Polynesian Cultural Center Reviews

Our visit was great! The group guided tour was a bit slow and I wish there had been more to do and see during the day. The Luau was fun and the food was tasty, especially the virgin pina coladas. The night time show was the best part of the day!

We went here for one day on our honeymoon and had a lot of fun! It was an all day experience with a guided tour, dinner buffet, and multiple shows/activities. They even acknowledged our honeymoon celebration! We learned a lot about Polynesian, and I’d say this is a great trip for all age groups interested in appreciating cultures and heritage. It’s less of a museum and more of interactive activities and performances. I really love that sales from this trip help support the college students that work at the center!

We visited two times the Polynesian Cultural Center. Admission fees cost $245.13 for 2 adults and a kid. Programs and shows were great but sadly after 4.00 PM it started to look deserted...
The movie was great.

Absolutely the best Luau we have seen. The village tour was wonderful, and the separate village attractions made for an unforgettable day. Lau food was great, and the entertainment was spot on. We especially enjoyed the production at the end of our day. I would rank it tops against any show we have seen. Wonderful production.

This was a wonderful day full of cultural immersion into six different Polynesian peoples. The guided bus ride to the centre was very comfortable with air conditioning and even plugs if you need to recharge your smartphones (bring a cord as you might have a dead phone by the end of the day and want to charge your phone on the bus ride back). The guides and presenters were absolutely amazing in the level of information provided as well as the passion that accompanied it. The lua food was very plentiful, varied, and tasty. Unfortunately after about nine hours, we were ready to go home versus watching the final show. This you may want to consider getting on the 6:00 bus after dinner. Recommend going! Jayce our guide was amazing!!!

This is a one-of-a-kind experience! The student guides are personable and the performers are exceptional. The food is abundant and delicious. If someone has other than a good time, they probably aren’t happy about anything on this planet. Thank you for an amazing adventure PCC!!

Many of the guides and participants are from the islands themselves so you get a more accurate portrayal of the topics than you might from professional actors. Best value is to combine the islands tour with the luau and evening show.

I highly recommend the Super Ambassador Tour. We were well looked after by our lovely guide, Nicky, who took us around all of the islands and made sure we had everything we needed. She kept us on schedule so we could see as many performaces as possible while still accommodating our pace and preferences. The luau was fun, and the evening show was incredible. The performances were moving and the fire show at the end was spectacular. I'd been to the Polynesian Cultural Center once before doing a self guided tour, and I must say that the Super Ambassador Tour is definitely worth the price. Having reserved seating and a personal guide took all of the stress out of the day. We could just relax, enjoy the performances, and get immersed in the cultures of the islands without worrying about anything at all.

The experience was a 10 out of 10. The food buffet was awesome, people helpful and friendly and the show was outstanding.

We are not generally ones to like cultural tours. But this came recommended by our uber driver. Elected to do the super ambassador program as the luau was almost as expensive and this gave you a bit more and great seats at every experience. The money is supporting the college students which staff the experience. Jasmine from the Philippines was our guide and she was the highlight among a slew of great experiences. If you are on the fence…. Do it. And do it early in your trip in case you want to go back another day. It’s not open for very long anyway each day to fully experience various activities to each of the various Polynesian cultures. But your ticket allows you to come back on subsequent days. We rented a car and drove from Waikiki. Leave early and stop at the macadamia nut farm on the way up. Stop at some of the beaches along the way as they are beautiful!

The luau was very good and the breath of life show was great as well. Seats are well situated and for tall guys with long legs…. There is AMPLE space between the rows which was a huge relief!

We were not sure what to expect but were blown away. It is really neat to meet the students who are representing their home cultures and learn a bit about their traditions and history. Rory, our tour guide, was fantastic. The luau was incredibly well organized and the food delicious. Ha: Breath of Life was an awesome show that weaves all the cultures at the Center together. The ticket gives you 3-day admission to the park and I wish we had more time while on Oahu because you simply can't see it all in one day. I can't wait to go back!

The Polynesian Cultural Center was so fun. You can go back for 3 days after your first day. Our whole family loved it. We spent 3 days there and still didn't do everything. Very clean, we learned a lot and it was really fun!

That was a great experience for the whole family. We enjoyed the guided tour, delicious food, and a wonderful show. I would recommend it to all my friends.

Amazing Experience that is both educational and entertaining. MOST definitely worth it to do the Luau and the Ha Breath of Life Show... for sure the show. If we ever go back to Oahu we will be going again.

When we purchased the tickets for this event it was not brought forward that we had to also purchase our travel pickup to and from event from hotel

We did the Super Ambassador tour. We had Luis as a guide. He was so knowledgeable, making sure he explained cultures to us as we arrived in each village. He ensured our visits were timed so that we could view the shows. He was amazing!! We did the luau afterward. Food was really good. We saw Ha: The breath of life after our dinner. Our day was wonderful and would recommend!

I went on a cruise to Hawaii and with one day, I think the Polynesian cultural center was the best option. I took a bus (yellow A) I took it in front of the Pier and it dropped me off, right outside. The scepter is very fun and you learn a lot about the Polynesian islands, they have shows every 15 minutes.

We visited the Polynesian Cultural Centre as part of a pre-cruise excursion with NCL. It was one of the highlights for us. Such a big place, with dedicated 'villages' for each of the Polynesian cultures. Hawaii, Tahiti, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, New Zealand. Give yourself several hours to take it all in.
Beautifully presented with demos of crafts, dancing and songs, how life was and is now. The opening show on the river was sensational!!
It was great to see how accurate the narrated information was.
Well done everyone!!

It is an absolutely extraordinary day. Upon arrival, the staff is friendly and smiling! Everyone makes sure we have a good time. The dancers and singers are very good! A beautiful activity for those who want to better understand the islands of Polynesia! I recommend it to all! BRAVO!

The Polynesian cultural center was outstanding! It is very well organized. It is run by volunteers from Hawaii Bringham Young University. They pay there tuition by volunteering at the cultural center. The center is divided into Polynesian islands and you go from island to island learning about the different Polynesian cultures that make up Hawaii. Entertainment is top notch and activities invite audience participation. I recommend doing the upgrade for the lua and having a tour guide upgrade instead of self guided also the upgrade for the Ha breath presentation Transpirtation was an issue for my group that’s why I gave it 3 stars My package included transportation from my hotel to the center. We had a fabulous bus driver but the company did not provide him with reliable buses. He picked us up late because his bus broke down and he had to get another bus Then going home we were suppose to get home by 10 pm. But he had another problem with the bus. We had to wait hours while he tried to fix it. It turned out he couldn’t and they finally sent public shuttles and we didn’t get home until midnight! Our driver was great. He got the shuttles to deliver us directly to each of our hotels rather than the original pick ups where we would have been walking late at night back to individual hotels. My suggestion give our bus driver a raise and up your maintenance on your buses. What the bus company did is unacceptable!

Very unhappy with our experience today (23 May). My mother, who’s celebrating her 69th birthday, got very unwell (headache, backpain, feverish due to hot weather) in the middle of our tour. We decided to part ways with the group as we did not want to slow them down, and eventually decided to leave the place in the hopes that we’ll get to reschedule our luau and evening show tickets. Left my mom with my dad at the fishing area as she couldn’t walk anymore. My sister and I headed back to the entrance to get a wheelchair and to check if we could reschedule our tickets. Spoke with someone at the main entrance, shared with him the situation (how my mom is unwell and needed to leave so we have to resched) and he advised us to speak with the lady at the ticketing/reservations booth. Spoke with one, who straightaway said they do not allow rebooking even after sharing the whole situation with her. I asked if they could reconsider given that it is an emergency, and it’s to celebrate my mom’s birthday - and she said she will check. We told her my mom’s still inside, so we need to rent a wheelchair to get her out, and to also book a car back to Waikiki. And she just said “why don’t you get a wheelchair now while I wait for my supervisor to respond?”. And so, we did. After paying $25 for the wheelchair rental, I started booking a Lyft to take us back to Waikiki. As the price was around $450, we decided to wait for the 6pm bus instead (it was already around 3pm), and to find a comfortable airconditioned place for my mom to wait since she was feeling very hot. We returned to the lady, to check if her supervisor has already replied, and to ask if there’s an airconditioned place nearby where my mom could wait since the Lyft to Waikiki is too expensive. She said yes, there is a first aid clinic very close to the entrance, and they could even get my mom from where we left her, and she could lie down as they have some beds inside. What the absolute heck?! Why only share this very important piece of information after she made us go rent a wheelchair (which we tried returning but were refused a refund)?! Knowing the full situation at hand?! She even asked us if we left our mom inside the park, and we told her we did because she couldn’t walk anymore. And she did not bother to share this information with us that time. Instead, she encouraged us to go rent a wheelchair while she wait for her supervisor to respond. There was no empathy whatsoever. She only offered this info because we asked. She could see we were very distressed, and she was just indifferent. In the end, she mentioned the whole month of May is fully booked so there is nothing she could do to help us (didn’t even offer a refund, we are leaving in a few days and cannot opt for June). It was more important for us to get our mom, so we didn’t bother with her then . After bringing our mom to the clinic and giving her some meds (which, mind you, we had to buy ourselves from the Ukelele store across - following their advice as it seemed like the first aid clinic didn’t have any of these basic meds), she managed to rest for 3hrs and regain some energy to attend the luau dinner/show. But we are certain she just forced herself as she didn’t want to waste money since we could no longer rebook the tickets (she slept the entire time at the show). It was a terrible experience and I am so disappointed. Especially since this is my second time visiting (been there 6 years back), and I used to remember it as an amazing place. Exactly the reason why we chose this as the place to celebrate my mom’s birthday. It has unfortunately become a money-hungry, greedy organization that will always seek ways to make money instead of helping - which is ironic because it is supposed to celebrate different cultures and people.

Enjoyed our visit at the PCC. They truly treated us as Ohana during our visit.

You can bring in water bottles with you. Plenty of places to refill them.

Lots of family friendly activities to do. The dinner buffet and Ha- Breath of Life show were outstanding. Worth the price.

Your admission to PCC includes a re-admission to do the activities you didn't get to do at the 6 different islands. Ask at the ticket office to make sure they are still offering this.

Your re-admission doesn't include dinner or the show.

This is a MUST visit when on the island of Oahu. Rent a car if you are staying in Waikīkī or purchase a package at your resort. True value for the admission and great FAMILY entertainment.

Unexpectedly good experience. Hosts all friendly. Cultural experiences sensitive and awakening. Food buffet excellent. Show really really good!

Even better than the last time we came. The Evening Show was Spectacular!! I loved all the dancing but especially the multiple fire twirlers. We went to all the shows in the center and loved them all.

We bought the Super Ambassador package which was well worth it. We had a personal tour of the 6 islan in the center, and we got first row or second row seating for the shows we wanted to see. Learning more about each islands culture was amazing. The demonstrations and shows, music, and the luau show were amazing and the food was perfect. The shopping options were very good and the end of day show HA breath of life show was very menorable

Average experience, luau was not worth the price. I was told the luau was a must because it’s an authentic Hawaiian luau…..well maybe it used to be! It’s nothing more than a buffet dinner show with below average food. I could see better in Branson or Las Vegas for a lot less money. The grounds are well maintained and the exhibits are educational and entertaining. The show Ha the Breath of Life is magnificent, it was worth seeing. If you’re only interested in a luau, skip this one and just go to one at one of the hotels in Waikiki. This place is way overpriced.

100/10 would recommend. Worth every penny. From the driver Shaft to my tour guide Tua from Tahiti which she was very knowledgeable and gave us tons of information. Will be definitely coming back next time I visit. They keep the show going rain or shine!

It was so much fun and educational. The buffet was the best we have ever been to. So many choices and everything we had was so delicious! The night show was so amazing. We loved it all.

What an experience! Starting with our incredible tour guide from Fiji, we felt welcomed and relaxed. Each 'island' we visited was beautiful and informative. Everyone was extremely helpful and attentive. The luau food was fresh, delicious, and all you can eat! Entertainment was top notch.

This is well worth the price. We splurged and did a private tour which was excellent. We had priority seating at all the shows and at the luau. The staff were all excellent. Our guide Kei was a lovely young man who was knowledgeable and informative. All of the villages were authentic and a great experience. The luau was too notch and food quality was excellent. The finale Ha: Breath of Life was vibrant and quality.
As non religious guests, we were hesitant that it might be a religious experience (as it’s run by BYU) but it wasn’t at all.

A wonderful place, beautiful, more friendly staff than at Disney, is a real paradise. I did with a Guide very good people who spoke even Portuguese. Meli!! Student from Fiji, the place serves to pay for their college studies, look so cool! The presenters of the islands always very funny, with great dances and show, the Lula is very cool wonderful food and the show at the end of the day is very worth it is very exciting! Note a thousand!!!

We did the Cruisetour with Norwegian. The first three days we toured O’ahu with Maureen. She was the best tour guide and made our tour educational, prompt, humorous, and comfortable. I could go on and on. She truly is a great tour guide. The last 7 days, we will be aboard Norweigen’s Pride of America ship. Maureen is taking us to the ship now. Thanks Mo!

This place was so wonderful. We went to the center, the luau and show. It is so refreshing going to a place where everyone is happy and enjoying themselves. We didn’t see one unhappy family or visitor. The employees were kind, knowledgeable and happy.

A fantastic experience and full of value. We went with out kids ages 10 and 11.

For starters, the PCC is owned/operated by the LDS Church. We knew going into this that it was going to be family friendly, and sure enough it was clean fun. They did a fantastic job of making the PCC strictly about the Polynesian cultures.

The staff were all amazing. I know that gets tossed around a lot, and I like to give staff kudos too. That said, they took it to another level. We were constantly included into hands on activies that we missed the start of, told of presentations, asked if we needed guidance, etc. Our guide even gave us her phone number, if we wanted to ask for guidance after we left the group.

The islands add a TON of value over a generic luau that you'd pay close to the same price for. They are whatever you want them to be. You can spend a full day plus doing all the activities if you choose. They offer a 3 day window to do the islands too. We chose to do the luau and show one day, and the islands a different day. We spent 3 hours before having to leave, and left very satisfied. Its as advertised.

We did the Ali'i package, and the Luau was great. The food was very good, as was the service and show. Honestly, I thought the overall price could have been just for the Luau with the rest as a bonus. My kids absolutely loved the pineapple, coconut smoothie concoction they made with free refills. Very nitpicky, but the pig/oven presentation happened so fast that we didn't get the chance to cross the seating area to see what was going on before the pig was being carried out.

The Ha Breath of Life show was very well done with an opening reminiscent of the Broadway version of Lion King, and a closing with fire knives. The story lagged a bit in the mid, but the performers all did an amazing job. It was a very physical show and those guys/gals deserve a ton of credit. From live music, to costumes, set design, dance choreography, etc, it was a very professional setup that was executed well.

I recommend to everyone who comes to Hawaii! The food at the luau was fantastic and the entertainment phenomenal! A must see!

This is an amazing experience!!! I HIGHLY recommend the Polynesian Cultural Center. The staff is also amazing!!! Sign up for the whole package (Islands, Luau, and the HA-Breath of Life show) You will not be disappointed!!! The staff was not only amazing but also, informative and nice. We splurged on the super ambassador package-SO WORTH IT!!!! We will never forget this experience.

This place is awesome! We purchased the VIP package because we were celebrating our 33rd anniversary. Our guide was Aaron, originally from Fiji, but currently from Australia. He made our day & was worth every penny we spent extra. He treated us like royalty. I loved listening to his stories of his own mother & how he will be the 1st in his entire family to graduate with an education. All of the presentations at each of the islands were so good. We got hula lessons, taught how to use the sticks they use in their music, & a recipe for their coconut bread. We had reserved seating for everything, so we could take our time getting to each place, getting to learn more about each culture from Aaron.
The food wasn't the greatest; the "professional" photos were terrible upon looking closer; I didn't appreciate that we couldn't take photos with a camera at the Ha: Breath of Life show. I would have given it 3 stars had it not been for Arron.
P.S. Orchid leis are VERY hot. Skip the tram & movie. Get the ukulele lesson. Spend extra for the VIP experience.

I paid a lot of money to have to walk around in the hot sun and get culture teachings…very boring and loooooooooooong. I do not suggest it and am sad we wasted a day in Hawaii here

This whole day and experience was amazing from beginning to end. The hospitality, the shows, the food and our tour guide Jazmine was outstanding!!!

Great way to see the Polynesian islands and cultures. The presentations were all great with a lot of talented performers. We had a personal guide, and it was well worth it to get to see the most in the one day we had. We would have loved to go back again and could easily spend two days to see everything. It is wonderful that they include the extra days with the price, wish we could have seen more.

My husband and I had a terrific time with our friends. Our tour guide was terrific. The buffet was yummy, and we enjoyed the islands and the canoe parade. The Ha , Breath of Life show was breath taking and beautiful.

We visited earlier this month and really enjoyed our day. The package we chose included transportation to and from our hotel, admission and buffet dinner. I believe it also included the show in the evening but we were tired and left after dinner. We loved the show along the river and our visits to the individual islands. The center is very clean (like Disney clean) and the staff was very friendly. A wonderful day.

Imagine that you thought you were going to a Marine Life Conservation Center and find out it’s actually Sea World, where marine life is exploited and orcas do tricks for the audience’s pleasure. That is the Polynesian Cultural Center.

The entire operation was built and is operated by Mormons. Every person working there is a Mormon, and there’s a creepy vibe as a result. I asked if anyone who worked there wasn’t Mormon, and they said they “weren’t sure.”

The event starts with a weird dance and song routine by the students set to a dance beat to get the crowd “pumped up” before they open the doors.

Once they open the doors, there is a canoe show where students, again in costumes, float around on different canoes representing different islands sing a cringe-worthy song about family as they float by and wave and smile and sing and dance for the audience in a way that is forced and unnatural (also set to a dance beat). The sound is horrible, the song is horrible, and I was horrified that I signed up for this. I actually thought this would be a learning experience.

Students attending Brigham Young University are, for the most part, forced to wear costumes and pretend to be indigenous “characters” that kind of stand around awkwardly in various “scenes” that represent each island. These have been staged for your amusement. In all fairness, some are actually from those islands on Oahu studying for school, while others are just of that ancestry, but it was all forced.

The tour guides are not experts on Polynesia but instead memorize extensive scripts that they repeat from memory, but they can’t answer questions that aren’t covered in their script. Meaning that you are fed exactly what the Mormons want to you to know and their own telling of Polynesia. It does not come across as genuine or authentic because it is, in fact, not at all genuine or authentic.

The dinner food is absolutely disgusting with the exception of the pig. Think: “wedding reception at a Radisson hotel.” And don’t expect a Mai Tai. It’s Mormon, so when I asked for one, they didn’t even know what a Mai Tai was. They laughed when I told them it was alcohol because Mormons don’t drink, so you don’t either.

The food to purchase are things like hot dogs and cookies. Not at all native Polynesian. Most of the items in the gift shop were not made in Hawaii or anywhere in Polynesia. Many were marked “Made in China.”

The “Ha, Breathe of Life,” play (they give you a playbill) had aspects that felt like a big-budget college musical production put on by the drama department. There were moments when it was good, but the “play” was a very loose story designed to, again, have college students dress up in native garb and dance around for your amusement. I’ll admit, the fire portion was cool. One woman sitting next to us was trying to recruit another woman to join the church.

The vibe is awkward and cringy across the board and it really left a sour taste in my mouth. Know before you go that this is a money making and recruitment tool for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and not at all meant to be a genuine, authentic learning experience.

We had an awesome time at the Polynesian Cultural Center. Our tour guide, Paul, was very knowledgeable and fun. Wish we had more time. The Breath of Life show was fantastic.

THIS WAS FABULOUS!!! We brought the Super Ambassador Luau package, I know it is expensive but if you want to get the most out of your visit here it is worth it. The best part about this package is that you get your own personal tour guide! We loved this part the most as he was very informative and looked after us for the whole afternoon. We felt like we learnt so much about Polynesian culture and how they are all integrated. It also felt like we were getting a true Hawaiian experience. It is a long day and we were all tired at the end :)

We did the Super Ambassador package and it was honestly one of the best days of our trip. I went with my youngest daughter and our tour guide Amelia from Tonga was incredible. She was so kind and loving toward my daughter the entire day and really made the experience special. My daughter especially loved when Amelia taught her how to weave with leaves, and when it was time for Amelia to leave she was actually sad to say goodbye. She’s been talking about Tonga ever since and says she wants to visit someday to see Amelia’s culture for herself.

We also did the Luau and the food was great, lots of variety and everything was fresh. The evening show, Ha: Breath of Life, was amazing too. The fire dancing, music, and story were the perfect way to end the night.

Everything from start to finish was so well done. If you visit, I definitely recommend the Super Ambassador package, and if you get Amelia as your guide, you’re in for something truly special.

The Polynesian Cultural Center is quite simply, phenomenal! The experience was so uplifting, I was moved to tears.

The structure of the place is around cultural presentations and demonstrations around the different regions/countries of Polynesia. I spent the day mostly on the shows, though most do a bit of both with the highlight being the night show, “Ha”.

It is put on by students of the local university who are of the different countries and are essentially in work study programs from abroad so it’s also a good cause and what gave it extra meaning.

I would recommend the buffet too, it was not only delicious but also on the fancy side in terms of the spread.

Expect to spend all day and it is simply incredible!!!

Great way to spend your day,fun and educational. Buffet was exceptional and the breath of life show was very,very good. The staff was extremely helpful.

Fascinating & informative experience. Much better understanding and appreciation of HI and other Polynesian nations.

It was amazing learning about all the different cultures of the Polynesian people. Lots of different presentations and activities to choose from and participate in. The Buffet was delicious and easy for people with special food needs. The Breath of Life show was an incredible performance that we loved!!

We spent the entire day here and had a lot of fun. We took a canoe ride (must do!) and visited all of the stations. We learned so much about the cultures and everyone was so nice. The luau was great and the service was so friendly. The absolute highlight, though, was the ring of fire “Ha Breath of life” show. It will take your breath away at the end. It starts off slow but the ending is worth every bit of money. Truly incredible!

We loved visiting the activities that were in each island (village)! The buffet had so many foods and a fabulous variety of desserts! The Breath of Life was an amazing show! Show up right when the place opens. We only had time to see 3 of the 6 villages! This place is well worth the money and time!

Oh my goodness. All I can say is it’s a fun time, a good place for tourists, and the staff are literally the friendliest people ever.

My mother, daughter (8), and I visited the center. We bought tickets a few days in advance. Rather than eating at the buffet, we ate at the marketplace / food trucks in the same area.

It was pouring rain, so we had to buy ponchos at one of the gift shops. Save yourself the money, and bring a small foldable poncho that you can toss in your bag.

The island areas really neat. The performers were engaging and answered questions. I recommend planning your way around the islands by checking the activity schedules within each section. There are ongoing live events and interactive activities. It was entertaining and informative!

People start lining up early to get into the show. I’m not sure why since everyone has an assigned seat. Photo and video are prohibited. It was chilly with the AC, so wear layers.

The show itself was amazing. I enjoyed it, and my daughter was on the edge of her seat the entire time. Highly recommend!

When you leave, either get out as quickly as you can OR hang around and extra 45-60 minutes and wait for the congestion to clear. We got stuck behind massive tour buses almost all the way back to Waikiki.

We visited the Polynesian Cultural Center on 12/20 with the Alii Luau Package which included a group guided tour, the luau buffet, and the HA show. We also booked transportation from Waikiki through PCC. The motor coach pickup was convenient and our driver provided info about the things we we saw along the drive. Our group tour guide, Kiki, was fantastic! Friendly and engaging, she was able to make the tour fun for both the adults & children in our group! The buffet food was ok, but we were tapped to join the buffet line later in the dinner service, and by the time we finished our first plate, some desserts had already run out. Sad we didn't get to try the creme brulee, so recommend grabbing dessert with dinner. Overall, we had a fun, all day experience at the PCC!

My family and I had a wonderful experience at Polynesian Cultural Center. A bit pricey for a family of three but we got to experience different cultures, food and entertainment. The value was worth it and we had a lovely time.

Driving to the cultural center, was also an adventure, we were able to see the lush green forests and the beautiful scenic view of the ocean. The cultural center is a beautiful place with beautiful people. Each area represented the islands heritage and we were able to experience their unique culture. Plenty of food to choose from at the buffet. The desserts were my favorite. Stay for the show, it was a great way to end the night.

Best experience we had in Hawaii. We did the Super Ambassador package with the Luau. Truly amazing worth every penny. We had an excellent guide Almay. Kap from Samoa was very funny and entertaining. So much to experience. Wonderful for everyone in my party of all ages. The show Ha, breath of life was fantastic!

The highlight of our trip! Loved it. Book the Super Ambassador Tour Package and you will get to see so much more, as your private guide will plan it all out for you and reserve your seats.

I didn't realize this before going, but the cultural center is run by the LDS church (Mormons).

Very little was said about the impact of colonization on the indigenous people of the Polynesian islands. As an indigenous Canadian, I really feel sorry for the international university students who are working at this center who are forced to "play indian" to appeal to tourists and to earn their tuition at the affiliated university. The fact that the center refuses to even acknowledge colonialism/imperialism is deeply problematic and insulting.

I was really looking forward to learning about indigenous Polynesian cultures and history, but was left sorely disappointed and very uncomfortable with what was presented.

The Polynesian Cultural Center is unmatched
In learning , hands on activities , and
entertainment in Oahu, Hawaii. Great way
to spend a full day with your family learning
about the customs and culture of Hawaii and
all of the islands that make up Polynesia .
You will be amazed by the talent of all of the
performers in the cultural dances, singing ,
and tribal skills showcased here. This is a great
place for all ages . You can’t miss the Luau -
Absolute Best in Oahu !! The HA Breath of Life
Show at the theatre will leave you Breathless !!
You Can’t Miss This One !!

A plethora of entertainers wowed us, engaged us and shared with us a wealth of knowledge and insight regarding the islands of the Pacific.
Period costumes, coupled with an array of authentic displays provided us a glimpse of the past and the cultures brought forward to today.

Best to visit on a cool day.

Cheers.

I approached the Cultural Center as a one-day excursion. Ultimately, I spent three days there. The performances, displays, and activities were very engaging. I particularly loved the Maori, Tahitian, and Fijiian performances, as well as the outrigger canoe rides in the lagoon. The "Ha" show was excellent—who doesn't love fire knife dancing? The buffet, served in a large Polynesian-style hall, was also top-notch.

Awesome time and well worth the cost. The pass gives you 3 days of admission and there’s so much to see and do for each of the 7 Polynesian Islands represented you won’t have enough time on one day. The buffet was great and there’s plenty of options even for a picky eater. Plus they have a secure phone charging station in the buffet restaurant. Which after visiting the. 7 Islands represented you’ll need a good charge. The HA: Breath of Life show was amazing and I loved the ending. Granted it makes for a long day but it’s well worth the experience plus the show keeps you engaged. The dancers were so beautiful. And kudos to the young Mana … he stole the show !! Keep up the passion in life and in your performances - you’re doing great ( I hope he sees this). My ticket entry was on the Portal 5 side of the theater. So I was sitting to the far left of the stage and I still had a good view which I was concerned about since I wasn’t center stage. But there really isn’t a “bad seat” or view. Definitely would come back again :)

We purchased the Super Ambassador package and our guide was Jeremy a recent graduate from BYU-Hawaii with a degree in Social Work. From the beginning to the end Jeremy guided us to our reserved seats of each village. We are concluding our travels to Spain, Dubai, Sydney, 21 day cruise to New Zealand and Polynesian Islands on to Hawaii. This was by far the BEST excursion and experience of our trip. It is amazing how talented the performers were in each Village and we were told that 70-80% of all performers are students at BYU-Hawaii. Kap from Somoa was the funniest and best storyteller I have ever encountered. Each island told their history through dance and song or storytelling. We visited Tahiti on our cruise but we learned much more about Tahiti and their culture at the village. Jeremy made sure we arrived just in time for each performance to our VIP reserved seats. Fiji, Somoa, Tonga, Hawaii, New Zealand, Tahiti were the island villages we visited. Plus canoe rides through the park. The Luau food was incredible and the evening concluded with a wrap up performance at the main Theatre. My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and the Super Ambassador tickets are the way to go with a personal guide. Thanks again Jeremy for making sure we experienced the essence of the Center. Otherwise we would have been lost 😎❤️😎

What an amazing experience! The whole family enjoyed this. Kids ages 20 and 7… entertainment was awesome and it was also very educational learning about the different cultures of each island. This was on of the major highlights of our trip, while traveling it’s very important to us to teach our children about different cultures.
It was so much fun we came 2 days in a row!

We were told to visit the Polynesian Cultural Center to get a taste of the culture. We were so glad we did!! We learned a lot in fun, interactive ways . The show was exceptionally well put on- interesting, exciting and memorable! We did not do the buffet because we knew we had to arrive later in the afternoon, but we had enough time to see so many things, even arriving around 2:00, We ate at Pounders- but next time I would definitely add the buffet to our whole experience.

I had the visit of the Polynesian Cultural Center as a must, as per recommendation of my friends. On a schedule of "The Bus" which is the public transportation in Honolulu I found that the bus #60 goes to the Polynesian Cultural Center. So, I could travel to there for $3. There are return buses up to 11 p.m. After the evening show I returned for $3, as well. I didn't forget to ask the driver where is the bus stop for getting back. I didn't have a ticket. At 11:45 a.m. they opened the Ticketing Office and I bought my ticket.
Everything is spectacular and beautiful. Don't miss it! At the beginning we enjoyed the river presentations of the costumes, songs, and dances of the seven different islands of Polynesia. Then we watched shows for their traditions. All the artists are students, volunteers. The buffet restaurant was full of surprises and delicious food.
On the top of everything was the evening show. It's something which you can see here and only here. Again dances, songs, but a lot of fire.

Definitely a must do when in Oahu! Wife and I had an amazing time and enjoyed every minute of it. With our personal tour guide, she ensured we didn't miss a thing. Great presentations, shows, activities, food, everything was so great! Thank you!

Sure its a bit touristy, but a fantastic day out and exceptional value, we normally aren't to these types of things, but we both had a very enjoyable day.

Keep up the good work.

Loved the Polynesian Cultural Center. I had been there 40 years ago but made a trip back to Hawaii with my husband and it is still exceptional. We did the all day guided tour with the Ali Luau and the evening show. It did not disappoint. I would highly recommend this tour. It was well worth it.

Highly recommend a visit. We did the 3 day ticket and used it on two non-consecutive days. There is so much to see and internalize that it's really impossible to fully enjoy the entire center in only one full day (burn-out). We took to the tour of BYU and the Temple which only takes 30-45 minutes and is well worthwhile to give you a better appreication of how unusual the entire concept of the cultural center really it. Very high production (almost Disney-esk). The center is beautifully laid out and the scheduling is such that it ensures that the visitors are evenly distributed throughout the villages to ensure a great vistor's expereience. Plenty of bathrooms and comfort-type services. Every village offers free on-hands learning experiences that make the visit extra special. Quick 15 minute movie in a nice air conditioned stadium-seated theater. Extremely helpful staff throughout. Free parking. The food we ate at the evening show was very good; buffett with large variety of main-meal options and desserts and beverages as well. This is a must-do for all visitors of Oahu.

My wife and I spent the afternoon/evening at the PCC. We paid for a package so we were part of a group of 10 people for the day with a guide and then everyone went to the dinner and show in the evening on their own. The guide was a student at the nearby university. He was very informative and ensured that we saw lots of events around the center. We had front row seats for most events. The food in the evening was good and the evening show was great entertainment. Everyone was friendly and engaging. You will be walking a lot during the day so wear good shoes. We had a great day and the whole day was a great way to gain a small insight into Polynesian history and culture.

The show was great. Would definitely recommend, if you have time. It was. Cute story line and it is very family oriented.

Viator sold us tickets but when we got there the tickets were sold out. Nothing wrong with the center but they need to not sell tickets with Viator if they can’t guarantee the tickets

Islands of Polynesia had more of a ‘theme park’ feel but was quite informative. Hourly shows were entertaining. Dinner buffet had a huge range to choose from and very good allergen info (for those with food allergies). Ha Breath of Life show was very good and professional, highlight of the visit.

This place exceeded all of my expectations! My husband packed his laptop thinking he would get bored at some point. But by 5:00p, we were scrambling to see everything and bummed that we couldn't fit it all in. We saw a lot but almost impossible to see and experience every single activity or show to the fullest. So impressed with the performances and the quality of the staff. I had doubts because they were "college kids" working there but every single person made us feel so welcome, so positive, professional and genuinely seemed to love sharing their unique culture with us. Our favorite villages were in "Tonga" and "Samoa". The HA Breathe of Life Show was the highlight for us, absolutely spectacular! We were very glad that we had opted to stay for it, even if it made for a long day. HIGHLY recommend!

I have been to the Polynesian cultural Center about three times prior to this year the last time it was about seven years ago. It has changed in someways and has improved overall.
I do feel they could work on the luau as far as the taste of the food. There were many options that was not an issue it was a buffet however I just felt the food was average. What was that underground pork that was excellent
Also would've preferred if I could visit each island and see each island show. They have it set up with six islands but because of the time constraints we could not see each islands performance and do activities for that island so we had to cut Some things out because of timing. With the super ambassador we get to first we got to sit in the first or second row so I did enjoy that service
We had a personal tour guide she was lovely did a great job
I do agree when we first entered they offered only warm water so of course I did not want that and then I had to pay to get a cold drink so again as super ambassador I think that was Not a good business practice I've already paid enough for the super ambassador package I shouldn't have to pay for a cold drink also within the first hour of entering the establishment
Overall I truly enjoy the experience again
And I will admit the show that they did at the end at 7:30 it was spectacular in my opinion it's hard for me to believe all these are just students they performed professionally

In mid-March, I went with my 5-month-old daughter and my husband. I was a little nervous because I didn't know anyone around me who had been there, but I was intrigued to visit because it had high ratings on various review sites.
I made a reservation under the Gateway Buffet (Night Show Silver Level) plan, and when I asked if it would be possible to have a Japanese guide with me, I was able to do so for an additional fee. (On the day, we were on a group tour and accompanied by another Japanese family.)
This turned out to be the correct answer! The Japanese female guide was bright and polite, and explained the culture and experiences in detail, so I really enjoyed it. We definitely couldn't have enjoyed it so much because we weren't used to English.
Unless you are fluent in English, we recommend having a Japanese guide!
Of course, it's good for night shows because you can understand the story better if you understand English, but if you don't understand it, I wonder if it means something like this? It was fun to think about it. And the final fire show was just as spectacular as the reviews said. . (My daughter was startled by the loud noise and cried...LOL)
If you have time in your schedule, we recommend a full-day sightseeing tour with a guide. please!

What is with their website? They keep showing pop-ups for contests and I cannot see and learn about anything. I cannot learn anything about the place and it's options.

Kimoke'o was the best! He was sooo informative n explained all the local history n traditions n legends, as well as treating us like family!

This is the most valuable highlight of my 7 days Hawaii holiday. There are rich content & activities in each polynesian village. Staff are friendly. Dinner & the shows were amazing! In Aotearoa show, the dancers were students. They shared which tribe they were from & what they’re studying. 2 of them just graduated the same morning I visited the centre. It’s very heart touching to watch the final dance to congratulate their graduation.

I read the glowing reviews and thought it sounded interesting. When I got there I saw all the tour busses and thought that was a bad sign. Then the opening show started and I was kind of regretting going. I'd bought the cheapest offering because I've seen enough luaus. Many of the seats in the shade were reserved for the higher priced tickets, and the show's scripted banter was a little smarmy.

Once that was over I went to the first village (Aotearoa) and watched a performance and talk for about the Maori culture. It was really interesting, and the performance was excellent. All the staff seemed very into what they're doing, and the also seem to be having a great time. Every village and show turned out to be great.

Eventually it got be time for dinner. The buffet is worthy of an excellent Las Vegas casino. There is more variety of food than I could possibly try, but what I did have was all really tasty. And if for some reason you can't find something you like in the buffet (which seems unlikely) there are various food trucks in and around the park (I suspect they're all there permanently).

Lastly there was the Ha show. This is also Vegas-worthy and very well done.

The entire experience is very well designed. There are place you can buy drinks and snacks throughout the day and the prices are reasonable (nowhere near Disney or stadium prices). There are strategically placed bathrooms, and they're sized well to match the number of guests. They're also very clean. The architecture is nice as well.

After the opening ceremony, I had no problem keeping in the shade for the rest of the day. The weather was near 90 degrees with bright sun, so staying in the shade was essential. I actually made it through the day without requiring sunblock, which is pretty great.

I don't think I'd do it again, but it's definitely worth doing once.

This place is very complete, has history, explains the way the tribes worked, is very visual and the staff is dressed very according to everything they explain, after the tour there is an area where you can buy souvenirs, desserts and even see a guitar show with Hawaiian dance. Very nice.

Great living museum about the Polynesian islands, with great attention to detail and many interactive elements. The Luau in the evening and the Hā shows are especially worth seeing!

This was a wonderful day of exploration of the various cultures of Polynesia with a highly motivated group of young people who want you to feel like family. We bought the package that provided a tour guide through the park, which we initially thought to disregard. However, our guide, Samira, led us through an afternoon of delightful shows, presentations, and displays that we could easily have missed ( and been frustrated about…) without her scheduling. At the end of the visit, she delivered us to the evening luau in perfect time. As the weather turned questionable, she delivered ponchos to us just in case. Great customer service. The list- dinner show “Ha- Breath of Life,” was a highly professional quality show encompassing all cultures of the Polynesian islands.

Friendly staff that are very knowledgeable. Lots of interactive activities in the villages.
Large buffet. Fantastic night show!! We would highly recommend this place!

Great experience! We booked the Ali’i Lu’au package for our group of 14. We wound up with a private tour group, which was nice. Our tour guide, Lou, was fantastic! There was so much to see and do. So many shows and activities! Even with a guided tour, we only saw maybe half of island experiences.

The Luau was great and included its own show. All of the staff were so friendly. The MC of the luau was fantastic! She walked around and got to know almost every group in the audience and made us all feel at home. She even mentioned my wife and I by name to acknowledge our 20th wedding anniversary.

The after dinner show, HA: The Breath of Life, was a great show. With the Ali’i Lu’au package we had GREAT seats. My favorite part of the show was the fire dancing. Super cool to see up close. We could feel the heat!

This is the third luau experience my wife and I have done in Hawaii and it is by far the best! We could have booked a luau walking distance from our resort, but chose to this one on the opposite side of the island. Totally worth it!!!

Our designated tour guide, Howre, was very friendly and helpful! He speaks Chinese and English. We highly recommend him! We truly enjoyed very part of the event at Polynesial Cultural Center!

I visited the Polynesian Cultural Center in July and enjoyed it very much, especially as a deaf traveler. They provided me with a sign language interpreter, which made me feel fully included. Nicky, the guide, was fantastic and taught me a lot about the different islands in Polynesia. I enjoyed the cultural presentations, exhibits, and hands-on activities on each island.

The luau food offered a great variety, including an allergy-specific menu and options for special diets. This was particularly important for me as someone with food sensitivities. When researching luaus, I was anxious about the food, especially since it was buffet-style. The allergy-specific options made it easy for me to figure out what I could and couldn't eat while still enjoying a great variety of dishes.

I also took a half-hour trip to the temple.

The Ha: Breath of Life show was amazing and fascinating to watch.

If you are interested in learning about Polynesia, deciding between luaus based on food sensitivity accommodations, and need disability accessibility accommodations for yourself or a loved one, I highly recommend the Polynesian Cultural Center!

Entertaining bus driver, excellent guide, and intriguing village visits. The canoe dance performances at the start were truly fascinating.
However, the evening was a disappointment. Dinner was served without any wine or beer - only Pepsi - with no prior notice or transparency. The dinner experience leaned too heavily on dramatic storytelling aimed at kids, which felt out of place.
The “Breath of Life” show that followed resembled a biblical theater performance, which wasn’t what we expected or hoped for.

This was one of the best experiences ever!
I had wanted to visit the last three times I was in Hawaii....but never took the time. Experiencing the full day ticket with my family was better than ever expected.
Originally I had booked the experience with a shared tour guide. The VIP private experience enhanced this so much, but I did not want to pay the additional $300ish for the private package. I kept getting emails closer to the trip with discounts, but the final offer the week before with a $40 discount was still too high.
The morning of the event, I received an email giving us the option to upgrade for $20 per person. Best money ever spent.
The VIP provides you with a host who discusses your interests and totally plots out all of the best attractions in each of the islands. Not only that, while you are at one attraction, they go and save you front row seats at the next attraction. The boat ride is reserved so there are no lines. We could not have done half of the attractions without the guide. Think of it like the FastPass at big amusement parks. Worth every single penny!
The food at the luau was great and there was a huge variety. We loved the endless pina colada smoothies served in pineapples, along all all of the options. The hula show was not fantastic, but it got the job done. We also loved the leis provided to everyone.
The Breathe of Life show at the end of the night was outstanding. We were so tired, we were not sure we would enjoy it, but we 100% did.
We signed up for the transportation package, so rode in a lovely new bus with great tours. It was only $30 per person, and an Uber from our hotel would have been a couple of hundred there and back. We cannot recommend the VIP experience enough!

Amazing organization , great show all over the islands. Each country have a special presentation for the guests.
The installation is well done.
And what to say about the show Ha, this is the best show i ever saw

This was worth every penny!! We did the Ali’i Luau package. Our tour guide hit all the highlights and got us to the luau on time. The tour includes fun activities and a canoe ride we all loved! The luau included beautiful flower leis and pina coladas (bottomless) in real pineapples. Watched them lift toasted pig from pit. Delicious buffet with Pepsi soda fountain included. Wonderful story of queens life led by delightful Hawaiian auntie. Then off to Ha Fire of Life!!! Great production!! We are from Orlando and this place is Disney quality!!

This was a full day that started at 10am and we did not get back to the hotel until 10:30pm. We found this place because wanted to go to a Luau. We felt there were limited details giving but heard "everyone says go here for their Luau". That turned us into getting the top tier Breath of Life package for 4 adults and 4 kids under 11. If you want to go do a Luau, go find a Luau on the beach somewhere, this is not it. This was a full day of learning about different Polynesian cultures in the blistering heat. The food part starts around 5pm and it is a buffet style banquet dinner with someone talking on the microphone the entire time. The heavily advertised "fire show" didnt start until 8pm and it was about an hour of Broadway show with 10 or 15 mins of "fire" at the end. I have to say all the of the performers all day were wonderful. They seem to really enjoy working there and sharing the culture. Unfortunately, that just wasn't what we were looking for. This experience is geared towards kids, but it is crazy to expect kids to be there for 13 hours! There is also a religious flare that comes out once in a while as this is owned by the Church of Latterday Saints. There is no alcohol onsite.

We have been to this great tourist attraction several times through the years while visiting Oahu. This time we were able to afford the Super Ambassador tour. It was well with it! Lifa was our personal guide, and she was wonderful. Personable, knowledgeable, and very friendly, a native of Tonga. She treated us as royalty. She asked our group our interests, and satisfied everyone with the attractions we visited that day. The luau for Super Ambassadors was seated up front for the entertainment, and the food was delicious. The big show at night gave Super Ambassadors front seats. Overall, it was great to get special VIP attention.

We had an awesome experience at Polynesian Cultural Center with the ambassador package. We had Savannah as our guide and she was great to get us to experience all what the Polynesian Cultural Center had to offer. The nigth dinner with the lively entertainment was amazing. The food was so good. The night show after dinner was exceptional. So professional prepared and presented with an amazing cast and performance. We highly recommend Polynesian Cultural Center for families.

I went not expecting too much as it as my kids idea. I was absolutely wrong, there was nothing about the day we spent there that wasn't amazing. The cultural show in the afternoon was very engaging and hands on. the meal at night was great food and fantastic service... and the evening show was incredible... stunning at every turn.

The history and shows were all fun and educational. Our guide. ELAYNA was the best! Very knowledgeable and helpful. All was great but she was the best part!

My Wife & I visited of the Polynesian Cultural Center this weekend, as per recommendation of some vacationers. Arranging transportation was very easy and the bus was on schedule at a designated pickup location. I found that making the transportation arrangement was much easier by phone vs online. There are return buses up to 10 p.m. we didn't forget to ask the driver where the bus stop for getting back.
Everything is spectacular and beautiful. Don't miss it! At the beginning we enjoyed the river presentations of the costumes, songs, and dances of the seven different islands of Polynesia. Then we watched several shows in their traditions. It's something which you can see here and only here. Again dances, songs, but a lot of fire. Mr. Chinguwan was our group tour guide, and he was absolutely awesome. He was extremely helpful and knowledgeable on each culture presentation ….

This place is a real treat! Allow plenty of time to explore all the different areas and be sure to attend the luau and show! The food was excellent and the show kept the audience on the edge of their seats. Scooter rental is $50 for the day, based on availability, and worth it for those with mobility issues as the land is not flat. Please note that advance reservations are a must.

We went to another Luau in Waikiki and for the price, it was nothing compared to our experience at the Polynesian Cultural Center. We paid for the guided experience with the upgraded luau and the night show. All of it was so interesting and fun. Our guide Exel was so nice. The college students are most of the employees and are from the lands they are teaching about. The Luau was delicious! The show was mesmerizing. We bounced back the next day to see what we missed . Totally worth it!!

A must see. Many souvenir shops and stands. Tons of food and drink options. Everybody here is very friendly and it’s a very nice atmosphere. We also came in June 2023. We will come here every time we visit Oahu.

The great - Canoe show at the opening. HA- Breath of Life. Please do this one! Getting to know the cultures of the islands.

The good - Food was good. Trust that you won’t have time to see everything even with their provided tour guides.

The could use improvement - Luau was entertaining but depending on where you sit dictates how late you eat the buffet. We were in the last section to go so we didn’t have a great chance to go back up as the first sections were already going for seconds.

While there was plenty of food, the quality was not good. Much of it was not tasty - even the pineapple wasn’t sweet. In addition, they had the usual fountain drinks, with no choice of something Hawaiian, like juice.

It was very disappointing.

It was a wonderful experience from start to finish. We highly recommend visiting and definitely plan to come back in the future. Special thanks to Sefo (our super ambassador guide) for being an outstanding guide and great human being. He is truly the best. Also, thanks to Kap for being a great entertainer and genuinely nice person.

We did the Super Ambassador package. We loved having a tour guide take us through each step of the way. She also saved us a spot at the front of each show. We had a boat ride, learned about the islands, what they cook, do, and traditions. My husband’s favorite island was Samoa. Then we went to the Luau show and dinner. The food was amazing and the dancing was beautiful. At 7:30pm we went to the night show. This is the best part. The actors and dancers are amazing. They put all they have into their singing and dancing!! The fire dancers are breathtaking. I loved that there was a woman fire dancer that took the show as well. A must see!

Good experience. Very informative and fun. The show was the best.
Make sure to book the bus in advance for the trip back, if not driving or staying nearby.

We booked the super ambassador package and it was well worth it. We had a great time and it was nice to have someone show us around to make sure we got to see all the shows. We got front row seats at the Ha show. It was excellent. We thought that we would have printed photos with our package so that was a little disappointing. We didn’t really need them so whatever, but if you’re expecting them you get a free digital photo, not a print. The Luau was so fun and the food was sooo good. Highly recommend going to this.

Always remember you go there for a delicious dinner and a great show..!! You won’t get disappointed 🤩 All the other activities that come with the package are ok. I have a great tour guide: Amelia (Mia) from Tonga. She was super patient and super nice. Mahalo Mia..!

The show HA was amazing. So many different cultures represented so colorfully! The choreography and set design were very well thought out and executed. The different “islands” were well thought out and the docents seemed very knowledgeable. If they didn’t immediately know an answer to a question they were fine saying they did not know. The buffet was huge and the offerings were very tasty and plentiful.

I paid $1,569.37 for a Super Ambassador Tour which was not super. My family flew to Hawaii separately from Japan and Illinois to honor my disabled parents in their 70s. This was their first and likely only opportunity to see Hawaii and it cost a substantial dollar amount to coordinate.

(1). Coordinating rental wheelchair storage required FOUR phone calls. My elderly and disabled parents needed motorized scooters (which I reserved) since I too am disabled so I could not push a wheelchair all day. We needed your staff to store it while we visited the park on a “super” tour, but this seemed to be the first time anyone had ever asked the question. Your guy told us to call another desk who also did not know. We were told to call and ask the third party scooter rental business if they could store a wheelchair (they couldn’t). He even told us to ask when we arrived which I knew was stupid. On my fourth call, I had to beg him to go ask someone and confirm there would be a safe place to keep our wheelchair. I cannot believe we were the first people to ever request this but none of your staff seemed able (or willing) to find out. When we finally got it secured, I noticed other rented wheelchairs so I was shocked why this was so incredibly difficult for your team – or they simply did not want to be bothered.

(2). We spent ~15-minutes after exiting our bus trying to find the Ambassador meeting area and spoke with TWO park employees who did not know and sent us to the front ticketing booth by the bus. We only needed to know where to go for the Ambassador meeting area and no one could help us!

(3) After another delay trying to find where to check in our wheelchair (your staff didn’t know), my family only got maybe 2 minutes in the lounge area and we missed the park opening show.

(4) The “VIP” lounge also only had WARM bottled water that no one would drink. Maybe islanders like warm water, but for a $1,569 tour - we expected cold bottled water – or at least ice.

(5) We did not know where to take the FREE photo and were never offered an opportunity - never saw a photographer and could not use the free photo redemption. I only remembered about it after reviewing your welcome e-mail after returning to Michigan. I also paid ~$48 for a luau banquet photo and was not given any other option. Was this supposed to be our free photo?

For a $1,569.37 "super” Ambassador Tour PLUS another $48 for a non-included banquet photo on a once in a lifetime vacation with my elderly disabled parents, these were significant disappointments and frankly shocking. Park employees did not know basic information (where we should go, what to do with our wheelchair), we were provided warm bottled water sitting in the sun, no photos, etc.

Great park marketing but poor delivery. However, our tour guide Ms. Vaihiani was Outstanding. She did an amazing job of taking care of my family and I wish the rest of your team could have been better. The park, shows, food were also amazing.

After your visit, you will be surprised at the breadth of Polynesian culture. You could spend all day at the center, or you can purchase just one aspect of the experience. All ages will enjoy the excursion, which can include immersive informational sessions, interactive activities, and the nightly show. Truly impressive and worth the price.

I booked tickets online through the Polynesian Cultural Center's site. It was easy and allowed me to book transportation from Waikiki as I didn't have a car. We had a fantastic day. Our guide was very knowledgeable as she escorted us through the park. The luau had great entertainment and the food was excellent. I especially liked the drink served in the pineapple. The evening concluded with The Breath of Life show that was equivalent to a Broadway-type show. It's pricey but you get a lot for your money.

If it is a question of discovering Polynesian culture, this is necessarily where it happens.
The entrance ticket is valid for 3 days, so no stress. The 6 villages offer typical endemic Things to do, typical shows, typical houses, typical objects. Everything is done to make you participate in (typical) Polynesian life.
But before that, you’ll have to go through Hawaiian art, culture and souvenirs as well as the beautiful ukulele shop that is worth a visit.
You will also have the opportunity to participate in either a typical buffet or a luau (ali'i, by Reservation) that is worth a visit.

This is a must for all those visitors to Hawaii.
You get a fantastic insight into the life styles of various Polynesian countires.
These visits help to pay for the education of many students who work at the centre.
Get to see Hawaii, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, New Zealand all in one action packed day. There are plenty of excellent photo opportunities.
There was an excellent buffett provided.
The Breathe of Life show was truly spectacular.
Thoroughly recommend to everyone who visits Hawaii.

The customer service was great and the performances were outstanding! I learned so much about Polynesian Cultures. I would recommend anyone visiting or living in Hawaii to visit this place.

From the minute we arrived on the pre arranged transportation we knew we were in for a good day. An informative driver who pointed out areas of interest on the hour long ride from Waikiki.
We were directed to our guide (Excel) who was welcoming, informative, engaging, helpful and knowledgeable.
The centre works like a finely tuned machine, with numerous guides walking around the centre with their groups, guiding them into shows, activities and exhibits with perfect timing resulting in no queues.
There are plenty of rest rooms, shade and water available, and guides will ensure your wellbeing on the tour which is can be up to 4 hours (but feels like 1).
Your guide will then hand you over to colleagues at the Luau, where the buffet includes various meats, fresh fish, salads, deserts and fruits which is available after your pineapple smoothie and lei greeting. Staff are equally as friendly, accommodating birthdays/special occasions.
While eating you are entertained by hula dancers and music on stage.
After the buffet, you are directed to the Breath of Life show, which is in an auditorium and fascinating to watch -this concludes at 9pm.

Observations
If any problems arise I feel confident that the staff will be able to sort them for you - whatever the issues.
Take a sun umbrella, there was ample tree shade in June but if its busy you could be exposed at times.
There are plenty of rest rooms and water stations throughout the area
Take a re-fillable water bottle with you.
It is a brilliant, interactive day - but if you are starting at 1230 by 7.30pm (after the buffet) older or younger generations may be tired and not appreciate the Breath of Life performance.

Credit to the staff at the centre - we were in awe of them! Well done!

Great review of the different Polynesian cultures. The Luau was fantastic and night show excellent. Our guide was kind and knowledgeable.

A full day's adventure of wandering through Polynesian islands where you can experience the cultures of Hawaii, Tongo, Fiji, Tahiti, Aoteara, Samoa. You have a chance to see demonstrations, interact in experiences and soak up the atmosphere. The people that work in and represent their islands are also incredible -- they want you to ask questions and they're proud to share.

We also took part in a luau in the evening. The stories and show that they told was excellent.

We got their via the motor coach from Waikiki -- Misi, our driver, was fantastic and telling us stories throughout the entire journey there.

I came from cruise ship and had to turn around. Uber fare $57 wasted on trip. Apparently a National Cheer group bought out entire facility. Forget the people with confirmed reservations. Unacceptable and disappointing. I was also double charged by Trip Advisor and waiting on second refund.

I loved the grounds of this place...just beautiful and clean and relaxing. Beautiful foliage, some waterfalls and just lovely. The different Polynesian 'villages' were interesting, and the people were very nice and full of information. I almost didn't go to the show because I've been to Luaus before, but glad I changed my mind and went for the package. It was cool to see the different countries representing their culture...Tonga, Tahiti, etc. Definitely worth seeing. We did the villages and the show only, and did food in one of the restaurants there, which was very good. Food trucks are there too, so plenty of different foods to eat beside the usual Luau type food. We enjoyed the bus driver we had on the trip from and to our hotel...very nice, and pointed out some interesting things on the way.

We went on a Circle Oahu and Polynesian Cultural Center excursion as part of our Celebrity Cruise. The Center is well-planned with villages for each of the represented islands. I really enjoyed the cultural presentations in each of the villages.

This offer is really recommended
You get insights into the history of Hawaii and you can save yourself many tours !!!
The best day of our holiday

Exel, our tour guide, was friendly and informative. The evening show was spectacular and a must see. It was a long day and worth it.

You can easily spend half a day here, especially if you are including the luau buffet and show. The is a real aloha spirit here, with all the people being friendly and hospitable. The people from different countries are genuinely proud of their cultures and happy to share information about them, so everything is upbeat and interesting. There is a shopping area (including a Christmas store) for souvenirs. The center is large, safe, clean, family friendly ... We had a buffet at a big place with murals on the walls and live music: good food with plenty of Polynesian choices (and some non-Polynesian choices in case you or your kids are picky eaters). The luau show was in a big amphitheater with a big cast of performers that incorporates different nationalities. It's on a scale of something you'd see on Broadway or in Las Vegas, ending in terrific fire dancing. The visit was enjoyable, educational, and entertaining.

Amazing day being immersed in the Polynesian culture. Definitely worth the drive (which had gorgeous views) to the other side of the island. Our guide, Wade, took us to many “places” to enjoy shows, demonstrations and fun activities. We explored new foods at the luau and everything was very good. We’d put this on the “must see” list and wish we had more time to go back for the extra days that are included. Great for families or just adults. Highly recommend!

Friendly staff, friendly and available ...typical of the kindness known to "iliens".
The gateway buffet was very good, super well organized, no waiting to serve etc...
And the Hā show was amazing

This was the highlight of our trip to the Hawaiian islands. There was so much to do and see, so much to learn, and all the individual shows were excellent. We did the big package (don’t remember the name of it, it’s the most expensive one) and it was well worth the money! We had our own private tour guide who lead us to all the shows where we had reserved seating, she gave us so much information, and background on the different dances, activities, cultures and languages. The food at the lu’au was some of the best we’d had during our trip. Some of it was authentic, and some of it was a fusion of modern cuisine and Polynesian cuisine (coconut crème brûlée, mango tart), but all very good. The Hā show was just amazing. So well put together and performed, with a story cleverly told using dances from all the cultures represented at PCC. We had no idea there was so much to do and would have loved to spend another day at the PCC!

The cultural activities throughout the six island villages of Polynesia were excellent. The guides and workers ( many of whom were students from the local university campus) were very enthusiastic and keen to impart information about their own culture from Samoa, Fiji, Tahiti, Aotearoa or New Zealand, Hawaii, and Tonga. We had purchased a luau and fire show package, but were unfortunately here on a Saturday and could not make use of their free entry on consecutive days to view and participate in more of the activities, as being a Sunday they were closed so we only had a few hours prior to our luau and show.

The food in the luau itself was, for me, a little disappointing, and I felt not authentic. The highlight of which is the carvery where a half pig was baked in the ground, but it was salty and dry to my taste, and the whole steamed yellow tail was also dry and tough. I hated wasting, but I had to leave most of the portion they served me.

Being the last table to queue at the main buffet line may have been the reason for the unrefilled dishes in the buffet, which is unsatisfactory as the beginning and end of a buffet for diners should be the same experience.

I was very disappointed in finally getting to the main buffet to see so many dishes not being topped up. The first dish in the buffet was salad, but it was all but empty and we had to ask for more fresh salad leaves. The baby corn was low, the chick peas also. An empty tray of crispy garlic shrimp with just sauce left. Vegetarian style noodles were very diminished, as was the chicken dish and the turmeric fish. Basically, I left with having to take one snall piece of whatever was available, so my family of 6 could taste something from the buffet as the hot dishes were not being refilled. Free drinks do not make up for what is one of the highlights of a Polynesian cultural experience - the luau food itself. The fresh fruit table was most welcoming to enjoy my childhood favourite of longans and dragon fruit - the mango was on the under-ripe side. I did not partake of desserts.

The fire show was excellent, with story telling that is very relevant to all peoples told through the eyes of the 6 island nations of Polynesia. Very professional show and thoroughly enjoyed. The package tickets are not cheap, so I felt the food should have been a highlight as well, but it was not for me.

There are so many amazing things to do here and to learn. Suggestion: do a little research before going and have a plan on what you specifically want to do and see. There is almost too much to do in one day to do in this place. The people are incredible and extremely knowledgeable of there areas and I would recommend this place to anyone going to Oahu

The buffet has variety food selections and worth the money. The luau has excellent presentation, great performers. Would go again.

We did the group tour, dinner, and show. The guide was very knowledgeable, and all the presenters at the exhibits were excellent. The dinner was delicious and the show was Disney-level quality.

Our first visit was a few years ago and was very rushed. This time we took the Ambassador tour. You still can’t see everything in day but you can see a lot more and at your own pace. We came back for a second day without a guide and saw pretty much everything on our list. I would do this tour again.

We did the tour, luau, and evening show. So incredible! My 2 children (10) loved it too. I enjoyed seeing these young adults embrace and share their culture. It’s an experience we will never forget. Worth it to drag the children away from the water!

Wonderful day! We did the guided tour of the "islands" where you learn about 6 polynesian cultures through shows, hands-on experiences, games, etc., the evening luau, and the Ha' Breath of Life show. Only complaint was not enough time to see everything in one visit, but the ticket is good for 3 days of visits to the "islands" if you are able to fit it in. Fantastic learning experience! Great for families. Deserves to be far further up the list of things to do on O'ahu! Your ticket price goes to help the student employees from the islands pay for their college tuition. Highly recommend!

Outstanding day! Cultural center was fun and informative with lots of interactive learnings. Staff was friendly and excellent teachers of the cultures and crafts for each island. Ended day attending Breath of Life. Such an amazing show! Caution, show is loud and may not be good for young children.

A must see and experience with family. A full day of cultural background, canoe rides to island, interactive activities for everyone. Friendly staff.

This was a must see in my opinion. It is a full day if you do the luau and show. It gives you an opportunity to see the Polynesian culture across the pacific and has it separated into 7 different cultures/countries. The Polynesian Cultural Center also has higher education programs where the Polynesian families can get education and be debt free by working at the center while educating the tourists on their culture. The entertainment was extremely good and the food is authentic and very tasty. The next day we had a tour around the island and we went by the Polynesian Cultural Center and he said it was authentic and he was a local guy that grew up in that area. It is a distance from Waikiki but they did provide a bus service for a fee back and forth. This was the only time I could not use an Uber to get there. This was still less expensive than car rental and hotel parking fees. They charged $39 per person and the trip was about an hour and a half each way. The bus tour guide was very informative about the island’s history and mythology. We had the VIP pass with a group guide. This was nice to have a person from the school and showed her appreciation and she was getting her degree as a pediatric nurse.

Local university students at BYU- Hawaii from Hawaii, Samoa, Fiji, Tahiti, Tonga, and New Zealand present their cultures through demonstrations and exhibits. The villages offer a wealth of information about these Polynesian cultures. The staff are very friendly and welcoming. Gateway Buffet offers a vast array of traditional foods from across Polynesia. The Ha Breath of Life show is a truly incredible experience that is not to be missed.

What an awesome show! This show will captivate your attention from beginning to end and the actors bring it all to life with the characters they portray, you can’t take pictures or film the show but I give it a 10/10 for sure

Wow what an interactive day out. Absolute must see if you have children as so much to see, do and take part in. I think this is Hawaii’s take on Epcot centre visiting different islands and learning their culture. Lots of places to sit and enjoy the views and the staff, most of whom are university students are so incredibly polite, helpful and engaging. The buffet was quite honesty the largest I’ve ever seen with quality food. Impossible to be hungry after that. The show was perhaps a little long but nevertheless spectacular. Take a bag with a jacket or coat as it did get chilly. There is food and drink in the park at very reasonable prices . My only criticism is that there are only shops with merchandise near the entrance/exit which makes it quite congested. We had the bus from Waikiki which was an excellent way to get there and see more of Oahu at same time as it’s about 7O minutes away. A great day out.

We really enjoyed this place. Everyone was very kind and helpful. Each island has lots to see and experience. We chose the buffet and so glad we did. Lots of choices and by the time we had done all the islands it was nice just to sit and eat a meal on our own schedule rather than a show. The buffet was is a very large building that was nicely decorated. The evening show (LA) was wonderful and worth staying around to see. One of the best things we did on our trip to Hawaii.

We did a self guided island tour with the grand buffet package and the breath of life show. What a great day it was! All of the islands had their own shows, activities, and unique flair - Samoa with Kap will be memorable I promise! You could easily spend multiple days touring these islands. The opening boat show you don’t want to miss!

For food you can choose between a grand buffet or a luau show. I’m have heard good things about it but we decided to go with the buffet as the selection is greater (the luau has only some of the items that the grand buffet had) and we already had booked a luau during our trip. The buffet did not disappoint and we were very pleased with the quality and variety of options.

Finally the show. Wow! Each island was showcased for each stage of the story, incredible play! 10/10!

Visited the Polynesian cultural center in late March 2025.
To say the least, it was the worst trip advisory attraction I have ever attended.
It should be noted that the Polynesian culture is not accurate and does not represent Polynesia culture. I only know this because I took a Polynesian culture course in college.
The employees offering the guided tours as well as performances were not energetic or happy. They appear to be forced into offering their performances. Ticket pricing was not cheap for this attraction and the food and gifts offered were very expensive. I highly advise that you do something else with your time than attending this attraction.
What’s the final comment, this center is run by and for the profit of the church of the latter-day Saints. I have nothing against their religion however they are utilizing the allure of the Hawaiian culture for profit and funding of their religion. I’m sorry, but this is not acceptable and should not be acceptable to you.

I took my kids there years ago the best place ever to visit! Plenty things to do and many shows to see as well as learning their culture…

This place is amazing........It was actually better then we expected (however we didn't really know what to expect).

We found that we couldn't get around it in one day, there were so many hands-on activities and things to see. We missed a few "Islands", however we seen and experienced so much that it didn't feel as though we missed out on too much.

The kids loved this place. There was so much to do......so much to learn! They were so impressed that it was ran by the students of the university.

We also brought tickets for the Luau and "Breath of life show".

This was definitely hands-down, one of our highlights in Hawaii.

We were greeted with a flower lei and a virgin Pina Colada in a pineapple.
The food was exceptional quality and so much variety. It was so delicious, we all left with completely full stomachs ;)

The show that went with the Luau was entertaining and the backdrop was just beautiful.

The "Breath of Life" show, was unlike any we had ever seen. We were all completely blown away with the talent, costumes and story behind it. This is an absolute MUST!!!!

Lehman did a great job educating us & pointing out things as we drove to the Polynesian Cultural Center & Dole Plantstion. Teaching us Hawaiian words, reminding us of departure times & agenda/necessities for the next day!

Highly recommend! We had the Gateway Buffet package - food was absolutely amazing and our seating for the show was perfect! The show had amazing production value and we learned so much during our day at this park!

We had the Super Ambassador Package and, even though it's expensive, it's well worth the money! Each family is provided with their own tour guide who ensures that your family is up front to experience each of the 'islands' close up. She's there to answer questions and make suggestions regarding the activities, food carts, etc. At the end of the day, you are escorted to the luau which features a delicious buffet and an entertaining show. After the luau you claim your platinum level seats and settle down to watch 'HA Breath of Life' show. It's a great experience - there's so much to see, do and learn!

Took the super Ambassador Tour and it was worth it! Enjoyed every village, enjoyed every activity, and laughed so hard at the Tonga show I couldn’t wait to tell all my friends. Great family and friend memories for all.

We absolutely *loved* the PCC! When I booked our tickets a week in advance, the luau package was sold out. Fortunately, a couple of days later I received an email that said due to a cancellation our family of 4 could upgrade from the buffet to the luau. I'm so glad we did! We ended up with the Alli Luau tickets. We arrived at 12:30 and were put in a tour group with another family. Our BYU-H student guides were Sasagi (from Japan) and Vi (from Tahiti). They guided us through the "islands," which was nice for the first day as we could follow along instead of constantly looking at the map and schedule. We felt like we saw a lot that first day, though it was only about half or less of the islands area. The highlight was probably the Samoa show with Kai (a Samoan man with the skills of a stand-up comedian explaining Samoa culture) and the fire knives. We also liked the Tahitian wedding demonstration, tasting coconut bread, weaving, and the large canoe ride. Sasagi and Vi were wonderful guides. Then, at 5:30 they took us to our luau. We were given leis, and a professional picture was taken, which we got one free download. Great memory! Our server for the luau was another young BYU-H student from the Philippines. She also was super friendly and attentive. We saw the pig raised from the ground and enjoyed a great buffet. The roasted pig, huli chicken, shrimp, salad bar, purple taro rolls, and desert bar were delicious. We had virgin pina coladas with free refills; the first serving was served in a hollow fresh pineapple with a bamboo straw set at our table. All drinks were non-alcoholic and had free refills, and buffet was all you can eat. My kids said the poke wasn't that good; I wouldn't know because I didn't try that. While we were feasting, a luau show was going on. The dancers were beautiful, and the lady MC was great. After the luau dinner, we went to the "Ha Breath of Life" show. It was AMAZING! The theatre, which is located in the Hukilau marketplace, is large with very sloped seating so all seats can see the show well. The show really showcased all the dancing styles of Polynesia in a beautifully choreographed story. The ending with the fire knife dancing was breathtaking.

The tickets are good for 3 more days visiting the islands. We returned one more day to see more island demonstrations. We tasted poi, did the small canoe, bought calamansi drinks (yummy!), my daughter caught a fish in Tahiti, threw spears at coconuts, saw amazing show in New Zealand, and more. We also did the movie theater about Hawaii; it wasn't that great. The PCC offers shuttle to the nearby temple for the Church of Jesus Christ of LDS where you can view a movie that explains how the PCC, the Church, and the temple are all part of the same story. We didn't do that shuttle because we visited the temple visitor center on our own. Since the luau or buffet is NOT included in your return days, we had dinner at the food trucks in the Hukilau market and also enjoyed the shops. The market gets very busy. We easily could have spent another afternoon visiting the islands and shops, but we didn't have more time on our vacation.

We highly recommend visiting the Polynesian Cultural Center. It is a truly unique and enjoyable experience to be immersed in a living history style lesson on Polynesia. The workers are about 80% BYU-H students and are very friendly, attentive, and grateful to work there so they can earn money for the college expenses. Our advice is to make the most of the tickets and spend 2 or 3 days visiting the islands. One day is not nearly enough to see it all. And, the cost to upgrade to the luau is worth it. Our meal probably would have cost $50 per person at a similar level of restaurant in Oahu, and the Ha show is worth at least $50 per person. Plan ahead to make the most out of this wonderful experience.

Our Polynesian Cultural Center experience was outstanding... AND our tour guide Myriah made our day wonderful!!!

She was sweet, caring, had a great sense of humor and is very knowledgeable. She provided our family of 9 (aged 5 years old to 72 years old) with an outstanding experience. We learned so much about each of the lands she took us to. She addressed each of us by name. I highly recommend doing a guided tour. It was included with our package (luau) but can be added to the packages that don’t include it.

The luau was very good. The food was delicious with lots of variety. The table service and entertainment was fantastic.

The evening show ending in a fire twirling extravaganza was amazing.

The polynesian cultural center’s attention to detail is unmatched. Do this visit and plan on spending the entire day!

Beautiful, never seen anything like it. The beaches ⛱️, the valley, people, weather, restaurants, and the hotels beautiful.

Amazing experience
The staff is all students from BYU. Everyone was very courteous and kind. The energy of the place is outstanding. The fire and cultural show at night (Hā) is one of the best I have ever seen. Roslin our guide was amazing.
Must go attraction when visiting Oahu.

Bus arrived early but won’t let us onboard. Guide and driver just chit chatting inside. Won’t talk to us or answer questions. Just rudely waved us off to wait

From the moment you enter PCC you are surrounded by the aloha of all students of BYU . From our fantastic guide Ivan to all including waiters at luau, shop assistants not to mention performers at Ha Breath of Life show each one was amazing. Did the day tour then luau and the evening show. Everything was superb and everyone so nice and friendly. For the price it’s worth every penny. My 6 year old granddaughter also loves it. Not my first time to PCC have been on every visit and will continue when visit again. Definitely recommend, there’s no other attraction to beat it

Ezzy our guide, she was very knowledgeable and pleasant to spend the day with. With that said, if I was redoing the experience I would pick self guided to make it to each location and watch the performances of my choice. We had the Aloha luau the food is not even mediocre, the dessert was the best part this was unfortunate due to the price. The evening show Breath of life amazing, I don't think there could be a bad seat in the place! There was suppose to be a photo included in this package which we did not receive.

Our family enjoyed PCC very much. Children ages 11 - 7 didn’t want to leave. Grounds are beautiful, experiences are educational/fun, and staff were amazing.
Highly recommend if you are looking for a way to get an overview of Hawaii and Polynesia that is fun and informative.

It’s a nice place, but I would say rather for kids than adults. Islands seem to be very alike but there is still a few fun things to do. Dinner in the big food hall was impressive - tasty and broad choice, also for vegetarians! And the show - omg!

This so exceeded my expectations. To see a group of students preform such informative demonstrations about the culture of the people’s history here was amazing.
The hands on sessions were well planned and executed by all involved
The guides were well versed in the cultures history and easily answered any questions I had . Sooey, our guide was outstanding and was a beam of sunshine on what was a rain soaked day. Her positivity made the day go by so fast
The buffet and entertainment was exceptional and finally the finale show was something you would tend see from a professional acrobatic troupe, so to see students pull this off with such quality was awe inspiring
Definitely would recommend this tour to anybody visiting Hawaii

Perhaps my childhood religious trauma makes me biased, but this place really creeped me out. There’s a lot to learn about island culture, but in the most Stepford environment imaginable. I was uncomfortable.

Superb day packed with history, activities and culture. I spent a full day here exploring the different islands and talking to the staff.
Very easy to get the included transport return coach from Waikiki.

The entire place is a front for the Mormons. There is a Brigham Young University next door, and all the workers are hired from that university. This means, among other things, that every employee is a member of LDS, and follows all their rules, including but not limited to:

Rampant homophobia
Mandatory tithes to the church
Mandatory harassment of tourists (they will try to give you pamphlets)

Of course, the tithes and brutal nature of this cult mean that technically none of their employees make very much at all, so every cent you spend goes straight towards the Mormons. Negative feelings towards the Mormons aside, they do many things to hurt the quality of life on this island, and for people around the world, and if I had known, I would not have supported this place.

Additionally, two things bothered me that weren't directly related to LDS. The food from the buffet was very mediocre, especially compared to some of the rest of the food I got in Hawaii. Also, the Hā Breath of Life performance felt strangely... Christian? It felt like a show I'd see in church, despite the shirtless men and torches. I can't tell the line between "a performance for guests so that they understand" and "a perversion of the cultures we claim to represent," but nonetheless, take all of their "cultural" experiences with a massive grain of salt.

To their credit, the performances were actually very good! And the guides were very knowledgeable. Because it's an LDS conversion camp for all the pacific islands, the employees did actually come from the islands being represented. But even our own tour guide admitted that most of them didn't have much connection to the cultures from their original homes, and were taught (or forced into) their roles at the center.

Anyway, the LDS spits in the face of Christ and works to destroy human decency and freedom, so please don't support this place.

Amazing experience!! Everyone visiting the island should experience the full tour and shows. So informative, the students and performers all so good.

It is a long day to visit but ever interesting. My husband has trouble walking long distances but there were several opportunities to sit and rest at the special demonstrations. We loved our guide, Joseph. He was very entertaining and knowledgeable. Ask for him if you visit!!! The dinner and show was very good.

We bought our tickets online months before we took our trip. We saved some money buying in advance. We opted for the Super Ambassador package and it was fabulous! We had an excellent tour guide named Kyle that escorted us the entire day through each area. We started out with some snacks that we helped ourselves to before we got on our canoe ride. We had first or second row seats at each country for the presentations. There was a wedding vow renewal ceremony in Tahiti where we got a kukui (sp?) nut lei to present each other. Kyle also gave us pins that said happy anniversary on them. It was a little drizzly out, so we also got a couple ponchos. There is no way we would have seen everything that we did if we had been on our own. Kyle was very solicitous, asking if we needed to get something to drink, use the restroom, or stop for a bit. When it was time for the luau which is part of the package, we were delivered right to the area and greeted with flower leis. Our table was practically on stage with the performers! The luau was an all you can eat buffet and there were many Hawaiian delicacies featured. Everyone got a hollowed out pineapple (I couldn’t help but think about all the pineapples used for this!) It held a delicious virgin pina colada flavored drink in it. There is no alcohol anywhere in the cultural center. There are stores and restaurants that may have alcohol, but I’m not sure. The performers in each country were fantastic. After dinner, we went to the outdoor theater to see Ha Breath of Life, which was spectacular!! The drive home was interesting but luckily there was a line of traffic going back to Honolulu we just followed. Parking is free.

My husband and I waited 4 years to do this! We visited Oahu in 2020 just before COVID 19 struck. This closed before we could visit. The day begins at 12:30 when the gates officially open. We arrived promptly and were checked in. There were 3 options for ticket purchase. They all included the cultural center, difference being; private tour, group tour or self guided tour. Next the Luau was included in the first 2 with the 3rd package offering just a buffet. And finally, your seating for the HA Breath of Life show in the evening was assigned according to your package. This being said, we chose the 2nd package with the group tour and were delighted. Let me also mention, that this event is worth every cent of the ticket price!
From 12:30-4:30, you will visit 6 different Polynesian Islands. Each one will teach about the culture of the people, but there are different activities that accompany each. Everything from a canoe ride to Hula lessons, food tasting and musical performances in the native language. Those are only a few of the offerings. Our tour guides were Logan from New Zealand and Angelo from Oahu. What a pair! They were friendly, knowledgeable and just plain fun!
We also learned that the tour guides and many employees are college students at Brigham Young University on the Island. Part of each ticket goes to help these students with tuition. I loved this!
We moved on to the Luau. The tables were placed in a stadium like array enabling guests to view the show from anywhere. The show went on all through dinner with singing, various dance styles and a narrator. Dinner was a plentiful buffet with many choices including delicious desserts . We also received a non alcoholic smoothie in a pineapple! top-notch! From there we moved to the theater for the HA Breath of Life show. Our assigned seats were perfect. There is little information about this show except that it is a must see. I don't feel that I should go into detail, BUT it was fantastic. It includes music, dancing and narration. At the end , the audience can go onstage for photos with the cast. Awesome time!

Exceptional authentic performances. Super friendly and helpful staff. Great learning experience. The fire dancers were the best I have ever seen.

Bee our guide did a great job with our group of 9. We had kids from 13-6. He seemed to know how to navigate through out the day with activities and presentations to keep everyone active and engaged. It was a long day for all but what wonderful memories. Thank you for this great experience.

Amazing experience. Our guide, Ame, was great. We were able to visit all six islands and experience great shows and culture of each. We thoroughly enjoyed the luau and the Ha Breath of Life Show. The fire performers were amazing. The experience is even more impressive given most employees and performers are BYUH students. I highly recommend the Super Ambassador package to make the most of your time there.

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The Polynesian Cultural Center is authentic. All of the workers were fantastic. They really know all of their facts and actually care about their culture. I’ve never been more amazed at a performance art such as the one at the Polynesian Cultural Center. 100 out of 10 would spend more time there and do all over again. Was truly amazing.

Awesome experience we spent the whole day there and enjoyed every minute of it! Don’t miss the Tree of Life at the Samoa pavilion, Kap is super funny! The food at the Grand Buffet was fresh and plentiful, the Seafood was the best among all

Josephine provided the best personal & educational guided tour (Super Embassador Lu'Au & Evening Show) with front row seats at each of the six villages' performances. It was AMAZING! I was completely immersed in the Polynesian culture for the entire day. I would return in a heart beat!

A great place to go-plan on spending day. We did a private guide-great experience she was very knowledgeable-I had a wheelchair ( 80 ) it was very easy to get around and the show all day were great-front roll seats-when to their Lula-It was so so-but the show was worth it-Get their bus very easy

My family had a reunion in Hawaii with over 20 people. We chose the "Polynesian Cultural Center: Gateway Buffet Package," and the weather was sunny that day. It was a blast—from the convenient pick-up buses to the Center to the overall experience.

Sayen, who was assigned as our tour guide, made sure we visited all of the islands and attended the scheduled shows on time. We didn’t have to worry or rush around—Sayen was always there to provide information and answer any questions we had.

The buffet was excellent, and the show was amazing. The dishes were delicious, and the “Breath of Life” show in the evening was spectacular.

Highly recommended—it's worth every penny!

We really enjoyed this experience. Staff went above and beyond to help us. Our tour guides were enthusiastic, knowledgeable and a lot of fun. The luau seating was great along with the food and entertainment. Our evening was capped off by the wonderful show. I understand that later in the month they are bringing back the dancers and singing on the boat parade on the river. Sorry that wasn’t available yet during our visit. We saw that 10 years ago and really enjoyed it, recommend watching that once it’s reinstated.

We used the GoCity passes to see the Polynesian Culture Center and the Evening show. We would have included the Luau as well, but didn't have time for it. The Park is set up in major island groups of Polynesian culture from New Zealand to Hawaii. Each area has traditional huts & artifacts hosted by staff who share a little about the culture of their region. There are a number of activity areas & performances all day--its handy to know when they happen with the app, so you can plan your day efficiently. We got a short canoe ride & tour, who was funny and informative. The highlight of the day was the evening performance (we paid to upgrade our entry passes to include this). It was well worth the price of admission; the choreography, dancing and fire performances were second to none, and it kept me entertained for the entire time. If you only have time to splurge on one activity, don't miss this one!

The PCC rivals Disney World as the happiest place on earth. Everyone we encountered was cheerful and helpful. The performers were top notch. It was a lovely day of learning about the Polynesian cultures followed by a really delicious luau and a phenomenal Breath of Life performance. We especially enjoyed the Samoan presentation, the man was very dry and funny. Go for the whole day and soak it in.

I visited Hawaii for the very first time in March 2025 together with my sister and brother-in-law. Before this holiday, I have visited Fiji 6 times, French Polynesia/Tahiti twice, Samoa, the Cook Islands, Vanuatu, New Caledonia and Aotearoa/New Zealand 5 times. Least to say, I love the South Pacific Islands very much, their culture, the beautiful landscapes and seascapes, the warmth of the Polynesian and Melanesian people, etc. Visiting Hawaii was like completing the whole picture with a cherry on top of the beautiful cake!

We decided to visit the Polynesian Cultural Centre because we had heard so much about it and I had watched other visitors' travel Vlogs which featured this place. We purchased the Ali'i Luau package for USD175 per person, after getting an early bird discount of 15%. This package included admission into the Polynesian Cultural Centre, a guided tour of the 6 Polynesian villages, a short boat ride on the river, a premium buffet dinner(apparently, there is a cheaper buffet dinner, that we found out while we were here) and premium seats for the "HA: The Breath of Life" show in the 2500-seat theatre which featured the MOST AMAZING FIRE DANCING and South Pacific islands cultural performance EVER! The story of "HA: The Breath of Life" is so touching and relevant to everyone's lives. This show is absolutely the highlight of our visit to Hawaii!!!

We also had the honour and privilege of meeting KAP, a Samoan-born Polynesian who is a legend at the Polynesian Cultural Centre! Today, he is 58 years-old and he has been working here for 38 years. He entertains visitors by climbing 60-feet tall coconut palm trees everyday during a tree-climbing demonstration and he does a stand-up comedy performance with a twist, in the Samoa Village 3 times every day. The twist is: he plays with REAL fire on stage by setting alight a bunch of dried coconut husks by rubbing 2 sticks together! Then he puts out the fire with his bare hands or bare feet! ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE!!!!!

Do not use this. !!! The cultural center will not honor your booking with Tripadvisor. Just book it directly. With Pokynesian Cultural Center. I am trying to get refund and you will lose your booking and your plan will get ruined. DO NOT BOOK here !!!!!!

The highlight was the entertainment. The buffet was the best we ever had... fresh food, excellent variety, very clean area... inviting. Loved the beauty of the surroundings and the friendliness of the personnel.

Come here if you really want to understand the uniqueness of what makes the Islands so magical and special. They focus on 6 areas, from Hawaii to Fiji to Samoa, etc. We did the Super Ambassador package because I thought I may see more of the center that way. But you need 2 days to see just all the cultural presentations. And that does not include the hands-on activities, which are great. The Center is open only 5 hours each day (12:30 to 5:30). But the lu'au begins seating at 4:40, and with our package, you get the island canoe ride (which was ok) and the ukulele experience. So we had maybe 40 minutes in each island area. This place did sooo much in really teaching you about the different cultures--their staff were from these places and spoke their stories. I wish they staggered the openings so that Tahiti and Tongo were open from 1:30 til 6:30 to give more time to see all the cultural center. Look up videos after your visit to see presentations you missed. As faukulele. super ambassador package, there are pros and cons. The personalized, individual tour was great and your guide knows so much and can take photos of you. You also get close seats for the presentations. Let your guide what you like and if there are islands to focus on. (Samoa and Aotearoa were our favs.) But you may prefer more time in the islands than the canoe ride and ukelele. The seats for the Lu'au (which is food and dancing) and show were also amazing. But you can do so much on your own, too. Don't miss Ha! Loved it. (The only thing with a no photography rule). If you can come on 2 days, do it! Since it is from 12:30 til 5:30, you can also visit nearby waterfront parks and beaches, see Byodo-In Temple, etc

We had people tell us we needed to go when on Oahu so we booked our tickets for the center, buffet and the show. So impressed with everything! The employees were all friendly and helpful. We walked around on our own jumping from one village to the next. A lot to do and see. We got there almost two hours after they opened so I would recommend arriving close to when the doors open.
The village market area had nice shops and restaurants. We decided to do the buffet ( not the luau) and were very impressed with how quickly they got us to a table and the variety and quality of food was awesome! The dining area was lovely and they had live music going.
The Breath of Life show was our absolute favorite experience of the day. The auditorium is large with good seats and the show was touching and very entertaining. We loved the whole experience! Well worth the money.

This is a very neat place however, it is owned by Mormons (not exactly a bad thing) and often times you will be approached for an "extra free tour" but it is Mormon specific and will take you to see a temple, etc.

We went to the PCC on Dec 31 to close the year and our holidays with an all day experience while learning more about the polynesian cultures. Toa was our guide from Tahiti and he did a stellar job - if it is your first time, we highly recommended booking a guided tour. There is so much going on you will miss something worth trying unless you have a guide who has planned your visit for you and timed it perfectly. Thanks to Toa we could cover a lot of ground between 12:30 and 4:30: the Huki canoe celebration, various houses providing windows into the culture of Tahiti, Samoa, Tonga, New Zealand, Fidji… Every time with food tasting or activities where you take a more or less active role as an audience member (lance throwing is fun :) ). While it is obviously barely scratching the surface of each of these rich cultures you do feel you learn a lot. I also liked the humor that was pervasive throughout ; this place leaves you happier and more connected to not only the island culture but also their values of inclusion and friendliness. At 5pm we went on to enjoy the Luau, which was AMAZING - food was extremely good, plenty, and being able to eat while watching songs and dances is great for the family. At 7:30 we headed out to the performance theater for Ha: breath of life, a show that you will remember long after you leave the center. It has a lot of traditional songs, dances, and a couple of daring acts involving fire with fantastic performers.
The Super VIP package was fully booked so we went for the next best package (Alii Luau I believe) - given all the activities, fun and food included it is a very worthwhile investment and reasonable price. The proceeds help fund students’ tuition and education — so this is a good way to give back while enjoying your stay. We will visit this again next time we are in Oahu.

Great, educational and entertaining experience. We learned so much about the different cultures. The buffet has a busy but beautiful and bountiful variety of good food. It was here that we felt safe trying Poke for the first time and loved it!

The only disappointment was the limited timeframe to view all the islands. We missed Tahiti and Hawai’i and didn’t get to experience the canoe ride. There is no way you can do everything in one day as it is only open from 12-30pm-5:30pm. We made the mistake of going to the buffet at 4:30pm as recommended by the many emails from the center that advised to go at this time to avoid crowds and didn’t realize the last canoe ride was at 5:30-6pm. I understand with a ticket you can come back 2 more consecutive days but this is not obtainable with visitors to Hawai’i staying near Waikiki beach for only a few days- we could not fit another day of travel and time to the center again.

We did appreciate the bus transportation offered with the ticket. On the way to the center we got a scenic tour with commentary of areas of other parts of the island we hadn’t seen before. So that was a bonus. On the way back, the driver got us to our hotel safely as we rested from the long day at the center.

The show was excellent and a must see. It is Broadway quality and amazing. This is beyond the performances you see at luaus.

I would ignore any negative comments about going here because it will be worth it to go an experience it yourself.

There are a lot of activities, and they are scheduled at specific times and overlap each other so if you want to do several things you need to devote the entire day. Outside of the activities there wasn't much going on, so you'd have to walk around until the next hour when the next round of activities starts. The staff were all very friendly and the grounds are beautifully maintained.

We purchased the Ali'i luau tickets. It was a fantastic experience. The food choices on the buffet were extensive and excellent. Service was incredible. The HA Breath of Life show was positively amazing. The talent and production were both very impressive. Unfortunately, they don't let you take pictures during the show, just afterwards. We had a long drive, but it was definitely worth it. The visits to the island villages were educational and entertaining too! This is next level compared to the Luau I attended last month in KoOlina which was very good too...until I saw the HA Breath of Life show.

What can I say that has not been already said. We paid for the Ali'lua Package. We did a lot of research and could not decide if it was worth it. I will say it was. We were given a guide who toured us around the unit. The fact that our tickets help pay for their university is a bonus. Our lovely guide was so helpful and friendly. We saw a bunch of shows and even tried to make fire (did not succeed it was difficult).

After we got the upgraded buffet. The food was phenomenal. And the Pina colada served in a pineapple was very good. We were stuffed as there were so many choices and ended up trying a lot.

We were tired by the last show and almost left. So glad we didn't it was incredibly done. Spectacular actually.

The best money spent on Oahu! The guides were enthusiastic and friendly. You will experience each of the Polynesian island cultures and do activities at each. The presenters are amazing! The Breath of Life show was beyond amazing! The buffet was delicious! I highly recommend doing all three! So worth the money!

My 13 year old daughter and I recently visited on a birthday trip for her. Both her and I absolutely loved it from beginning to end. And 13 year olds aren’t too easy to please. From the tour with our guide Drew, from Tonga (best tour guide ever - the nicest and so informative, especially about Tonga 😊) to the delicious luau, and the evening show. It was all top notch. The grounds are spotless and amazingly well kept. There is so much to see and so many experiences to enjoy. We loved the canoe show, the Tonga drum show, and the Tahitian dancing. We could have come back the next day but sadly we were flying home. It was a very memorable experience and one we will do again when we return to Oahu!

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.

Good hospitality and interesting shows. You could make it more in-depth and emphasis the difference between the tribes.

WOW! Our family was absolutely blown away by how amazing the experience was. We opted for the premium Super Ambassador experience, which was totally worth it. Our tour guide was incredibly fun, friendly, informative, and helpful, and gave us a personalized experience throughout the day. We had so much fun and learned so much about so many cultures. We also loved the Luau and the night show. The fire dance was one of the more impressive things we have ever seen. We all agreed that this was absolutely the highlight of our first family trip to Hawaii. We loved how authentically each culture was represented throughout the day - and it was super fun for everyone in our family. We can't wait to go back!

Highly recommend. Great way to learn and experience all of the Islands of Polynesia! Great for families, couples,large and small groups- people of all ages. Get a guide from BYU for a more incredible experience!

The experience was well worth it. There were plenty of things to see and enjoy., although the total time spent was nine hours. The buffet dinner was great with hundreds of dishes to choose from. Finally, the Breath of Life show was that culminated the day's activities was excellent. The activities were well organised and started sharp on time. The student volunteers did a greqt job. They were very courteous and helpful.

The PCC experience was amazing! So much to do and see. The beauty was mesmerizing.
If I could do it again, I would choose PCC again! Our guide, Aaron was kind and informative.

The best authentic village on the islands. I have visited twice in the past 18 months and would go again. The grounds and members are wonderful ambassadors for their countries. Talented and professional and a warm welcome from everyone. You do not want to miss the opening river boat parade. 12:30 I believe. Shoes and demonstrations and participation. Lots for kids. Music and dancing is phenomenal. All good food from food trucks to their restaurant, the buffet and the luau. It is the best day you can spend on Oahu. Bus pick at hotels at 10:00. Approximately 1.5 hour beautiful drive. The Breathe of Life show is the best I’ve seen and I’m comparing that to Londons 42nd Street. I will not ruin it for you - it is spectacular. Back at hotel by 10:15 or do. Do not miss this!!

The entire experience was wonderful. Entertainment, food and people. It was well worth the time. We participated in a Luau with great food then following a production called Breath of Ha- a story of a boy growing up in Polynesia. Very well done.

The Polynesian center has so much to offer! The gateway buffet was amazing. The Breath of Life show was very entertaining and was a highlight of our trip! We have been to other luau’s and nothing compares to this show! If you are in Hawaii book it! You won’t be disappointed!!!

As Kama'aina, we take visitors here all the time. I highly recommend that you arrive at 11am and eat lunch and visit the shops before the islands open. Watch the canoe parade, and then visit all the islands. Make sure to see the 13 minute show at the theater. Instead of the luau, opt for the buffet at 6pm, and then the HA Breath of life show at 7:30pm, which is spectacular

The buffet was much nicer than expected. The food was hot, tasty and plentiful. The atmosphere was so pretty.
Our experience especially in Tonga was wonderful.

I hadn’t been here for 30 years and took the fam to see it. The additions are great and everyone enjoyed it. The villages were so interesting and gave us an opportunity to learn about the six different areas. The food was good and plentiful. The show was well done and a step above other shows we have seen. Highly recommend.

Awesome! Great to learn about the different island cultures . Lots of hands on activities for the kids, very clean, interesting shows and presentations. We didn’t stay for the luau because we have young kids. Lovely setting.

It is a recreation of the different Pacific islands, with activities on each island. It serves to learn about the cultures but in a luau I went to they also showed the dances of each island and certain details of the culture. It is 1 hour by car from Waikiki. In short, it's fine, but if you don't have time it's not essential. It is part of the go city card attractions.

I love visiting the Polynesian Cultural Center! The property is beautiful, and it’s truly one of my favorite experiences. It offers a wonderful blend of education and culture, with lots of fun treats and shopping to enjoy. Everyone is so kind and eager to help visitors learn more about Polynesia.

A ticket allows for three consecutive days of visiting, which is perfect because there’s always so much I want to do there — one day just isn’t enough!

The center allows you to interactively explore the many different cultures found throughout Polynesia. We had a fantastic guide for the day who is also a student at BYU, the nearby university. Many, if not most, of the young people working at the center are Brigham Young students and are representatives from the various Pacific islands. It was a phenomenal way to spend the day while supporting these impressive, young people. Fun and Educational all at once. The cost of admission covers up to 3 days to explore the grounds. I wish we had dedicated more than just one day to explore this incredible place. We finished the day watching the live show, HA the Breath of Life, which I would classify as a must-see event.

The PCC was a blast. My wife and I were invited. We really didn't know what to expect as it was our first time. As soon as it starts you're met with nothing but positive energy. The whole staff was amazing. They make you feel like family. The Luau and show after is a must! A little expensive for all but WELL WORTHED.
I recommend the tour guide option. You dont have to but the place is so big you get the most out of it this way.
Our tour guide, GAFA was fun and informative. A very considerate person who made our time an amazing experience.

There is so much here. It is almost impossible to take in all of the things to do, experience, and the shows. Next time we'll make time to come back a second day. Our tour guide was knowledgeable and kept us on schedule even though we were a large group. The luau food was delicious with a large variety of options. Allergy information was readily available. A family friendly experience. Be sure to note the days the center is closed. The seats for the HA Breath of life show are uncomfortable. The show is excellent but felt a little long because the seats were uncomfortable.

While a bit “corny”, overall it was a nice day. Many of the activities were fun. There are plenty of people to ask questions and direct you.

Did the full immersive day with a guided tour of the Center. Moses from Fiji was amazing.

Wasn't sure what to expect but this was an amazing day. I learned so much and to see the students sharing their cultural with us. It was a blessing to hear about their lineage.

Try a meat pie and shaved iced. 😋

Skip the luau but see the Ha, Breath of Life show. The luau and buffet meal was just meh. No alcohol served which was a bummer since we really were looking forward to Mai Tais. Apparently it’s connected with the Mormon university there, hence the dry venue and overly “churchy” vibes we didn’t appreciate. There’s about a 90 minute gap between the dinner and show start, and you can shop but it felt like wasted time. There’s show was absolutely amazing, breath taking and a great way to highlight the various islands and culture. If we could do it over, we’d just go for the show and get a luau dinner somewhere else.

It was a great day out. Although there wasn't enough time to see everything so make sure you get there right on opening. Bring you water as all that walking makes you thirsty. Make sure you booked the buffet dinner after and the amazing show at the end of the day. It was the real highlight of our stay in Honolulu

I visited this attraction in 1972 and again in 2025. The 1972 visit was a much better experience. At that time the visit was much more intimate. The villages showed cooking, living environment, local Hulu,etc. Now the villages show some history which is all repeated in the very long and boring show. The dinner was nothing special. Don’t waste your time or money let along being bothered by the members of the Mormon church.

I celebrated a milestone birthday here with my wife and it was an amazing experience. There were many activities highlighting the different cultures. We spent for the platinum package which gave us front-row seating at a lot of the cultural show presentations, but we also got a private tour guide, Ady from the Philippines, to provide us more information and service throughout the tour. Ady was knowledgeable about the different Islands and also provided us with anything we needed whether it was a fast or slow pace through the grounds or give us opportunity to enhance our experience. Ady recommended for us to utilize the platinum package by watching all the shows during our day in the center and then return within 1-2 days to experience the arts/crafts and anything else we missed. Ady was amazing throughout this experience and we especially want to acknowledge her during this review.

My wife and I totally enjoyed our full afternoon/evening visit to the Polynesian Cultural Center. We chose the Super Ambassador Luau Private Tour Package that included a private guided tour of the entire center, the dinner/luau, and the HA: Breath of Life show. Highly recommend the Super Ambassador Private Luau Tour Package to get the most out of your day.

Big Thank You to Nicha, our private tour guide, for leading us thru all 6 island areas/shows/exhibits, especially for sharing her wealth of knowledge, stories, and a few laughs! We learned a lot. Really made our day fun!

We missed much of the cultural center, that has areas dedicated to many of the Polynesian Islands (Tahiti, Samoa, etc). That part closes at 5pm & we misread the info.

However, we were able to enjoy a delicious buffet. Every item was marked along with specificity to ingredients or allergens (gluten, vegan, vegetarian, nut, soy, etc). You could try something new (Longan, star & papaya were new to me) or go for the old favorites. Even ice cream wasn't standard (purple yam!). While we were eating there were 2 people singing & playing the ukulele. You have not lived until you hear "Sweet Child o Mine" & "Smells Like Teen Spirit" sung Hawaiian style on a ukulele.

As for the Polynesian Show, we could not take pictures during the show. I was expecting more taking audience members up to learn the Hula, but it was all story by dance. Think along the lines of Hamlet/The Lion King theme as the "actors" sail to other Polynesian Islands. They meet new indigenous islanders & we learn about their stories, customs & dress. The energy of the dancers will amaze you!

The PCC was recommended by a friend, and it was time well spent. We used the shuttle for transportation to and from our hotel in Honolulu. We arrived about 11:45 and had time for lunch prior to the opening canoe ceremony (definitely a must see). We visited all six island cultures and enjoyed a performance at each. We also had time for a boat ride, a ukulele lesson, and a movie at the Pacific Theater. We had dinner at the Gateway Buffet. The food was average, but there were plenty of selections. There are so many food options in the Marketplace that it is not necessary to include a meal option in your ticket. Finally, we saw the Ha: Breath of Life show. Definitely a must see. The story follows Ha as he lives on all six islands. The drama ends with an outstanding fireknife performance.

When we first arrived, we were concerned that it would be a bit like Disney's Epcot, with fake decor and stereotypical copies of the islands of Polynesia. Although the waterfalls and some of the displays are obviously not natural, we were pleasantly surprized by the authenticity of each pavilion. Most of the guides are young university students who come from the islands they represent, here in Hawaii to study but also work at the cultural center to share their cultures. And although the shows are scripted, and yes sometimes maybe a bit Disney-esque, they are really quite fun and informative.
Once we took the time to visit each of the pavilions, and talked to the young ambassadors, we were absolutely delighted to learn and discover so much about these amazing cultures. These young men and women represent a country and culture they love, and they seem happy to share it with us and answer all our questions. It is these young students that made our visit so wonderful, so if you can, take the time to talk to them.

Now our biggest problem, is finding a way to visit each one of the countries we discovered… well done you!

It is a must do in Hawaii. The people are impressive. Such good energy. Lovely smiles. The culture of the exhibits are very interesting. Marvelous shows and activities. We had luck in having such a nice guy like Ben Cho as our guide tour.

This was our 2nd visit to the PCC. We had been to Hawaii a number of times and had avoided the PCC. First, because I expected it to be “theme parky”. 2nd. I don’t really support my own religion and this was run by Mormons so I wasn’t going to jump to give money to someone else’s.

Last year, after being convinced by our Hawaiian friends “it’s the real deal”, we broke down and went.

We were blown away by how good it was and how stupid we were for avoiding it. It is beautifully landscaped with each Island village offering presentations and fun activities. There was so much to see, we vowed to repeat visit this year and take in their MainStage evening show and Gateway Buffet.

Once again we had a GREAT time. Last year we were a little overwhelmed and didn’t participate in many of the hands on activities. This year we had so much fun dancing, playing the stick game, throwing spears and dancing along with watching the presentations

The gateway buffet was EXCELLENT. I usually find buffets generally lacking flavors. Everything was flavorful and plenty of choices

The MainStage show HA was very enjoyable.

The Polynesian cultural center is a must. Do NOT. Make the same mistake we made for 5 trips and skip it

We have been here several times and always enjoy it. We have never felt that an enhanced personal guide / group option was for us. Great show and enjoyable buffet. MIght get pricey if one has a large family.

I find that I learn something new and enjoy myself each time I visit this unique living display of the various Polynesian cultures. The grounds are beautiful and nicely layed out. Bathrooms are all over as are water and shade options.
We started the day with a Circle Island Tour on the nice full size tour buses used by the Center. This is a great way to see the many key sites of Oahu in a short period of time. The Cultural Center is the afternoon of the day.
There are several dinner venues available, but we did the Gateway buffet dinner--AMAZING!! Salads, chicken dishes, fish dishes including fresh Ahi and shrimp, beef dishes, desserts and ice cream options. The service is wonderful and live music by "The Uncles" was playing during the time with a great variety of sounds and easy listening.
After dinner we went to view the show " Ha, Breathe of Life". This is a wonderful show full of history, story line , dancing, fire dancing, suspense and drama. This is really not to be missed when on the island of Oahu.

It’s very far from the city the tour bus rides round trip was 3 almost hours. But it’s a wonderful day retreat if you could spare time for one whole day of surfing, city dining and shopping.

We went there 11 years ago & revisited this month with our teen daughter.

The cultural dances were welcoming, colorful and beautiful. Different activities and mini shows within the islands displays were interesting. The food at dinner was nicely curated, fresh and delicious. The night show was gorgeous.

It’s a beautiful experience!!

Amazingly entertaining and engaging value for the money! Loved seeing the displays, demonstrations and hands on activities representing the different Polynesian cultures - really emphasized where these diverse islands are similar and how they are different. Lots to see and do! The buffet dinner at Gateway was decent with lots of choices. The show “Ha, Breath of Life” was by far the best entertainment I have seen in Hawaii; very professional with excellent choreography, costumes and sets. The dancers were fantastic and the fire knife routine was jaw dropping. We did not have children with us, but I bet they would have a blast going through the villages with all there was to see and do. Definitely worth a visit!

Good wholesome time had by all. Great way to learn about the different cultures. Our gude Neil was great. He really was knowledgeable about the different cultues including ones outside his culture.

An absolutely amazing show! This is a must do excursion when visiting Oahu. We stayed at Waikiki and made the beautiful drive to the Polynesian Cultural Center. The young people/ students who work there really give their best. The food at the Gateway Buffet was delicious. The lua dinner was sold out, so we opted for The Gateway buffet. but the HaBreath show more than made up for it. It was better than any Broadway show I’ve ever seen. Well done to the beautiful and talented cast members. I also enjoyed the Tahitian wedding as one of the exhibitions. It was one of the best days of our trip. We do not regret spending a whole day at the center learning about the Polynesian cultures. A truly wonderful experience.

Interesting venue. I took the Breath of Life package, which includes a four hour tour of the facilities, a buffet dinner and a show at 7:30pm. It makes for an 11 hour day, including to bus trip to get out there. Our group tour guide Brad was pretty good - young and enthusiastic.
If you book directly from their website, you get a 10% discount for booking in advance.

What a great experience for our family! We had an amazing time and learned so much about the beautiful Polynesian culture. We had Savannah as a guide, and she was exceptional. She made sure we were at all shows in different villages, and also she had great advice on what to do and elin what order. The buffet was delicious with great entertainment, and the evening show was out of this world, so professional and unbelievable. We highly recommend the Polynesian Cultural Center for families with young children and teens.

The Polynesian Cultural Center has representations from all the Polynesian Islands. They include cultural demonstrations of crafts, customs, tribal dances, games all demonstrated or performed by the natives of the Island groups represented.

Polynesian cultural centre located on the island of Oahu on the north shore near Kuhuku town. It is a fantastic experience right from bookings done online to pick up drop by coach to Honolulu. The centre is primarily managed by students who come to study and they work here part time. The presence of enthusiastic students is what makes this place very welcoming and organized.
We visited all 6 islands and also the breadth of Ha show. The cultural experiences and exhibits on each island has been outstanding. A special mention to foodtrucks in the market selling food, knick knacks and ice-cream as well as famous hawaii shaved ice.
I would highly recommend this activity for anyone visiting Oahu and wants to get close to Polynesian culture.

The PCC has vastly expanded with a marketplace, restaurants and far more things to do and more interaction with islanders. The presentations were very informative and quite musical. The Buffet was over the top with all the high end seafood, vegetables and desserts you could want. The major presentation/show HA, was 80 minutes of an historic story told with music, dance, and fire dancers beyond what we had ever experienced. One of the best shows we’ve experienced. Well worth the price.

The presentations about the various island nations were so enthusiastically and passionately delivered. We gained a better understanding of each of the Polynesian nations, their history amd their culture. The afternoon was well worth our drive up from Honolulu!!!

Extremely disappointed - especially attempting to enjoy a show when students; initially two females kept talking from start of the show.
Hoping they would eventually stop approximately 15-20 minutes into performances they didn’t; so I went to speak to the usher Nanasi. She apologised as she acknowledged my concern; she was great and spoke to the females students regarding their continuous talking during the performances. After another 10-15 spoke another set of students (in uniform) sat behind us as well and they too wouldn’t stop talking during.
So now we have two groups of students talking during performances.
A couple sitting in same row (K87-88) next to us stormed out because they were upset about the students / workers continued talking. After seeing this and confirming with my Ohana that they too can still hear students / workers talking I went back to speak to Nanasi who referred me to Trent (Supervisor). Another performance started so we walked away from seating area to discuss the situation. I explained to the Supervisor Trent advising him the students haven’t stopped during performances after Nanasi spoke to them. He said he spoke to them as well then he said it’s their culture to cheer. I had to explain to him again that we are all cheering for the performers; I’m talking about the students who are still “walaau” not cheering. It has nothing to do with cheering for performers. (It’s extremely insulting when I am Hawaiian to say it’s their culture. So he’s saying it’s part of the Polynesian culture to be disrespectful ?)
He said we could move seats and I said WHY should we move when we paid good money ? They should move; so I then asked for a discount and he said he couldn’t then I said well then I want a refund. He said we have to leave to get a refund and can’t come back in; so I went to my Ohana and we all agreed to leave because we couldn’t enjoy the performances. We all left (along with four-six other guests). Then David (manager) came to speak to me as well. He knew we were all upset.
All David was able to advise us was to file a complaint with box office to receive a refund. He too apologised as he also acknowledged knowing they were students (approximately 6-8) and in uniform.
We still cannot understand why paying customers on vacation had to move or leave; only two choices.
Extremely disappointing and disheartening since we missed out on the show.
I always recommend PCC but will think twice before I do

The PCC was a very educational and enjoyable experience. Although learning about the many diverse cultures was enlightening, I have to say Aotearoa was my favorite!

Very friendly staff. The experience was amazing. Loved the interactive hands on experience. Can’t wait to go back. All the islands were amazing. Family oriented.

Highly recommend this for families and couples. Lots of great cultural learning throughout the park about different islands of Polynesia. The buffet was excellent and so fun to try some of the different foods from these different cultures. The Ha show was amazing!

Do not miss a day at the PCC if you can fit it in your Oahu itinerary!! SO convenient - they pick you up via motorcoach in Honolulu - you have a comfortable ride with some tour commentary from your driver. Then, it's almost Disney level at the PCC itself. Such high quality entertainment and activities - delicious luau - engaging staff. And so clean!! We really enjoyed our time and would definitely do it again.

Great day at the center. We were able to visit every island and see every presentation. The shows were so fun and interesting, very different from a museum with exhibits. The employees are from the islands and love to share their culture with visitors. We learned quite a bit and could have stayed longer if it was open later.

Feel the Aloha! Leave Waikiki and experience the other side of the island. Transportation available from Waikiki area and bus driver gives information about the island. It is expensive - but worth the price. Truly get to know and understand the islands. Experience the food, play games, see the beautiful lush grounds. This is a must see in Hawaii! When you book on the website you have so many options to customize your perfect event.

Amazing way to surround yourself with the cultures of Hawai’i and Polynesia. We had a great tour guide, Jason. He was sweet and knowledgeable. He also took our wishes into account as we planned our tour. We enjoyed hands on activities and demonstrations. We liked the luau and the breath of life show as well. It was a great day!

Everything top notch: bathrooms clean , plenty of hydration stations, good social skills of staff, staff attentive to minimum detail, polite , socially appropriate, buffet had top kitchen.

I highly recommend this place to everyone. We opted to go around the different islands on our own but if you choose to go with a tour guide I’m sure you’ll learn even more. We got there when it opened and left when it closed and were able to go stop at each island. It was very informative and we were lucky enough to catch the performance for each island. The staff that work there are all incredibly talented. For dinner we opted for the Luau at Hale Ohana. The food and service was amazing. And to end the night with “Ha” breath of life show was perfect. I was so intrigued the whole time and again, everyone in that show is so talented. Specially the fire dancers! If you’re thinking about going and have never gone before- do it! You won’t regret it!

Don't miss this terrific event. Skipped the luau but had a great afternoon at the many cultural events. Lovely and entertaining as well as educational.

Best luau and experience ever! Our tour guide Alex was amazing! He was funny and friendly and made the day so by so fast we didn't want it to end. My family and I have been to a few different luaus , PCC is our favorite!

Great all day experience, informative, educational, entertaining. Best Lua, more involved than Hotel Lua. Very professional. Involves all Polynesian Islands and there history and culture. Don't pass on it in Oahu.

Just want to reiterate based on the other reviews that this is a fantastic experience and so glad we did this at the beginning of our trip. You really get a good immersive experience into the different polynesian cultures throughout the villages. The music, dance, demonstrations are all really well done. Be sure to go for the entire day and don't miss the Ha Breath of Life show. Also, the buffet is one of the best I've ever had, variety and quality. We are not sorry we didn't upgrade to the traditional Luau. Only bummer is that it is a long ride back to Waikiki beach after the night is over.

We got dropped off at the entrance to the markets( iwas not on vacation to shop) from the pride of america pre cruise . went into the cutural center when it opened. It felt like disney with the shows. There was not enough seating and we could not hear. after the main water show, we walked around to the other "cultures" It was really hot of course, not enough places to get a drink or use a bathroom. The kids have to do so many hours for credits. Some kids great, others just there for credit. we did not stay for the buffet. I could have skipped the shopping, If I was not on a bus, I would have only stayed there for a few hours and left. so many other things to see.

Our luau experience at the Polynesian Cultural Center was truly unforgettable! The performers were incredibly energetic and passionate, showcasing their cultural heritage with such authenticity and skill—it was mesmerizing. The entire evening felt like a celebration of Polynesian culture.

Even our tour guide for the island village was wonderful—sweet, respectful, and full of knowledge, giving us a glimpse into the rich traditions of Polynesia. A huge shoutout to Ether, who made the experience even more special. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime adventure I’ll always cherish!

The Polynesian Center is so cool and the students who work there are so talented. I spent the full day there with the luau, guided tour and show at the end of the night. The whole day was excellent. I had so much fun playing games, learning about Polynesian culture, watching fire dancers, how to cook in the ground, the hula and a ton of other stuff! This would be great for kids. There is so much to do. Our guide was Telea and she was so kind and took great care of us. The Luau was nice but next time I would skip it honestly. There is also a buffet I hear is excellent. The Ha: Breathe of Life Show was the best live performance I have ever seen and was incredible. I got teary eyed watching the Haka. Absolutely phenomenal

I have to say that the cultural experience here was amazing. The show that they put together is just mouth dropping and makes you feel as if you're in each of the islands that they perform on.

Why a 3 star?
When we got to the last portion of our entire day show, which was the buffet, we were served cold food. And also, unfortunately,m about 30 min after eating, I got so sick from the food that I spent quite a bit of my time after in the bathroom. It was definitely a gastrointestinal cleansing that I went through. Oh, it was bad. I have no allergies, otherwise, I'm not sure what in their buffet made me sick. So, aside from the cold food, I was expecting the roasted pork to be a little more seasoned. It was bland and again cold.
I know what nice seasoned island pork should taste like since cook it myself.

The other thing that happened was that bus #1 broke down just 10 min after leaving the center so we on our volition ended up leaving in an Uber vehicle. The driver informed us that a replacement bus was coming from Waikiki which would take about 1.5 hours, so by the time we got home it would've been close to 1:00 am, 3 hours on a bus on our vacation, which was unacceptable. When we called the PCC customer service, they said we had to deal with this by calling separate numbers which was unacceptable also. Yet, when you buy tickets with transportation through the PCC website, you buy it all inclusive through 1 vendor. Yet, when there is an issue, they won't take responsibility and help you.

Lesson learned, don't electric buses that can break down and beware of the food here. The show itself and performances were amazing.

We had an amazing time! Very informative and interesting in the culture. We will be back sometime in the future... Thank you for a very wonderful trip!!

Awful. A Very poor representation of this culture. No accurate historical facts regarding the people, art, industry or culture. Just a Disney-sequence glorification of myth. Food an abomination. I certainly won’t return and recommend you don’t go either.

GO BUT be there when it opens as there is soooooo much to see and by going around noon we missed some of it, to our DEEP regret. Enjoy the entire experience, believe me, you will. (NB It is aligned with teh Mormon Church BUT they are nice, friendly and NOT at all pushy)

Fantastic shows and everyone was so friendly. There is so much to do we didn't get to see everything in 8 hours. Completely worth the time if you want to submerge yourself in the Ohana culture. Shout out to our guide Shania. She was very knowledgeable and personable. We had a great time.

So many wonderful shows. Friendly and helpful staff. An experience not to be missed!! Truly an immersion in Hawaii at its finest!!!

My husband and I hesitated to come here due to the expense of the tickets but are very glad that we decided to go! It was the highlight of our time in Oahu. We learned a lot about Polynesian culture and really enjoyed the funny guys in the Samoan area. It is a good outing for people of all ages and we loved that our admission helped to fund scholarships to BYU.

Very educational and informative. I would definitely tour the different "islands" before seeing the show otherwise it might be hard to follow. We did the buffet instead of the traditional luau and the food was OK but nothing special. Plenty of variety but kind of "Blah". We spent the entire day here and would have gone back if we had the time. Make sure you see the exhibit from Samoa .

Enjoyed the different presentation from each country. The best part was the Ha: Breath of Life show. The talent was so enjoyable to watch and intriguing. Check it out if you are in O’ahu you get a Luau and great food also.

The quality of the displays was impressive and there were several demonstrations where guests had the opportunity to participate. The luau had a wide variety of food and well prepared. Though it was buffet style, the food was not dry.

Wish we had another day.

A little expensive for the 6 island tour access but was a very enjoyable place to visit. lots of exotic plants to see. Canoe rides, Big screen film. In person presentations, interactive displays. Go early in the day so you can see all the demonstrations and get to spend time in the culture of each island. LOTS TO SEE.

As touristy as I thought it would be. However, very well done! I really enjoyed the Samoan village. I could've stayed there all day! They're dry humor presentation kept me entertain, even as I learned about (and was really pleased) about their culture of respecting elders and protecting family. Also, the show at the end of the night was excellent! Well worth the money.

The HA Breath of Life show was the highlight of our week's cruise around the islands. The cast was huge and well-rehearsed. The costumes and choreography professional and amazing! Bravo to the finale fire dances! The Gateway Buffet has a wider variety than the Luau. I especially enjoyed the desserts. The Polynesian Islands exhibits were free after 4.45 pm, but the crew would have left. We signed up for transportation which was well-organized.

There's a reason this is the #1 tourist attraction in Hawaii. The place is enchanting and the staff are the friendliest, most sincere people I've met. Each of the six islands have so much to see and do. One day is hardly enough. In addition, the Gateway Buffet is the best I've ever had BY FAR. To top off the evening you can enjoy the live "Ha The Breath of Life" show. Absolutely, positively recommend you visit.

This center was an outstanding experience. We loved learning about the different Polynesian customs and enjoyed learning some of the languages and customs. Our guide, Brendan was very informative and helped us see the most in our time there. The dinner buffet and show were both great and the luah was outstanding! A must do on Oahu!

Highly recommended tour. The full day was not enough, loved every minute of the Polynesian Cultural Center, wish we could have utilized the 3 day pass. The Ha show was amazing

We booked the super tour and it was well worth every penny! Our guide Karla was amazing and the entire staff was hardworking, kind, and attentive! We loved the entertainment, humor, and the cultural knowledge gained from each “island” experience. Thank you for taking us back in time, to our roots! ***Maybe add a photo opportunity, during the last song, at Breath of Life show!***

First Time experiencing the Polynesian Cultural Village and would recommend to anyone visiting Hawaii. From the on stage show, the buffet to the Polynesian Village, a must to everyone !!
The buffet was delicious and so many new foods to try. Experiencing all the different cultures was both interesting and fascinating. One day was not enough time to visit, all areas of the site ,and would gladly come back for a second visit
If coming to Hawaii, put this experience in your tourist plans!!

This was one of our kids favorite days! The PCC has so much to do and see! It’s incredible! It fills up an entire day and immerses you in the beautiful Polynesian cultures. So well done and so awesome how the university is set up to help the students get an education and work!

This was our second time visiting the Polynesian Cultural Center in the last 5 years and it was just as good the second time around. The only difference this time is that we only purchased the Islands of Polynesia ticket to the see the Canoe Show through the Lagoon and visiting the shows and activities in the 6 villages. We chose not to see the Breath of Life evening show again because we remembered from the previous visit that it was a really long day. By the time it was over and we drove back to Honolulu it was after 10PM. Nevertheless, I can see from other reviews that it's still a great show and if you've never been or seen it, it's well worth it!

There's nothing more special than the Ambassador ticket at the Polynesian Cultural Center. The tour, luau, and HA were pure magic. We had the best seating that was all reserved, and because we had a guide who knew what time things started, it gave us more time to do the activities in between and still made it to all 6 Islands. I found myself smiling and crying tears of joy all day. This is my happy place and I will come back again and again. Mahalo to everyone at the center especially Bruna our tour guide. We've been to this center 8 times over the last 12 years and Bruna has been the best tour guide we've ever had on any tour that we've ever done around the world. We can't wait to come back.

Excellent. Tour guide Sherwin was great. Food at luau was upscale. Ha was a great show. Best firedancing ever. Highly recommend getting a tour and choosing luau upgrade.

We have been here three times, and it is still one of our favorite things to do when we visit Oahu! Beautiful center, fascinating and FUN shows…great learning experiences about Polynesian cultures, and they make it so much fun. Great luau…very good food. Everyone is so friendly there. We loved all of the islands, but Samoa, Tonga, and New Zealand are three of our favorites. Don’t miss PCC. It’s a great experience!

The best authentic show— this was true 10 years ago when we last visited and even more so today. The Super Ambassador tickets were well worth the special seating at shows, the luau and the Ha. The day went by quickly and was well organized. The luau was well organized and food amazing. Entertainment during dinner was special. Some down time between the luau and Ha show was great to walk through the shops. Ha is breathtaking!! Just amazing….

We had a great afternoon at PCC - we did not participate in the dinner or luau, it was early in our trip and I knew we would be jet lagged, plus we were an hour away from our hotel. But going through the islands and seeing the various shows was great - the shows were OUTSTANDING. Couple of snack stands throughout the park (not enough though, so eat at the marketplace before you go in) but it kind of felt like Epcot just more authentic. I really wanted the kids to learn more about the Polynesian cultures and we certainly did.

We had a lovely visit at the Polynesian Cultural Centre. I ended up going there three times in total! The first time I went with a friend. It was such a great experience that I ended up buying tickets for my sister's birthday present, since we had planned to meet on the island ( we live in different countries so we traveled seperately). Since it was for her birthday, I chose the luau option. It was such a refreshing environment!

The attention to detail was excellent. The food was exquisite. They start you off with the most fantastic drink that also looks good in pictures. The luau performance itself was beautiful to look at & even educational. The luau overall was both fun and relaxing. I liked that it was a no pressure environment. Just organized and lots of options. Really great quality luau. I've been to a couple other luaus in the past and this one is my favorite. The other one I liked a lot was on The Big Island of Hawaii, but on Oahu, this is my favorite due to the quality of the food, the great environment and cleanliness, the overall experience...

On another visit we went to the buffet and that was amazing too. You will not be disappointed. It did not feel lesser than the luau. The quality was still amazing. The space was still organized and clean with beautiful art. We even saw a performer there. The main difference is that the Luau has a more outdoor feel ( even though it is covered, it is still open) & of course the Luau performance is much more extensive.

We loved all the villages. I saw different ones each time I went. If you want to see the villages thoroughly, you will probably need to go at least twice. This is actually a neat feature they have that if you purchase the combined event tickets make sure you go to guest services to pick up tickets to go back a second time which are completely free if you go back within a couple days. I think we ended up picking them up at the entry on the second time because we called the helpline to arrange getting the tickets, because we didn't know if we would have time to go back or not. Almost all the villages inside the grounds had spectacular performances at different times as well as demonstrations or fun activities. I'm really glad we went back the second time so we could see more.

I also loved riding as a passenger in a canoe. It was fantastic and set the mood for our visit, because our guides were informative and funny.

Another event that I absolutely loved was the canoe parade that featured dancing and information about different Polynesian Islands. I missed it on one of my visits, but glad I got to see it finally, because it is absolutely amazing to see in person.

The Imax theatre show was about Hawaii and was really inspiring with great cinematography.

The Ha: Breath of Life show was the most marvelous ending to the evening. So much energy and talent. I have told so many people about that show. I highly recommend it!

Before we went to the show, we fit in a quick tour to see the nearby town of Laie and it was so awesome and we even got to go on a cute trolley!

I also want to say that I was so pleased with the attention to cleanliness on the grounds. It felt so nice. Even the bathrooms were the cleanest I have seen out of most places I have traveled to. Details like that mean a lot to me. It makes me feel better about going somewhere when I see things are clean and well taken care of. I can tell this place cares about the property and their guests and they really seem to put their heart in to what they are doing. Their individual personalities come through too. I had a few conversations with staff members, some who were students, and they are such kind people. At least twice, I had a couple of them check on me because I was really struggling with the heat ( I went in September when it was quite hot- this review has been on my to do list for some time- but it shows how memorable of an experience we had, since I still remember it like I had just gotten back).

I want to thank the Polynesian Cultural Centre for providing such a pleasant and interesting event with such thoughtful, entertaining, helpful, and kind staff. I will definitely go back one day! It was such an exciting part of our Hawaiian adventure:)

I visited the Polynesian Cultural Center last year, and while the experience itself was supposed to be about sharing ‘Ohana’ and ‘Aloha,’ it was anything but. My tour guide was incredibly knowledgeable and made the tour memorable, but I later learned he was being bullied by his coworkers. Despite reporting the situation, Cultural Center didn’t take his concerns seriously. Now, he’s back home receiving treatment for his mental and emotional health, all because the so-called ‘Aloha Spirit’ wasn’t extended to their own employees. Disappointing to see such hypocrisy behind the scenes.

I loved the place, the shows are short, fun and informative. How we hired the Luau we had a guide, which is excellent because you organize the experience according to your tastes, Hikari thank you very much 😊. You can only have these personalized tours if you arrive between 12:30pm and 2pm.

The Luau didn’t seem like the big deal as a show, I thought it was boring, although the food was very good. I wouldn't do it again.

The final show Ha at 7:30pm if I found it excellent, I don't know lose it, you can see from the dances of various regions of Polynesia and also an incredible fire show. Ends at 8:45pm.

This was our third visit to PCC and it has not lost the magic. Very friendly and welcome atmosphere. Some guests have the opportunity to be willing participant in the village shows. Evening Buffett or Luau both very good. Cap the day off with the evening show. In a word FANTASTIC!

The Polynesia culture centre is a must do
Make sure you arrive early and it is almost impossible to to see every show on 1 day
I wouldn’t definitely go back if I travel Honolulu

The Cultural Center itself is a beautiful property and a very enjoyable way to" tour the Polynesian islands." We really enjoyed the cultural displays and performances. The Ha: Breath of Life evening show was fantastic and well worth the wait. In hindsight, we probably should have purchased the Gateway buffet package which includes the buffet, self guided tour of the island villages and the highlight of the evening; Breath of Life. We upgraded to the Luau package and I'm not sure it was worth the significant cost increase. Also, I will mention that we purchased our tickets through Rakuten link and after 3 months, I still haven't received my rakuten credit - it still shows pending. I don't like that at all. By now, they should have credited me.

Amazing cultural performances and gracious friendly hospitality, throughout the center! Great day.... don't miss this!!

Amazing family day full of fun and Aloha spirit! Go with a guide and stay for the Luau and shows after. Our guide, Neil, truly made our day exceptional and seemlessly lead us through the center to experience a mix of shows and activities that both the parents and kids loved. I really enjoyed not having to keep track of what time things started or where to find different things, we felt so cared for and welcomed by all the staff. Neil was always looking out for us and was truly part of our family for the day. Thank you so much, this was a highlight of our trip!

Very fun and entertaining while learning the cultural aspects of each island and it's people. Would highly recommend for people with children. Asked lots of questions and the people are friendly. Food was exceptional and a vast variety to chose from. It was a long day but well worth it.

It's not enough time to see all the areas and we didn't know about the college tour until it was too late. But it is a must see.

This was a wonderful experience and exceeded our expectations. We bought a Ali’i Luau package and loved the entire experience. Our guide was phenomenal and we were grateful for his experience and knowledge. He had us at the shows on time and gave us a taste of each island. The food at the Luau was exceptional and the Breath of Life show was amazing. I am so glad we visited this place, it definitely left a long lasting impression. Teen 16 and husband have said this was the highlight of their holiday. The transport to and from was also easy to organise and the driver gave great commentary on the way. All round fantastic day any evening!

Our whole family from age 2 to 69 had a great time experiencing Polynesian cultures. We spent the whole day. There were lots of activities to choose from shows to games and demonstrations. Everyone was kind and helpful.

One of the highlights of my families' Oahu vacation. We elected for the luau package. You start by exploring the 6 islands highlighting different Polynesian cultures. Unfortunately we did not arrive until ~2 PM so we only thoroughly explored 3 of the islands. You do have the option to come back for 3 days, but we did not have any extra room in our packed itinerary or we definitely would have. I highly suggest the cultural presentation in New Zealand along with trying the food in Samoa and throwing spears in Tahiti. There was a school group from New Zealand visiting and we got to see them perform a "haka" which was a nice treat as well. Then you go to the luau where you get a fresh flower lei and a buffet of delicious foods. You also get to appreciate hula dancing. Finally we finished the night out with the "Ha" show which was absolutely stunning and a must see.

Great experience overall! Most of the presenters are students and the PCC helps to support their education. Tickets for Lu’au were a bit confusing so we ended up with dinner and a show instead, which was disappointing. Last 15 minutes of the show were the best.

My goodness, what an experience! Our third trip to PCC did not disappoint. Actually, this was perhaps the best visit thus far. Recommendation; do it all! Do the guided tour, the super buffet, and the Ha! show. Of all the islands, Somoa is our favorite, as long- time performer Kap is just in a league of his own. His talent and artistry is superb. Big accolades to our guide, Rochelle. So knowledgeable and hospitable. We just can’t say enough good things. The best spent money of our entire trip!

We took our two young kids (5 and 7) and had a really wonderful time! The Gateway Buffet was our choice (did not feel like spending extra on food/experience) and this was totally the right call for our family. The buffet had SO much to choose from, and was excellent for adults and kids. Service across the board was outstanding...every performer, guide, dinner server were enthusiastic and wonderful to talk to.

And the SHOW was OUTSTANDING! I have done luaus before, and this had a wonderful story, fantastic talented dancers who were very invested in the performance, and none of the hokey comedic aspects that a tourist "luau" does. Note, it was very loud and the fire performances were too bright for my 7 year old, I wish we had ear protection for her. We 110% recommend this show though!

What an amazing experience with the superior package on March 1 date. We were so lucky to be paired with a wonderful person from Tahiti named Meli. Sorry for spelling if not correct. The whole day was amazing.

So much to see and do! The park itself is beautiful and clean. We enjoyed all the performers and their entertaining presentations. We had the buffet and I was surprised by how many choices were available. They even had fresh dragon fruit and papaya. I wasn’t impressed with the desserts but everything else was great. The show, “Ha, Breath of Life” was better than expected- so much talent from so many young people. We had been to the PCC many years ago but they have really upped their game! Definitely worth the time and money.

The Super Ambassador Luau Package (which included transport from Waikiki, a wonderful personal guide, a boat paddle to the end of the park to walk back, reserved seats at the shows, reserved seats at yhe luau, reserved seats at the show and transport back downtown. We could have done a numberbof other activities as well. It exceeded any of my expectations by such a wide margin! The bus picked us up moments from our hotel in downtown Waikiki. Toarai, our wonderful guide, met us as we entered and ensured that our day rolled out so smoothly. I am so glad that, although there was construction on the road and our bus was delayed, we did not miss the parade on the boats! We had reserved seats for the shows so we could see everything. Our Guide's knowledge of the various areas was extensive and extremely interesting. Although the day was full it was not exhausting - Toarai responded immediately to requests for coffee and quick food and still made sure we were on time for the next event. There is no way that we would have been able to see so much without his expert knowledge. The seats for the luau were excellent (as a vegetarian I appreciated how clearly marked the items were and there was some variety) and we really enjoyed the show. The seats for Ha, Breath Of Life were fantastic. We were practically on the stage. We were able to quickly exit the theater and get on our bus to return home. What a marvelous experience.

a must-visit destination in Hawaii!! you cannot miss it!!! great food, beautiful smiles around the village, amazing performance!! no. 1 destination in Hawaii!!!

First trip to Hawaii for our daughter and granddaughter. The PCC luau and evening show, Breath of Life, blew them away. Very impressed. Wife and I had been before and it is so fulfilling in story to see and experience the original Hawaii.

What can we say, such a cultural spectacular experience！The performances from each island were amazing. The staff were always polite and helpful with big welcoming smiles. Each individual event was different and educational. The buffet was out of this world, just fantastic! The evening show was the most entertaining and inevitable. A truly a story to tell when we get back to Australia.

Every entertaining, just wished I could have understanded more of it, the sound was muffled and a lot of Polynesian language used. Performers were very talented and skilled in using fire, for the price of the tickets I expected a bit more.

This center was so welcoming and educational. The staff is exceptional, performances interesting, activities were great. I hate buffets but this one was great. Everything was so clean. The breath of life show was spectacular.