One of the highlights from our trip to Hawaii last spring was visiting the Polynesian Cultural Center in Laie on the island of Oahu in the North Shore area. It is a really fun experience that takes you through 7 different Pacific island villages where you can participate in and experience different cultural activities and shows. We had a great time and really enjoyed learning about so many different cultures in such a unique way.
Background of the Polynesian Cultural Center:
The Polynesian Cultural Center first opened in 1963 as a way for students at the local college (now Brigham Young University-Hawaii) to earn money for their education as well as a way to preserve their cultural traditions. A lot of students who attend Brigham Young University-Hawaii are students from the Pacific Islands. The Polynesian Cultural Center, or the PCC, is now one of the top attractions to visit in Hawaii and they draw in about 1 million visitors each year.
How to Get to the Polynesian Cultural Center:
The Polynesian Cultural Center is located in Laie, Hawaii on the North Shore of Oahu. It takes about 60-75 minutes to get there from the southern end of the island. Traffic can be especially heavy in the late afternoon/early evening. The PCC is located on the Kamehameha Highway (55-370 Kamehameha Hwy.) in Laie, Hawaii. For specific driving directions click here.
There are also shuttles available from Waikiki that you can purchase with your PCC tickets. Parking at the Polynesian Cultural Center is free.
4 Must Do’s at the Polynesian Cultural Center:
Tonga Cultural Presentation
The cultural presentation in Tonga was by far our favorite cultural presentation in all of the PCC. It is very interactive and has audience participation and it is so, so funny. It is definitely on of the most popular cultural presentations so you will want to make sure you get your seat early! To see a schedule of the cultural presentation times for Tonga (as well as the other Island Villages) click here.
Canoe Pageant
Running through the Island Villages of the Polynesian Cultural Center is a river. At 2:30 each day, there is a Canoe Pageant. Visitors line the river (there are benches available but you have to get them early if you aren’t with a group!) and watch as a parade from all the different cultures represented at the PCC float down the river in their canoes. It follows the story of Maui and is such a fun way to have a little break partway through your visit to the PCC.
Ha: Breath of Life Evening Show
Ha: Breath of Life was one of my favorite things we did at the Polynesian Cultural Center. After the park is closed, there is an evening show that has lots of dancing, fire, and really amazing effects. The show is from 7:30-9:00 each night. Seating starts at 7:00. You need to purchase tickets for this show and it is suggested to buy them ahead of time.
“Go Native” Activities
In each of the Island Villages there are cultural activities you as a visitor can participate in. They are all really fun! I really enjoyed the activity in Aotearoa (New Zealand) as well as the hula dancing in Hawaii. But they are all fun!
Types of Tickets:
There are a lot of different options for tickets to the Polynesian Cultural Center. To see their overview of ticket packages, you can click here. There are different combinations of tickets to the park for either self-guided tours or tours with small groups. There are also options for different Luau packages for dinner and a show as well as different seating levels for the Ha: Breath of Life show. We got the Ambassador Luau package and really enjoyed it. The best part of that package is that you have a tour guide that takes you around the villages. They will have the times of the different cultural presentations and know exactly when you need to get from one place to the other. We really enjoyed our tour guide!
Sum Up:
The Polynesian Cultural Center should definitely be on your list of things to do when you visit Hawaii. While it is not the cheapest thing you will do on the island, it is definitely worth it! It is very family friendly and a great way to experience the beautiful cultures and people of the Pacific.
