Polynesian Cultural Center Photos
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Polynesian Cultural Center, Oahu
The Polynesian Cultural Center, located on Oahu’s northeastern coast near the town Laie, is Oahu’s number one paid visitor attraction. In a nutshell, it is a 42-acre (170,000 m²) open-air park, a living museum, which showcases eight Polynesian island nations and cultures in traditional villages and exhitits. By walking through this park, you can learn about eight Polynesian cultures in just one day, without having to fly across the Pacific.
The featured Polynesian islands include: Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Aotearoa (Maori New Zealand), Tahiti, Rapa Nui (Easter Island), the Marquesas and Hawaii. Activities and demonstrations take place throughout the day. As you visit each village, you can take part in traditional arts and crafts, view dance performances, visit educational exhibits and displays, take a canoe ride through the park’s lagoon, get a removable Polynesian tattoo, take a tour of the nearby Mormon temple in Laie, learn to dance the hula, and much more.
At 2 pm each day you can watch the Rainbows of Paradise show, a dance performance that takes place daily in the park’s lagoon, from 2:30 to 3:00 p.m. Watch how island natives perform local dances in colorful costumes on swimming platforms.
The Polynesian Cultural Center also has a 600-seat IMAX™ Theater, featuring the movie Coral Reef Adventure, shown four times daily (one time in Japanese) on a huge screen measuring 65 feet high (19.8m) and 93 feet wide (28.4m).
The Center is also known for its luau, a traditional Hawaiian feast, which starts at 5 pm. Great entertainment and great food - two things that make this place the best luau on Oahu. This is your chance to try traditional Polynesian fare, including lomi lomi salmon, kalua pig (roasted in an underground oven), mahi mahi (island fish), haupia (coconut pudding) and poi, an island staple made from taro roots. If you have less adventurous taste buds, continental American foods are available as well. Besides the luau, visitors can also opt to dine in the Center’s restaurant instead of participating in the luau.
The day is topped off with Hā: Breath of Life, a 90-minute award-winning night show, which takes place in the Center’s 2,800-seat Pacific Theater. The Polynesian Cultural Center is the only place on the island that casts more than 100 performers nightly.
Polynesian Cultural Center Hours & Admission
The Polynesian Cultural Center is open Monday to Saturday (closed Sundays, Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays). Other blackout dates may apply.
The parking lot opens at 11:45 am. Island tours and cultural presentations begin at 12 pm with other island activities spread throughout the afternoon. The island villages close at 6 pm. The luau begins at 5 pm and the Horizons night show begins at 7:30 pm.
Admission: Ticket prices range from $45 to $225 per person, depending on which package you choose. For details, see polynesia.com
Polynesian Cultural Center Overview
- Get a glimpse into the lifestyles, culture and customs of eight Pacific island nations
- A huge open air "living museum" and cultural park featuring live music and dance performances, interactive exhibits and displays, arts and crafts, a luau, night show and much more
- Plan to spend an entire day at the Polynesian Cultural Center
- Located on Oahu's northeastern coast, about an hour drive north of Honolulu
- Watch an exciting movie about the underwater world in the Center's large IMAX movie theater
- Participate in a luau, a traditional Hawaiian feast and sample authentic Polynesian foods, including taro rolls, poi, lomi lomi salmon, kalua pig and haupia, a coconut pudding
- See a fantastic evening show featuring traditional Polynesian music
Location: 55-370 Kamehameha Highway, Laie, HI 96762 Directions: The Polynesian Cultural Center is located near the town of Laie on Oahu’s northeastern coast. It’s a 35-mile drive from Waikiki and Honolulu. From Waikiki, take the H1 freeway west until you reach the Likelike Highway (63) Exit H1 onto the Likelike Highway (toward the mountains) and stay on it until you pass through the tunnel and emerge on the windward side of the island. Exit Likelike and drive onto Kahekili Highway (83) north. Right before the town of Laie, you will see a large parking lot of the Polynesian Cultural Center on your left. You can also take city bus number 55, which leaves from Ala Moana Shopping Center.
