for seconds. Everything they had was really good except the desserts which were just cakes that tasted dry to me. After the luau, we went to the show & I was really impressed with it. If you ever visit Honolulu, you have to come to this center at least once.
(4)Garrett P.
The only thing I regret about PCC is not being able to spend more time here. I went for just admission - no buffet or luau. For that, I went to Paradise Cove, and strongly regret it. Each of the "islands" is a plethora of knowledge and entertainment. The speakers were all fantastic, and I thoroughly enjoyed my entire experience at PCC. Since my vacation, I've had 3 other friends go to Oahu - PCC is always somewhere on the top of my list of things for them to do. It is run by the Mormon community, but if there were hints at trying to get people to join, they were too subtle for me to find. I can't recall any of the speakers ever mentioning being "saved" by missionaries, or anything of that sort. Maybe it just depends on the specific presenter, but other yelpers seem to complain a lot about that. It seems yelpers also complain about them trying to sell you expensive ice cream in the heat of the day - well of course they are. It's probably one of the best money-makers they have aside from the parking. You get hounded more at a baseball game, though, so you can't really complain too much about it...the only reason Disneyland employees doesn't follow you around with ice cream, tempting you all day, is because they know the little kids will do it for you, and do it better.
(4)Christian M.
I went to PCC 14 years ago when I first visited Hawaii. I wanted to go to an authentic luau and my relative suggested we go to PCC since they had a big luau during their night festivities. I figured why not. I totally forgot how fun and entertaining this place can be. The staff at this place is super nice. I can't really say much about it other than the people are great. You get to learn more about seven different polynesian islands such as Samoa, Hawaii, Tahiti, Fiji, Tongo, and others. This place is excellent. My favorite place is the Samoa show. The host was HILARIOUS. I couldn't stop laughing the whole time. The whole day was very entertaining. It was great to learn about each of their cultures. They're very diverse and offer so much in the cultural aspect. I highly enjoyed learning from each of their experiences. As for the luau, it was pretty good. The places was pretty crowded. They served a lot of great food. Salad, poi, kaluha pig, island fish, sweet potatoes, poke, and chicken. The kaluha pig was pretty good. I haven't really tried any kaluha pig that I hated. I really recommend the poke. I had so many pieces of that. The mango juice was also great. It's an all you can eat bar so go ahead and get seconds, thirds if you want. This place is great. I'll be sure to take some friends the next time that I'm at the island.
(4)Ming-Jou C.
Can you possibly hate on a place you didn't go to? The answer is yes. This place is so contrived, yet my friend who's a local has been there 10x. I have never had a desire to go, but on the coastal drive from Kaneohe to North Shore, I stopped off to use the bathrooms. You can park in 30 minute parking, and the bathrooms are to the left of the ticketing area. There are a ton of packages available, but the minute we walked in, there are a bunch of guys standing by the door. Since they're the frontline, you'd figure they'd be a little friendly, but they were as bad as car salesman. I just said I wanted to take a look at the packages and pricing and he kept on prodding. Sheesh. Even if it wasn't just a bathroom stop, he did nothing to make me want to come back. I'm sure there's a lot to offer, but there's also a twofer coupon out there, so don't go without! I'm all for learning, but I think you can that from just talking to the locals, and hitting up spots like Pearl Harbor, and reading books like Oahu Revealed and Frommer's. Cheaper, too!
(2)Yuliya B.
It was quite an interesting experience visiting PCC. People there are very friendly and funny. We enjoyed exploring the different traditions of Polynesian islands. The experience was definitely worth the money. We had lots of fun learning how to dance Haitian dances and how to make fish out of some leaves. Luau banquet was very delicious! Great experience for Hawaii visitors!
(5)June M.
Defiinitely a tourist locale, but cool all the same. I actually learned a lot about the different Polynesian islands and cultures. Everyone was super friendly, and the structure was pretty laid back. I watched a few of the shows they have here, and enjoyed them a good amount. They did a great job of getting the audience involved and enthusiastic about the shows, and most of the people performing in the shows looked like they were really enjoying themselves. The guy who did a fire show in Samoa was hilarious. The luau was all right. The pig was definitely the best part of it. This is a great place for families to come and spend a day or two learning about different cultures. It's very kid friendly, and there's a lot of different activities to do. Even though it is a somewhat sterile tourist environment, there's still some fun things to do here, and interesting things to learn.
(4)Phuong T.
on the pricey side... i was already wiped out by the drive & constant on the go trip. unfortunately, was unable to fully enjoy it. it was freakin' hot... reminded me of San Diego's Safari Adventure. Bring a visor/an umbrella/ and the beach with you bc it is hot. The cultural shows were nice, I love learning about history and culture... this was a good place to learn about the polynesian island... however, get yourself an umbrella.. it is freakin' hot. hehe.
(4)Erica S.
I LOVE this place. If you're new to Polynesian culture, visit! I recommend the Ali'i Lu'au package, which includes general admission, plus the luau dinner and HA Breath of Life show for $88.
(5)William B.
(from 2 years ago) Having scouted this out before we came for our vacation, I decided to take the tour bus rather than make the drive out from Honolulu, as it is a bit of a hump and the road there isn't the biggest = takes a while. And taking the bus was no mistake as a couple of students from the PCC kept us entertained and informed from the get go, making the trip seem quite short. Once we got to the center, we formed up in our respective groups (called families) and started our tour around the PCC. Chad, a student from Thailand going to BYU Hawaii was our guide and we became part of the Chad family. LOL This guy was extremely polite and as nice as can be and while he didn't speak 100% perfect English, that actually made him even more interesting as he shared a bit about his culture while taking us around to see the various Polynesian "island" areas, where we got to see all the main shows and really just enjoy the heck out of things. Among the islands was Hawaii where the one guy was just phenominal with playing the ukulele. He later MC'd the luau banquet which was pretty good, as was the show. I especially liked where there was a cube of steak within a cup. Those were about as good a piece of steak as I've ever had! After the luau, there was the evening show with various dances and such and later the fire dancer, who was both amazing and funny. I really could go on and on about how much I enjoyed this place; the only down point being that because the PCC opens at noon, the day went very quickly and we didn't quite see everything there was to be seen. That's probably why there was a discount on a 2nd day pass but I hadn't made plans to allow for another day. Oh well, just means that should we make it out to Oahu again, the PCC will be a must, again.
(4)Tara C.
Yuck. You come all this way to Hawaii to learn about the history of Polynesia from Disney-esque Mormon settlers? Really? That's how you want to spend your vacation? Ohhh-Kaaaaay. It's a long drive, it isn't authentic and it is completely overpriced. If you are truly curious about the history of Hawaii and its Polynesian roots, go to the Bishop Museum's Hawaiian Hall in Honolulu. No, there isn't a dancing show there, but its filled with authentic, historic pieces that will give you real insight into Hawaii, its people and its history. There are also locations around Oahu that are still preserved that are important to the history of Hawaii and its people. One of the most inspiring to me is the "birthing stones" in Wahiawa. (I'll write a review on that location). Really, I know you want to do a Luau, but don't fool yourself into thinking that this is the best way to get to know Hawaii, OK?
(1)Jade M.
My friends and I visited the PCC a couple of weeks ago (their first time, my second) and we loved it. We rented a car from Enterprise in Waikiki so we can enjoy the scenic drive and not have to conform to a tour bus' schedule. We took our time and stopped for a couple of hours to hang out at a beach and grab lunch at a shrimp truck before making our way into the PCC's parking lot. Got to the park at 11:30am, paid the $6 for parking (per car) and picked up our tickets from Will-Call. The tickets were ordered online a couple of weeks before our trip. We ordered the Ambassador Ali'i Luau package ($120/person), which included access to all the villages with a guided tour, a "behind the scenes" tour of the "HA" night show, the luau (and dinner show), canoe ride, canoe pageant, premium seating at the "HA: Breath of Life" show, an ice cream dessert during the night show, and two lei greetings (shell leis given by the tour guide when we first meet up and fresh purple orchid lei given upon arrival at the luau). Since we booked our tickets online, we had the option returning to the PCC within five days. We passed on this option since our schedule during our stay in Oahu was pretty full. We also got a gift DVD, which gives background info on the PCC and its various villages (it's not lengthy, more like a promo item). Our group was introduced to our tour guide for the day, "Cousin B." from Cambodia. He was awesome and kept us informed, entertained and laughing throughout the day. Although we loved all the "islands", the unanimous favorite was New Zealand (Aotearoa). We enjoyed learning the Tititorea (Maori stick game) and the Maori poi ball lesson. We learned about the Maori people and got to witness performances by their staff, giving us glimpses of the songs and dances of the Maori people (especially loved the Haka). The men in this "village" are good-looking...and half naked (hubba, hubba!). Let's just say that the visit to PCC's "New Zealand" has inspired me and my friends to plan a visit to the real New Zealand next year. LOL Another favorite was the entertainment provided by the dude at the Samoan village. His dry sense of humor as he explained the Samoan culture was hilarious! You can get fresh flower leis (necklace or headband) made-to-order by staff members for only $5! The flowers used for the leis are big, beautiful and fragrant. Can't get these for cheaper anywhere else without making it yourself! Our tour guide was able to lead us to second-row seating for the canoe pageant show. The seats afforded us a close-up view of the entertainers and dances they did. We made a lot of eye contact with the performers...especially the men. ;-P We arrived for the luau at 5:45pm and given a purple, orchid lei and got the opportunity to pose for a group photo with two staff members. Luau buffet food was of good quality and tasty, considering the food was prepared for the masses. I especially liked the taro rolls, lomilomi salmon, purple Hawaiian sweet potato salad, sautéed spinach salad, and the guava juice. The dessert items were not to my taste, but my friends liked the coconut cake. Entertainment was provided during dinner. I was only able to handle one plate but you're allowed to eat as much as your stomach can handle. At the end of the luau, we picked up our group photo, for $18. We spent about 45mins wandering about the grounds to see sights we missed during our guided tour and took the opportunity to snap some picturesque shots. Since most people were still having dinner, the grounds felt very peaceful and quiet. The beautiful "HA: Breath of Life" show was entertaining, but at times felt a little repetitive. I was quite pooped after spending more than eight hours wandering around the PCC and I found myself dozing off a couple of times during the show. We were seated in the second row, near center (section 3, row B, seats 43, 44 and 45) so we got great views of the performers. Every staff member we encountered was friendly and had smiles on their faces, so that was refreshing. The staff members consist mainly of students attending the nearby Brigham Young University, including our tour-guide. It was such a nightmare getting out of the parking lot and once on the two-lane road, it felt like such a LONG ride back to Waikiki. Time spent at the PCC was well worth the ticket prices, but I would advise spending at least two days there in order to experience all they have to offer.
(4)Jen Y.
Great way to spend the day! We did our research and saw this place was expensive so before we arrived we actually purchased one of those entertainment books for Hawaii on ebay because it has a buy 1 get 1 free admission coupon. We went w/the no frills self guided tour but that suited us well. The areas were interesting and all the shows we watched were good. I loved seeing my husband up there with the Samoan and the coconut presentation. That was a suprise that he was picked. Later he got my back since I was picked to go up and weave a basket and later dance with the Tahitians (not a pretty site, I'm so uncoordinated)! We'd highly recommend, lots of fun!
(5)Jennifer L.
I've been...a long time ago for field trips...in elementary school. And then recently, I had out-of-town visitors. We decided to go to check it out and check out the "Ha: Breath of Life" show. I heard about the show and people (including friends) said it was good. Um......yeaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh............I don't know. I LOVE theatre. I LOVE stage productions of all kinds (dance, singing, performances/plays, musicals, etc)....but this? Um...I was bored out of my mind. They had fancy effects and they had somewhat cool dance choreography and they had very awesome firedancers. Fabulous, but I wish it was more than that that kept me captivated. Cool effects and fancy stuff isn't really enough to sustain a show. The plot was...interesting but not told in a way that worked for me, as someone who didn't understand their languages (as I'm sure 98% of the audience didn't). It just needed to be more clear. A lot of the time, I was just confused, thinking "Uh...am I a moron or am I just not getting it?" Let's just say, there was too much "down/dialogue-singing time" for an audience that DOES NOT UNDERSTAND THE LANGUAGE. I just about died when I realized they were doing SEVERAL incarnations...doing sections influenced by different islands. It was taking way too long for my pretty-patient attention span. And that's sad, because I'm usually very very captivated, even by mediocre shows. I've been more captivated by UHM's Earl Ernst (super duper low budget grad student directed shows in a tiny little lab auditorium) shows...for $3. Yeah. As for the activities....make sure you get there much before 4:00. Around 5:00, it all shuts down (well 5:30ish...)....so try leave a few hours for activities. I'd say 1:00 is a good time to arrive.
(2)Jason A.
2nd time here and this place rocks. My wife and I really enjoy our entire day here. It's a great way to really experience the different types of Islands and what makes them different. The shows were very educational, humorous, and entertaining. I am really glad that most of the people who work at the center are students from their respective Islands. It definitely helps with the college tuition and helps promote their cultural identity. The staff and students were extremely polite and helpful. We really had a wonderful time spending a day at the center. If it's your first time, you must spend a day here. Make sure to bring a hat and suntan lotion b/c you will be outside for most of the day.
(4)Linda C.
Wow. Everyone should go at least once. The grounds are quite beautiful, and each "island" has its own station where they do a small show that teaches you some special things about the place. There's also neat hands on activities like "how to throw a spear," or "how to start a fire." The PCC employees are college students who are paying for their college education. The students who perform are from the Polynesian islands, and seem to be truly proud to represent their island. The highlights of the day were the New Zealand group (amazing voices, and dance), Samoan group (funny, saw someone start a fire by rubbing sticks, open a coconut with a rock, and climb a coconut tree!), and the pageant. The night show (HA) is fantastic. Really quality performances, very nice space with good sound, and an excellent ending with lots of fire! Hard to believe these are just students and not professional performers! *** Tips: 1) The place gets going at 12-12:30pm, and dinner starts at 5pm. 4 hours is enough to get through everything, but you don't get much time to wander. If you want to do things in a more leisurely fashion, it's a good idea to sign up for one of the guided tours. 2) Don't get the luau dinner - food's apparently not that great, and they make you wait until everyone is seated (takes like an hour) before you can start eating. The delay costs you time that can be spent either at the IMAX or browsing in the souvenir shop. 3) To be able to do 1) and 2), buy the "Gateway Dinner" package. That includes a regular dinner (non "luau"). No one tells you this, but you can then add a tour guide option once you get into the PCC. Make sure you get your butt in line at 5pm for dinner. The longer you wait, the longer the lines will be, and you'll miss 4) 4) Go see the IMAX. Very nicely done. There's a 6pm showing that you can squeeze in if you eat dinner on time. 5) You have to go see HA. Just go. 6) Take the motorcoach option, unless you are a large group and have a rental car. It's just not worth driving yourself, mostly because you'll be tired after walking all afternoon and the late show.
(4)Sally Y.
It was a long drive from The Kahala Resort but it was worth it. The buffet at the cultural center was okay. But the night show was spectacular. It's the island's largest show. I've been to a couple of luau and didn't like the other's. I will recommend the Polynesia cultural luau because it's an amazing show.
(5)Eri N.
Location: far away from downtown Honolulu but it was a nice drive. This place looks "fake" like it's trying to hard, maybe it's because it is entirely run by Mormons and I do not support organized religion, let alone a historically racist one. Had I known it was run by them I would have gone to a different Luau. Dinner: Luau was just ok...nothing to great or memorable for the $75 ticket price! Show: Excellent Show, "Breath of Life." P.S. Joseph Smith SUCKS!!!!
(1)Christian R.
Sub-par luau, but an absolutely excellent show. Of the 4 times I've visited Oahu, I never once even attempted to go to this place. But me and my fiancee had wanted to come here for the luau since both of us had already tried Paradise Cove and Germaine's. So, we booked online (you save money that way) and made our way up on our last night. First off, the luau: it was ehhh. The food wasn't really anything to brag about. The best part of the meal was the teriyaki chicken. Worst was the fact that there wasn't any alcohol. Okay, I knew this place was run by the LDS, which meant that there wouldn't be any, but I'm gonna complain about it anyway. I'm not an alcoholic; I just enjoy knocking back a few on vacation and it would've been nice for dinner. Our luau ended around 6:30, which meant we had an hour until the show, Ha: Breath of Life, started. We tried to walk around, but there was nothing we could see in the dark since the sun had already gone down. So, the only thing TO do was go to the shops. Well, that got old very fast. A note about the placement of their shops: They placed their shops directly between you and the entrance. Man, they don't skip a beat in trying to get you to buy some of their wares. To end the night, we watched "Ha: Breath of Life". This show was the only redeeming quality of the entire trip to PCC for the luau. It's arguably the best show in all of Hawaii. The story follows a man in his growth from conception to adulthood. They managed to intertwine the 7 different islands in the Polynesian Triangle, introducing us to their culture and dances. In my opinion, its a must see show on the island. To close, skip the luau, and come for the show. And I heard the exhibits are great too. I'll need to come back for that at another time.
(3)Natalie D.
You shouldn't go to Oahu without visiting the PCC! All things considered, it's a great way to spend a day on the island! First, the drive to the PCC is absolutely breathtakingly beautiful. You see it all -- the beaches, the mountains, the greenery -- in more vivid colors than Crayola could dare imagine. There were several times along the ride when we would just pull out our digi cam and snap pictures. It was just THAT good! We chose the Ambassador Luau package. This meant that we had a personal tour guide, front row seats at the luau, premium seating at the Ha show, etc. It's a very pricy package, but I chalked it up to -- "Hey, I'll only come to Oahu once, so I might as well live it up." If you have that attitude, then you'll find that you get your money's worth. Here's my breakdown of my time at PCC: Tour Guide -- 4 stars (the average of 3 stars and 5 stars) It's kind of hit or miss whether you'll have a good guide or not. The guides are generally college students from nearby BYU. Our first guide was nice, but she was not particularly interesting or endearing in any way. I was starting to feel sorely disappointed, until as luck would have it, we were the last three people to fit on a canoe with a group being led by another guide. (All the rest of our original tour group had to ride in a different canoe.) The second tour guide was FANTASTIC (and actually Polynesian herself, to the extent that matters). She had so much more enthusiasm and knowledge than our previous tour guide, so we ditched the former and tagged along with the latter for the rest of the trip. From then on, the visit went splendidly better. Luau -- 3.5 stars I didn't think the buffet was particularly good, though I did eat enough to feel full. The luau itself was average, though it was nice to see little kids dancing traditional hula. Having a front-row seat was nice, though I'm not exactly sure it's worth the extra cost since, at a buffet, everyone will eventually get the same food in the same amounts. All in all, I just chalk this up to part of the experience! The Villages (shows, hands-on activities, etc.) -- 5 stars I really liked the village set up. You need to give yourself PLENTY of time if you want to be able to explore them all. We didn't make it to every village, but the ones we saw put on really good shows. The presenters in each village are very funny, and it's a great introduction to some small aspect of each culture. From seeing the men climb the coconut tree to learning to play the drums, it was great! Ha: Breath of Life -- 5 stars This show was absolutely beautiful. Definitely the highlight of the entire night! It's a simple story about the circle of life, but it is told with such beauty and power! Adults and kids alike will enjoy this show featuring traditional song and dance from each island/culture in Polynesia. It is worth every penny!!!!!
(5)Jack R.
I have a great time and loved it. Great dancing, good food, tons of fun for the family. Everyone was super nice to us. It was the funnest thing I did in Hawaii.
(5)Jalop N.
I can't believe no one yet has mentioned the best feature of this attraction: the greatest concentration of eyecandy on Hawaii if not America. This makes it ten times better than Disneyland whose increasingly fat and indifferent staff and devotion to everything 'children' is creepy. Leave it to the Mormons to gather the hottest people on Earth, and slap them a coconut bra, walk around shirtless, and have them do a song and dance for visitors. After seeing the Minnesota land-whales that congregate in Waikiki Beach, PCC is a must-see for visitors. The people that work here are just unflailingly friendly. Even the surly Fijians seem to be playing a part rather than being malicious. Maybe it's the mission training where missionaries gently tell pagans about their hellbound destinations. The staff is fit and even the odd fattie has me using the classier word "Rubenesuqe" rather than "God Damn, eat less bitch!" Whatever your "preference" is, you're gonna stop and stare so often that you're wondering why you're spending your honeymoon with the one you married rather than with the girls of Aotearoa. However, I knocked this place two stars down like the fist of angry KU for the miserable luau. THE LUAU IS NOT WORTH IT. Most people probably think that because it's in the PCC, they are reserving eating luau until they get to it. That junky hole-in-the-wall you stumble upon in Waikiki serves better Hawaiian. An additional insult is what they call Teriyaki Chicken is actually adobo chicken. It was the only decent thing at the luau, but the Filipino in me is angry for the ignorance. We fucking farmed the pineapples, at least show some respect. Please, I beg of you not to pay extra for a luau. That money is better off being spent on the various good Polynesian tchotkes in the gift shops. I recommend staying (and paying) for the Horizons show. Barely. It is well-produced, but dislike the uneven attention paid to non-Samoan and Tahitian cultures. I was gearing up with high-expectations for the Hawaiian portion, but once you saw it on the village and the luau, there's nothing more. For the reviewers complaining about "authenticity", honestly, you miss the point. We've come long pass deriding Disneyland for its inauthentic replica of the Neuschwanstein Castle or unfeasbile city planning of Toontown. There are no places better than in PCC for a crash course in Polynesian culture. The first thing I did after this show is go on wikipedia and checked out the articles on the cultures represented.
(3)Stefanie R.
Such a great place to visit!! Love how all the money goes towards the tuition of students at BYU!! The performers are amazing and funny! And of course the place is beautiful, just like the different Polynesian cultures! Also don't miss the HA! Breath of Life!! So worth it!! Cousin Kisa was great btw ! :)
(5)Alex A.
It's the worst place in Hawaii! The history information is manipulate and activities so emboring... Bad food and a lot of stores
(1)Shannon O.
A great experience everyone should experience one time while on the island. The workers were kind and entertaining--there were a variety of hands on things to do for kids and adults. The price was worth the experience. We enjoyed it thoroughly.
(4)Gina S.
This review is regarding the "Ha" production and luau only. "It's the circle of life" - uh, I mean "spark of life..." Geez, talk about infringement. I mean really, a little more effort on the Ha story line. Don't get me wrong, the production and theatrics was good, the hula girls were swirly & flame throwing guys were hot, but w/o the booze, it was a little short. The fruit sherbert @ intermission was a nice surprise, but I recommend to skip the luau (don't even get me started on that) and take advantage of the shrimp trucks btwn Turtle Bay & Kuluhulo. Giovanni's was good. As for the center itself, we only had a sample of time due to late admission, we were allowed 1-hr to wander around and that was more than enough! The jokes were pleasant enough (again, alcohol would have numb the senses) but predictable. I know I've stated I would forgo the luau review, but I would be fair & quick: Yeahs: table top seating, pork was great, and the optional strawberry smoothie in a pineapple was excellent. Nays: entertainment, food selection, and the $8.00 price tag for the optional strawberry smoothie in a pineapple was ridiculous. If I could have taken back my life, I would have stayed @ our hotel's pool to work on my tan. The stark contrast with our optional souviner picture taken with the half naked yet very tanned "Polynesian" kids was humilating.
(2)Ken N.
This place is really far! If you're staying in Waikiki, save yourself the trip and go to Royal Hawaiian Luau instead. Unless you want to do all the activities, then I guess it's ok. I was here to experience the luau since its a must do in a first trip to Hawaii. The food here was horrible, I couldn't even finish my plate. The only highlight about this entire trip was the show HA breathe of life was fairly decent. It reminded me of a Hawaiian version of The Lion King. This place does not serve any alcohol so please be aware, if were expecting it then you'll need to find another place. The atmosphere and views of what this center has to offer, I must say was really beautiful. However I came here mainly for the luau and was very disappointed. It was nothing like what you see on TV
(3)Marilyn N.
This place is fun.. you need a whole day to get all the stuff in.. the shows for each cultural group comes every hour so plan well if you want to catch all the presentations. My favorite gotta be the Samoan Island... the host is so funny and their show was most entertaining... we tried to make our own fire which didn't work out very well so i just asked a random Samoan that was walking by if he can make fire and he DID.. in like 2 minutes! what the heck?! it was awesome. we managed to squeeze everything in.. here are a few fun things: made our own fish from palm leaves, i learned to throw a spear (and was the only one to get it to stick to the ground), i fed the fishes with bread dough, made music with bamboo sticks, and learned to dance like a Tahitian..try to save the canoe ride til the end because it's a great way to relax your tired legs remember to pick a shady spot to watch the parade because it gets super hot.. bring sunblock! i could definitely have skipped the buffet.. the food wasn't very good... and it gave me a tummy ache. however the show "HA" was amazing.. i loved the story line and the dances and costumes.. it was an excellent show. Definitely bring a sweater because it was kinda windy in the stadium. What makes this place so great is that the employees (students) really enjoy working here.. can you imagine.. doing the same routine everyday? well it doesn't show it on their faces because they perform their hearts out and it really show how important it is for visitors to not only have a good time but leave learning a little bit about their culture.
(5)Ellen C.
Our visit here reminded us of a mini Disneyland on a Pacific island. A tourist trap for sure, it has a good concept and an honorable goal (financially supporting Mormon students) but the experience it provides leaves us all a bit disappointed. To explain what you can do at this center: you can 1) Learn about 7 different village cultures superficially, 2) watch shows, 3) hands-on activities like fishing...sorta, spear throwing...in an underhand type of way, 4) eat, 5) watch shows. You can visit 7 different villages, 7 different cultures and watch as locals perform the most popular and well-known things about the villages. But it comes at a hefty price. It has its high points: 1) The village of Samoa's show was fantastic--the locals that performed were humorous and even on the humid, HOT day I was amazed to find myself having the strength to chuckle a few times. 2) The people there really do try--everyone is super nice, helpful, and educational. 3) Educational. And then...there's the cons: 1) Expensive, 2) Buffet is not very good, 3) No alcohol to ease the pain of the heat, 4) An additional $5 for parking, 5) Somewhat boring. So if you're a family or have some extra moolah and time, consider taking a trip out of Waikiki to visit this center (it takes about an hour drive to get there). If you want more info you can visit their website: polynesia.com . But if you're a young couple or if you're on a tight budget, look elsewhere for some entertainment.
(3)Darlene C.
My favorite place to go whenever I'm on O'ahu. This last trip was my third time. First time, back in 2003, I don't remember much because I was chaperoning high school kids, and was just out of high school myself. I do remember attractive guys with really cool tattoos, and the canoe pageant showcasing all the different dances from each island. Second time was last year, 2009, during a girlfriend getaway. Attractive guys with cool tattoos still there. Good food, in my opinion. Canoe pageant still a treat. The Horizons show was pretty fun. This time was here with my hubby celebrating our honeymoon. We decided to get the second most expensive package (Ambassador), which included a guided tour. Very cool experience, and a nice way to see most of what the center has to offer. The food was as good as I remember it being. Nothing spectacular, but still good food. Samoa definitely has the most entertaining presentation. Tonga is a pretty hilarious one too. This year I got to finally see Aotearoa's (New Zealand) presention. For overall value of what you learn about the island, it is my top one. Samoa is hilarious and all, but I felt Aotearoa's was richer in content and culture. All over the center, there are cool little workshops to go to. You can learn what I would describe as origami with leaves. You can learn basic ukulele and hula dancing. You can try your best to make fire. Try to learn how to do Tahitian dancing. Taste poi and other random foods. Very much an all day thing. The center opens at around 11:45a and from then until about 5:00p or 6:00p when each "island" starts to lower their flags (which is a little event on its own), there's just tons of stuff to do. Also TONS of great places for pictures. At the luau, they do special little things for people celebrating birthdays, honeymoons, or anniversaries. This year's show, Ha Breath of Life, I thought was much much better than last year's Horizons. It had more of a storyline that flowed from island to island to showcase the different cultures. We enjoyed it enough to purchase the DVD, although what we saw that night was much better than what was recorded for the DVD. Anyhow, I will always make it a point to come to PCC whenever I'm visiting O'ahu. It's also great knowing that you're supporting the BYU students studying there, as they're the ones that make this center run. A tip: Do not take TheBus if you're staying in Waikiki/Honolulu. I did it these last two times to save money, but it's nearly a 3hr trip one way. Unless you're on a really tight budget, I would say it's worth it to pay a little more for anything that will get you back to your hotel room or whatever sooner. We were so ridiculously exhausted after having to catch TheBus around 8:30am just to get to PCC when they opened, and then not getting back to our room until nearly midnight after the show.
(5)J P.
Wish they would have told us we were buying the Mormon version of Hawaii. Show was fine, but the dinner was blah. The pork was pulled pork in trays, not the real deal. Plus getting there and finding out about the huge mormon agenda of the center was a major turn off. We were hoping to buy something where proceeds went to the island and culture, not to converting them. I would have asked for a refund if they would have given one.
(2)Yori C.
Complete waste of time. If you don't buy the ambassador ticket or whatever the ones that include a tour guide, you get ignored and treated like crap. Sorry you want to toss spears? You're going to have to wait until this tour group is done. And the one after. And the one after that. And so on and so forth. You want to be part of the greeting group for the New Zealand demo? Sorry you have to be part of a tour group. Want to start fire? Oh sorry we have a tour group in here right now. Same for everything else. All the activities were just monopolized by tour groups. And once the tour group leaves, another one comes in. If not, the people running that activities decide they're done entertaining people and wander off to take their breaks. The only thing that leaves is the informational shows of each group. Which aren't very informational. They teach you a few phrases, and few dance moves and...that's it. I sort of hoped to learn something from a place that sells itself as a CULTURAL CENTER. I'm not expecting lectures from a professor, but maybe a brief talking about their old way of life, how it's changed...something?! All they give off is fluffy information for families and kids. I could've learned more from browsing wikipedia and watching youtube videos of the dances! The demo houses they put up around the area contained no information. Maybe a set up of the house that you're not allowed to touch and a few pictures of famous chiefs. I've been to the Native Heritage Center in Alaska, and THEY know how it's done. They had at least one person in each village to explain what was in the house, the importance of items, how it's related to their culture, how things have changed for them. Extra information you can't find from reading around and can only learn from a person who lives the life. The only thing they had that was entertaining were the dances. But even then I wish they could've explained when that dance was performed, what their costumed signified. I was however amused to note that the costumes they wore were edited to comply with Morman dress requirements...not very...traditional anymore is it? The Luau was only half decent. The foods were novelty, but being crammed with at least a hundred other people and watching mediocre Hula performances was amazingly boring. Luckily we were prewarned that you would only get one chance to fill up your plate, so we filled our plates up to the brim the first time. Other not so lucky people who thought they could go back for seconds ended up hungry afterward. The Ha show was...overrated. Honestly, a high school drama and dance group could put on a similar performance with enough time to train and a similar budget. They were employing crowd pleasing tricks to cover up lack of talent. This doesn't apply for the fire portion, but for everything else. Running about with a large swatch of cloth under reflecting colored lights makes for a great show for the eyes. Flashing lights and loud epic music can cover the fact that the dancer's movements were sometimes uncoordinated with each other. Yes it was visually striking, but it certainly doesn't deserve to be billed as a masterpiece performance. Honestly... the PCC should just rename themselves into the Polynesian Entertainment Center that Panders to High Paying Tourists in Tour Groups. It'd be more accurate.
(1)Jon Y.
This place is awesome. Did the full VIP super ambassador thing where you spend all day here with personal guided tour, luau, shows, etc. One day is barely enough time to cover everything and that's why they offer the free return visits to finish up. The food was all pretty good and so was the show during dinner. Each individual village was great and so educational. The shows in each village were great overall. The coconut cracking, tree climbing super Somoan was one of my favorites. The guy is a riot (and crazy talented). The canoe show was cool but what really stole the show was the end-of-the-night "Ha" show in the Pacific Theater. Kudos to all the students and educators keeping these great traditions and cultures alive. I can't believe I spent 8 hours at one place. 5 stars.
(5)T F.
Updated 03/14 - This review is ONLY for the day admission. Below is my review for the Luau and Ha show. I took my keiki to PCC for their first time. We all enjoyed it very much. What you have to keep in mind is that the village shows are basically back-to-back. So if you want to do activities, keep in mind that the shows only perform at certain times. HIGHLY suggest to get their as soon as they open and PLAN your day using the Show Schedule. Otherwise, you might miss out on a show and that is unfortunate. Basically, the shows run from Noon-5pm and there are many villages to visit.... so PLAN YOUR DAY! And don't miss the Canoe Parade, its lots of fun!! Also, we ended the day watching the Hawaiian Journey movie, wow! BEAUTIFUL scenes and I loved the story telling. Try to go on a cloudy day otherwise you will be VERY HOT.... Oh, and you have to pay $8 for parking... which I didn't like but didn't have a choice... almost downgraded my review because of it.... **************************************************Â********************* Below is my review for the Luau and the Ha show from 03/10: Went to the Island Style Buffet and to see the show "Ha - Breath of Life" using the kama'aina discount. The food at the Island Style Buffet was horrific. It was cold, greasy, and just plain bad. We are from Oahu, so we know what the food should be like. The kalua pig was overly greasy, the ham was ok but salty, the sushi was generic and not tasty or pleasing to the eye. The fish was so-so and the "island seafood" was just yuck. We looked at the menu for the upgraded Ambassador Buffet and there was a much better variety. However, I would be hesitant to eat there too. The show was nice. I liked their other show Horizons better; I think, it has been a very long time since I went. But Ha was entertaining and we enjoyed it. If you study any polynesian dance or hula, take the show with a grain of salt, it was purely only entertainment. Not for the form. Go to PCC to see the rest of it, the islands and the culture. Do not go for the food or the show. Germaine's or Paradise Cove are better.
(4)sylvia l.
What wonderful and dedicated performers! The show after dinner is outstanding. The demonstrations at each of the "villages'" were also intertaining. The people working there really give it their all! The ice cream was yummy. The luau was not good. It was the only low point, either way we had a blast.
(4)Vincent D.
Oh boy, where do I even begin. Booked the Ali'i Lu'au package for 2, that's $88 per person. At checkout, you have the choice of transportation (+$22 per person) or no transportation. We chose to drive there because we didn't feel like paying $44 for the bus. When we arrived there, we had to pay a $8 parking fee. (Eh-hum, $180 for 2 tickets and there isn't even a free parking ?). We arrived somewhere near 1h45pm, and there was NOTHING to do until 2h30pm. Okay... so we walked on the site to explore a bit. We were expecting the site to feel y'know, local/polynesian. Forget it, it's just plain artificial. 100%. Then you can go to scheduled shows such as the Fiji, Tonga, Samoa Islands etc... The Tonga show consisted of learning 3 words and then they got people on stage to play drums. That's it. That's the most you're gonna learn about the Tonga culture. Fiji show was just as worse, if not more. There is just NO cultural content at all! We couldn't believe we paid $90 tickets for that. Overwhelmed by the situation, we decided to hop on the Tram Tour because it was supposed to be some kind of community culture overview. Oh my god. What they don't tell you is that this is some kind of religion-focused tour. They bring you to some kind of Mormon temple. Once in the temple, you had these guys making you listen to some whatever preaching while staring at a giant Jesus sculpture and watch a 5 minute video on how this whole temple was built. We had to get the hell out of there, it just felt like some Scientology recruiting center. Creepy. I don't know how we made it alive to the Luau, but we did. To make it short, the food was mediocre, the desserts were terrible and don't get me started on the drinks. You couldn't buy anything with alcohol, thanks to Mormons or you could buy a $10 smoothie. Service was terrible. The Luau's host couldn't stop talking for 1 second, the dancers had cheap looking / synthetic costumes. It just felt artificial once again. Then the evening show : terrible. Do not expect anything in the range of the Cirque Du Soleil here. It was amateur. The performers certainly had never heard of the word synchronization. The only decent part was the ending with fire poles. The Polynesian Culture Center labels itself as a non-profit organization. Ok, now tell me what kind of non-profit organization sells lightsabers and illuminated grillz (that's right, grillz) during the evening show!? They will try to sell you crap allllllll day long. The Polynesian Culture Center is a ripoff. By far the biggest tourist trap we've ever seen. Do not waste your money and especially your precious time on O'ahu at this place, there are so much better places to go.
(1)Sam H.
Highly recommend to check out the history and different cultures.
(4)Tracie F.
What an experience! Well worth the money. From the moment you walk through the gates it is warm, welcoming and educational. The employees are friendly and very knowledgeable. The activites are enjoyable for children and adults alike. The staff are engaging and entertaining. The show is simply wonderful! There is not one negative thing to say about this entire experience. If there is one thing you MUST do while you are in the islands this is it!
(5)Bon B.
This was a day-long tremendously good experience. It is probably the most educational theme park/luau/show you will ever go to about Polynesian culture. The staff are all incredibly polite & enthusiastic. Helpful & courteous, they are well scripted, happy, really funny & trained like pros! You will always feel warm & welcome. My favorite was probably French Polynesia (Tahiti) because I like the French cultural influence of that region & sincerely wanted to learn more. It helped that the men were cute & all in shape from the dancing. I think men will find the ladies pleasant to look at too! But there is nothing offensive or blatantly pandering. It's really about the culture & lifestyle. The best part of the whole Polynesian Cultural Center is it's inclusiveness. You really feel engaged & not bored. While the food is not superb, it's not bad. You'll be so hungry from wandering the sheer enormity & beauty of this well kept location. Which is impressive enough to endure non-exqusite Hawaiian food. By the time you eat, you've already experienced all the Polynesian hospitality & the spirit of Aloha so you'll play along with whatever they serve you just to be a part of the experience. They give you a ton of food. The pork was really juicy & tasty, & I had a slice of coconut bundt cake that was amazingly simple & good. But I really came for the experience, not the cuisine. After wandering around the different "villages" & taking a canoe ride, you will end up at the "HA Breath of Life" show, which incorporates all you learned throughout the day at the villages & the introductory costumed boat pageant. It's an awesomely complex well choreographed & stage designed show with all the elements. Fire, light, costumes, a fight scene, animation, projections, water, and more. Vegas should be jealous. The story is of a boy who grows up visiting all of the islands in his different stages of life. The show features enormous amounts of dancers, fire performances, animated backdrops, amazing sound & visual appeal & overall, great energy. WOW! I'm not going to ruin it, but let's just say that you need to be sure your camera is charged & that you don't wear yourself out throughout the day at the center.. like my parents, who both dozed off because we walked around all day, then ate too much.
(5)Lukasz S.
Definetly hada great time there . Rich programm and can't be bored . Luau way to crowdy . Tables are too close to each other . Good thing was plenty of food and seconds . Night show is definetly worth seing
(5)Jamie C.
Went here on our last day in Oahu! We wanted to go the day prior but good thing we didn't because we would have paid full price! We were looking at an easy $150/person for buffet,show and villages! But whoa did we get lucky! Uncle decided to take us n treat us! He is kamaaina (sp?) n so he got the hook up! He paid $12/person. I know right! I think his niece or someone must work there! But honestly if your looking to splurge and can afford to drop some big bills.I think this place is a smart investment! I think depending on what package u buy your tickets good for 2-3 days after your first visit! It's definitely an all day event so come early bring a hat , sunblock and enjoy walking from village to village learning all about different cultures from the various Polynesian islands! Oh n don't forget come HUNGRY! The buffet is bomb.com so bring your appetite! As for the show(ha breath of life) it was awesome! A bit cheesy at times but the dancing was great! The fire dancers were crazy skilled! Shoot when I left I was thinking dannnnng why the hell did I give up dancing in the first place! The guys that work there are all funny and lots of eye candy to look at! And for you fellas there are some real pretty Polynesian beauties here too so bring your shades before your wifey catches you starting :) lol The drive is a bit long up to laie but there are also many tour buses that can take you there! But I prefer driving since you can get a chance to stop at all the local fruit stands along the way:) So yea it's a bit pricey but then again all the money helps the students pay their tuition at BYU- Hawaii but believe me you will not regret coming. Enjoy!!
(5)Robert T.
I'm surprised to see any negative reviews on this place. Yes it's great for kids. It's also great for anybody who appreciates culture, beauty or just wants to take awesome pictures. Show up as early as possible because you will be there all day but it certainly will not feel like it. I liked the food. I love sashimi so I guess it's not a stretch for me to eat Lomilomi Salmon. The pork was great and I love purple sweet potatoes. I know that there are different food options so possibly some of these people are referencing something other than the ali'i luau. or maybe their palets are just more compatible with cheeseburger in paradise : ) Samoa hands down the best village! Show is awesome. Fire show alone is worth the price of admission. Military, make sure you take your discount : )
(5)Mitch T.
Everytime I visit Oahu with my daughter, we go to Polynesian Culturall Center. The experience never gets old, although it is the same content everytime we go, except for evening show. The entire staff exemplifies the Aloha spirit, not withstanding the fact that they are all from all over Polynesia. It's fun to be reminded about our culture. By the way, the fresh made poi is the best I've ever tasted. Downside, it can be expensive the and food is average. Considering the money goes to the students furthering the education at BYUH and helping the Mormon Church, which I am not a member of, I don't mind too much. Once a year if that, is enough for me.
(4)Blair W.
Place was great overall, we showed up at about 12:30pm which was plenty of time, so don't worry about being there right on time. It is $10 for parking and that isn't included in your ticket, we stayed on a military base, got our tickets for a small discount. Some of the activities were lacking as our family was not sure where to go throughout the day. Our fault we didn't get a tour guide (which costs more) but during the day was very random, there is no schedule they hand out for activities for different islands sadly, you just kind of wander. But plenty to see, we found ourselves catching shows a few minutes late almost every one. They are almost what seems as overstaffed because there is about one staff person to every eight people. The food around 5pm was great, the main show at the end, around 7:30pm was phenomenal as well. They definitely went out with a bang. Overall if you have a day, and the money I would do it, but probably not again, once is enough.
(4)Michelle S.
We loved it here. We booked an Ambassador package via Costco and what a deal that was compared to the Old Lahaina Luau.
(5)Darby S.
We did the Circle Island Ambassador Package. Our tour guide "Henry" was great. A very nice man that drove us around the island to see different sites. Our tour guide at the PCC "Fred" was knowledgeable and very friendly. We had a great time see the sites of the island and all of the different things at the PCC. My one complaint would be time. It felt as if we were too rushed. The tour of the island was awesome, in that we got to see a lot of stuff, but we had anywhere from 5-15 minutes at each stop. It really isn't enough to actually enjoy anything. My suggestion would be to do the Super Ambassador Package and take a tour of the island another day. Once we reached the PCC, everyone was hungry so we ate lunch, that pushed us back farther for time to spend at the exhibits there, so then that was rushed and we wound up not being able to see all 6 of the different villages (I think we saw 4 or 5 of them), missing the canoe ride, and missing out on the tram ride as well. The show at the end was awesome. Very well done. I would highly recommend going to the PCC when on Oahu, but I would skip the island tour part and do that separately.
(4)Yolanda R.
This is a COOL place!!!!!!!!!!! It was my very first luau in Hawaii, since then been 3 times to Hawaii and tried two other luaus! I love luaus.... I Recommend for everyone and anyone to try to visit PCC. I enjoyed it A LOT, very good experience!
(5)Brittany D.
What an awesome place! If you're in Hawaii, this is the best attraction they have. Make sure you get the guided tour so you catch all of the performances and play games. It's also a way to have someone very friendly and knowledgable with you. Definately make sure you watch the dancing contest. The different styles and music and dance are so interesting and they have great costumes to go with it. They make this awesome screaming noise too...lol Then finish it off with their luau. It's kind of a confusing story but you're able to watch more dancing. You will learn a lot.
(5)Karen T.
We visited the PCC recently and things have changed a bit since our first visit. We bought a basic ticket which includes admission, the Ka show, and a "free" buffet dinner. This ticket does not permit a free return visit like the other premium tickets. There is plenty to do in a day so you should figure out what your priorities are and focus on those because it would be hard to do everything without rushing in one visit. The PCC exhibits are open from 12-6, dining is generally from 5-7, and the Ha show is 7:30-9:15. These are the highlights from our visit: -Canoe ride from Hukilau/Hoku Pa: this is a short 10-15 minute canoe ride that goes by all of the different villages. Depending on your guide, you may get a great overview of the regions and some interesting facts. Since the guides are mostly BYU students, the quality of the tour really depends on the guide. Regardless, it is still a scenic ride through the grounds. They also offer a roundtrip canoe tour in the later part of the day. However, those tours only go through the front half of the grounds and does not go to the back. You would have to take the two individual canoe rides to get a full tour. -Canoe pageant: this takes place everyday at 2:30PM where each region comes out with a brief performance. It is fun to watch and a nice overview of the different regions if you don't have time to visit them all. General advice is that you have to get to the viewing areas about 20 minutes prior to get a good seat for the show. The main staging areas depicted on the map give you the best angles/views of the performances. According to one of the folks we asked, the back viewing area gives you three viewing angles while the front area viewing only gives you two. -Tonga: This was the first region we visited and it ended up being our favorite (but it could be because it was the first one we visited). We really enjoyed the drum show because the emcee was very entertaining and it was fun listening to the drums. -Tahiti: We came for the wedding reenactment and it was kind of boring and very similar to the Ka evening show. The regular shows are probably better because you would see more hula dancing. -Samoa: This is often touted as the best show and we really enjoyed it on our first visit. However, we didn't find it that interesting on this visit perhaps because we didn't have very good seats. Highlights include starting a fire and climbing up a coconut tree. -Aotearoa: We were kind of tired of shows at this point so we just participated in the activities, such as getting temporary tattoos and playing the stick game and twirling the poi balls. -Hawaiian Journey IMAX: This is a 15 minute 4D film that depicted a lot of beautiful Hawaiian scenery. It was also nice to take a break and sit in an air conditioned room. -Ka show: This is a pretty long show with a depiction of a young man growing up. There is one intermission and the show is a bit hard to follow if you didn't read the description beforehand. I think they also incorporate performances from each of the regions but this was also not very clear. The highlight of the show, in my opinion, is the fire performances during the last 30 minutes of the show. We didn't make it to the Hawaii and Figi villages. As for the buffet, it was not bad. Meals are served in a giant dining hall that was quite pretty. They also handed out some chocolate macadamia nut samples while we were waiting because it was a fairly long wait. Although the buffet runs from 5-7, they start to run out of certain items around 6:15 or so and they start shutting down some of the stations shortly after that. Overall, this is still a fun place to visit for tourists or those are interested in learning more about the different regions while also enjoying a luau and show. The luau and show here is probably better than the stand alone luaus in Oahu. However, it is probably not something that you would do multiple times. My first time experience of PCC is still 4.5 stars while the return visit is 3.5 stars.
(4)Fannie L.
Good: All entertaining performances were great. Food was good and venue was clean. Restrooms were clean and easy to find. Most of the staff were nice, helpful and informational/knowledgeable as well. Bad: I remember a few years ago when entering the center, a pamphlet of daily schedule was handed to me. Yet I had to ask and looked for it during my recent visit. There was no informational sign at the waiting area of Canoe ride. We didn't know where the staff was and how often the rides would be. Because I and my guests didn't have lunch when arriving the center, we decided to just grab something to comfort our complaining stomach. But we didn't want to eat too much before the luau dinner. So we purchased food at one small store in the center. Yet there were no seating near that store! Not even a bench! We had to walk to a stone bridge, sat on the curbside and ate our food along the uneven surfaces! I thought my guests had some ice cream during their Luau but they didn't see any. While at the half time of the night show, staff started serving ice cream to certain customers with a dessert coupon. I didn't hear anything clearly announced right before that. It was really confusing, disappointing and embarrassing for my guests. My worst experience was the two senior volunteers "helped" outside of Island Buffet entrance. I know I bought the dinner at a discount price, but does that mean the smile was discounted too?!!! I assumed if they volunteered to work in the center for free, they must have loved the job or helping people. Guess I was totally WRONG!!! All we got was poker face when I arrived 10 mins earlier to my dinner venue. I really wanted to tell those two senior volunteers: age doesn't earn you the respect, your action(enthusiasm) does! If you don't really love working there, just don't show up!
(3)Princess Consuela B.
My husband and I came here towards the end of the day to catch the buffet and their evening show, Ha Breath of Life. We didn't come earlier because we didn't think we would be interested in much else, but I was wrong! I wish we had spent the whole day there. There's a lot to see, lots of shows and things to do. It's a gorgeous place to learn about a really great culture. To make it even more awesome, this place was built to give the local college kids a place to work. We were more than happy to support that. Everyone working there is extremely happy and friendly; it seems that they really enjoy their work. The buffet was awesome! Fairly simple, but great food. A Polynesian friend of my family's cooks pork in the ground whenever we go camping, and it's amazing... The pork at the PCC is exactly the same. The mashed potatoes are delicious, too! The show was really cool, lots of Polynesian dancing. I'd say the best part of it was toward the end when the fire dancers came out. Definitely check this place out! And make sure you are able to dedicate at least half a day to do so.
(5)Logan B.
This was my second time coming here and I have been extremely satisfied both times. We did the Ali'i Luau package and started right at noon to see the different islands. It definitely wasn't enough time to see all the things that we wanted to see though. The Tongan island and the Samoan island always made us laugh so hard. It was really neat to learn about all the different cultures. We LOVED it here. The food was good and the evening show was AWESOME. I would recommend this to anyone visiting the island.
(5)Dawn And Greg G.
One of the biggest waste of time & money on all of Hawaii. The luau was absolutely disgusting, it was actually an extremely cheap buffet with one pig! This one pig was for approx 350 people... What a joke this was, especially for the price. I can only strongly suggest that you do not go to this rip off. There are so many better things that one can do on Oahu. I will say that the performers are very nice and polite. The show Ha was pretty boring until about the last 20 minutes. I'm giving it 2 stars because the friendly people, otherwise, it's a 1 star. It is now 10:30pm and I am still on the bus, the bus driver has not shut up the entire time. He is at times somewhat funny, but more annoying than anything. I have a child that is trying to sleep after a very long day, but this dude just can't shut it for 2 damn minutes. Again, do NOT waste your time or money on this "attraction".
(2)Marlon T.
Sadly, we went on a rainy day so the center was not at full force and the Samoan dude didn't climb the coconut tree (a very iconic thing to see here). Though rainy, it was still a fun experience. On a positive note, it wasn't as crowded. The Polynesian Cultural Center is one of the best things to do in Oahu if you've never been. It's probably the number 1 paid attraction. I went a long time ago when I was kid and not surprisingly everything was the same (from what I remember), which I actually think is cool because consistency is great sometimes. One thing that I was really forward to was the sherbet ice cream served in a hollowed out pineapple. Maybe it was just the rainy day I went, but the ice cream was not being served in a pineapple so I was a little bit disappointed--was still good though. During this visit in 2014, I was able to better appreciate the geography and culture of each country. As a kid I just wanted to watch people jump, yell, and twirl fire. Now, I am appreciating the difference and history of polynesia, melanesia, micronesia, indonesia, etc. My favorite country to visit at the center was New Zealand (Aotearoa)--I think their show is the most exciting/enticing. They have the best faces and hands (if you went to their show you'd know what I'm referring to). Of course, you have to watch the show at the end. Who only goes during the day and doesn't watch the show? I mean, it's such a far drive--you might as well spend the entire day there. The show is amazing and you'll see the best fire stick twirling ever. There are always deals for coming to the PCC. Since I'm in the military, I was able to get $40 tickets which included general admission, regular buffet, and the show at night. Lots of people do the personal tours where you have a leader that guides you around and teaches you a lot about polynesia. Obviously, you have to pay more. If you just want a good/basic taste of what they have to offer without the bells and whistles, just get what I got: the package that includes general admission, regular buffet, and the show at night. Look around online or check with your hotel if there are deals.
(4)Gina V.
A beautiful place and must go if you are staying in Oahu. Aloe consider getting the Go Oahu card - this place is included as one of the attractions. The HA Breath of Life show is also included on the card as your bonus. Overall we recommend that you get their early when they open at 12pm. There is so much to see and do.
(5)Michael P.
Extremely touristy place. Great entertainment at a high price. Here are some important tips: - Laie is far from Waikiki and even if you drive, it should take you about 1 hour. The second half of your trip will be on a two lane road. - FILL UP ON GAS. However, if you find yourself running low, there is a 7-11 about 8 miles down from PCC with gas. This is the ONLY gas station for miles and miles so do not miss it. - Besides admission, self-parking is $10 - The canoe pageant begins at 2:30. - The IMAX movie is included in admissions and is SPECTACULAR. Be sure to see it. The night show is the highlight of the place. It has a simple coming of age story but the focus is on the dancing, which they include a showcase from each island. The fire dancing is saved for the end and will have your jaw dropping the whole time. Yes, you will feel like you are in a Polynesian Disneyland with hoards of other tourists. Yes, this place shows a one-dimensional, perhaps sensationalistic view of Polynesian culture. Yes, the place is employed by students from BYU and you WILL feel awkward being taught Polynesian factoids by a sandy haired, blue eyed Mormon boy from Wisconsin dressed in sarong rowing your canoe. With these caveats in mind, this place still serves to entertain and if you are willing to pay the premium price, you will be satisfied.
(3)Kiet L.
This place showcases a bit of every Polynesian Island. Be it Tahiti, Fiji or Somoa. Each island has their own little area where you can learn how they live, and their histories. Fun activities include spear throwing, canoeing (you are rowed from one place to another), or making little souvenirs. We saw several small shows including a traditional Tahitian wedding. Seems like they hire students from several of the islands who love providing guests with the history of their home island. They are all dressed in traditional garb so take plenty of pictures, or selfies. We didn't get to stay for the laua or paid shows, but had a great time spending several hours here.
(4)Marie G.
The villages and canoe pageant was amazing. The shows were back to back which made it a continuous movement. The only bad part is that you would miss the beginning or the end of a show to get to the next one. The center hours is one thing to complain about since you cannot see everything in one visit. Also, most of the shows end at 5pm for them to get ready for the Luau. But all in all, the performers looked to know what they were doing and most were enthusiastic about the performances. They also have small stations around the "island" to get a feel for their culture. I did the Hale Ohana Luau and that was not very appealing. The food was ok and the show was over in what seemed like a blink of an eye. I would not recommend the luau at this location to anyone. I feel like your money can go to a better one. The Ha! Breath of Life show was AWESOME!! I feel like this is what the Luau should have been like. It had a good story line to the show and had the fire dancers towards the end of the performance and made it all come together.
(4)Bunny L.
This review is way overdue, but I am still going to write it. When I was a teenage girl, I first came to the U.S., and out of all places, I experienced racism in the Polynesian Cultural Center. My mother and I were seated at a buffet, and after I returned with foods in my hands, a white waiter seated this white couple down at our table and showered them with smiles and bows. I asked the waiter, "isn't that our seat?" The waiter immediately changed to a condescending expression and yelled, "you don't own this place now, do you?" Being a naive, scared little fob girl, I did not talk back and sat elsewhere. However, I will never forget that the first and probably the only humiliation I face in the U.S. happened at this supposedly culturally enriched center.
(1)Boris Y.
If you like tourist traps, this place is right up your alley. We got the buffet and show package for an exorbitant amount of $75 (!!!!) per person. Upon initially entering the "center", it's clear that the whole production is very Disney-esque - reeking of commercialization, with gift shops containing overproduced souvenirs every couple feet from each other. The dinner was not good, and we could have gotten a better value at the Golden Corral for $5. As for the show, I can't really speak for it's accuracy in representing the culture, but it lacked a certain authenticity. The storyline was cheesy and the show had an uncanny resemblance to a Michael Bay butchering of Pearl Harbor. The dancers were good and looked talented, but the message being sent was more along the lines of theatrics instead of island culture. TL;DR save your money, go to Golden Corral instead.
(1)Darrel R.
We were very disappointed with this so-called Polynesian Cultural Center. As it turns out, it is a soft sell front for the Mormon Church. Upon entering, you will be greeted by Mormons, led by Mormons, everywhere you turn there will be a Mormon Elder or "sister" saying Aloha. The level of information and exhibits were nowhere near up to the standards I would expect of a modest museum. The artifacts were not even artifacts. If you look closely, you will find most were made within the last 10 years. The IMAX movie was excellent, but the live shows all had a soft undertone of "spirituality" read "Mormonism light." And, if you read the bottom of your ticket - after you buy it - you will see that you can get a free guided tour of the Mormon Temple on the same campus. Frankly, I found the whole experience creepy. I expected something with integrity, something with real anthropological relevance, something that would discuss the language and migrations in Polynesia, you know, real facts and ideas, not a soft sell for Mormon ideology. You will find nothing in this exhibit that will inform you of the actual culture before Christian contact. Yes, they do allude to it occasionally, but no real information on the gods of Polynesia or the sexual, religious, marriage, or trade practices of the cultures of Polynesia before Western Contact. If you want propaganda, this will do, if you want to learn something, don't waste your money, or rather, don't give your money to the Mormon Church. Finally, there is no indication that the Mormon Church owns and operates this thing until you see your ticket, and even then it is very subtle. It is like they don't want you to know who really runs the place. I wonder why? Also, its closed on Sundays, there is another clue. Dr. Darrel Ray
(1)Michelle T.
The admission ticket plus the luau and the HA Breath of Life show can get pretty pricey but you can literally spend the entire day here so it might be worth it. We came on a very hot day so we weren't as excited about visiting all the "villages" of Polynesia. There are seven villages all together: Hawaii Samoa Aotearoa (present-day New Zealand) Fiji Tahiti Tonga the Marquesas Islands Each village has something distinct - sometimes there are shows and sometimes there are demonstrations. Everyday at 2:30pm there is a Canoe Pageant with canoes representing each village. Each canoe has dancers wearing their island's traditional clothing and doing a dance from their island. The HA Breath of Life show was the main highlight of our trip to PCC so make sure you stay for it! Go early to get better seats! Since PCC is owned by the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, they're closed on Sundays. And the majority of workers are students at BYU-Hawaii. It's sort of like a work-study program, which I think is pretty neat.
(3)Chris B.
I had a great time at the PCC today. My four year old had a blast at the villages. The facilities were very pleasant, the food at the luau exceeded expectations and the entertainment was top notch. Highlights were the canoe pageant, the luau show and the night show. It is also great that my money is funding the college education of the performers.
(5)Gabrielle L.
Was not the best experience definately a place to bring your family to learn the culture. Mango& strawberry smoothie was delish! But tried Banyan tree snack bar... We had a pulled pork sandwich...way too salty the sauce tasted like ketchup and didnt help the salty. (If you are a visitor you would like it)
(1)Yong G.
Do not wasting money and time this place. Show and exhibitions are boring. Food was also even though working people are very nice and kind. If somebody read this please consider this place. I'd stay one more day at Hanauma Bay instead of spending about $ 600 for family of 6 and precious our vacation day. I missed so many place in Ohau but not this place.
(1)Libby G.
We had a great time at the Polynesian cultural Center. We did their luau and we did their breath of life show. Mostly, I liked walking around and seeing the different displays of Island cultures. The canoe pageant was fun to watch as well.it felt good to support a place that promotes the preservation of culture. Was surprised that the Mormons are involved. They do their mission work here so young Mormons can attend Brighton university at a lower cost!
(4)Nancy H.
This is such a tourist trap and the 'villages' are not authentic. They have lots of things to do, and you receive a schedule of events with your ticket. The problem is, that unless you are EXTREMELY well organized, it is impossible to see them all. Even then, you would spend your time running from one event to another. If you are really interested in Polynesian history and culture, skip the Polynesian Cultural Center and go to the Bishop Museum instead.
(2)Paul N.
This was my first time in Hawaii. I looked at events to do and this looked fun. I was picked up at 12:30 and dropped off at 10;30pm. I chose the guided tour, dinner and night show. The guide gives you a history lesson on the way to the site. The drive is 1 hour and 15 minutes. Once there. they take you to various village replicas and talk about their history. After a brief history lesson they will show you some cultural dances. There are games and activities in each village but the tour group I was in decided to try to hit up as many villages as possible so we kinda flew through each one. At 500pm I go to the Ali Luau buffet. There are 4 different meal packages but this is their cheapest option. The only other time I have ever eaten Hawaiian food is L&L BBQ and Ono Hawaiian BBQ. I thought the food was delicious. The chicken was soft and tender. The pork was soft. Overall the food had a unique sweet like flavor I have never tasted before. I ate 5 plates of food. They release you at 6:30pm from dinner. I went around looking at villages on my own for about an hour. There are employees just walking around asking if you need help finding things which is nice. At 7;30 pm is the night show. I found the night show to be interesting but the fire does not happen till the end. Make sure you bring cash for the ice cream. Overall, I felt the day was well spent. If you are going to be in Hawaii for 1 week, this is a must stop if you are interested in learning cultures. I learned about how they made basket out of leaves, how they build huts, how they use coconuts in their daily lives, what statues mean in their tribes, how they build boats and much more.
(5)Lily M.
It's a good experience to visit the Polynesian Cultural Center at least once to say you've done it. The traditional Ali luau is is good, especially the pork and poi poi with a good selection of other entrees like seafood, chicken and my favourite Ahi Poke. Food is served buffet style so be prepared for buffet quality. You can go up for seconds if you have the appetite for it. The whole experience for the village, luau and show is a bit on the pricey side, but if you want to experience the spirit of Hawaii, then it's worth exploring. Highly recommend the "Ha Breath of Life" evening show which captures the spirit of Hawaii's culture. Again, a bit pricey but good entertainment for a first time visit.
(3)Kim B.
Alot to do here with the whole family!!! So much to see and learn. Kids will be learning while doing "ancient" activities... This is a must do while here. If you are staying in Honolulu, be aware that its an hour plus drive home so plan time accordingly. Our kids were tired after spending hours here...
(4)Nelson Q.
Wow! Pretty surprised at the low reviews PCC has gotten!?!? This is one of my favorrite stops to play tourist when I come home. Yes, it may appear touristy to many, but it is very cultural and educational as well.(NO, ITS NOT A THEME PARK!!!) I like the fact that the majority of the staff here are not only locals from their Polynesian region, but they come to PCC to work and teach visitors about their culture, while furthering their education at nearby Brigham Young University. The admission you pay also goes towards these students education/living expenses, so its a great win-win situation. The Ali'i Luau package is a good choice, and is an all day deal-(Yes it is possible to check out all the villages, you just gotta organize your time correctly!) The villages are Samoa, Tonga, Tahiti, Fiji, Aotearoa, and Hawaii. They used to have Marquesas before, but I think that shut down. Here's some highlights of what you can expect in the following villages: SAMOA-Climbing the coconut tree, starting a fire, uses of the coconut, making fresh coconut milk, and if you're one of the chosen ones, sample some "Samoan 7-up". TONGA-Learn songs and chants from the locals, nose flute demonstration and if you're chosen, see if you got what it takes to drum it up with the Tongans! TAHITI-Songs and dances, taste Tahitian Noni Candy and Sample Coconut Bread FIJI-Songs and dances, Learn about their earlier days of cannibalism-Yikes! AOTEAROA(NEW ZEALAND)-Enter the traditional building like the Maori do,Songs and dances, witness the Haka(War Chant), and see where all the ravers got the inspiration with the Poi Bowls(No, not da kine you eat!? Da ones dat dey twirl!!!) They are the originators of Poi.(and they make it look SO EASY!) You can practice your poi skills and see if you got what it takes to twirl 'em, and also test your eye-hand coordination with the Stick Chant! HAWAII-Hawaiian song and dance with the Ukulele and Hula, and you get to taste freshly pounded poi!...tourists were a bit hesitant, probably from the negative things they heard about poi...well, snooze you lose! or as my opu was telling me, "No sked 'um GO GET "UM!!!....that was SO ONO, and I noticed that they sneaked in a little bit of Okinawan Sweet Potato to add a little sweetness and to make it more palatable for first timers trying poi. Other activities you can do: Spear Throwing, Mormon Temple Tour @ BYU, Conch horn blowing, lei making, basket weaving, fishing for tilapia with hand crafted poles and hooks, check out little souvenior shops and go to the IMAX theater and check out the featured flick. Get a temporary tattoo or face paint, Also take a boat ride through the lagoon and see the famous palm tree that Elvis sang on in Blue Hawaii. The Parade of floats is not to be missed! Grab a seat by the water and see all the villages dance and sing traditional songs of their region. During the parade and even in some of the villages, keep an eye out for the ice cream man passing out out free ice cream and raise your hand before they run out (you have to pay for the plastic spoon though...buahahaha!) By then, you will have worked up a serious hunger, and its time to kau kau at The Ali'i Luau. As you enter, you are greeted, you're gonna get lei'd(with a shell necklace! this ain't a whorehouse! Dinner, remember???) and snap a photo which will be available for purchase later. Here, you will also see the unveiling of a finished Kalua Pig, Get introduced to the Royal Court, get a quick explanation of all the local food items, and feast on some onolicious grindz(THE FOOD MUST'VE FINALLY IMPROVED TOO?) while being entertained with more song and dance. Yes, its not Helena's but its still ono. I've been to other places(Paradise Cove, Germaine's, etc.) and the food here is just as good, if not, better cause I got to feast on endless Poke, Poi, Kalua Pig, Lomi, and Pipikaula. Oh, and you don't get eaten alive by mosquitoes like at the other places. After your "Kanak Attack" it is time to see the evening show HA, The Breath of Life. The same people who were entertaining you throughout the day end the evening with a spectacular show from beginning to end. Set a day aside for the Polynesian Cultural Center, it'll be a great time for everyone...ALOHA!!!
(5)Jesse A.
I took my fiancée for her birthday and let me tell you that this was her favorite birthday gift ever. We got the super ambassador package and they treated us like royalty. Our tour guide Rian from Indonesia was fantastic. Hats off to this true gentlemen and fantastic tour guide. He was very patient and answered all of my questions. Took us to all the function on time, was very courteous and if we ever go again, I hope Rian is there. Note: anyone going and want an amazing experience, ask for Rian from Indonesia. Unforgettable experience indeed.
(5)Raechel S.
What a great way to spend the day! It is about an hour drive from Waikiki, but it's along the path to North Shore so it's a beautiful trip. You can start from any of the seven villages as they all have special cultural shows and dances that demonstrate their heritage. Or you can just walk around and explore the grounds, which they've done a masterful job of. Their dinner buffet is severely lacking; they serve three main courses at six different stations, and the one prime rib station is a very long wait. The food is easily the worst part of this whole experience....we also stayed to watch the night show, Ha. Its theme is the cycle of life and has all the villages coming forth to pay homage to the boy. The show was definitely enjoyable but given that we were assigned seats, we chose to upgrade to the middle section so we could actually see the show and not have an obstructed view. I would highly recommend this if you have more than a few days in Waikiki, as it's rich in culture, history, traditions, and entertainment. They do offer various packages but go online--they have great deals on there and sometimes, it's online exclusive.
(3)Mike F.
Let me just state now that the only reason I can't give this place 5 stars is because I wasn't able to experience a good portion of it. We got a screaming deal on a "late arrival" luau at PCC. So we basically had 1 hour to check things out before the luau started and than you were off to go see Ha: Breath of Life (incredible show BTW, see seperate review). The park is divided in seperate villages: Samoa, Tonga, Tahiti, Fiji, Hawaii, Marquesas, and Aotearoa. We were only able to really check out Samoa and wander around a little bit. At Samoa, they had a great show with one of the guys showing how to open a coconut and get the milk from it, etc. Than one of the guys scaled the palm tree in like 5 seconds! Holy crap! That guy just shot up there like it was nothing! I was impressed! They also posed for pics and talked to people and answered questions. Everybody was very friendly. After that we go to the Luau! When you first get there you you are lei'ed! Sweet! From there you are seated by hosts at your table. We started chatting it up with some of the others around us. It was a fun atmosphere! This was my first luau and I was really geeked for the experience, so lets just put it this way: The show is great...the food, not so much. But its all good, I came for the show much more for he food. After seeing Ha and than boarding the shuttle back to Waikiki, the only regret I had was that I didn't have more time to explore the other villages. This place is really cool and I hope one day I am able to come back and check it out again! 4 stars.
(4)Nam Tswv Tuam V.
A must go if you are in Oahu. There are many performances and hands on activities. It will take around 5 hours to enjoy everything. However, I will probably let go of the buffet dinner and the breath of life show. The dinner luau I had was a meh...the show was also a meh...it was slow and long.
(5)Tiffany C.
Fun experience. Pay the extra money to have a tour guide. Good shows, only downfall no alcohol at all. It's a All day thing 12-9 pm! But you do get fresh coconut water. A man climbs a plam tree it's amazing. They also show how to make coconut milk. Pretty fascinating stuff!
(5)Susan S.
All i can say is WOW, they put on a real show, for the ENTIRE day. I visited the Polynesian Cultural Center with my family when i visited Oahu. My mom read it in tourists guides and i heard from family members that i should visit the place. The actual center is about an hour drive from Waikiki, so if you plan on going, make sure you plan an entire day because you won't leave till around 9pm. The entire center is basically a huge amusement park/ outdoor museum where you learn about the different polynesian peoples. There are 8 villages and each village represents a portion of those islands. Each village puts on a short show every hour or so that displays their culture. It's very entertaining and educational. The luau is quite an event. This was the my first luau and they made quite an impression on me. There was about 500 people filled in the auditorium waiting for food, and quite surprisingly, the buffet line was not a massacre. The hosts told us when we could get our food, and it wasn't a long wait. The show during the luau was a little corny, but hey, it's for families. The last event was the HA breathe of life show. They put on an amazing job. I'm not sure how accurate everything was portrayed, but the show was definitely entertaining. We had a military discount for all of our tickets, so if someone in your family is in the military, i recommend using that discount at a ticket agency. We saved almost $30 for each ticket! And lastly, my brother told me the place was run by Mormans, but that has nothing to do with the actual center. They, by no means, even try to promote their religion through the center at all. The one thing that i heard is different is that at other luaus, they serve alcohol and this one didn't. But if you want to have a good time with family or whoever, this place might be the right place!
(4)Harmony I.
Purchased the Ambassador ticket, and even though it is pricey, was really glad that I did! You get a guided tour of the center, going from village to village. We got a nice lei when we started and a poncho in case that it rained. We got front row seats to every show, which were fabulous by the way - native music and art and games from all of the Polynesian islands. The Ambassador ticket included a Luau, a premiere seat at the "Ha: Breath of Life" show, free dessert during intermission, and a bus tour over to the Temple. Spent all day here, from open to close. I arrived on Oahu not knowing what "Polynesian" really meant, and I left an expert. Great time.
(4)Krishan K.
Nice set up for each island and the night show, "HA, Breath of Life", was very good. The only problem we encountered was that we got to the PPC right at opening time and a couple of the islands that were supposed to be ready weren't. Wish we would have came in a little later in the day when every island was ready to be visited...felt a little short changed because of this. The performers seemed to be forced to kind of ad-lib their way through the time our group was there.
(4)Milena M.
Amazing! I recommend going on the tour with your guide in order to hit the highlites. The show at night is breath taking. I liked watching people climb up palm trees. They weave head bands and if you participate in some of the activities you get to take one home. A must see is anything Samoan as well as the drum show.
(5)Margaret W.
Yes this place is owned and operated by Mormons. I'm not sure why people put that in their reviews as a negative because I did not see one single thing that encouraged religion the whole time I was there. It is not like there are missionaries running around trying to convert you. The only clue is that they Offer you are free trip over to the temple and that is just really for the sight seeing aspect of it. Please don't let the Mormon thing turn you off; it really has no effect on the place at all. That said I went to the Luau on Christmas Eve. It was a buffet dinner and was done in a very orderly way. We did not wait long at all and the line moved fast. I hope you eat pork because otherwise you might leave hungry. Luckily I do eat pork and it was great. In fact i was surprised at how good the food was. The Luau show itself was a little on the showy side, kinda reminded me of something from the 1950's. But since this is clearly a show for tourists, it fit the bill. I bought military discount tickets from MWR and was glad that I did. If I had paid full price I would have been upset because although we had fun and a nice dinner, it wasn't worth $80 a person.
(3)Gerard B.
(Mar/ 2007) No better way to experience a lot great people, festivities, culture, and food. The people here are extremely welcoming and amazingly humble. A must when you're visiting.
(5)Kayla W.
(I'm giving this 4 stars only because I didn't see any part of PCC besides the show itself.) I went to PCC just to see the show "Ha - The Breath of Life" and loved it! I've avoided PCC since it is such a touristy spot in general but after all the hype about this new show, I wanted to check it out. The show was really well done and I loved that it followed a story, unlike some luau shows that are just a whole lot of dancing and bad food. (However, I can't comment on the food because I didn't eat it.) And those fire dancers were really amazing. I have never seen so many fire dancers on stage at once and all in sync. I was really impressed. I was reminded during the intermission that this was in fact a tourist trap, when the pineapple sherbet came out for sale. In the brief 10-minute intermission, they sold tray after tray of that ice cream. Hundreds probably. It was unbelievable. But really, I couldn't help but think it was such a smart business idea! Bring the food TO the audience so they don't have to walk outside to the food vendors and potentially miss some of the show. (Always hate when that happens!) I recommend the show as a nice way to spend a night - especially if you can get the kama'aina rate! The drive out to Laie is always so beautiful too. It's nice to get out to that part of the island. I didn't tour any other part of the Cultural Center although someday I would really like to go back and see it. I will wait until someone comes to town to visit and wants to go!
(4)Heather D.
I would go again, even paying what we paid. Make sure you go early in the day since there's so much to see. We stopped to watch the Samoa show twice and the main Samoan guy is hilarious. Actually, all of the Samoans were great. The canoe pagent is pretty cool, I expected it to be a little lame but was surprised. We didn't have time to do all that we wanted, we did Samoa (twice) and Fiji. By then it was time to head over to the luau for dinner. Luau wasn't authentic by any means, but the food was tasty enough. The buffet wasn't a nightmare as someone else pointed out, they had 3 or 4 buffet set ups. We also got a real orchid lei, don't know if that's something we paid extra for or if everyone gets it, but it was neat. Ha-Breath of Life was entertaining, and the "Pineapple Delight" they advertise everywhere is just pineapple in a cup with rainbow sherbert on top. They're closed Sundays, since over 70% of the staff are students at BYU (so they say).
(4)Evelyn T.
Contrary to what everyone else says about staying from opening to close, then experiencing the luau, and finally watching the Breath of Life show, I think a day like that was OVERKILL. At least for me. The center is beautifully built and meticulous with details. The performers and staff were friendly and welcoming. The organized events were timely and entertaining. If I were rating PCC on the concept of a tourist attraction and how well everything was delivered, it would get a 5. However, I'm rating based on how valuable I felt this experience was for a visitor to the islands, and so that if someone like me reads this in the future, they'd get a fair understanding before devoting an entire day to it. My experience here made me feel like a tourist more than I ever had ANYWHERE! It was kind of like..being a visitor to San Francisco, and spending a day touring Golden Gate park. Yes, it's NICE...but I don't need a whole day of it. By the time we sat down for the luau, the bf and I were sweaty, exhausted, and not even excited for the following show. I would have rather just done the luau and watched the show --skipping the day's worth of activities. The show at the end portrayed the different Polynesian cultures anyway. The food is OK. No rants, but no raves either. I don't think I'd ever go back. Would I recommend it? If you're the type to ooh and ahh easily, sure. If you're quick to bore, like myself, nah. You're not missing much.
(3)Mallory P.
If there was a 3 1/2 that is what I would give PCC. I loved the experience because it was fun and very interactive. The place was HUGE and it's a whole day experience. The part of the tour that I loved the most was the last show. It was FANTASTIC!!! really really really pretty. The only thing I did not like too much, and was actually disappointed in, was the luau. I did not like the food at all, but the performance was good especially with these two little kids that were also in the show. So the only advice I could give to those visiting PCC is don't get your hopes up too much with the food at the luau and make sure you have a really really really good camera with good zoom and image stabilizer to take pictures for the final show.
(4)Willis Z.
Hate the buffet, but love the show. I had the non ambassador packages only give admission, a regular buffet at the Gateway, and the show. The buffet was really redundant as there was 3 of the same stall of foods with just one salad bar. The buffet had like almost nothing appealing to eat and they weren't special as I expected because this is the Polynesian Cultural Center and there was nothing cultural about most of the stuff at the buffet. However, after the buffet, I went to watch the show: Ha Breath of Life. It was so well done and prepared that it is one of the best live shows I ever have seen. The performers make pop artists performances amateur. It told the story of the cycle of life of... well don't want to spoil too much :) Just remember to take pictures with the performers because they are more than happy to take some pictures The PCC is pretty far from major hotels especially in Honolulu so be prepared to rent a car and drive a while or get a shuttle to bring you there.
(4)T L.
The PCC is definitely a must-see once. But I think I'm good after one time. We did the ali'i lu'au package. You can save 5% for booking online and we found an Entertainment Book coupon that took off an additional $42. woop woop! Don't forget to bring $8 for parking. If you've never been, the website and the park map can be overwhelming. My tip is to arrive when it opens and plan to stay the entire day to get your money's worth. Even then, there's just no way you'll be able to do everything. So prioritize well on what shows and demonstrations you want to see. The shows and demos were cool and entertaining. It was nonstop; no bathroom or food breaks for us. The shows just ran too closely together for us to even think about stopping. The lu'au was ok. The food was bleh but what can you expect for a mass produced buffet? It was pretty mellow with dancers and singers on stage. The seating is first come first serve. The Ha show is the grand display of all the mini shows you have seen throughout the day. The highlight of the show was at the end when the fire tossing and spinning started. THAT WAS AWESOME. Oh by the way, the tram ride basically takes you to the Mormon temple and visitor's center. If you're not interested in learning about the religion, it would be ok to pass on this.
(3)Mary L.
Over priced "Theme Park" with NO rides and just a few huts and performances. The Luau was a 1000 person buffet eating 10 things. They brought out a roast pig, which I'm pretty sure was fake. So glad I didn't spend from 9am-11pm there. For $100 a person, including transportation, I expected more. Diamond head, though more physically demanding, was much more worth it.
(1)Derek N.
Took friends there yesterday and had a great time! Didn't try the food as we ate before we got there but found that every negative we heard or read turned out to be totally untrue in our experience. Everyone there especially at the indivdual villages were all great! I cannot say enough at how much we were impressed at the friendliness and openess to answer questions and help in anyway! Grounds were well kept and restrooms plentyful despite what I had read online! Ha Breath of Life wad awesome as reviews showed especially the fire dance towards the end! Great family and educational experience and would highly reccomend to visitors and locals!!!!
(5)Keesha G.
WHY??? I'm so disappointed because I loved my first visit. Alright, so I went back today. First of all, ( way more than before) there are so many desperate attemps to up-sell and it is aggressive and made me VERY uncomfortable. I wondered if the students are being pressured to sell more with their positions being on the line because it was like please buy this, please buy that. "Buy this to help pay for our school" i mean I'm all about education but come on. I live here and I regret buying the annual pass because I cannot take my family there when they visit. My mother would be appalled by that. Why not appreciate the money we have invested in our day and encourage that it will be fun packed instead of making people feel inadequate for not paying for the top of the line treatment?? At one point it was even suggested that " without the tour you wont know were to find the shaded seats and you will miss out on a lot of fun things" Are you kidding me??? I mean after spending OVER $ 120 pp for the day we were welcomed by being strongly urged to upgrade to a guided tour that would cost us $60 more. Give me a break. Its not like we were at Disney World ( size wise) and even then I wouldn't waste $60 ( that's dinner x2). So my friend is in town and we did the luau. I loved the bread pudding (seriously!!!!), kalua pork and the haupia (best haupia Ive had..its creamy). I will say as far as luau food, it is the best. I love the Fijian villiage. Something resonates with me about the music of Fiji. I enjoy hearing the sounds threre and seeing the dances. Also one of those male dancers tonight , gaush. He was mighty good looking. On second thought I might use my annual pass. The Samoan village was just as entertaining as before. They do a fantastic job. I mean these people work incredibly hard. those kids deserve more than a paid tuition. This is hard work and a few people there have the potential to be big enteretainers beyond that place. This place is racking in the big bucks each day and they are so pushy for more. It does not feel right and you will loose the possibility of return visits and my recommendation as Kama Aina to tourists. Just offer it, walk around with your sorbet and have a sign on the tray with the price. Stop announcing it. Also be accommodating and respectful to all your customers whether they spent $100 or $300. I also do not get the whole lei idea in the front entrance.
(2)Ann B.
This place has lots of things to see and do and learn. Being part of the tour group, I'd say we got ripped off by the tour group with the pricing since we were charged $70 per person and found out with coupons and such, we could have gotten in for much less. The canoe ride was great and we had some hands-on experience throwing spears, engaging in some exercises, doing a hula dance. We took some pictures with the natives and it's great to learn that the whole place is staffed by students at the university nearby. We also saw a coconut-tree climbing contest among 3 men and watched as they built fire from scratch. The Breath of Life show was neato--I didn't care too much fo the storyline and the fire dancers were the best part. The only part I didn't think was all that great was the buffet. The food was ok. Nothing very exciting or tasty, it was rather bland stuff you can get at an ordinary two-star American buffet. It is not luau food if you are looking for something great.
(4)Eric C.
Polynesian Cultural Center is an annex of the nearby Brigham Young University of Hawaii. The majority of people working at the PCC are students at BYU-Hawaii and the activities and revenue from the PCC supports their tuition, housing, and welfare while enrolled. A quick search of the BYU-Hawaii Academic Program reveals Colleges for Business, Computing and Government, and a College for Math and Science. The College of Human Development focuses on Education, Teaching English, Social Work, and Divinity. In addition, what is remarkable is the College of Language, Culture, and Arts. Not only are degree's offered in Fine Arts and History, but also Cultural Studies and World Languages, Intercultural Understanding, and Hawaiian and Pacific Studies. If you have the time you'll learn the students, the costumes, the props, even the information is all authentic. The story of Polynesia is complex. Even more complex is a theme park to focus on 6 different Pacific island cultures, do it all in 5 hours, throw in a luau, and finish it all with a night show. Wow. Maybe it's the cheese that makes it work? PCC is similar to the World Showcase at Epcot. You walk around and visit villages of Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Hawaii, Aotearoa, and Tahiti. Most villages have a major drum or dance presentation in their hut every 30 minutes and minor presentations throughout the afternoon. In the middle of the day a pageant is held where islanders perform dancing and singing on floating barges in a lagoon. Certain upgrades have a ticket to the Imax show. Do not miss the Samoan fire and coconut guy! At about 5 PM, when exhaustion is setting in, people begin their journey to the luau. You are presented a lei, photographed for a souvenir, and seated. Music and pageantry continues and you'll notice the costumes begin to grow more stage-like. A ceremonial pig is lifted from the pit and the buffets open. The luau is said to be one of the best on the island. Personally, I can see the quality in the food... but luau food isn't my thing... I'm hoping for shrimp and bar-b-que steak and things at my luau. But the PCC luau is better than what you ate on the flight to Honolulu, trust me. The show comes after you finish your dinner and have about an hour to kill in the gift shops. I do not like the show, but many people do like the razzmatazz of Ha. I preferred the past show where you saw a big night show review of little vignettes witnessed earlier in the day. One final thought: a few posts here expressed dismay over the Morman shanghai at the Visitors Center. All I can say is: don't go to a timeshare sales weekend and expect to get a set of golf clubs for free. When you get on the Morman shuttle, you come back on their terms. The PCC is exceptional in many ways. It is a good choice for young students to find unimaginable opportunities, careers, and friends, and make a positive impact in the communities they will live one day. And it gives the average tourist an opportunity to see cultures, albeit homogenized, in a setting that is safe and wholesome for the entire family. Outstanding. Not to be missed.
(4)Dan B.
I put off going out here until the last day of our vacation because I thought it was going to be this hokey tourist spot. I could not have been more wrong. First, the drive here was breath taking not only because of the view of the beaches but also because some of the drivers out here are scary. Second, this place knows how to put on a good show. Third, the money you spend helps out the kids who go to BYU. so go have fun at the PCC.
(4)anthony e.
We visited the PCC when we were on the island and i have to say i enjoyed it very much. i went back and forth because of the Mormon influence but no in your face tactics of the religion present. if you talk the students about the work they do as we did they shared that by working there they can pay for school and other expenses. i support the furthering of a young persons education. We arrived when the park opened and visited most of the villages to take in the history and some of the interactive activities they had. We did not get to all of them because we chose to see the IMAX film which i would have much rather skipped to visit another village. the canoe pageant is something not to miss the dancing was the best part. Also the sherbet delights that they serve are also very good. We went to the luau and it typical buffet style the food was good and the entertainment was also great. We got the smoothie drink that they serve int he pineapple excellent and very tasty. HA breathe of life was amazing the dancing the story in general kept me engaged from start to finish. they have some amazingly talented people in this show. i will make a return visit to PCC again
(5)Jay K.
$8 for parking was a big disappointment from the get go. the shows and demonstrations were wonderful. this guy at the Samoa exhibit was very funny :) Like the canoe ride and etc island feast(cheapest) was definitely not good. actually it was near terrible. should have spent more money for the more expensive buffet but price was too much. ha-breath of life...it was okay..i fell a sleep in the middle and left early definitely not my cup of a tea but the performance was very well orchestrated and executed. best bang for the buck? one day admission ticket and thats it. oh and the place is open from 12~5(for exhibits and demos) so come early see everything you can and leave there at 5 to grab dinner else where. Thank Goodness i had a car...if i rode their bus i would've been stuck!
(2)Jessica S.
Lots of fun for people of all ages. A bit pricey but pretty worth it. We got the package for $120 which got us a tour of the place, the buffet, and the show. It was interesting to learn how they all dress, dance, and survive where they are from. Not to mention the main star of the show was absolutely Gorgeous!!!
(4)Sogol G.
We went there for dinner and the show. The dinner was buffet and it was very lousy! The show was good and was introducing the Polynesian culture through music and dancing. We paid $60/person for dinner and the show (this is the actual price, we had 20% discount that we used). If I go there again, I won't pay for the dinner.
(4)Susan C.
This place requires a whole day to get the most out of it. Think of it as a Polynesian Epcot. Very interesting set of cultures. The luau is awesome with some pretty tasty Hawaiian food. My favorite exhibit was Samoa. The guy who cracked open the coconut and made fire was hilarious! The night show is definitely cool, the fire throwing is the best part. All in all, I say it's worth going. By the way, the address on this listing is wrong. The actual center is on 55-370 Kamehameha Hwy.
(3)Johnny W.
Some people call this place a tourist trap. That word is usually used as a negative connotation, but I didn't find anything offensive about this establishment. The Polynesian Cultural Center is very much like an amusement park. It's a long drive from Honolulu and I would only recommend this place if you are staying in Hawaii for more than a couple of days. The Polynesian Cultural Center's land is owned by Brigham Young University of Hawaii, where most of their employees are students who are enrolled in their university. Even though it is very much a tourist attraction, their profits are applied to various scholarship programs run by BYU-Hawaii, where many of their performers & employees are working part-time during their school terms and full-time during their breaks in order to graduate without a debt. The money which visitors pay for admission, as well as profits from food and gift sales, supports the scholarship programs which have educated thousands of students over the years. I tend to appreciate their employees more, knowing that they are working more than just for the money, but because they are also working to support themselves for a brighter future. In doing so, they seem to have a good time sharing their culture to tourists and children from all over the world. For dinner, I visited their Luau, which I was a little disappointed. The dining hall was enormous and we were seated at a big table with strangers. It seemed to have lost the intimacy by having to sit with people that we didn't know and seemed more as a stage show. As for the food, I thought it was very mediocre. The night time performance was cool and all the employees at the gift shop were very friendly. I enjoyed my time here, although I probably won't return unless I go with a new group of friends or family who are interested in going to the Polynesian Cultural Center.
(3)Hilda L.
I was told it was a must do while in Oahu...and my friend was right, it was...and it was worth every penny. My husband and I aren't usually the "educational/cultural" events type of people, but we enjoyed our day at PCC tremenduously. They have a way of educating you about the various polynesian nations without being patronizing. Although the tour guides and the majority of the staff are the mormon students at BYU, never once did I feel I was being preached to...actually, they hardly mentioned it at all! We loved the show, HA, at the end of the evening. It was captivating and beautiful. The food was passable, nothing to write home about, but delicious nonetheless. We did the Ambassador prime rib buffet dinner. The food was delicious and plentiful. The ice-cream dessert they serve during the show's intermission was too sweet for my personal tastes, but others seemed to enjoy it. I booked everything through their website online, and by completing a short survey, you get a 5% discount.
(5)Mayu M.
This is one of my favorite attractions on the island... I used to come to the luau so many times a year... it just gets alittle pricey... love the attractions, and the food, and the entertainers.... this is a great place to come and you definitely will not see everything just by coming for one day... this is the hawaiian "disney land"... :) gotta come over and over and over and over.... i do... and you should too.
(4)Doris H.
I didn't understand or believe why it's called the Hawaii Disney but now I do, it's really, very artificial and people there look too happy to be ture. Yes--it's owned by Mormons; I am never a fan and particularly after what they did about Prop 8 in CA, I actually hesitated to go to PCC. But somehow, I got hold of some free tickets and decided to give it a try. They have altogether 7 villages that represent 7 different polynesian islands. 80% of the staff are students from the nearby BYU, that means the people from the "villages" are students from the island who currently study in BYU. People in general are very nice but everything seems so rehearsed. They kept saying the money we spent in PCC goes to scholarship that support native from those islands to get college education, but i just cant help wonder how much income is actually spent on students and how much on the church. I also have a feeling that it's more like a business than an educational center to educate people about polynesian history and cultures. Student staff is everywhere to take pictures of you and sell it at $15-18 per photo. Like all other amusement parks, all food and souvenirs are over-priced. So bring your own snacks and tons of water. Nevertheless, some activities are kinda cool. I really like the Samoa village where they show you how to crack coconut and light fire with raw material. I guess the park is best for children and seniors. The night show is also amazing. Dancing, fire-shows are spectacular. As for the food, the luau... it's OK. It wasn't as chaotic as I thought it was since they are serving hundreds of hungry people. They asked people to get food table by table. It's the "traditional hawaiian feast". If you like raw fish, the lomi-salmon and poke tuna were GOOD. They also have decent poi and taro bun. Kalua pork was ok and dessert wasnt too impressive. Since it's Mormon-owned, there's no alcohol served. But at least there's tea and coffee! If I were to pay full price for PCC, I probably wont go and would choose to go to Paradise Cove for their luau... at least it's on a beach instead of a tent in PCC.
(3)Patrick S.
I think this place is a solid value for what it is, think Hawaiian Disneyland plus luau plus pretty elaborate stage show. Yes, it's definitely touristy and there's a lot of upwelling towards higher end packages but I find it fun to walk around and experience and learn about the different cultures. I think there's something for everyone young and old here, the way they time the different shows on the different areas makes it difficult to see them all and do all the activities so really prioritize what you prefer to see and do. I think the Samoan and Tongan shows were probably the best and there's also equally a good amount of interactive activities that I'm sure many kids would enjoy. For first timers I think it's a great inclusive package of going around and experiencing the different cultures, a solid luau show with decent food and the show at the end of the night is particularly good. There are better luaus out there with probably better food but PCC gives you a full day of activities a great show and a luau for just a little bit more. We drove here rather than taking the bus, definitely a distance from the major Waikiki hotels especially with most of it having a 35 MPH speed limit. Also, be prepared to be sold on their ice cream at almost every single moment you're there. Usually I'm annoyed by these gimmick-y kinds of things at amusement parks where they are super overpriced, but I think for $5 you get a huge amount with fruit cocktail at the bottom which I really liked.
(5)Campo W.
Ok breakdown center-3 stars food-2 stars tour guides=awesome Ok depending on how you want to pay (book online directly with them and get 5-10% off) it can get pretty expensive, my fiance and I got the el cheapo package, cuz the next one up included a luau and we don't need to see ANOTHER luau in hawaii. Of course your pretty much gonna have to pony up 22bucks per person for them to pick you up unless you want to drive all the way north 90minutes away. (if you rented a car and have a family then drive would be way more economical). One thing they don't tell you, you get here and thats it, you HAVE to pay for the show (the ha show, which funny enough is my fiance's last name) you HAVE to pay for the buffet(or whatever upgraded luau). ok so this place is split up into 4 or 5 sections, each one representing a culture, from hawaii to fiji... to whatever they comprise. each section(culture) will feature 2 events, some are cool, like spear throwing, some are stupid like basket weaving a fish???, some are boring (drums) and some are WAY COOL, the long one with the guy showing coconut shucking/fire and just his whole act. Our bus had a tour guide that was very charismatic, (Leon) he said we could buy his touring service for 25bucks a person which also included lunch. So fiance and i decided to do that, i mean the guy was very charismatic and awesome, if you have a boring tour guide (we looked at the other tours and their guys and they varied from blah to omg you paid for that!!!) skip that. Later on we found out we coulda just paid for the guide instead of having the lunch (we'll get to the lunch review later). So because they bring you here at 11, and the buffet/luaua/dinner begins at 5, you only have a few hours to do stuff, and you won't be able to do everything(unless you find out you want to skip the boring drums or the horrible basket weaving) the show was a snore, do you know how bad the show was? i said to my fiance "OMG i so appreciate cirque du soleil now" you know whats great about live shows? they are entertaining, you know what this was? boring. Ok maybe they had fire baton twirling at the VERY end and that woke us up, but they even dropped the sticks, twice, yea not ONCE but 2x. By far the best part was the guy and show about the coconut shucking and fire and his whole routine was awesome... i would say the price of admission was worth it for that. so i personally believe this place is overrated, especially if you have to spend 1 whole day in hawaii for it, your entire day is shot!, why do i say this? THE FOOD WAS HORRIBLE you spend 2/3's of your time here, so you spend it eating their food. wow was the food horrible, just gah, gah, gah. I won't list the horrible buffet food, but wow it was pretty bad when we both thought, you know lunch was better than dinner? wow. I'm sorry but when your on vacation and you have to take a vacation day, and time costs money, you expect to enjoy everyday of it, and i did not enjoy eating 5th rate buffet food.
(2)Heidi P.
The Polynesian cultural center was okay. It was not crowded at all the day we went, in fact there were hardly any people around park area. It was crowded at the Luau though so I'm not sure if people just came for that. The food was average buffet quality, the poi was pretty good and the Kahlua pig was alright. They do not serve alcohol here, we knew this ahead of time which was fine. The beverage selection though is very limited.
(3)Shreefal M.
Overall a great experience for someone who has not much idea about the Polynesian culture. The staff carrying out the cultural presentations were very dedicated and willing to share background on their cultures. The attitude of most of the people we interacted with was very positive and they were excited about sharing their culture. The ones we spoke with came from their own islands and clearly saw themselves as ambassadors. From my 16 year old: "The students I spoke to are very proud of their culture and they know a lot about it." The setting was very picturesque and the huts were beautifully constructed. Our kids (16,13,10) all found something that got them interested through the day which was a great outcome. The older two were fascinated by the large boat and the student who was studying navigation and boat building told us about the background and stories about the voyages made on that boat using traditional navigation, food preparation techniques etc. We also learned about the beauty of the hula dance as passing down of a storytelling tradition rather than entertainment alone and a few other such cultural eye-openers... The luau was ok with some very graceful dances with little kids and adults but since this was the only one we have been to, don't know what else to expect in these other than more theatrics.?? Our waiters were helpful with vegetarian selections (decent choices) and brought a special bowl of veg chili over - we were too full to go to the dessert table. It was an expensive package but then again this kind of cultural showcase is a very unique setup - Disney and other purely entertaining theme parks do not have this underlying deep cultural history that they sought to communicate here. We loved the sincerity of the MC at the NewZealand dance hall and our family enjoyed the games activities outside. Our jet lag (just arrived from NY) made us too tired to go for the 'Ha Breath of life' fire show. We would definitely recommend this for families with young kids and for people genuinely interested in the polynesian cultures... Also, did not see any sign of the missionary church behind this except possibly that there was little presentation of the myths and legends of creation from these very rich island cultures. They should stop charging for parking and perhaps include some more traditional island foods in the snack bars instead of the usual french fries stuff?? This place is quite special and should make some effort to bring that into the foods served there too..
(4)lee v.
I really enjoyed myself. Going for my first time it was fun.. For the most part there were happy people working there. There were a few people who seemed like it was chore to be there. Prob was. The luau was good. KAP is the man! Great guy! The end show was real fun. If it's your first time You must go back. I know my in-laws say it wasn't as good as back in the '90's. But it is wat it is and its was fun.
(4)Jamie H.
To my surprise (and after buying four nonrefundable tickets to the show), I learned that this place is operated by the Morman Church. I am a gay man and was extremely upset to learn that I had basically donated more than $350 to an organization that wants me to strip me of my legal rights and make me a second class citizen. The Mormon church gave millions of dollars to fund Proposition 8 in California, outlawing gay marriage. If you are a supporter of equal rights for all, then you should not support the Polynesian Cultural Center. The affiliation with the Mormon Church should be clearly noted on the website.
(1)Faith S.
we are not the really big in to doing the "tourist" things. but couldnt pass this up from all the reviews from our friends. the afternoon was a bit boring. but all the employees were all very very kind & willing to come up & offer us help when we stood around looking hopelessly lost .lol. the "Ali'i Luau Dinner" is not bad. there was a small buffet that had salad, pulled pork, very good baked chicken, white rice, slimmy fish, very yummy purple rolls (kids had three each) & whole boiled sweet potatos. i was still hungry from hte small selection. ... but i just stuffed myself with chicken, rice & a roll. not a very kid friendly meal. there was a nice small show to watch before we ate. ooooo & they sold someVERY yummy ( :{ non-alcoholic) smoothies (mango, strawberry & pineapple) in real pineapples! all in all for dinner it is a three out of 5. *** NOW the" H-Breath of Life" evening show was a very wonderful & forever memorable experience. of course most of the speaking/singing was not in english it was very easy for my 7 & 8 yr old to follow and understand. i HIGHLY recommend you take your family (kids & your vacationers) to this night time show. even with the preformers doing the same show over & over again not once did their smiles look fake. they genuinely looked happy!!!! this show was worth every penny!!!!!!!! this is a 5+ out of a 5 :}}}}} p.s. during the late show there was an intermission after 45 mins where they sold big bowls of icecream for $5 each. but some ppl got theirs free cause there was something somewhere on their ticket that said they got it free :/ and parking is $8
(4)Rachel K.
We wanted to do a luau/hulu thing for my daughter's 5th birthday and the PCC meet those needs. We went only for the luau dinner and the show (Ha - Breath of Life), which cost us about $85/person. There are different priced packages depending on what you want to do. When I made the reservations, the guy I talked to made an endless pitch to get us to spend more and come for the whole day, which we had no interest in doing. Be prepared they will hit you up for a ton of "extra" things including parking, which is $6 a car. The dinner was good - both the food and how damn orderly it was. There are hundreds of people having dinner and not once did it feel cramped. The show during dinner was entertaining. Some female hula dancing, some male hula dancing, Hawaiian music, etc. Special drinks in fresh pineapples will set you back $10 (or 2 for $15). They also take your picture upon entering the dinner, which will cost you $18 for the first one and maybe $10 for the second. We then had about a 1.5 hours to waste before the show, which is easily spent in the marketplace. Lots of opportunities to spend money on souvenirs/tchotchkes, which, personally, I was psyched about even though I realized the the prices were slightly inflated. The show (Ha - Breath of Life) was totally entertaining. The dancing was amazing but they did have an intermission so they could sell $5 bowls of ice cream. Given that you got dinner and a very entertaining show, $85 didn't seem too bad. I wish they wouldn't push to sell so many other things. It cheapens the whole experience. All in all, I don't regret going to the PCC but I don't feel like I would have missed anything if we hadn't done it. PS - The dinner and the show were covered but open air. We were worried about rain but would have been fine/dry had it rained. PPS - The show (Ha - Breath of Life) was scary for my 5 year old but fine for my 7 year old.
(3)Radha X.
It's an hour drive from Waikiki, but it's a nice scenic drive. So if you do have a rental, it's really not that bad. I've heard the pick up bus are nice as well. I bought the Twilight Ali'i Luau Package through AlohaTopTen.com (Adult $68, child $54). It included 4pm admission to the park, Ali'Luau Buffet Dinner at 5pm and reserved seating for the 7:30pm Horizon show. I wished I could have been there earlier just becuase all the villages (Samoa, Tahiti, Hawaii, Tonga etc) have a bunch of different presentations and engaging activities...so we only had time to walk through the park and not really participate in anything. The dinner was Delicious! I loved especially loved the poki (seasoned tuna), shredded pork and chicken noodles. They also have smoothies (strawberry, Mangy, papaya) that come in a real pineapple which was very good in the hot climate ($10 each or 2 for $15). The host was very funny and a great singer/performer and the dancers were great. Horizon was fun and entertaining. It was interesting to see all the different pacific island cultures in dance. Many similarities and many differences. The fire dancing was also exciting to watch. The show ended at 9:30pm...which was a little late considering the drive back to waikiki is an hour....but in all it was a great experience.
(4)edmond l.
A wonderful experience and I would certainly do it again. The staff was exceptional and so friendly. You'll learn much about the Polynesian culture most definitely. This is a must do and see destination.
(5)Kaylin O.
We had a good time at the Polynesian Cultural Center. The food was good. Since its pretty pricey, arrive early and take advantage of all the different "villages" to learn about the different islands. We didn't get to check out the different "villages." We were so disappointed.
(4)Kaaren D.
As much as this is still a MUST SEE when you go to Oahu, I wish they had options to have a guided tour, without having to participate in the luau. Sis and I got general admission, and we really enjoyed our tour around the "park," but would have loved to have paid a little more for the tour. Again I learned a lot from the different presentations, and had fun doing it. Without a doubt, the New Zealand show is the best, again.
(3)Cesar G.
Wow! Awesome entertainment, great place to learn about the Polynesian people. I got the Ambassador package with prime rib dinner and premium seating for the show & Personal Tour Guide. We loved all 6 village visits, the activities, the dances, the show, the dinner! We were super impressed, so much that we would want to go live in one of those Polynesian cultures. DO NOT LEAVE THIS ISLAND WITHOUT VISITING!!!
(5)Tracy L.
We had a wonderful time at the PCC. We had the best package (super ambassador) - which I would highly recommend to anyone that really wants to experience the center in a relaxed way and still see as much as you can fit in. Our guide, Spence, was awesome - he even carried all of our bags the entire day! We had reserved seats (in the shade) and front row seats for the Ha show that night. Dinner was on par with a large wedding... nothing special. But, the rest of the day was so super that dinner didn't really matter. Make sure you visit Samoa - that was so funny and entertaining. I'd definitely go back!
(5)Ashley S.
First of all, this is an all day adventure, so plan accordingly. That being said, it was awesome. We paid for the Ambassador package to get good seats at the show and the upgraded dinner. We rode the bus from Waikiki to PCC. It would have been fine on the big bus, but they crammed us into a mini shuttle bus, so we were a little cramped. Not good for larger people. Once we arrived though, everything was way better. We're not the type of people to follow a guided tour all day, so we went on our own with a map, and had a blast. The shows were funny and relaxed, it was really nice. Once dinner came around, we went in and its buffet style. There is tons of food and its all delicious. Plus, with the Ambassador package, you can go to the other side as well, which is more of the Polynesian food. There was a wait after the dinner so you can look at your pictures and browse the shops. I got a temp tattoo that only lasted for a day, so don't believe it lasts 7. The show, Ha - Breath of Life, was awesome. It was worth the wait and we enjoyed it a lot. The whole day was fun, just a lot. I would recommend it to my friends.
(5)Mark L.
The family and I had a great time. We tried the Super Ambassidor this time. Was worth every penny. Our tour guide, Wendy from NZ, was fantastic. Good was good, not fantastic. Shows at villages were very fun. Back stage tour was very cool to see. Evening show " Ha" was great. Very talented performers.
(5)Michelle O.
First time I went here I was on vacay @ age 10. It was exciting and fun to walk around the villages for the first time. Been here 2 more times over the years and the same show over that span of time definitely lost it's luster. So, imagine my enthusiasm (bein sarcastic) when my LA fam bam wanted to go there last wk. However, I sucked it up (hung over from the night before & all) and dragged the local family there too. Our Ambassador Package was comped bc my cousin knew someone, so we all got a guided tour through the place. The boat ride was cute and for the peeps that had been here a jillion times over the yrs, the best part were the tats from Tahiti. And the cute guys who were super friendly didn't hurt either! Luau dinner was decent quality. Although, I wondered where they took the pig that was unearthed from the umu. Obviously they didn't carve it for the buffet line so did they plan to use it in the next evening's pork tray....? The redeeming part of the whole experience was the night show. They completely revamped it to add a story line that centered around 'family' and the 'breath of life' for the islanders as opposed to just having everyone dance. Excellent move! In addition, incorporating animated movie clips, having the entertainers coming in & out of the stadium aisles and use of props enhanced the show tremendously!!! If you haven't been here since 1998, definitely go back. It's gotten a LOT better. Now, if only the drive to Laie were quicker & had a starbux nearby....
(4)R M.
Basically this place could be renamed Disney Hawaii. I kept waiting for Micky Mouse and the gang to come out in hula skirts and start singing "It's a small world". That being said, if you are looking for a controlled exposure to different polynesian cultures and are willing to pay the money, you would probably enjoy it. It is also much more enjoyable for children than a museum. One note: the guy doing the fire starter demo in the Samoan exhibit was hysterical. Nice job!
(2)Ari C.
I'm really split between liking the fact that this center supports Polynesian students and hating the fact that this is where Mormon missionary brainwashing and white North American fetishism collide. I enjoyed myself (although the luau was kind of a hoax), despite the fact that it was like going to Disneyland. You know, except for cultural exploitation and what not. I learned a bit about Polynesia (and Melanesia, which, I have to admit I didn't realize existed), but overall, the whole center was problematic. Polynesian culture really shouldn't be put on display like this, particularly the parts that played up to North American stereotypes of islanders. Moreover, anything Mormon is questionable. Generally, Hawai'i is nearing a very sad place where we have to learn about cultures through theme parks. Whatever happened to the Hawai'i independent of tourism? More and more, places like the Polynesian Cultural Center will replace the rich cultures of Hawai'i (and Samoa, Tahiti, Tonga, etc...)- a farcical testament to them. I beg anyone that reads this and visits Hawai'i to keep it real, keep it local! Hawai'i is more than a vacation spot. Stay away from the tourism!
(2)CodyAnne P.
Sure it's pricey but you should already know that before stepping foot in the door. The cultural presentations are very interesting & informative - we saw everything in 1 day pretty much but didn't do any of the after-presentation activities which seemed pretty cool. The food was food, the service was good, & the people there are great! I really enjoyed the experience & look forward to going again!
(5)Steve B.
RIP OFF ALERT, RIP OFF ALERT!!!! This place is not a tourist trap, it is a tourist/wallet black hole! Admission alone (even if you're Kama'aina) will set you back at least $50. Plus, your money goes toward the wacko and weird bigoted world of Mormons. If you've never experienced Polynesian Culture before, enjoy fake like shows and don't mind plucking down at least $200, then go for it! Otherwise, steer clear of this place! What sucks even more........they charge for parking! Yep the Mormons have to squeeze you for every last penny they can get out of you. Also, I know it's part of the Polynesian culture, but I just can't stand big pasty white Mormon guys standing around in a long blue skirt, otherwise known as a "lava lava". Skip this place and go anywhere else on the island for real Polynesia. In fact, save your money and buy a RT ticket to the most Hawaiian island of them all, Moloka'i where you will see REAL Hawaiian culture, not Mormon fake Disney like crap!
(1)Roger L.
Breath of Life show after luau was good but a little too long. By far, the best part was the fire portion; otherwise I found myself yawning a lot. Luau food was mediocre and selection was pretty poor compared to other luaus. PCC exhibits/presentations are okay - best are good because they are funny. By end of day audience and performers both seem to be pretty bored with it all. Gets pretty repetitive. What we really objected to, however, was the constant hawking of everything from fake tattoos to ice cream, water ($3/bottle!), candy, show programs and anything else not tied down. Comes across as if they are just trying to pick your pocket. I realize these are students trying to earn money for tuition but gee whiz, give your customers a break from the constant sales job!! Also, we had a companion who got sick and could not attend. No last minute refunds. Does not seem reasonable.
(2)Susan F.
WOW! Tourist trap is right! Let me first start off talking about the food, because that is what us yelpers love... FOOD. Ok, if you like awesome food, the food here sucks! Ok, I've had other people cook for me that is worst than this place, but seriously nothing good to say about it. When you first walk in, it looks like you have a large variety, but when you go up to look at the food, its two different serving stations with the same food on both of them. I remember having a salmon that was like a shepherd's pie (salmon with mash potatoes), mahi mahi in teriyaki sauce, turkey and ham carving station, mash potatoes, corn, salad, lemon chicken and some other stuff, but really I felt like I would've gotten a better meal somewhere else. The show: uhhh.... besides the LARGER than normal sized guy that was practically sitting on my lap the entire first half of the show, the show was just alright. What was that show about? Its called Ha: Breathe of life, but I couldn't figure out exactly what was going on. Story line was hard to follow and it was hard to figure out who the characters were. Loved that they showed the different cultures of Polynesia, but hated hated hated the religious undertones throughout it. Ummm... are they showing the tourist how the missionaries came to Hawaii and changed everything for the Hawaiians. (LOL maybe that Hawaiian Studies class that I took at Manoa actually made an impact of what I think about tourist crap here in the islands). Overall a decent show, but wouldn't go back, unless someone was forcing me to go! NO ALCOHOL. (but I was drinking some kava in the dining area and no one said anything to me).
(2)Team NB F.
This place reminded me toooo much of disneyland. Different islands and way to many ppl. We went here for the Ali'l Luau and we very dissapointed with food. We were seated in the worst seats in the house could bearly see the stage. Than they opened up the pig and it looked like it was cold something for show. Than they made us wait and wait for the food which just pissed me off. Than when we finally got to the food it was horrible. There was not sign of the damn pig. I came to the luau for the pig and i didn't even get it. The best selection they had was the house salda which I could get here. With the amount we paid for this luau, you think they fork over so very yummie food or at least food that looked like food. I would not recommend this place for a luau choice.
(1)Kevin M.
This place is ok. Kind of disappointed with the overall luau and show. Maybe if it was my first luau and show experience it would have been cool. I first went to Smiths Luau on the island of Kauai and it was incredible. But if you have a family and don't want alcohol around go to the Polynesian...
(2)Merle C.
I agree, this is a total tourist trap. What a waste of an entire vacation day. We did the day nwalking around the Center then stood in line for over an hour to get into where we were having dinner. Stayed in line for another 45 minutes to get to the buffet which was cold an tasteless. I've had better food at King's Buffet. Then the show, Breath of Life, which was very slow and boring. We tride to leave to salvage what was left of our day but they wouldn't let us leave. My wife was sick the next morning which we believe was food poisoning. Total waste fo time and $200.
(1)C L.
This venue does deserve a better rating than a one star, however, I'm rating it this way because I felt extremely insulted and discriminated against. While it is a tourist trap, it's still fun to go to every now and then. Because we didn't get a chance to do and see everything, we will visit PCC again. Most of the entertainment is fun and interesting. Here are the reasons why I am so insulted: About 4 years ago, I went to PCC with a friend and paid about $50 Kama'aina rate. The one time luau buffet and dinner show was included in the price. This time around, they sold me the Kaima'aina annual rate for $55 which didn't include dinner. The dinner was an extra cost of $16 for kama'aina. So, the cost was slightly more than my previous visit 4 years ago, but I figured that it was ok because we could return again, and it was a while ago since my last visit. In my purchase this time, I had an out of town guest which they sold to me as a separate package deal. I attended the PCC for the benefit of my out of town guest and because I remembered that it was an enjoyable time. Ok so, when I get there, I find out that because I bought the annual Kamaaina pass, we don't get to attend the same buffet as the other guests do. We get to have the cafeteria style buffet. And, the only service that was provided to us was the clean up crew asking if they could take our plates; even though we just sat down with full plates of food. How rude!! During our visit, we quickly realized that all of the entertainment was geared to service the little groups of people who purchased the package deals (these groups were NOT kama'aina's). Basically, with no instruction or direction provided, we the Kama'ainas missed out on all the fun stuff. What's up with that?? Finally, rewinding back to the beginning, when I ordered my tickets over the phone, the sales person failed to inform me of the difference between Kama'aina's and tourist package deals. In fact I asked her if there were any differences and she said no. We would have the entry, HA show, and Luau. If she didn't convince me to purchase the Kama'aina pass, I would have purchased the package deal, saved about $15 and it would have included the Luau. No where on the website does it say that kamaaina's will eat in the cafeteria with the bus drivers and service providers. Don't get me wrong, I have no problem eating with service providers, but I did pay $70 for my ticket and expected to enjoy the same or similiar Luau as what I remembered 4 years ago!! Also, when I complained at the entrance, "the boy" at the counter was not helpful or friendly and just said "you didn't buy the package". He did not offer to sell me any upgrades and both myself and my guest were extremely confused with his response. Lastly, because I purchased the package deal for my guest, she WAS entitled to the Luau. (let me remind you that I "the Kamaaina" paid for the tourist package ticket... hmmm..) "The boy" said that they did not assign my guesst to the Luau because she was with us (Kama'aina's)... umm hello!!! Maybe, it would have been nice if the sales person explained that to me when I purchased the tickets on the phone.. But graciously, 'the boy" did offer to move my guest (alone) to the Luau if she wanted.... What's wrong with this picture??? Of course she declined. Anyway, the cafeteria food was still pretty good, the shows at the villages were slightly better than our Hawaii Elementary Schools May Day programs (sorry that was mean). Samoa village and the fire dancer was awesome. And, furthermore, I had "cousins" that I didn't know I had. Hehe... All in all, my guest, my son, and I did have fun and will return. I can always find humor in human beings inadequacies (namely: the management and sales staff of PCC). Dear PCC Management: your website, packages, and sales people are friggin' confusing!! So, the one star rating is because I'm hoping that someone important will read this and try to make it a more memorable experience for local residents (Kama'aina's) as well. Oh btw, the HA show was great - 4 Stars!! Raise the bar a little more with talent and production value and I would rate the show a 5 star.
(1)Garett J.
Purchased the ambassador package for my family and friends. The tour guide was amazing with our young kids, she even took our daughter several times so we could dance/play games. Without a tour guide as a first time visitor I think it would have been tough to see everything, fortunately we were escorted around and got the most out of our day. You definitely need to get there as close to the opening time as possible, or plan on a second visit (free within the two weeks after your first visit if you keep your ticket). The food at the luau was excellent (especially the smoothies in the pineapple cones, costs extra, but still only half as much as in Honolulu) and Ha - Breath of Life was spectacular, on par with any show I have seen in Vegas or off Broadway. Creative, original and the fire show was the best. I think the most impressive part of it all is the place is pretty much run by college kids trying to pay their own way through school, pretty awesome. Really the only downside was there was almost too much to see and do in one day!
(5)Marevie T.
I spent a whole 5 days in Hawaii and one of em was spent from 10am to 10pm at the Cultural Center! I loved the fact that they help out the college students and really emphasize it without being a charity case. I really liked the thought of my earnings really going towards education; It made me even think about going to a college out in Hawaii because they talked so highly of it! Anyway, Cousin Jack was our tour guide and was so welcoming. He did a real great job of taking care of us and making sure we kept it all together, even had some great side jokes! He mentioned why the guys all wear skirts and when I got on a canoe ride, the blonde person pushing the boat had to duck because there was a bridge... I turned around to make sure he was okay and he goes, "Oh dear... Please don't turn around, I'm wearing a skirt." in a cute New Zealand accent! OMG it was hilarious!!! I almost wanted to roll off the boat laughing. LOL!!! After going threw a couple of the villages, my most favorite was the fire dancer at the end giving us a demonstration. He mentioned he was also an artist who just graduated from college but... dude, I coulda sworn he was better at comedy! Even knew how to say certain words in like more than 10 different languages! It was so funny he put his sexy voice on and it was just mayhem from there lol! My boyfriend and I were referred to as the "Young Couple," and I was so relieved he came with me... cuz I didn't think he'd like it! But he loved it, at least thats what he tells me =) We got to see "HA: Breathe of Life" after everything and it was amazing. Each moment of the show caught my own breath and almost made me want to give that form of dance a try... Anyway, definitely give it a go! Its a whole day thing, but definitely worth it if you don't know too much of the culture there. Also... always a good thing for some eye candy =) Heck, my tour guide and his brothers were hot. I had to say it. I just had to. LOL!!!!
(5)Michon S.
We all LOVED our visit to the PCC! We spent the day there and enjoyed learning about all the different islands and their peoples history/culture. The people that work there are so nice and funny. The shows in each of the different islands we very entertaining and the day went by fast. The luau was very delicious and the Breath of Life show was incredible. What a great day spent on vacation!
(5)Beth G.
The PCC was not part of our original itinerary, but in trying to maximize our "Go Oahu" passes, we spent a day here and it was by far, the best experience while on the island. The villages were really interesting. The star of any show, hands down, was the comedic genius in Samoa. If you've been here, then you know who I am talking about. I almost peed myself laughing a hundred times over, a reaction I'm sure he is quite used to. The luau and stage show were much better than expected. The fresh leis were a great touch. Germaine's Luau gives you fake leis, terrible food, and a boring stage show compared to the PCC. Even the emcee during the LONG bus ride made the trip tolerable. But this place is HUGE, and boy did my feet hurt. Still, the best memory of our vacation tourist trap meanderings.
(5)Celia M.
I suppose your experience here would really depend on the package you get. A lot of people feel this place burn a whole in their pockets because of how expensive it is, but since I was with my band on a pre-funded trip, I found myself much more able to enjoy myself. My package came with free dinner and the night show. The guide we had on the bus getting there and back was fantastic--had the best sense of humor. We also found out a little later that he works at the Cultural Center.... in the IMAX theater, I believe (which was free as well). The boat parade was amazing. It was so colorful and beautiful. I also learned how to hula, and many other things as well. The food was out of this world. Hawaiian food in general is much less bitter than the stuff we have on the mainland, so if you're at all adventurous, you'll probably love it too. The night show--even from the nosebleed section up top, was amazing. Dancing, beautiful costuming, fire dancing, and skirt lighting ensued. The one thing I would say about this place, is that A) it's better with a group, and B) it's only fantastic if you devote a full day to it.
(5)Lanny H.
Everyone visits this place when they go to Oahu, and it is worthwhile. The staff are friendly, and great learning about each of the polynesian islands. In my opinion, the place is just too commercial and price of admission is somewhat high. I think coming here once is probably enough.
(3)Dan K.
I went a few years ago and had an ok time. The food was ok. The performance was just ok. It was all so overpriced. When I was on Oahu this time, I decided to skip for the simple fact that I won't support a business that is funding the Mormon's university. Yes, the Mormon church owns this center..and it funds the educations of their students. And that church helped fund Prop 8..banning gay marriage in California. That goes against the Hawaiian ideas of love and peace. So, this makes them a fake in my mind.
(1)Regina B.
I have never been to a place like this before. It's like an interactive history museum. We took a guided tour of the seven different Polynesian villages, saw the canoe pageant and went to the Ali'i Luau and Horizons night show. My boyfriend and I were staying in Waikiki; we got an early start and drove over to Laie and got there a little over an hour before the PCC opened. We relaxed on the beach until they opened :) We ate lunch and dinner there. We probably gained at least 5 pounds each! Just a beautiful well kept place, and its something like 43 acres!? Great place to come if you're visiting for the first time or if you have kids! Very educational and fun.
(5)Mary T.
Like I mentioned earlier, I did everything twice the last time I was in HI, and this was yet another place I paid two visits. I had a great time the first time, with my sister and her family. We bought the VIP package, so we got to explore everything, sat in the better section at the luau, and came home with some gifts. The second time I went, we had an okay table and didn't get to do as much, but it was just as fun. I had the biggest crush on one of the luau guys because he looked just like Ray Ramano....and I LOVE Ray...hello? Everybody loves Raymond. I had to post up the pic we took with him. It was the one we had to buy from the venue. He was a dancer and he was one of the hot men tossing the hot fire. I can't believe it was 5 years ago. Good times.
(4)Linh L.
As always, my husband and I get VIP parking because he's in a wheelchair. There were tons to do! We only made it to 2 island presentations, Samoa and New Zealand. Samoa being my favorite. We got there right when they opened. We chose to sit at the end closest to the entrance for the canoe pageant. By the time we got there, no more seats were available. Seating was just a long cement bench thing that was a couple levels. They don't have a disabled only seating area. I ended up sitting on his lap and was fine. The "islands" are located on either sides of the lagoon and are connected by bridges. Some of those bridges are STEEEEEEP! I tried to help him down one and almost ended up rolling down as well. Beware. We watched the IMAX: Coral Reef show. It was awesome. We were seated towards the bottom, so the fishies were right in front of our faces. I think my husband may have had a minor headache in the beginning from being so close. We had the regular luau. we had seating in the second tier from the bottom. We are always placed right near the entrance. Can be good or bad. The food was located at the top tier, there was enough room for him to get his own food, but I held his plate as well as mine going back downhill. The show was awesome. But we were sooo exhausted, I may have blinked for longer than a couple seconds. Our seating was great, slightly off-right to the center and right at the top of the premium seats. We were able to see everything. It was an exhausting and amazing experience!
(4)Jennifer T.
We were too busy sun bathing for most of the day; so, we didn't get here soon enough to catch anything but the buffet and the show. The food and show was definitely not worth the money we paid. Maybe we should've came earlier to check out the exhibits.
(3)Vipin M.
This was highlight of our Hawaii Trip. It was equal fun for adults and kids. We got free lunch/dinner and dance package. Does not get better than that! Our bus guide - cousin (as they all call themselves) was awesome! Made all the difference. Told us all about Samoa and culture. We ended up taking guided tour with him and it was worth every penny. Do not hesitate to take that option but wait until you get to the door to take it (if you book that in advance, you pay more!). Dance show in the evening was cherry on the cake. Awesome setting, story and dances.
(5)Bob C.
Took my parents out to HI for a quick 4 day trip. I am an airline employee (pilot) and have been to HI and Honolulu many times. Dad had never been and my step-mom had been once before. They are in their late 70s. We did the PCC on a week day in September. Not overly crowed but well attended to fullish. Weather was great for being outside. Transportation. Took their bus, picked us up in front of our hotel. Nice, clean modern motorcoach. Had two of their guys on board giving a history lesson on the PCC and the islands, what to expect, what to do. Tried a bit of a comedy routine, quickly failed. Got the feeling/idea that if you had been on the bus in the 1970's you would have heard the same routine.... Trip back in the evening was quite, played a cd/dvd of local music. Food. Lunch- Mass quantities at the lunch buffet, ok but not anything to get excited about. Jammed in shoulder to shoulder at the long tables. Didn't leave hungry but didn't leave impressed either. Dinner- Elected not to do the luau as we had one planed later in the week. Somewhat better selection of food items served inside at a table that seated 7 or so. Had dinner with a family from the San Diego area. Nice conversation with them. Higher end food items (seafood, beef) were brought out slowly and were mobbed when set on the buffet, I ended up just filling a plate and taking back for the 3 of us. Nothing special, just food. Tour. Sorry to say this is where the whole thing started to fall apart for us. Our tour guide was a nice, young girl from Tahiti, native language was french. Spoke english well enough, slight accent but not distracting. It was not distracting because she never spoke above a low conversational tone. Unless you were standing right beside her, you couldn't hear a thing she said. Very difficult for 18-20 people to be standing beside one person at the same time. Many request for her to speak up or say again. By the end of the tour of the villages the group had dwindled down to about 8 of us, the others had given up and gone on their own or joined other groups. She didn't seem to know much about the other cultures in the Polynesian island groups having to read the info posted at the sites or ask the "villagers" at the sites to answer the questions. The different shows at the Polynesian villages...2 were ok, the rest felt like they were going through the motions and getting you out as quick as they could. Very basic, superficial information given, many bad jokes and attempts at humor. I guess the best way I would describe the events would be like this; The whole thing has been done over and over for years, each generation of actors distills the info and script down just a touch and passes it on. Maybe in the 70's when the "Brady Bunch" visited the PCC the script and acting was fresh but now it feels stale, rushed and vacant. Just going through the motions for another group of tourist who don't know any better. I would be willing to bet your parents or grand-parents got the same show years ago when they visited the PCC. Sorry, I wish I had a better report. Ha-Breath of Life HA! made you sit through 2 hours of (really) loud music and dancing. Very much like the music and dancing you just saw all afternoon. The fire dance towards the end was very well done and dramatic and worth seeing. They could have done just that part and I would have been happy. Again, the show dragged on, and I got the show's premiss, birth, growth, love, attack by another tribe, death, love and marriage, birth again, the circle of life, hakuna matata, (haven't I seen this some where else before?) by the end of the day I was too disappointed/tired to enjoy the show. Overall, for the expense and time this takes, do something else and have some fun.
(2)Danette A.
We purchased the Ambassador & Prime Dining package on the website prior to our visit. Unfortunately I selected the wrong Hilton hotel so the bus and I spent a half hour trying to figure out what was wrong. The person on the phone told me I needed to reschedule, but that wasn't possible as we were only on Oahu a couple of days. We ended up paying $40 for a taxi to catch up to the bus, missing the first two stops. Disappointing but it worked out. The Circle Island stops were okay, short photo opportunities except one longer shopping break at the Dole Plantation. Once we arrived at PCC we were escorted around by Spencer. It seemed like we missed a lot of chances to participate in activities as we saw other groups with crafts and flowers around the complex. Prime dining was good. We did not venture to the other side to see what was offered there. The show was really good. We were in the second row and the story line, dancing, and fire knife dancing were spectacular to see. If we were to return I think we would skip the guided tour and choose individual activities. I would also skip the Circle Island option in favor of driving.
(3)marilyn h.
Spent the whole day here, would definitely come back and do it again! Made it in time for the boat parade, which was incredibly awesome. Tahitian women are amazing. After taking my upper division course on Anthropology of Pacific Islands I fell in love with Aotearoa, so it was awesome getting a glimpse of their culture like that. And their hakas, rawr. In regards to activity, I went to all but two. DEFINITELY go to the Samoan one, that guy is hilarious and so entertaining. The Tonga one was fun as well, with the drums and some in seat dancing. Go to Aotearoa because it's pretty much amazing, and because I'm biased. Tahiti wasn't as entertaining as I hoped after watching the boat parade. Got a free buffet for their spring promotion and it was delicious, free food! Took a free boat ride when luaus and dinners were going on, and PCC was calm and peaceful, it was utterly beautiful. And they had a show at the end of the day. I loved PCC because everyone was very genuine, natural, and pure about their culture, as exposed to glitzy luaus. I enjoyed being a part of different polynesian cultures with their beautiful music and dance. I just had a worthwhile experience. Exhausted at the end of the day so I slept great! PCC makes me want to live in Hawai'i and hang out with the locals.
(5)Phoebe K.
I live in Laie, so many of my friends work in the Polynesian Culture Center (PCC). I've worked in there as well. The place is absolutely beautiful. The name definitely does say it all. PCC will not only give you the information on Polynesian culture but they make everything fun! The people are nice and kind, the villages are funny and does hands-on activities, and there's just many things to do! From canoes rides to the night show (BY THE WAY, they have a new one now! They're worked very hard on it, and it is very fascinating!) you will find by the end of the day that the money is worth it! On Halloween, they put a little "haunted ride" (I think it was free) where the canoe ride turns into a "haunted ride" . It is thrilling and the effects are great! I have to say the workers aren't "professionals" yet (since they hire fresh college students as well as high school students..Like my friends) but I guarantee your experience at PCC will give you plenty of wonderful memories to remember! You will love the atmosphere PCC gives.
(4)Michelle L.
This place should really be called the Mormonesian Fundraising Center. It's full of commercialized, fake displays, the activities are lacking and a lot of them you have to pay extra for, even though you've already paid a HEFTY price to get in ($90 per person for admission with 1 show and luau), the gift shops were full of China and Phillipine-made goods that were made from cheap plastic and machine-manufactured (the few local artist pieces they had were WAY overpriced, probably because of the large cut that the center takes from the artist) the luau food wasn't that great, not much selection and the pork tastes like it was from another luau (all the food was served in buffet containers and the roast pig on display, covered with astroturf btw, wasn't carved for you like it should have been). Further, I wonder why you almost never hear about a very important part of the Polynesian tradition of worshiping the tiki gods etc... hmmm I guess it's BLASPHEMY! Also the Hawaiian version of moonshine? Nope. This place is far from authentic and the mormons have really edited and censored the genuine Hawaiian and Polynesian culture. I feel sorry that the Hawaiian natives can't have their own uncensored cultural center where they can really talk about their history and traditions, and not have to raise money for another lavish mormon temple where people can't even visit the inside. My husband and I call it the Mormonesian Bullsh!t Center. Waste of time and MONEY.
(1)Geno H.
PCC is very authentic and educational. The key staff members who speak and perform at the cultural exhibits in the different "villages" are passionate and effective. The Aotearoa (New Zeland) exhibit is very powerful and spiritual. Samoa is fun and comical. The Hawaii exhibit was kind of whiney and condescending "i bet you didn't know this... (because THEY don't want you to know." style (in my opinion). I couldn't help but think of the depths of horrors so many other nations and races have suffered in comparison. Anyway, there is so much to learn and experience at the PCC. Don't miss the river pageant. Each Polynesian culture is represented on a float. I usually recommend the Gateway buffet because its the same food as a Luau and you can get up and get more or try something else; however, this last time I felt like I was fighting for bags of rice in a poverty stricken nation. When you go to a luau at the PCC, you pay for the step up in ambiance. There won't be fire twirling or Tahiti hip shaking (see Ha: Breath of Life for that) just a lei greeting, traditional singing and hula after a "royal court" procession. Very nice and worth the upgrade, just know that's what the difference actually is. The Gateway buffet is only food, no entertainment. I wouldn't tell anyone that the PCC is "the best luau in Hawaii;" however, the PCC & "Ha: Breath of Life" combination (with the dinner of your choice) will be a most interesting day full of beautiful Polynesian cultural education.
(4)Aspen Z.
Okay, here's the thing. The Luau was a glorified cafeteria, there was no authentic experience here. I would not recommend it. Not only was it expensive but it was hollow and it made all of us in a group of eight feel like fat white tourists being rolled for our money. However, the entertainment show Ha: Breath of Life was cheesy but well performed and the dances and fire show was impressive. A local said to go see the Paradise Cove Luau instead and we didn't listen and I'm sad. If we'd gone here during the day maybe it would've been cool, but it wasn't for me. If you like authentic experiences and down to earth people, and not getting your wallet raped this isn't for you. Oh, and after you pay almost $100 for mediocre food and a good show, you still have to pay $8 for parking.
(1)Shane S.
I was promised prime rib, I got chicken and rice. I guess that's what you get for a hundred dollars. Biggest waste of five hours, I would like those back. Don't go!
(1)Alex R.
The Polynesian Cultural Center was a very pleasant surprise. Overall I had a really great time; our tour guide was funny and a great teacher, and everyone else had the same aloha spirit and sense of humor. You don't have to be a history buff to enjoy learning about the different islands featured in the center. The luau was fun, although I wouldn't pay the $35 for the food if it was even served to me. The only annoyance was the constant bombardment of items... for a small fee. I understand profitability is everything but it got very annoying. Overall, long day very well spent.
(4)Megan W.
I can only speak for the general admission, but my husband and I had a great time. We arrived shortly after 12:00 which allowed us to see the smaller shows at every location in a logical route. The parade of canoes was worth seeing. The grounds were really well kept. Plus, it appeared to be a great learning experience for children. There were many activities and crafts geared toward younger children. Everything began to shut down around 5:00, because people were settling in for their dinners and the big show. Be warned that the general entrance fee for an adult was $50.
(4)windycity g.
We showed up around 4pm thinking even though we heard you can spend the whole day there. We didn't have enough time to see all of the shows at each island or experience each island but I think it would be far too much for a full day. Maybe if you have a family but for newlyweds it wasn't as enjoyable as surfing, massages, horseback riding, etc. -Over priced for what you get. -Fun little lesson on hula dancing where everyone in the audience was instructed to join in. -Food is not good even in the prime dining package. Only foods I enjoyed were the crab legs, taro (purple) bread rolls, friend rice (surprisingly very flavorful) and the sushi was also enjoyable (surprisingly). -Was very disappointed that we paid for the second to highest package for food and show but did not get Lei'd with a proper flower lei, but instead with a shell lei that were just handed to us. In addition we weren't allowed to watch the Luau with the Prime dining package which we did because I don't eat meat so the Luau food options weren't up my alley. This was pretty ridiculous to me, especially that we were turned down when we asked if we could go in. -Night time performance of Ha Breath of Life (the dances/regions/fire) are worth seeing once. -Too much solicitation for BYU/The Mormon Church. Especially the fact that they try to trick you into going on a bus tour to their temple and campus when it is made to seem like part of the actual Hawaiian culture. I'd recommend going once and doing the luau package if you like meat, otherwise the prime dining is the best option for vegetarian/fish eaters.
(3)