Polynesian Cultural Center

Good: It was by far one of the highlights of our entire trip. You must visit the PCC if you are on O'ahu!. more

When tourist think of old Hawaii, this is the place they want to see. It is a long drive and a bit pricey but should definitely satisfy new tourists thirst to see the different cultures. There are lots to do, different games to play, things to see. You can see the huts made of grass and how the people lived. You can also watch the Imax film, watch the fire dancer. But what I highly recommend is the canoe ride. As you ride the canoe, you learn about the different villages and you feel as if you are back there in a different time. Although not something a local would do often or even once a year, it is perfect for the tourist. more

When tourist think of old Hawiai, this is the place they want to see. It is a long drive and a bit pricey but should definitely satisfy new tourists thirst to see the different cultures. There are lots to do, different games to play, things to see. You can see the huts made of grass and how the people lived. You can also watch the Imax film, watch the fire dancer. But what I highly recommend is the canoe ride. As you ride the canoe, you learn about the different villages and you feel as if you are back there in a different time. Although not something a local would do often or even once a year, it is perfect for the tourist. more

If your into culture and these islands then its kind of exciting. The entire thing is in conection with the mormon university (bringham young university) and all the employees are students of the university or alumni. The coconut guy is interesting. The shows are someone interesting and fun. However, the drive is long and the price is steep and not be worth the effort when you can go to a beach for free. more

The Polynesian Cultural Center is a 42-acre park that offers more exciting and educational family activities than most major theme partks. The center includes 7 different native villages filled with a full day of games and activities like painted island tattoos, Samoan fire making and Tongan drumming. You can even take a canoe tour and catch an IMAX movie. Some tours include meals. more

This is one of the top tourist attractions in Hawaii and is definitely worth the drive out to the center. Sign up for a guided tour for a little extra money or walk around on your own from village to village to see all of the demonstrations about authentic Polynesian culture/life. They offer instruction and demonstrations that are entertaining and fun about the food, games, dance, and way of life for different Polynesian cultures/islands. They have multiple things to interest everyone -- a movie theatre you can watch a featured film at, go on a canoe ride through the center’s villages, a lot of little shops for authentic souvenirs, yummy food from various restaurants and snack shops and one of the top rated luaus around. Make sure you catch the canoe parade- sit where the canal intersects so you can watch the dancers on the water a little longer. The show at night can’t be beat – they have the best dancing/entertainment around. Make sure you get to the Samoa show – it’s hilarious. more

As with most tourist attractions in Hawaii, locals seem to go 1) as an elementary school student on a field trip; or 2) when friends or family from the mainland visit and you’re the tour guide. Otherwise we steer clear of these tourist traps. Polynesian Cultural Center’s location out in Laie (a good hour or more drive from Waikiki, worse if there’s traffic) makes it a genuine journey for most. Still, the educational enlightenment of seeing the various cultures is well worth the drive and cost of admission. The core of the park is the replication of Polynesian villages complete with villagers who offer scheduled presentations throughout the day, along with informal mingling with visitors. My favorite memory was the coconut husking demonstration. There is also an IMAX theatre and a special dinner show. Tip: research the various ticket packages ahead of time -- be sure to balance the size of the package with the amount of time you intend on spending. There’s quite a bit to see and do. more

Like most local people who live in Hawaii I’ve visited the Polynesian Cultural center a few times many years ago. I’ve never really liked the place all that much. It’s mainly for tourists and stuff. The only things that I found remotely interesting was the hula dancing and fire dancing performances but that’s about it. more

The Polynesian cultural center is one of the places one must visit while visiting Hawaii. It is very educational and informative. It is going to be mostly a whole day affair since there are various attractions within the center itself. Try to watch the video, and see the shows being held in the area. This place is highly recommended and worth the trip. more

Whenever I have friends visiting from the mainland, I almost always take them to the Polynesian Cultural Center. It should be a destination for all tourists visiting Hawaii. Be prepared to spend a day or at least half a day there, as the Center is filled with lots of information on Hawaiian (also, Tongan, Samoan, etc.) culture and amazing sights. Entrance fee is about $30, which is admittedly a bit pricey; however, if you spend a long time there and catch the amazing shows, it is well worth it. Some shows you definitely should not miss are the hilarious tree-climbing show (where performers climb trees at amazing speeds and joke hilariously with Japanese tourists), the amazing flamethrower show (where performers do all sorts of tricks while spinning sticks with the ends on fire), and the marvelous canoe-pageant (complete with hula, singing, etc.). The Center also houses some Hawaiian artifacts and aesthetically-pleasing replicas, which provide loads of picture-taking opportunities. more

I tell everyone who visits Hawaii to go here with the family. It's a park built to educate people about the many different Polynesian cultures. Each culture has their own "village" to visit and each village has a show along with demonstrations and activities. There's also a man-made river that runs through the center in which they have dance shows on floats. Don't miss the IMAX movie as well. It's a great time for the whole family. You won't even realize you're being educated while having a blast. more

The Polynesian Cultural Center is a great place to go to learn about the different island cultures of the Pacific. The students who attend BYU work at the park to pay for their tuition. Most of the students are from these island groups. People of all ages love it. Even my 1 yr old likes the dancing. They have an IMAX there which is always showing something relative to the islands. I recommend going right when they open at 12:00 and staying for the evening show. I DON'T recommend buying the dinner for an additional $12 or more depending on if you choose the American or Luau buffet. The food is BAD (or at least not good) & there is NO caffeine or alcohol served at PCC because it is Mormon. You can leave the park & walk outside to McDonald's or next door to some hole in the wall good grinds places to eat for a lot less money and be back in plenty of time for the 7:30pm theater style hula show. The entertainment is top notch & the days activities are really interesting and fun. Well worth the cost! Look for discount coupons in magazines in Waikiki. As a resident of HI I have an annual pass & enjoy going several times a year. more