The Polynesian Cultural Center is an absolute MUST if you are visiting Oahu. The Polynesian Cultural Center is quite the drive from Honolulu and Waikiki, where most visitors tend to stay. The countries represented include Hawaii, Fiji, Samoa, Tahiti, Tonga, and Aotearoa (New Zealand). Our first stop was at the village of Samoa. The murals, pillars, and the building itself are all huge and overwhelming. I lived in Honolulu for 3 years, you are a tourist fool if you think a luao is real. One of our top must-see places in Oahu is the Polynesian Cultural Center. Thanks for sharing those pictures with us. Activities: And while Paradise Cove does offer pre-dinner activities, PCC offers a whole afternoon filled with activities and shows (6 villages, canoe rides, a marketplace for shopping, and a movie theater). We checked the location on the map and decided to go like this today. Best Luau in Oahu for Families: luau ticket covers full-day activities, including admission to cultural theme park, canoe ride, luau buffet, and night show with amazing fire knife dancing. Outside of the villages, you can do some shopping in the large marketplace, take a tour of Laie, see the football hall of fame, watch a quick movie on Hawaii, go on a canoe ride, and grab a bite to eat. Vancouver, Canada May I ask. Events, Exhibitions, Exposition, Fairy Tales, Famous Places, Floral & Gardens, Flowers & Plants, Food & Wine, Greetings, Holiday, Hotel & Restaurant, Hunting . There are no activities in this area, but there sure is a lot to learn via the interpretive signs detailing the Rapa Nui history. NOTE:I was sponsored for the day at the Polynesian Cultural Center, so I got free entrance and food, but I wasnt paid to write this blog post, and as always, all opinions throughout this blog, thoughts, photos, and videos are my own. Gateway Restaurantcan seat 1050 guests in its 24,500 square feet of space. View Menu. It goes so well with Kalua Pork. You can find amazing gluten free, dairy free, and vegan food options at Polynesian Cultural Center! The bottom of the dough was slightly gooey and soft, while the top was flaky and crispy. Polynesian food is amazing! NO. Come enjoy a premiere dining experience that includes live music in a relaxed atmosphere with an expansive buffet of island inspired dishes. A region open to international trade. Again, you can expect a luau menu of veggies, taro rolls, poke, kalua pork, steamed Kona kanpachi fish in ti leaves, teriyaki brisket, huli chicken, pipikaula, fresh fish, fried saimin, salads, assorted fruits, vegan entrees, and desserts. Aotearoa is the Maori name for New Zealand in our language. Thank you. For me it was a bit too sweet, but it was nice and refreshing while walking around on a hot day. You can also learn more about Alii Luau in this article. The pie was filled with a pineapple flavored creamy inside that was custardy and silky smooth. If you have multiple allergies, you can then use the cards to cross-reference what foods you may be able to have on the buffet. We especially loved the shows and activities at Samoa, whichover the course of our three visitshas remained our favorite village at the Center! Required fields are marked *. This is our go-to package whenever we visit with friends. Be aware that strobe lights and sudden loud noises are used in the show. Limited hours of exploration before the islands close for dinner. It's a totally immersive experience that allows you and your family to encounter the living history of the more than 1,000 distinct islands that make up Polynesia. Hi Rebecca! The last activity is to take a shuttle out to the town of Laie and through the campus of Brigham Young UniversityHawaii. While you will have to be up a bit earlier for this tour (pick-up time starts at 6:45 am), you will have the pleasure of visiting various scenic and historical sites on Oahu. kualoa ranch A 500-plus-foot mural (one of the largest in the world) encircles the upper interior, and includes segments of Hawaiian chiefs welcoming guests as well as the Polynesian people represented at the PCC and Hawaiis multi-ethnic people. Sports lovers will enjoy the Football Hall Of Fame, where youll be able to see many of the Polynesian football legends honored alongside coaches and contributors. There are a number of snack bars located throughout the villages, andalong with serving a small selection of typical refreshments, theres also the Taste of Polynesia, where a few local snacks orlight meals are served from the country represented. So much so, that its often even rated as the #1 attraction in all of the island! Gluten free and vegetarian are both available. This meat pie was filled with minced beefand cheese, wrapped in dough, and baked. So Im going to get a meal right away. This includes roundtrip transportation in a top-of-the-line motor coach with A/C and restrooms on board. Not only PCCs directly managed stores, but also various external tenants were lined up, and the products they handled were also rich in variety. We think there are better ones out there like Chiefs Luau and Toa Luau. Delice Crepes offers gluten free and vegan crepe options! Tongan Villageis another example of traditional Polynesian lifestyles, but with the added royal touch of the scale-replica Fale Fakatui or summer palace approved for inclusion in the PCC by her late majesty Queen Salote. A hula lesson was held on the lawn outside. Make me jealous for taste all of this food. These six villages of the Polynesian Cultural Center have a lot to offer, so lets dive into these first! The Polynesian Cultural Center, voted the #1 attraction in Hawaii by USA Today, is located along the famous North Shore of Oahu. For more information, see my disclosures here. There are two activities in the evening worth partaking inthe Alii luau and the H: Breath of Life evening show. The humor of the casts, especially the main MC Cap at the center, is amazing. The outside dough wrapper was nice and crumbly. It was served out of ahot box, so it stayed warm when I ordered and ate it. I ended up attending PCC and had such a great time. Luau aside, its impossible to ignore how educational this place is. Aotearoa Villagecaptures the essence of the traditional Polynesian way of life in those beautiful far-off islands. You can compare the two options here. This venue was founded by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1963 as a way to provide job opportunities for students at Brigham Young University who were looking for work opportunities during the summer months. Seating starts at 19:00, and the actual start of the night show is at 19:30. The combination of bread and coconut cream made the panipopo kind of like cake and frosting, except lighter and not assweet. The sweetness came from the coconut cream, which was thick like gravy, and lightly sweetened. It is about an hour's drive from Honolulu. Overall, it was still worth it to attend just for the experience! The villages at PCC do close at about 5:30 to 6 pm (check the PCC website for the latest hours), but the fun doesnt stop there! I had an excellent Pad Thai with a vegan sauce (no fish sauce people!). Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Laie Oahu Hawaii HI Polynesian Cultural Center Boat Natives USA Vintage Postcard at the best online prices at eBay! They offer it in a cup or as a twist with ice cream. The Polynesian Cultural Center opens at noon every day and has various luau options available at both 4pm and 6pm. Since Papu is half Samoan, we always like spending a little extra time in this village! Please note that each package is different in terms of tour guide, dining, and seat level at the night show. My daughter booked us for that Alii luau package so now I have a clear picture of what PCC is all about. . Just follow the yellow print on the ground and you cant miss it! Authentic Hawaiian luau food, plenty of vegetarian options. This show is truly entertaining! Passing by the famous Leonards Malasadas. This will be the package for you if youre not interested in buffet or luau-style dining. Dont get too excited though. I thought thekoelepalau was very good, and this was one of my wifes favorite things we ate during the day. north shore This allows you to see the entire park as well as take advantage of all the activities in each island village before they start to shut things down for the dinner and evening show portions of the night. PCC had some major upgrades in their food quality in the last couple of years, and I could clearly see and taste that when I visited in 2021. Polynesian Cultural Center is one of the most popular activities in Oahu. Compared to other Polynesian countries, the music is relatively familiar to modern people. They make everything fresh and it is apparent in the flavors of their food. Outside of the village area by the entrance, there are a few other fun places to check out, including the Hukilau Marketplace where you can shop for Polynesian gifts and clothing, as well as a few restaurants including Aunty Emilys Bakery, Pounders Restaurant, Elephant Shack, and Titas Grill. Thanks for the well written post and lovely pics. Free luau for kids under 4 years old The snack bar had a number of typical snacks like chips and sodas, but I went straight for theTaste of Polynesia menu and ordered one of everything they offered. We were taken to a VIP check-in, and I received a lei made of kukui nuts, two DVDs, and a poncho as a souvenir. The resort offers so much! For the best experience in the island villages, plan to spend five hours there alone. This is Hale Aloha. They showed all the uses in the Samoan culture for the coconut, from eating the meat, to using the husk to start a fire, and even using a coconut to play rugby. Is there any Maori people or NZ people reading this? Thoroughly enjoyed reading this article about the Polynesian Cultural Center and detailing about the delicacies. If youre looking for a whole day of entertainment that also happens to have a luau and an evening production (a show with a storyline that features Polynesian dancing), go with Polynesian Cultural Center. Next up was a Tahitian poe, this version preparedwith bananas, and made into something like a fruit cake or pudding, then baked, and covered in coconut cream. Polynesian Cultural Center: Hours Polynesian Cultural Center is open from 12:30 to 21:00, and the restaurant inside PCC, Ali'i Luau and Gateway Buffet, open at 16:30. If you dont miss the call to raise your hand, you may be able to perform the drums on stage, so please give it a try. Along the way, a statue of Hamana Kalili, who was supposedly the origin of the Shaka, welcoms us. Hukilau Marketplace, at the Polynesian Cultural Center in Laie, is a vintage throwback to 1950's Hawaii offering nostalgic food, local goods and everyone-is-family hospitality. My travel companion asked for no spice and was also thrilled with the lack of heat and abundance of flavor. ohana waikiki east Grenoble is rich in museums and historic landmarks with its Place Notre-Dame, a 13th-century cathedral, the Muse de l'Ancien vch and Fontaine des Trois Ordres, which commemorates the 1788 events leading to the French Revolution. Youll be able to enjoy shows, demonstrations, and immersive activities, all while learning facts about the islands of Fiji, Samoa, Tahiti, Tonga, Aotearoa, and Hawaii. During the season we went, they were offering it with lychee, peach, and green apple, but they change the fruits throughout the year, so it will depend on when you visit. how-to Polynesian Cultural Center (Oahu) - The Polynesian Cultural Center is a living museum showcasing various Polynesian cultures, including Hawaii, Samoa, Tahiti, Fiji, and New Zealand. If youre on Oahu and looking for an excursion to do with your family or friends, PCC can be a great option. When youre there, get ready for a sensory overload. It also means they can make your order to your specifications. How many? lol. :), Hotels near Laie Point State Wayside Park, Hotels near Malaekahana State Recreation Area. Eight new hands-on activities have been introduced to the Center's popular daytime experiences to give guests the chance to actively participate in several traditional Polynesian aspects of daily life, including games . In fact, thats what we did on our most recent trip to Oahu. What Is Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC)? Idk if Aotearoas foods in here are authenthic or not, but i heard Maori people doesnt eat meat so much. There are many more things to see, such as hula lessons outside Hawaiian Village, ukulele lessons at the mission house, canoe tours in the lagoon, and Aotearoas poi experience.