Polynesian Cultural Center

The Polynesian Cultural Center is a captivating destination for visitors to Hawaii. We secured tickets with transportation, which took approximately an hour to reach. The diverse villages showcasing the cultures of Hawaii, Fiji, and Samoa are highly inviting. The intricate structures and the numerous performances offered are truly remarkable. The ambiance is exceptional. The sole drawback of this attraction is the necessity of multiple days to explore its entirety. I opted for a guided tour, which proved to be both informative and enjoyable. The tour guides led us to popular shows and engaged us in various games. The staff’s warm hospitality ensured our comfort throughout our visit. While a single day may not suffice to experience all that the center has to offer, the culinary delights at the luau were exceptional. The Breath of Life show concluded our trip on a high note. If you find yourself in Hawaii, I highly recommend booking your tickets to the Polynesian Cultural Center.

I visited this place exactly 22 years ago & it made such a lasting impression on me I just had to share the experience with my husband & kids. We all had a fantastic day! I feel like this is a must when visiting the island. Note: DO NOT MISS THEIR SHOW!! We went to the Ha Breath of Life show & it's one of the most underrated amazing shows we've ever experienced! Phenomenal! Plenty of places to eat right outside of the center.

Unforgettable experience! We stayed from the time it opened until it closed. Staff was friendly, knowledgeable, helpful, and attentive. The tour guide was knowledgeable and planned the perfect tour for us. Highly recommend the super ambassador package - but to wait to add the upgrade the same day of your visit as you get a discount. Super clean place with a special mission - to keep culture alive while supporting educational careers for young adults with a promising future.

This place is awesome! It's like Polynesian Disneyland. The shows and food are top notch. I love that it's something educational to do while on vacation. We loved learning about the different Polynesian cultures and now have more understanding and appreciation for the native people. It's fantastic that a large portion of the money we paid for the tickets goes toward the education of the Polynesian students going to the University here. I highly recommend going for the super ambassador tickets if you want great seating at the shows but it's not necessary. It's a wonderful family tradition to go here.

Absolutely Unforgettable Experience! The Polynesian Cultural Center is a must-visit when in Hawaii! From the moment we arrived, we were immersed in the rich traditions and hospitality of Polynesian culture. Our tour guide, Stella, was fantastic—so knowledgeable, friendly, and made the experience even more enjoyable. The luau was hands down the best on Oahu, with incredible performances, stunning costumes, and an authentic feast that was absolutely delicious. The variety of activities, cultural exhibits, and live entertainment made the entire day unforgettable. If you're visiting Hawaii, do not miss this place! The food, the people, and the experience are truly five-star worthy. Highly recommend!

Honestly, this needs to be on your list of place's to visit if you come to Hawaii! First of all, some of the money goes to scholarships for the staff from other islands to go you university! Awesome! Lots to see and learn, was an eye opener. Great food, experience's and the staff were all super friendly and helpful!!! Food and shopping is good too.

A must do if you're visiting Oahu! We did the package that included a tour guide, Luau and evening show and it was awesome but also a lot to do in one day. Keep that in mind if you have younger kids, it can be a lot going pretty much from 12pm-9pm. Our tour guide Exel did a great job and was super knowledgeable. He made it a lot of fun and seemed to genuinely love his job and teaching us about the different islands. Be sure to taste the Tahitian Coconut Bread and get there on time for the opening ceremony - it's a real treat!

Absolutely beautiful. Had dinner at the luau in Hale Aloha and it was fascinating. There is a dance that tells a wonderful story and the food is certainly amazing. They show you how they make the traditional pork and the process of it. The center also offers a store and small museum area dedicated to the manufacture of ukuleles. The cultures are displayed beautifully in such a respectful and welcoming manner, the tour guides are from one of them and they have guided tours in lots of languages available.

The Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC) is a great way to spend the day. You can either do a self guided tour or have a guided one. We went with the guided option as our guide knew what to go to and when to make our visit the most efficient. I believe we saw more than we would have had we done a self tour. Good thing your ticket covers three days so you can come back and do more of the activities. Basically it takes far more time than you could do in a one day to see and do all the activities in each of the villages, learning about the culture and playing the games. The PCC makes learning the history and cultures of the Polynesian islands fun. It's very interactive. Much and more of the banter and 'lessons' from other luau's are woven into the islands activities. After an afternoon of fun activities it was time for the luau. It is a typical luau with all the food you would customarily find. I may have been a little extra hungry but the Kalua pig that was cooked all day in the Imu (ground oven) was spectacular. I've attended many luau's on island and elsewhere and I absolutely loved this pig with its succulent perfectly seasoned flavor. It was also fun watching them take the pig out of the ground oven. After the feast we attended the performance of Ha, Breathe of Life. It was a great portrayal of the life of a Polynesian boy weaving in more cultural lessons. It ends with fire knife dancers. They were great, and a pretty cool thing was they had a female fire knife dancer. Having seen many fire knife dancers over the years, I have never seen a female one. And she was awesome, as good as any male I've seen. So you can go to any old 3 hour luau, they are all very similar...I could about recite all the jokes... OR.... pay a little more per person and spend a wonderful 8 hours learning, having fun, eating and watching a great show.

This is a staple for this island. It is made for the whole family and everyone always enjoys it. I have been a couple times now and have learned something new every time. Make sure you make time to go at least once in your time here. Your heart will leave full and with a new respect for this land and those that call it home.

I've always love coming here because it gives you a sense of what the islands of Polynesia is about, with the students giving you their best in accommodating all questions and being very informative about all aspects of their culture & being involved in their choice of study. It is also nice to know that ticket sales help the students in their endeavor to learn & practice their chosen line or degree not just in theory but also in actual hands on interaction with everyone who comes here. I highly recommend coming here and supporting them, helping build a sense of culture and community as you enjoy the Islands.

Straight out 5/5 ! The island was absolutely beautiful and the shows were amazing to see. I learned a lot about Hawaiin culture. My favorite class was the wedding class where you learned some of the dances. It was very interesting. As for the buffet, there were so many options to choose from. I definitely filled myself up. There was also a nice promotion on Groupon, so definitely look into it for a great experience.

The story and lessons that you will get from the Polynesians. The way they live and honor their family. They are really some beautiful people such as their personality. They put on shows and they give demonstrations of climbing trees for coconuts and what they make from the leaves as you really begin to grasp their culture. There will also be areas where you can participate in things such as sphere throwing, hula dancing and receiving a tribal tattoo that last a couple days. Now, I could give five stars but some of the food was not for me.

This review is solely on the nighttime paddle boarding they offer after hours at the PCC. We had an awesome guide. They were only 4 in our party. We had a great time! It was super safe if you fell in it was only waist deep and you never had to worry about any scary sea life! Bc it was done in the parks water canals. We didn't have to contend with any waves in the open ocean. So much easier! Your board has lights underneath and so you can't ever be lost. And the guide takes so many pictures! This was a fun experience:)

We had gone to PCC about 28 years ago but couldn't really remember much other than visiting the different villages. This time, we visited the villages and had great seats at the luau. But the best part was the HA: Breath of Life show, it was amazing and to think I was tired after the luau and almost said "Let's Go". Better than any show I've ever seen and what's more amazing is that most of the staff are university students just trying to make some money to go towards their tuition. The whole day was so amazing that we came back for a second day! We really didn't want to do anything too touristy but trust me, you gotta go here. Even the drive here from Waikiki was amazing.

Not what I expected...expected to be more cultural, not as touristy...more family friendly. We still had a lot of fun here. It still has lot of history and it was great to learn. The shows were entertaining to watch and you could spend several hours there. Be prepared. There's activities for people to try.

We booked this tour online for our Christmas holiday. The tour bus picked us up from a hotel when we arrived in Honolulu and dropped us off around noon and picked us up at 9 PM. The facility is beautiful, clean, and all the staff are friendly and polite. We were given a private guide for a tour for our family of four and she was a university student from Samoa, who was so helpful and informative. We were so impressed by all the performances and really enjoyed ourselves. The food in the market place is delicious, but expensive and the souvenirs are also expensive. They even charge you 60 cents for a bag after purchasing items from stores. The luau was nice, but the food was cold. I would visit again, but for a shorter duration.

Review of Ali'i Lu'au Buffet and Ha: Breath of Life--Worth it, worth it, worth it. 10/10 would experience this again without hesitation. Everything from the lu'au to the Breath of Life was excellently executed. All the lu'au food was delicious and authentic. We even got to see them prepare and take out the roasted pig. The staff is very attentive and all the performers did such an amazing job at the lu'au. It's safe to say we enjoyed every bit of the lu'au (getting lei'd, the food was great, and the performances were amazing/choreographed so well). Ha: Breath of Life is 500000% worth your money and time. If you've never been, this is your sign. We splurged a bit on better seats and it was worth every penny. The storyline, the choreography, all of it was so well-executed. I was invested from the beginning til the end. Don't take my word for it-- go experience all of this and see for yourself!

Full disclosure to those who don't know, before you purchase tickets, this cultural center is owned by the Mormon temple, and they have students from the BYU Campus working there. The students are all polite and nice! However, when we purchased the tickets through a vendor, the ownership of the PCC was not disclosed to us. Nor is it on the brochure? This time it takes to tour the whole grounds is approximately 5 hours long of self guided tours, wandering through Polynesian culture, explanations, shows, demonstrations, and the lovely representation of the different islands. We had the silver seating package, which came with the gateway buffet. The buffet itself was fantastic! If you love seafood, the quality of the seafood is stellar! Fresh tuna, tableside appetizer service, drinks, ice cream bar, dole whip, coffee! The show was amazing and the dancers performed extremely well. Loved the explanation and breath of life show! Would've like a better view since we were seated completely on the side.

The Polynesian Cultural Center Honolulu Hawaii Ticketing: Take the "Super Ambassador" tour... you will be greeted by a personal guide, taken to a private bungalow and offered water and snacks while you wait for the tour to begin. Once the tour begins you'll be escorted to several Polynesians countries; Tongan, Hawaii, Māori, Samoan, Tahitian, Fijian. Reservations: You can plan your experience online at www.polynesia.com and www.habreathoflife.com. Plan on an all day adventure, being immersed in Polynesian culture. Your tour will begin with lectures, cultural events specific to each island nation and activities... a total cultural experience! Experience: Once you've finished the island nation tour you're escorted to a full blown "traditional Luau" the food is plentiful exotic and delicious (buffet style). I loved that table are feed in an orderly manner to prevent bottle necks however you are welcome to return as many times as you like. Note: This whole experience is operated by university students, the servers, escorts, performers, and staff. The proceeds all go to their education i.e room, board, books etc. "unbelievable "!!!

Best comprehensive luau experience on island. Only thing that could have made it better was a Mai Tai. Be warned - it is a LONG day and you will definitely not see everything in one trip.

I absolutely loved my experience here and only wish I had more time to see everything! I purchased the super ambassador VIP package which I recommend since you get your own tour guide. I will say, I did wish the tour guide asked us which places we wanted to see/things we wanted to do the most. It was great because they told us when and where to go see the different presentations. That package also gives you entry to the luau. Although it's a buffet luau the food was still amazing and I think slightly better than the other food option, if you can splurge on the VIP tickets! Ha the breath of fire was a great show and I recommend to anyone!

The Polynesian Cultural Center is like a mini-theme park in the North Shore of Oahu with different areas representing different islands like Hawaii, Samoa, Tahiti, Fiji, and more. Some highlights include this cool canoe ride exploring the different "islands." Another cool aspect is the Passport to Polynesia where you can collect four or more stamps to redeem a free kids souvenir prize, free kid's Dole Whip (with the purchase of an adult size Dole Whip for $6), and/or 15% savings online at the Hawaii store. First, bring your passport to Goo's Plantation store in the Hukilau Marketplace to get the final stamp and then feel free to get your Dole Whip treat. It was so much fun to do as a family lolol. Also, the ticket we got is good for three days, so we will definitely be going back!

My family truly enjoyed visiting the cultural center. They were able to experience the various cultures around the islands, the food at the evening feast and the guide was helpful and knowledgeable.

We went here in 2021 and only did the villages, which was great as attested by my 5 star review. In 2024, we returned and did the villages again, this time adding the buffet and the show at night. I not only think the Polynesian Cultural Center is a 5 star experience, it is a 10 on 5 point scale. If you go, you will not be disappointed. You can tour villages from six of the islands of Polynesia: Fiji, Tahiti, Samoa, Hawaii, Tonga, and Aotearoa. Each has demonstrations and information about culture, way of life, food, and games. Each stop also has a presentation of some kind to demonstrate some meaningful cultural activity. It all is very fascinating and one can easily spend an entire day just on a few villages. We spent almost 3 hours just on Hawaii and did not do everything. In 2024, we added the buffet to our experience. We did not do the Lua, but the buffet. They two are different. The buffet was huge with stations for seafood, chicken, pork and beef, vegetables, salad, and dessert. The food was good. Some things were better than others, of course, but overall it was a good buffet and we enjoyed it. Of course we overate (especially shrimp). Then the show. Wow. We added the show in 2024 and I highly recommend it. It started at 7:30 and went until 8:45. The fire juggling at the end is worth the price admission alone. It was beyond impressive. The whole show was not nothing short of spectacular and told a story of a boy who reaches manhood. The dancers do such a great job. Very entertaining. The entire package is not inexpensive, but it is worth the money. Plus you can return for free to do the villages within 3 days of your original entry. To me, a trip to Oahu would not be complete with a stop at the Polynesian Cultural Center.

All guest was very nice. This place is stroller friendly. My twins loved the canoe ride. I recommend coming right when it opens to experience all the activities before dinner. My family purchased the buffet. The buffet is the reason why I'm giving my experience a 4 star and not a 5 start. Staff was very good with accommodating our needs of my twins asking us if there is anything we needed for them. The food at the buffet was good. A lot of variety of dishes for everyone. The raw fish was delicious. The char siu pork rib, aha whole fish, and the whole roasted chicken were too dry for my liking. The fried shrimp with garlic aoili was my favorite dish. Lastly, the Breath of Life was spectacular. Great story line covering all the island cultures, energetic, funny, and exciting fire show.

Amazing place to visit. So many great cultural here at the Polynesian cultural center. The scenery/the people and the shows are incredible. It's worth the trip. I'm so happy for the opportunity.

I've passed by here several times over the years. Today, was the first time my wife wanted to stop by. It was neat to walk around and learn about the center. Tourist trap? Yes, but it was still interesting. We didn't eat here nor did we see the show/Luau. But it was fun walking around.

Beautiful place, people and knowledge. Great stories about history. Learned a lot while on the boat tour. It was truly amazing walking around and seeing different cultures. Making different items and tasting foods. Need a whole day for this and unfortunately we only had 3 hours! Def a must

Update on my review- from one to three I just wanted to sincerely thank Colleen Pistorius from Guest Relations who followed up on my complaint and the concerns we endured at their show Ha: Breath of life. Although this will never fully make up for what happened; she did what she could. Again, Mahalo Nui Loa to Colleen, Neil PCC tour guide and Nanasi usher/rep at Ha show.

The Polynesian Cultural Center is such a cool place!!! It's like bringing Moana to real life. I got to learn so much about all of Polynesia: Fiji, Aotearoa, Hawaii, Samoa, Tahiti, Tonga, and others. Each island has their own section and it's soooo cool. So for example, in the Fiji section, they have actual Fijians working there in their traditional attire and teaching us how to make different recipes (we made a staple coconut bread) and how to make coconut oil direct from a coconut. It's extremely hands on. In the Tahiti section, we did a luau. You can literally spend all day here and still not do everything! Fun fact: This place is run by Mormons. Brigham Young University (based in Utah) has a Hawaii campus. Students from the Polynesian islands are offered full scholarships to attend BYU in exchange for working part time at the Polynesian Cultural Center. Take the time to speak with the staff, you'll learn some really cool things. Also, I had such a great time that I'm actually trying to plan a trip to Fiji next year!

The Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC) beautifully captures the spirit of unity and shared purpose, embracing the idea that while each culture is unique, we are all connected in a larger, meaningful way. The PCC brings together the traditions of six Polynesian cultures--Tahiti, Māori, Hawaii, Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga--offering visitors the chance to celebrate the distinct customs, values, and arts of each group while recognizing the common bonds that unite us. The luau is an incredible highlight, blending delicious, authentic food with captivating historical elements. The meal includes traditional Hawaiian dishes, and watching the ceremonial unearthing of the roasted pig, cooked in an underground imu, is both fascinating and delicious. The final show is a breathtaking display of storytelling through song, dance, and drama, capturing the heart and soul of Polynesian heritage. It's an awe-inspiring performance that reminds everyone of our shared humanity.

There is not a better place to learn about all of the cultures that make up the Polynesian Islands. Everything is run by the students and their energy is infectious.. We opted for the package that included the Buffett. What a spread it was. It was the best food I had the entire trip. There is a Marketplace attached with some of the best prices we found on Hawaiian Souvenirs. We then attended the show called "The Breath of Life." It was a loud exciting show again showing the individual islands personalities. This show also features the BYU students. I would say don't miss it when on Oahu

Always a great experience! Been here twice. amazing performers , learned so much. All the islands were amazing...some highlights are Kap andTonga drummer (rolled over laughing!)

The Polynesian Cultural Centre (PCC) can be a little expensive depending on which package you get, but COMPLETELY worth the splurge, as it is a full day experience (about 11-12 hours worth of cultural fun and learning)! I purchased the Aliʻi Lūʻau Package ($194.95), and had a wonderful time. This package includes: 1) A guided group tour through the 6 island villages - the tour guide will take you to what he/she thinks the highlights of each of the "islands" are (which can include but not limited to island themed shows, hands on activities, and a canoe ride) 2) Dinner with live entertainment at the Alii Luau buffet, which includes a flower lei upon arrival, pineapple smoothie, and free digital photo (photo package can be purchased) 3) Gold level seating at the "HA: Breath of Life" evening show (A MUST SEE) 4) Free 3-day pass to revisit the island villages (without the evening show and luau dinner). One day is definitely not enough to see everything at the PCC, so if you have time, and a car, it's worth going back to the PCC to visit places and take part in activities of interests to you that may have been skipped during the guided tour. For those that do not have a car, you can purchase a round trip motor coach shuttle service from Waikiki to the PCC for an additional $27. The motor coach will drive through the island's most scenic route narrated by a local guide.

Wondering what to do for your next full day off? Why not visit Polynesian Cultural Center and immerse yourself in the vibrant culture and history of Polynesia. This place will get you excited as you experience the different island cultures, history, agriculture, and the fire dance. You can choose to explore by yourself or join the interactive games such as spear throwing, hula dancing, fishing, canoe ride, and much more. You can visit Polynesian Cultural Center in Laie. It is open from 12:30 to 9:00 pm except on Wednesday and Sunday. They offer multiple packages including the Super Ambassador, Island of Polynesia, Alii Luau, Gateway Buffet and the Island of Polynesia & Ha, Breathe of Life Packages. The price ranges from $89.95 to $289.95 depending on the package you select. Don't forget to remind them that you're a Kamaaina for that additional discount. I highly recommend the Ha Breathe of Life show. It's one of the best show that I've seen telling a story and the culture in the most breathtaking, beautiful and will keep you in awe. The performers were incredibly and amazingly talented. Thank you Polynesian Cultural Center. I'll definitely come back again and again.

We had the good time ever at the Polynesian Cultural Center . It was a day filled with activities, food tasting, entertainment .Discover the rich history and traditions of the Pacific Islands at the Polynesian Cultural Center in Oahu. Attend energetic performances, admire skilled artisans, and enjoy authentic island cuisine. It's a must-visit for anyone looking to learn more about Pacific Islander heritage. I like The Polynesian Cultural Center's six villages . It's nice experience. If you made an advance reservation, you can skip the line and show your pass at the Will Call (prepaid) line at the admission counter. If you do not have a reservation, you must queue at any of the general admission lines and present your pass to enter (based on availability).

Such a fun experience! We got tickets for the buffet and Breath of Life evening show. We wanted to do the lu'au package but they were all sold out for the day we would be able to make the drive out there. Have it on my list for next time. The ticket give you access to their village area which is super cool! They have tons of cute shops and eateries if you need a snack to keep you powered for the day. My family and I drove here and there was plenty of parking in their giant parking lot. Make sure to bring sunscreen, a hat, and some water if you're going on a nice and sunny day. Bathrooms were pretty clean! Throughout the center, we experienced the different villages which hosted music shows, talks about the culture, various craft activities, dancing lessons, and more! There's something for every interest! Dinner at the buffet - One of the best buffets I've been to! Poke and fish was super fresh, all of the meats were nicely flavored and tasty and omg the live music performed by "the uncles" was fantastic! Show - Breath of Life - we had pretty decent seats! Not super close to the stage but not so far that we couldn't see what was happening. The show was next level! Really great story and all of the performers were amazing! Overall, I would 10/10 recommend coming to check this place out! I definitely plan to go back again on my next trip out!

If you are on Oahu, you must experience the PCC. It is run by the church of latter day saints, so don't expect any mai tais or lava floes at the luau, but you will get an authentic pacific island experience. Every village and experience are highly recommended.

I went with my family while vacationing in Hawaii. I can't speak on the cost of anything as tickets were purchased ahead of time by a family member. I do know that there are options to have a personal tour as opposed to group tours. This is what we had which we all loved so much. I am hard of hearing and so having a smaller, more intimate group really made it easier for me to hear all the wonderful history our guide was sharing. Malia was our tour guide. She was so pleasant and friendly the entire time. She shared that she's from the island of Tonga, one of the parts of our tour of the Polynesian islands. She was so great and really made our experience special. We went to the luau after we toured all the respective "islands" (Hawaii, Somoa, Tonga, Fiji, etc). It was beautifully decorated with nice open air, half- moon shaped, multi- level seating. They had buffet food, served everyone a delicious smoothie from a whole pineapple (that came with refills), lots of desserts, etc. (I will leave a review for the luau separately) We then attended the Hâ Breath of Life show in the Pacific Theatre, which was an absolute treat!!! No photography allowed in the theatre. Due to the performances not being solely on the main stage, they ask that you not move from your seat during the performance. So I highly recommend a bathroom break prior to going in. I told my family at the end of this night that if that was the ONLY event we went to while in Hawaii, I would feel like I had had a true Hawaiin experience. It was just THAT incredible!!!

The cultural information and activities are great. We also truly loved the shows they put on. What turned us off the most is the fact that they are not upfront with the Polynesian Cultural Center being owned and operated by the LDS church. There is no mention on their website about this at all. They have elders with name tags all over the place there is even an exhibit about Mormonism. If we would have known about this in advanced we would have chosen not to go. It made us very uncomfortable being there. Also the pricing is absolutely ridiculous this has to be thee most expensive tour/activity on the whole island. The luau food was pretty bad compared to others we have been to. The pork was very very dry the chicken also over cooked the sides were very bland. The worst part though is how they seem to intentionally hide the LDS church connection until after you have already bought your tickets and are inside their park. THEN they shove it in your face throughout the experience over and over again. If you're going to do that fine but be upfront about it don't hide it until people have spent literally hundreds of dollars to get in.

A must at least once in your lifetime, when visiting Hawaii. They truly make you feel welcomed and show so much gratitude for your presence. Pay for the dinner buffet package! The buffet was surprisingly really good! I enjoyed the smoked fish, huli huli chicken and teriyaki brisket the most. The only items that were a miss to me, are most of the dessert items, however I did enjoy the pineapple creme brulee. The show Breath of Life was also amazing. Tips: bring your hat, sunscreen for reapplication, and a refillable water bottle.

This was the absolute highlight of our trip Visiting the polynesian cultural center made this trip worthwhile and is probably the best thing we did visiting the island The Ali luau option was excellent you get a private tour guide that takes you around and explains everything And you have a lovely water open show Then there is the luau with dinner then there is a night show after the luau Your ticket is valid for 3 business days so you can always come back and finish learning about the different polynesian cultures It was expensive paying almost $500 for 2 people to visit but let me tell you it was worth every single penny and I wouldn't change it for the world Thank you Oahana for this memorable experience

My kids planned a trip here for us and I'm so happy that they did! This place is gorgeous, educational, and a must when visiting Hawaii! It was fun to learn about the different islands, meet young people from each island who are proudly representing their home, and to see the amazing performers express themselves through dance. The fire performers are incredible! Each exhibit is breathtaking and we enjoyed ourselves and took lots of great pictures! Shout out to the greatest tour guide ever, Sayen!!!Thank you for your great personality, making our visit special and memorable!

We had an awesome day learning so much from different cultures it's definitely worth it.... Our tour guide Aaron from Australia was amazing. You really spend all day with your tour guide so you end up getting to know them really well. The buffet was ok not gonna lie but the show makes up for the food. Also as being a huge American football fanatic they have a Polynesian football hall of fame museum is pretty cool. Go 49ers So much to see and to do you need more than one day visit to do it all.

I have nothing but good things to say about the Polynesian cultural center! It was one of our favorite activities/excursions we did while staying on Honolulu! Locals refer to their Luau as the APEX of all other luaus. So many activities and cultures to learn about the day was jam packed and so fun! Our tour guide was a gem and made the experience even better!

Words can't describe how beautiful this place is. Every little detail from decorations, food to all the shows and activities. We were amazed how incredible everything was. We learned so much! Thank you to all the students who make that place beautiful and special

When I first visited Hawaii 4 years ago I remember someone telling me that I should visit Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC). Fast forward to this year I finally got to visit and see what this place is all about. I purchased the Aliʻi Lūʻau Package for my visit here. For $189.95; it included a group guided tour through Polynesian Cultural Center's island villages, dinner at their Alii Luau buffet with live entertainment and gold level seating at "HA: Breath of Life" show. This package basically is almost a whole day event at the PCC from 12:30 pm - 9:00 pm. We were a little late to arrival; coming closer to 1:30 but we still had plenty of time to go around and get a tour of the 42 acres of the PCC. We had an awesome tour guide name Arare from the Philippines and she did an excellent job of taking us throughout the different "islands." We learned some history, saw some talented performances and even had a few laughs. It's crazy to think we did so much walking but it wasn't tiring at all as it was a fun and informative tour. We even go to paddle a canoe! Visitors are also given badges for special occasions. For example; we got the first time visitor badge and I got the "it's my birthday" badge for my birthday. The walking tour runs until about 5pm and then we were off to the Alli Luau buffet. Before you enter the buffet; they take your picture which you can purchase as a souvenir (around $20 extra) or you can get a free digital copy of the picture. The buffet was definitely one of the highlights of the day too as I was so amazed with the abundance of food. They had a whole roasted pig and a array of delicious Hawaiian fare such as Huli Huli chicken, Kale Pork and Hawaiian Fried rice. For dessert; they had Pineapple Creme Brûlée, Mango Cheesecake Trifle and a variety of gelato ice cream offerings. One of the best things was they give unlimited pina coladas (non-alcoholic as they don't serve alcohol here!). The pine coladas were so refreshing and tasty! During the dinner there is also lots of entertainment with a lovely luau show. The Alli Luau buffet is about 1.5 hours and then you have about an hour where where you are free to do what you'd like prior to the "HA: Breath of Life" show. Some choose to take a tram tour to BYU next door to PCC, some choose to watch a video movie offering and others just choose to walk around and shop. We chose the latter and just checked out of the gift shops. The "HA: Breath of Life" show is the last part of the day and precisely starts at 7pm. It's a whole production with a giant story, lots of dancing and music and even fire! No photos are allowed but all I can say is it is a pretty amazing show! Wow! Overall I had a great time at the Polynesian Cultural Center. I learned a lot of things, ate some amazing food and saw a really great show!

This place is HUGE and there are many things to do. It's easy to spend an entire day here. No alcohol is sold here. The food is good. We found out as we walked out, but this entire place is owned by The Church of Latter Day Saints. We had zero idea. I just noticed a lot of the workers had name tags that the missionaries wear when preaching. I asked someone and she told me that its owned by the Church This is a very expensive luau to visit and no where on their website is the fact that this Polynesian Cultural Center is owned by the Mormon church. This feels deceptive to me, and because of that I won't be recommending this place. Plus because of the religious views they don't serve any alcohol or sodas during the luau. Just juice.

Personally I have mixed feelings about PCC and it's controversies regarding ownership, it's ultimate mission, and underlining cultural message. However, that's just personal. Setting all that aside, PCC is at face value is well worth it! It's entertaining, and, in a general sense, educational. The Gateway had a great array of seafood, as well as vegan selections! And the Ha Show had top notch production value. If there is one village to visit, Samoa was the most entertaining and engaging. If you are able to, plan ahead for what activities and shows you want to do because it's impossible to see everything in one visit.

I can't believe I have not yet written my review for this place! I visited the PCC last year (September 2022) on my last full day on the island and it was the best way for us to end our trip. We were picked up in Waikiki and the bus ride was smooth. The driver was friendly and very informative. Upon arrival, we were given instructions for our return back to Waikiki and other useful information. We entered the center and quickly hit up the gift shops. There were so many unique souvenirs for sale and we ended up buying handmade anklets, bracelets, and my mom bought herself a dress. The employees were all friendly and helpful. We walked the grounds and stopped at all the different islands. Every island had their own presentations, treats, interactive games, foods, and people. We learned a lot and saw a lot and all the employees were friendly and knew their stuff. Lunchtime came around and we bought food and a coconut. The coconut was really good and refreshing. The food was delicious and it was made right as we ordered it. It started pouring on us after lunch so we ran into one of the huts to try and stay dry. Here we arrived just in time for a music presentation and we had a lot of fun. We visited the buffet for dinner and it was massive. The food variety is insane and they had lots of entrees, desserts, breads, appetizers, and drinks to choose from. Everything I ate was good. They had a lot of servers walking around picking up empty plates. Overall this is a must!!! The finale show was breathtaking and unforgettable. We all got teary eyed at the end and the message behind it was beautiful. Do consider PCC as one of your stops if you are visiting the island!

This was such a great experience! Everything was so beautiful! The food the people the Tonga sisters Christmas songs!! Walter was such a great host. You can tell he is so proud to be Tongan and so proud to be apart of the PCC! To make the experience even better one of the theatre directors Mora made sure we made it back to our hotel! I give the PCC 11/10! The show at the end wow! Thank you all so much xo The Hafoka Family

I stumbled across the Polynesian Culture Center (PCC) while researching things to do in Hawaii. Thought it would be a good idea to learn about what's known as the Polynesian Triangle. The Polynesian Triangle is a geographical region of the Pacific Ocean with Hawaii, New Zealand (Aotearoa), Easter Island (Rapa Nui), Fiji, Tahiti and Samoa. So the PCC is basically a version of Epcot which substitutes the above mentioned Polynesian Islands instead of countries. You'll have the opportunity to visit each island and learn about its culture, food, watch shows as well as do interactive activities. The PCC offers a variety of packages, I did the Island of Polynesia and the Ha: Breath of Life show. The Breath of Life show was amazing! The PCC is definitely worth a day trip so plan accordingly because you'll be there all day.

I thought the Polynesian Cultural Center was amazing and a great variety of cultural activities and learnings from each Polynesian island. Some of the showings had great presenters, some with great humor. There is also an evening show of fire that featured an awesome storyline play with each act being "represented" by each island. I had no expectations but found the dancing and set beautiful and awesome. It's had multiple iterations over the years (from what I'm told) and it's only getting better. As my first time here and learning more about Polynesican culture, I think this along with the fire show is a must go!

When researching for my trip to Oahu, I found visiting the cultural center was a popular, highly recommended activity. The reviews were accurate. This is not an attraction to be missed. It was a great way to learn about the islands of the Pacific Triangle. Each island has its own section which includes events, activities and items from that region. Many of the staff who work in each section are native to that island so can make your experience feel very authentic. I chose the Super Ambassador ticket option. This is a pricy ticket option if you are looking to purchase tickets for a group but it does have its advantages. Everything is included in this ticket...luau, HA ticket, private tour guide, and reserved seating for everything. When you arrive, you are assigned a private guide who will customize your visit with activities and demonstrations which meet your interests. The guide schedules all your events/demonstrations while also arranging reserved seating for the activities selected for you. They are with you the entire time, guiding and telling you about each region. I must admit, the reserved seating was kind of nice. I was always in the front few rows which were the best seats and I never waiting in a line. The reserve seating included the luau and HA show. The luau was very good overall. It was well organized. There was a good flow for guests to get food without waiting too long. Many of the items were authentic Hawaiian dishes. Show was interesting and educational. The hostess was entertaining and interacted well with the audience. I would recommend visiting the center. There is a lot to do and see. It is great for all ages. It is educational but also fun

5 stars all the way. The PCC was the highlight of my trip to Hawaii. I have recommended it to my friends and colleagues visiting the islands. If I were to visit Hawaii again, I would have to come here once more. I paid for the full VIP ticket which meant I got the works: guided tour with my own guide, luau, leis, snacks, boat ride, souvenirs, tours to the different locations featuring the islands, tram tour to the temple and university next door, the most amazing live show I have ever seen and a shuttle on nice tour bus to/from Honolulu. Let's break this down. This is an all-day adventure and even then, there were some things I missed. The VIP ticket gives entrance for more than one day though if you're able to do that. Also, VIPs get front row seating in every aspect. The PCC is where all of the Pacific islands are represented. There is a village for each one where there is some sort of entertainment, class or hands-on activity. Some examples of this were native dancing and singing, a brief history lesson, a band playing, and audience members learning how to do a tribal dance. The luau for dinner was superb. From the great food with fresh seafood, a pig cooked in the ground and tasty fruit to the show that started before the luau and continued on after everyone had finished to tell the story of the Princess of Hawaii with dancers, a band and actors. They snap a photo of you at the entrance and try to sell it to you for $40. They do give a blessing on the food beforehand and the hostess asks everyone to hold hands, even with strangers at the next table so I'm giving a heads up if that's not your jam. There is a separate buffet available. I hopped on the tram to go see the temple nearby. It was hosted by two sister missionaries who were warm and friendly. You may take a boat ride down a small river that goes through PCC with guides talking the whole way. The ending performance was my favorite thing I saw. It is a musical that goes through the circle of life told from different island traditions and points of view for a legend told by their people. No cameras or recording of any kind was allowed or I'd have more pictures of that than anything else. People walk on burning hot coals, there are fire dancers, people throw javelins and more so I totally understand why no pics/videos. The singers and actors were all amazing. Standing ovation for several minutes at the conclusion by all in the theater. Besides all of this, a lovely staff member emailed me before and after my trip to confirm details, see if I had any questions and to give them feedback. Also, all of the staff are college students who work there to help pay for school. Tips aren't allowed except at the luau. There's a market with all kinds of things for sale. I bought a beautiful windchime made from shells. There are food stands and a sit-down restaurant outside of the entrance gate.

Very cool experience! I would say definitely go to the islands and the show. The gateway buffet was alright through. I'm glad the food showcased lots of traditional foods but all & all a lot of the foods were bland or just didn't taste great. As for islands, I enjoyed learning about all the countries. I wish I had more time to all the activities! The show was really cool too! It was very captivating & definitely a must see.