If you are visiting Hawaii for the first time, the Polynesian Cultural Center is one of Oahu’s top attractions that you will not want to miss. Spend the day exploring the rich cultural heritage of the Pacific Islands, as you explore a 42 acres of tropical open air park. Visit six island villages featuring Hawaii, Fiji, Samoa, Marquesas, Tonga, Aotearoa (New Zealand), and Tahiti, and enjoy engaging presentations and hands-on interactive activities that showcase the island’s traditions. As the sun begins to set, sit down for one of the best dinner buffets on Oahu, and choose from over 30 different dishes from across Polynesia and beyond. Your evening will conclude with the most highly touted Polynesia luau show in the islands, get ready for “Ha: Breath of Life", complete with a spectacular fire knife routine that will awe and amaze.
How does it work?
The Gateway Buffet Package includes admission to explore the Islands of Polynesia, the delicious Gateway Buffet Dinner, and tickets to the "HA Breath of Life" luau show.
Polynesian Cultural Center provides a glimpse into the different cultures found throughout Polynesia, and since they offer so many activities, it is a good idea to plan what you would like to see and do before you arrive.
Operating hours are Monday through Saturday, and gates open at 12:30 PM. With your Polynesian Cultural Center ticket purchase which includes the All Day Admission & Gateway Dinner Buffet, your day will be divided into three parts.
Visit the six island villages (12:30 PM - 5:00 PM)
Spend the afternoon exploring six Polynesian villages at your own pace, and learn about Hawaii, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, New Zealand, and Tahiti on a self-guided tour. Each village has its own stage and activity area where performers play music, dance, and host interactive workshops and demonstrations. Depending on the village, activities include dancing, cooking, traditional skills, and games. Performances take place on a rotating schedule, so you should be able to see all six in one day. There is also a special exhibit on Easter Island, and canoe rides that go through the heart of the Polynesian Cultural Center.
Gateway Buffet dinner with live music (4:30PM - 7:00PM)
After your day exploring the islands of Polynesia, it is time to enjoy a premier dining experience with live music and a relaxed atmosphere. Enjoy a flavorful selection of Polynesian-inspired, Asian and American dishes that you can select from the dinner buffet. Locally sourced organic ingredients maintain freshness and produce a flavor palette that is unique to the surrounding land and sea. Should you finish dinner early, visit the Hukilau Marketplace, or take a tour of the Laie Temple Visitors Center before the evening show begins.
“HA: Breath of Life” evening (7:30PM - 9:00PM)
The evening concludes with the incredible "Ha: Breath of Life" show, well known as one of the largest shows in Hawaii, and features a cast of more than 100 performers from all across Polynesia. Held in a spacious custom-built theater, the open-air amphitheater offers sweeping views of the stage no matter where you are seated. Silver level seating at the "Ha: Breath of Life" evening show is included with your Polynesian Cultural Center ticket purchase.
Why do travelers choose this tour?
The Polynesian Cultural Center is one of the most popular things to do in all of Hawaii, and many guests compare it to Epcot Center at Walt Disney World. Similar to how you visit different countries at Epcot, you will have the opportunity to tour a variety of different Polynesian island nations at the Polynesian Cultural Center.
Each of the villages showcased at the Polynesian Cultural Center features authentic traditional music and dance performances, cultural presentations, arts and crafts, and more, all performed and taught by practitioners that are either from the islands of Hawaii, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, New Zealand, and Tahiti, or have gone through extensive training by local experts.
Although Oahu has a number of different luaus to choose from, you get so much more than simply a dinner and a show at the Polynesian Cultural Center, and with every village you visit, and each presentation you experience, you will learn more and more about the fascinating culture of Polynesia.
Also, one of the most talked about aspects of the Polynesian Cultural Center is their commitment to delivering an excellent culinary and dining experience for all of their guests. The Gateway Buffet is not only one of the most highly rated meal options within the center, but also one of the best in all of Oahu. With over 30 different dishes featuring cuisine from across the Pacific and beyond, it has the largest variety of food of any buffet in Hawaii.
And of course, there is the “Ha: Breath of Life” evening show which should not be missed! It is a 90-minute Broadway-quality performance that features music, song, and dance from all over Polynesia while using thrilling special effects, a vast open air stage, and hundreds of performers. It is no wonder that this show has won a number of different awards for excellence in performance and for perpetuating Polynesian culture.
Local expert tips
- There is so much to see and discover at the Polynesian Cultural Center that might need to come back another day to see it all! Your ticket to Polynesian Cultural Center is good for up to three days after your first visit in case you wish to return.
- Say “Hi,” and talk to a cultural practitioner in the village! They welcome your questions and the opportunity to tell the stories of their beloved ancestral home
- This activity books up quickly, and we highly suggest booking 2 to 4 weeks in advance, especially during busy seasons like summer and spring break.
- Plan to arrive a little before the gates open, and walk around Hukilau Marketplace, the best option to grab lunch before your day begins. The Hukilau Marketplace is located at the entrance of the Polynesian Cultural Center, and is open to the public from 11:00 AM to 9:30 PM.
- Recommend attire: All attractions are outdoors with limited shade. Wear comfortable clothes and footwear. We also recommend bringing a light rain jacket, water and sunscreen.
Other attractions and things to do at the Polynesian Cultural Center
- Check out the Hukilau Marketplace, a great place to eat and shop, and has many food vendors, including coffee, shave ice, ice cream, smoothies, crepes, Thai food and more! Get some shopping down at their art galleries and a wide variety of souvenir shops.
- Take a picture in front of the statue of Hamana Kalili of Laie, famous for creating the popular and iconic Hawaiian shaka greeting. Take a picture with him, and learn the story of how the unique shaka greeting came to be.
- Walk through the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame which honors Polynesia’s greatest players, coaches and contributors.
- Jump on to the Laie Tram Ride Tour, a 35-minute open-air tram ride tour around Laie and the BYU campus. Departs every 20 minutes from 3:00PM to 6:40PM.
- Watch the movie "Hawaiian Journey" for a fascinating look at how Polynesians made their way to the islands of Hawaii and beyond. Shown in a beautifully renovated theater that depicts a dormant volcano on the outside, this 12-minute film is one that should not be missed.
- Explore the Ukulele Experience Gallery, and see the tools and machinery used to help make the instruments. You can even take a free ukulele lesson, and it is open until 7:30PM.
- Glide through the center on a guided canoe ride that boards right outside the villages and travels throughout the resort lagoon. Departs regularly from 12:45PM to 5:30PM.
- See the Iosepa canoe, and learn about the migration of early Polynesia while looking at a fully functioning double-hulled canoe.
How to get there?
Located on Oahu’s northeast corner of the island, in a small town called Laie in the North Shore, the Polynesian Cultural Center is approximately a 60 to 75 minutes drive from Waikiki and Ko Olina hotels. Parking is complimentary and readily available as well.
If you are staying in the Waikiki area, round-trip transportation is available for an additional fee, with pick-up starting at approximately 10:00AM.
Polynesian Cultural Center Wheelchair Accessibility Information
- All areas at the Polynesian Cultural Center are both wheelchair and scooter accessible with the exception of the canoe rides.
- Guests wanting to do the canoe ride will need to be able to stand and go into the canoe without assistance, and non-motorized wheelchairs can be folded and brought on board.
- Wheelchairs and scooters can be rented, and should only be used for guests that are able to walk short distances since the equipment will need to be returned prior to attending the evening show.
- If you would like to rent a wheelchair or scooter, you will need to book through ScooterVille at least 24 hours prior to your activity date. Wheelchair and scooter rentals will not be available for same-day rental without a reservation.
- Guests utilizing wheelchairs or scooters should get to each village presentation at least 15 minutes prior to the start time to ensure adequate time for seating. Some village presentation areas will require your mobility device to go over some grass or gravel.
- Solo travelers are welcome to ask for assistance at anytime, but wheelchair pushing services will not be provided.
- In the event that you are seated in an area that is not comfortable for you, please do not hesitate to bring up your concerns with staff members.
