Polynesian Cultural Center

https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/summer-vacations/best-places-travel-july

20 Best Places to Travel in July

"A cultural attraction designed for first-time visitors to learn about Polynesian traditions through interactive exhibits, performances, and demonstrations that showcase regional music, dance, and crafts." - Patricia Doherty Patricia Doherty Patricia Doherty is a writer who specializes in covering destinations, resorts, and cruises for Travel + Leisure and other publications. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines

https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/winter-vacations/americas-best-cities-for-winter-travel

13 Best Places To Go in the Winter in the United States

"A cultural attraction located on the island's North Shore that showcases Polynesian cultures through exhibits, performances, and immersive village experiences about an hour from the main city." - Patricia Doherty Patricia Doherty Patricia Doherty is a writer who specializes in covering destinations, resorts, and cruises for Travel + Leisure and other publications. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines

12 Must-Do Experiences in Honolulu

"Visit Hawaii, Samoa, Fiji, Aotearea, Tonga, and Tahiti in a Day When you're ready to see more of Oahu than just Waikiki, spend a day at the Polynesian Cultural Center. This Mormon-owned (but non-proselytizing) cultural center employs many BYU Hawaii students (the campus is next door), and takes pride in having real dancers and performers from the island cultures they represent. It's a race to catch as many shows, activities, demos, and dances as you can, but don't miss the grand canoe pageant at 2:30 (pictured). In fact, there's so much to see that your admission allows you to come back within 3 days and check out the rest (though it's closed on Sundays). If you enjoy traditional dance, plan to see their amazing evening show, "Ha: Breath of Life," a beautifully choreographed, high-budget spectacle that stands head and shoulders above the other cheesy luaus."

https://www.afar.com/magazine/where-to-go-now-in-hawaii

Expert Travel Tips for Visiting Hawaii During COVID-19 - AFAR

"A cultural attraction recommended for immersive experiences that highlight Polynesian traditions and performances, commonly paired with other North Shore excursions." - Annie Fitzsimmons

Mies N

Google

I had an amazing experience at the Polynesian Cultural Center! I visited all six islands, and joined in most the of activities from 12 p.m. to 9 p.m. — it was such a full and unforgettable day. The energy and warmth from everyone were incredible, especially during the welcoming dances. I even got to join in and dance with them — so much fun! A special thank-you to my private tour guide, Jasmine (from Philippines), who was absolutely wonderful — knowledgeable, friendly, and perfectly organized. She made sure we stayed on schedule and didn’t miss a thing. Each island had its own unique charm, and I loved learning about the traditions, music, and culture of each one. The buffet dinner was delicious with plenty of great options, and the live music and dance performances during dinner made it even more special. The “Ha: Breath of Life” evening show was absolutely amazing — a breathtaking performance that shared Polynesian history and island culture through music, dance, and storytelling. I highly recommend booking the Super Ambassador Package — it’s super worth it! You get a private guide, priority seating, and a much more personal experience. This was truly one of the best things I did in Oahu.

Shaquillia

Google

We had such an amazing time at the Polynesian Cultural Centre. At first, we debated on which package to purchase but ended up with the Super Ambassador Package, and it was such a great choice! It started off with a tour of the Polynesian islands, and Roslyn, our guide, was fantastic! So informative and allowing us to experience each of the sites that were key for us. Getting to learn about the history of each island was really insightful! It was really sad to leave Roslyn, but thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and being with us during the time! We then went to watch the Aliʻi Lūʻau buffet and learned the story of the Queen. James, our server, was so polite and kind with us! Thank you for making us feel welcome! The food was amazing, and seeing the imu was such an experience! The Lūʻau performance as well was just wonderful to watch. We ended the night with the HĀ: Breath of Life show, and I can see why photos and videos aren’t allowed during the show. The story and entire show were simply breathtaking to see. Everyone apart of the show did an amazing job! Overall, this was a wonderful way to learn about Polynesia and get to know the history and culture of each island. Having a private guide and reserved seating really does make a difference, and it was a wonderful way to enjoy the cultural centre. Thank you so much to everyone there!

lisa livingston

Google

Spending the day at the PCC was a dream come true. We have been wanting to visit here for many years. It was such a great day. We took the guided tour with Joseph from the Philippines and he was great. The shows were amazing and the activities were fun. We really loved the Luau buffet, although the food was not great, we overlooked it for the Luau. We absolutely loved the HA breath of life show- the dancers, choreography and story were delightful. I love how you get 3 days on one ticket. We missed 2 of the demonstrations on the first day, so went back the next day to catch the 2 we missed. We really enjoyed making the weaves fish and the canoe ride. Tonga out on a great show and the Tahitian dancers are incredible. A great way to spend the day, all of the workers were so friendly. It’s a beautiful place.

Norman Dollar

Google

I highly recommend the super ambassador tour. It is well worth the extra money and you get a wonderful experience. The entire area is wonderful as you move through the different islands and learn about each individual culture. The dinner is amazing with wonderful food and a great treat drink. After dinner you get an absolutely fantastic show. I don't want to go into too much detail as to not spoil anything. I just want to say again the whole experience is fantastic and I will be back. One piece of advice, it is doable in a single day but you get multiple days with your ticket. I would recommend at least 2 if not 3 days too be able to see everything this amazing place has to offer.

Kevin

Google

One of the best places to visit on the island. I ended up upgrading to the Super Ambassador package and it was a phenomenal experience. I traveled solo and had my own personal tour guide who tailored the entire day to my interests. And you get the best seats for all the shows! There is so much to learn about the different Polynesian cultures and it is more than just walking around and reading information placards. The entire center is immersive and interactive. The buffet dinner was excellent! Wide variety of food options and a nice show to watch while eating. The Ha show was amazing.

Anthony Hensley

Google

My first luau was such an unforgettable experience! Truly a wonderful, beautiful way to experience Hawaiian culture, food, music, and dance all in one. Since it was my first time, I would strongly recommend it and do it all over again. From the warm aloha welcome with leis to the amazing food like kalua pig, poi, and tropical fruits, everything felt so special. The hula dancers and fire performers were breathtaking — I was completely mesmerized. I felt the true spirit of Hawaii, full of joy, music, and togetherness. I loved it!!!😁

Peyton Hyslop

Google

This is an outstanding place to spend a long day. If you are staying in Waikiki be sure to buy your tickets ahead of time online at the official Polynesian Cultural Center website and get the round-trip bus tickets. The main theater is in a half-circle and the seats, except at the far edges are all good. The buffet was excellent with many, many choices including vegetarian. All the island areas represented have informative short shows and talking to the stedent employees is a great side benefit. The place never seemed crowded although there were many people of all ages in attendance.

Natalie Nielsen

Google

Very impressed with the set-up and design of this center. Each area provides a taste of cultural history, along with fun, interactive activities for kids and adults alike. The employees are kind, informed, and show passion about sharing their culture with the world. The buffet was one of the best I've had. There was variety in the choices, and the food was tasty. Ha: The Breath of Life was a great production. The fire dancing was absolutely incredible! Highly recommend taking the time to visit here.

Nu H.

Yelp

The polynesian cultural center was lively. Its a big shopping/eatery center. I realized that they do not sale alcohol beverages. There's option to purchase guided tours or self guided thru the 6 island villages to learn about the diffrent villages and its culture. There was plenty of parking space and clean bathrooms all around the center. We purchased the Aliʻi Lūʻau Package which includes the Aliʻi Lūʻau Buffet & live entertainment and gold level seating at "HĀ:Breath of Life" show. The package information are available online and could be purchased online as we did or you can purchase on site if there's space available. The tour starts at 12:30 and ended around 5:00 giving us some time to relax and do our own thing untill dinner at 6pm then the HĀ:Breath of Life" show at 7:30pm. We were in a guided tour with 13 people total. The tour was guided by a friendly staff member who was knowledgeable of the authentic cultures of 6 pacific islands which were hawaii, Fiji, Aotearoa, Somoa, Tahiti and Tonga. We were able to experience the unique cultures and traditions of each island through interactive activities, demonstrations, and performances. It was pretty interesting and informative. Dinner time was the buffet dinner with a luau show for approximately 1 hour. We were seated right away and brought a pineapple drink thats literally in a pineapple. The waiter were attentive and friendly throughout dinner time. I wasn't fond of the main course or the poke. There was not much flavor and tasted mediocre. I ebjoyed the fruits and deserts a little more. Our last show was the breath of life show. This show is known for its choreography, costumes, and fire dancing. Pictures and videoing was not allowed. However, I loved all the dances and costume changes and storyline of this show. The polynesian center is great for tourists to enjoy and learn about the cultures.

Noelle Y.

Yelp

Amazing! I don't actually remember ever going to PCC since I live here but I'm so glad I did!! It was such a great experience and would highly recommend to anyone coming to visit! We had a friend visiting who had never been to Hawai'i before and wanted to go to a lu'au. I researched a few and decided on this one because I feel like it's one of the most well known. I joined the Ohana Club for discounts as well! 20% discount for Kama'aina and 15% for other tickets! The only thing was that there are so many options and I didn't really know what to choose. Which is also a plus but can also be a little confusing. It it's your first time, you should get tickets that cover everything. The island are where you're going to learn about some of the culture and get do to lots of activities, see demonstrations, play games, make music, taste food. There is really so much, you could spend all day! You should also get food at the lu'au. We did the Gateway buffet and were impressed with the amount of options and variety. We really liked it. The show Ha: Breathe of Life was really good. The performers are really amazing and it's a really beautiful show. All together, it was a great time and everyone is sooooo nice. It's a beautiful place with beautiful people and I would highly recommend!

Ruby K.

Yelp

Great immersive experience. Will recommend with visiting family. All personel are in character and you can see the effort they put on the entire experience. Food was great in Ali'i Luau. Charging stations available while eating. Arrive earlier and eat in the market before you go in so you're not starving during the tour. Plus not crowded shopping experience. After dinner i recommend going back to the islands for crowd free photo opportunities per island. Bring a phone tripod. Buildings and hut will be closed (please respect that) but you'll have the outside area for yourself. Then head to the main amphitheater for the Ha Breath of Life show. Amazing show. NO PHONES ALLOWED.

Peter L.

Yelp

4th visit here & was still impressed by the experience. Lots to see & do, Kap is still entertaining the crowd. The bus pickup system has finally improved, more organized instead of utter chaos. The gateway buffet has not changed: lots of varieties but don't expect quality.

Generous Y.

Yelp

Fantastic experience. shoutout to guide Luis for bringing us to the top experiences and keeping everything fun for our boys trip with almost 10 people! He really set us up for success on the journeys Pina colada in a pineapple while waiting for the buffet. Refreshing after a long day of activities. Buffet food was good, nothing out of this world but very solid. Overall, would highly recommend the experience (and it also helps support these students working here).

Mic V.

Yelp

We booked the Aliʻi Lūʻau Package for $210 per person. The tour guide was really nice and accommodating. However, we were about 10 min late to every event he took us to. It looked like we finished every event on time but were always late to the next event. I'm not sure why that was the case. The location is beautiful and they show case the Islands of Polynesia in a great way. The luau food was just very mediocre. I'd rate the food a 3/5. I really enjoyed the unlimited pina coladas though (non-alcoholic). The "HA: Breath of Life" show was a 5/5. The actors and actresses were amazing. The live music was very moving. I enjoyed it a lot. You can even take pics with the performers after the show.

Stephanie S.

Yelp

Beautiful people and experience. The Polynesian Cultural Center has a variety of activities, food, beverages, entertainment, and breathtaking views.

Emily F.

Yelp

Upon arriving on the island, this was a significant stop on our Aloha Sunshine Tour, guided by Summer (she's amazing and gave us so many tips while we were there). Highly recommend this experience near the front of your time in the island in order to grasp the energy, practices and history of this special culture. Appreciated that this venue not only educates the public but also allows Polynesian individuals to participate in maintaining their practices & heritage. Incredible venue for ALL ages and really enjoyed the live performances, interactive activities, culinary sampling, and personable & joyous energy that radiated from all staff and performers. I wish we could have spent more time here to fully engage in each area. Loved the canoe ride on the park river. Very easy to navigate the park (both signage and for those with mobility issues).

Desirae C.

Yelp

Everything about this experience is wonderful! The cultural significance is remarkable. The villages, canoe rides, luau and night show were a full day's events. Beautiful atmosphere, happy employees who beautifully depicted their native histories. The music was lovely as well as the full immersion experiences. Poi balls, juggling and watching coconut tree climbers made for a fun time for all ages! Plan on all day and have good shoes. Hats help as well. Lots of different options for snacks and drinks. Strict time guidelines for presentations. All the student staff were amazing.

Kristy W.

Yelp

Very performative, Disney like shows of the Polynesian culture and history. We did a whole package tour with a tour guide(Ezra). He was very nice and knowledgeable throughout the tour. The luau was very grand.

Ally A.

Yelp

I visited the Polynesian Cultural Center [PCC] last Friday 8/29/2025 with my mom + sister; and we had a wonderful experience. We chose the "Super Ambassador Luau" package - which costs a little bit more, but a good investment (I think so, anyway!) From their website: *Package Details* -Private guided tour through 6 island villages -Enjoy our award winning Aliʻi Lūʻau buffet with live entertainment -Platinum level seating at "HĀ: Breath of Life" show What made this package worth it, imo was- #1- The *front row* / *VIP* seating at each of the villages, buffet & HĀ show #2- Private guided tour: my family and I were able to explore at *our own pace*; 'pick & choose' activities; take as many pix as we wanted lol; etc.- all without having to worry about other PCC guests #3- our Personal Tour Guide We had the amazing, lovely *Moehani*. She was extremely knowledgeable about the history and culture of all villages; an excellent communicator - engaging and entertaining; passionate and enthusiastic; flexible and adaptable; organized and punctual. But ultimately I felt that Moehani cared deeply about making sure this was a fun, enjoyable & memorable experience for my family and I. :0) Thank you Moehani for making our visit to PCC absolutely unforgettable!

Ambar C.

Yelp

Had an amazing time here. We opted for one of the higher tier packages and we are glad that we did. Our tour guide was awesome and she took our kids to do activities while we watched some of the entertainment. I would break this day up into multiple visits as there is so much to see and do. We purchased the luau reservation and everything was delicious! Watched the breath of life show and it was mesmerizing!

Sam O.

Yelp

Really fun, there is SO much to see, read, and do. If you are limited, start with the tour of the islands. The cultural talks are 20min each (the Samoa one is amazing!) The canoe ride is fun if you have time. Easily a full day if you do the luau and Hā: Breath of Life evening show.

Kim R.

Yelp

BUYER BEWARE. Heavily misleading. Where in the teeny tiny fine print do they disclose that this "cultural center" is run by the LDS church? The irony of the conquerors telling the so-called "authentic" history of the conquered runs too deep for my liking. Also: no alcohol allowed or served on the premises. I experienced my first dry luau! Ugh. The luau show is a snoozefest with deep religious undertones. Sorely disappointed as I was eager to learn about ACTUAL Polynesian culture.

Michael C.

Yelp

Attended the World Fireknife competition last night to watch the women's competition! Booked our tickets way in advance (actually so far in advance that I forgot I booked it, but luckily PCC sent me a text reminder couple of days before). The performance was A-W-E-S-O-M-E!! With all of the competitors doing such a great job. Will definitely be back next year. To PCC: Please consider bringing out more tables and chairs. Also maybe have the special food booths open a little bit more early so that people can eat before going inside to watch the performance.

Eddie L.

Yelp

Recently visited the Polynesian Cultural Center at 55-370 Kamehameha Hwy, Laie, Hawaii on 5/31/25 Saturday. Partook in the complete tour package ~ Polynesian Village Tour, Luau and Hula Show, Tram Tour to LDS Mormon Temple, and Ha Breath of Life Show. Our Polynesian Cultural Center tour group guide "Savannah C", a student attending BYU-HI from her native state of Nevada, made our 'Ohana Club' party of five so welcome. She was so enthusiastic, respectful, and very friendly in making our day long adventure a very memorable experience. Our tour of PCC promptly began at 12:45pm and lasted until 9pm that night. The reason for our recent visit was to celebrate the UH graduations of my two wonderful nieces, Maddie and Cecilia, from Sterling VA. Without Savannah's cheerful ebullient and exuberant personality, our joyful PCC journey would not have been more memorable. Much Mahalo to this amazing PCC team member.

Angela D.

Yelp

everything was amazing! From the dancers to the people giving out information, the food and the activities, everything was extremely professional and well executed. When you go, you can take a canoe ride down to the end of the park and walk your way back to the front, which is what we did. It was great because there were different areas of Polynesia on the tour. For instance, one section of the center was Tahiti, one was Samoa, and many many others that I can't remember. I don't even remember taking pictures because I was so in the moment. It was one of the best experiences I've had. we got a package with a buffet and a show to see ha and I'll review those separately, but I will say I was satisfied with everything .

OG R.

Yelp

WOW! WOW! WOW! I visited Oahu for a softball tournament. When doing my research, visiting the PCC was a must do! It looked interesting and I paid a visit. I booked online and got the package that allowed me to have my own private tour guide, TOARAI. It was an amazing experience! TOARAI showed me around and gave me do some of the activities, which were enjoyable! He also saved me front row seats at the shows he took me to! Worth it! AMAZING! FANTASTIC! The buffet with the Luau was also soooo delicious! The luau was amazing! The dancers were sooooo good! The show in the main theater was AMAZING! Got to sit front and center! What a production! What a great way to help the employees pay for their college tuition!

Mr G.

Yelp

We went on a Guided Tour with Joseph from the Philippines, it was the most incredible experience you could ask for. The cultural enlightenment and beautiful atmosphere can't me matched. You need to make it a point to go when visiting Hawaii to see this place. If possible request Joseph to be your tour guide because he was spectacular

Nguyen O.

Yelp

Joseph was an amazing tour guide .He was knowledgeable, enthusiastic, and made the tour so much fun. His passion for the area's history and culture was contagious, and he shared interesting stories and insights that really brought the experience to life. He was also super friendly and accommodating, making sure everyone in the group was comfortable and happy. Thank you and all the wonderful villages's team members made our family's first trip unforgettable.

Amy L.

Yelp

PCC is a full day event. We took a PCC coach from Ross (pick up area) and got there before the islands open. We opted to go a self guided tour with gateway buffet and viewing of Ha, the breath of life. Our day started off with watching Huki, boat celebrations. Each island presented their performance on the boats in the river. It was very cool to watch. Before Huki began, we reviewed the map and realized there was no way to fit all the islands in one day. The tickets do allow you to come back within the next 3 days to check out the rest of the islands and activities but we had plans and it's over an hour drive to PCC. We decided to mark down the main showings and events we wanted to partake. We visited Samoa, Hawaii, Tonga, and Tahiti. Some activities we did were weaving fish, fishing using bamboo sticks, taste poi, taste coconut bread, taste sweet potato cooked with onion and coconut, and got temporary washable tattoos. Some events we saw were Samoa fire knife demonstration, Tonga drumming performance, and a Tahitian wedding. The PCC area is very large, almost like akin to a small amusement park. It was beautiful and scenic. The Gateway Buffet was huge. There was so much variety of food and the food is pretty decent. My favorites would be the huge Hawaiian longan, the crispy coconut shrimp and fresh sliced (you see it being cut in front of you) ahi. You do have in and out privileges for the buffet, just make sure you get stamped before leaving. It's open from 4:30pm to 7pm. The Breath of Life show was spectacular. Every seat is a good seat. We sat in aisle S in section 3 and had a great view. The show is essentially a coming of age story starting from birth and weaves different islands' traditions and concepts. There was also a fire knife performance too. Overall, PCC was really fun. I felt entertained while being educated. From my novice point of view, I felt this production was top notch. Highly recommend if you want to get an introductory immersive experience of Polynesian culture.

Catherine D.

Yelp

There is tons to do. I brought two toddlers and an infant and everyone, including the adult adults were entertained to the whole time we were there. The luau was beautiful. The food was wonderful. We plan to come back when the kids are older.

Eri K.

Yelp

Even though the trek out to Laie is quite far from town, it is worth it. We previously had an annual pass, but let it expire as life got in the way. Parking: ample, private lot, convenient. They do have a few electric car chargers in their lot. Location: Located in Laie right next to BYU We love their Ali'i luau especially because of the Vaifala smoothie (Samoan pineapple drink), which isn't too overly sweet and soooo good. Bonus tip: you can ask for more even if you finish the one in the pineapple itself. The Ali'i luau is outdoors (but covered) and includes a music/dance show about Queen Liliukolani's life. They also give you a fresh flower lei upon entering and they take a picture of your party (which you have to pay for later as a souvenir). Buffet food includes Hawaiian food. I would definitely recommend the poke and the items in the carving station, which include the pork. We have also tried the Gateway buffet, but this does not include a show and it is indoors. I am unsure whether this was a one-time occurrence, but when we went to the Gateway buffet, it was VERY hot inside despite all the open doors and fans. We were very uncomfortable.. and therefore, we have never gone back to this buffet but opted for the more expensive Ali'i buffet package instead. We also love the Islands of Polynesia villages because you can experience the cultures of each place (Samoa, Tahiti, Fiji, etc) and they have different exhibits, dances, and activities that you can participate in. We love seeing how the different cultures are displayed. Everyone is super nice and willing to help if you are lost as well. The HA: Breath of Life show is in the evening so we haven't stayed for it lately as it is beyond our little one's bed time, but we have enjoyed it many times in the past. The participants really put on a great show and we love it.

Leah H.

Yelp

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.

Jennifer G.H. W.

Yelp

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.

Jessica L.

Yelp

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.

Renay R.

Yelp

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.

Molly M.

Yelp

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:)

Jacky C.

Yelp

This place is like going to Disneyworld. There are six different regions to learn about the culture and the history. There's a show or demonstration that's for everyone. The most entertaining one is in Samoa as the presenter acts as a comedian. They also have a boat ride that is a nice general overview of the entire center. Besides the cultural part, we also got tickets for the buffet, which was amazing. You can read more on that in the Gateway Buffet review. The part that everyone comes here for is the luau, which may be the best luau you can see in Hawaii as it's performed in an amphitheater. Although I have to admit that the show at the beginning was making me fall asleep, the story progresses and gets better. The fire knife dance happens at the end and it was intense. Highly recommend and it's worth spending half the day here.

Ricky M.

Yelp

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!

Kaycee C.

Yelp

This place was amazing, you could genuinely spend hours here and not be bored at all. The staff here is so friendly attentive. I will definitely come back on my next visit to Hawaii.

Vivian C.

Yelp

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).

Jeannie N.

Yelp

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!

Stephen W.

Yelp

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.

Angie M.

Yelp

We spent about 8 hours at the center and we all loved it. Our family of five includes teen boys and young adults. I highly recommend upgrading to the Alii Luau. It was such a beautiful experience and the food was so good and our pineapple drink was so delicious. Our whole family loved the Ha Breath of Life show and now my son is obsessed with fire knifing.

Rebecca C.

Yelp

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.

Kevin H.

Yelp

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 "!!!

Jenner B.

Yelp

Let me start off by saying I know Luau's are a touristy thing to do. But hey, we are tourist and I highly recommend you do one. The Polynesian Cultural Center offers a very professional and very well organized tour of the islands. They give a lot of history and cultural information about the Polynesian culture in a way that's fun. It's very immersive with a lot of hands on activities and crowd participation. We bought a package that included a tour guide for the first 2 hours and the luau that had performers and the Breath of Ha. Our tour guide Stephen (who's Filipino like us) was very knowledgeable and a great tour guide. He was very personable and funny. He made us feel like he was a close friend giving us a look around his backyard. I feel bad that I didn't get to say a formal bye to him because the end of the tour he guided us to the luau and disappeared. Everything was amazing. Well groomed plants and grassy areas. Building and huts were all well maintained. An awesome venue. The Luau its self was amazing. Hula dancers and performers entertained us while we ate food buffet style. The poke, kalua pork and pina coladas were definitely the stars of the buffet. Overall a great experience. A little pricey but well worth it.

Alexis H.

Yelp

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!

Hubert D.

Yelp

Polynesian Culture Center was a last minute addition to our trip and I am glad we went. We got the aliʻi lūʻau package with pickup from Waikiki beach hotel. Our trip started with a motor coach pickup from Waikiki hotel which was only a few blocks from my hotel. Our driver was very passionate but was easy to lose track of what she was saying. She would give good information but I couldn't keep up, a little almost ADHD. We arrived at the PCC a little before it opened so we wandered a little and got some early lunch with some food trucks. And then once the door opened, we got a group tour which was part of the package. Our guide Georgie was top notch! He gave us a quick tour of all the "islands" and we arrived to each show right on time so there was little to no waiting. He was with us from 12pm - 430pm He took us to our buffet dinner and it was amazing! It started with a pina colada from a pineapple. And we got access to the soda machine. Shortly after, dinner started with a nice show. Food was very good and there was a a huge variety of meats offered with a little poke area and carving station with a slow cooked pork and fish. After dinner, we were left to do whatever you wanted.... Before Ha: Breathe of Life started. The options included a tram to BY University, imax video of Hawaii. Or we picked to just wander and go shopping The Ha: Breathe of Life was amazing. Dancing and chanting/singing. And especially the fire dances! Loved every second of it With our package, we only got a quick tour of each island. However, we got a nice perk of being able to re-visit this place in the next 3 days to spend more time. Only issue is that it is a 1.5hr drive from Waikiki Beach...a little too far for my blood In the end, our package was a little expensive but I thought it was worth every penny. Every staff here was very friendly and engaging. Their skills and story were nothing but top notch. I would return in the future!

Steph M.

Yelp

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!

Mary S.

Yelp

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.

Seth G.

Yelp

The Polynesian Cultural Center is overpriced and mediocre. The cultural shows are good but the food is terrible and a church run organization is gouging the consumers with exorbitant prices and meh offerings. You can do amazing Luaus for $100 and the PCC is twice that. Never going again and would never recommend.

Dru C.

Yelp

Wow. I this place! It made the whole trip perfect. Definitely splurge on the VIP option. Highly recommend. Plan on spending at least half the day here. There's cool shopping, entertainment, and delicious food. The beauty of this is just astounding. I like this as a last event for our vacation as a relaxing wind down outing that we just get to relax and enjoy.

Sunni T.

Yelp

We walked around all day through the different area then finally got to the buffet. Lots of different options for food. I really like the dessert table as well as the ice cream booth they had. What was top notch was the friendly servers at the dinner buffet. Constantly clearing the table. Also got a great recommendation to get the chocolate soufflé with macadamia nut ice cream! My favorite was the raspberry lychee panna cotta

Jeff J.

Yelp

Really cool experience! We arrived when the gates opened at 12:15pm and did the canoe show, guided tour of the villages, Alli Luau, and Ha Breath of Life show. The guided tour was nice because we got preferred seating at the canoe show, and our guide took us to all the villages and provided a good balance of performances and activities. I would have been overwhelmed without her. The luau food was authentic cuisine and no one in my family liked it. I wish we would have skipped and gone to the food trucks in the Marketplace. The Ha Breath of Life show was REALLY cool. It was all a great experience, but it was a long day since we didn't leave until the show ended at 8:45pm.

Jessica F.

Yelp

This place is absolutely AMAZING! So much knowledge about Polynesian culture and all in one place! This place is a must see if you visit the big Island. I would suggest buying the 3 day pass and dedicate spending 2days here. It's huge and the villages don't open till noon and close at 5:30. We spent only 1day here and didn't have a chance to see everything. Definitely wear your walking shoes & bring your own water bottle. They do have lots of stuff for kids but not sure if small children would enjoy more than 1day. All the workers did an incredible job keeping everyone entertained! I highly recommend visiting this place!

Gladys P.

Yelp

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.

Claudia E.

Yelp

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.

https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/summer-vacations/best-places-travel-july

20 Best Places to Travel in July

https://www.travelandleisure.com/trip-ideas/winter-vacations/americas-best-cities-for-winter-travel

13 Best Places To Go in the Winter in the United States

12 Must-Do Experiences in Honolulu

https://www.afar.com/magazine/where-to-go-now-in-hawaii

Expert Travel Tips for Visiting Hawaii During COVID-19 - AFAR

"A cultural attraction recommended for immersive experiences that highlight Polynesian traditions and performances, commonly paired with other North Shore excursions." - Annie Fitzsimmons