We will be in Ohau the week of Thanksgiving and my daughter (age 13) wants to go to a luau. My husband and I went to one on our honeymoon 16 years ago. I think it was Germains. I realize it is very commercial but that is ok, she is 13 and wants to go. I see the Paradise Cove one has more *stuff*. We are staying part of the week in Waikiki and part of the week at North Shore. I need opinions, should I book at PCC and do that one since we will at North Shore anyway or do the Paradise Cove? I guess we could also do Germains. She is much more interested in the show and dancing than the food. Please tell me what to do!!?? Also if we do the Paradise Cove one, do you think I should book the more expensive package so she can be closer to the stage?

Thanks as always for all your wonderful advice!
April

OMG, if it's the show and dancing your daughter is excited about, do the luau and evening show package at PCC! That show is FABULOUS! On my next visit to Oahu, I am going back. I think the best thing about PCC is the evening show! (I think the rest of the deal there is only worth it if you have young children who might enjoy it...)

I agree. Poly. Culture Center has a great show. Food is average. Royal Hawaiian has a good one too. Sorry, I have never done Germains or Paradise Cove, but have never heard anything bad about them. Your daughter might really like Poly. Culture Center. It is like a Poly. Epcot. You can spend a full day at the park and then see the show at night. Make sure you allow plenty of time at the park...there is lots to see.

PCC is more theme park than local luau. I would choose something smaller. Sight-unseen I'd consider the Royal Hawaiian because it's a fabulous hotel that I can't afford to stay at -LOL!

Suze, have you seen the show at PCC? If the music and dancing is what her daughter's most interested in, I don't think there is any better show than that at PCC. I agree that the food is average, but it's not bad! I was thrilled with the show, somewhat bored with the rest of the deal there (okay for younger kids, but I'm not sure how entertained a 13-yr. old would be for a whole day there.) If I had one week on Oahu, I wouldn't spend a whole day at PCC. There's too much *natural Hawaii* to see ... I'd only go for an evening.

PCC has the best Polynesian show, 'Horizons', in all of the islands. It is their evening show that comes with all priced tickets.

The Ali'i Luau is good (not as good as some others). But with the Ali'i Luau package comes upgraded seats for 'Horizons'.

Then you can add the Canoe Pageant and shows/demonstrations in the seven villages plus a canoe ride plus IMAX all for about the same price as any other luau.

Spend the entire day there.

www.polynesia.com

No, I have not gone and won't be going (because I do not wish to support the Mormon Church).

Thanks for all the info. The luau at the Royal Hawaiian is on Monday nights only. We are actually staying in Waikiki on Fri,Sat,Sun and then going to the North Shore on Monday,Tue,Wed. I kind of hate to drive to North Shore and then drive back that night for a luau. After North Shore we will be back in Waikiki for 2 more nights and I have actually splurged for the last 2 nights and am staying at the Royal Hawaiian.

The majority seem to agree that the PCC would be best for the show. I appreciate the info and will probably go that direction but not sure yet. I am going to let my daughter look at the info and review all your replies and let her pick.

Thanks again for the info.
April

Another vote for PCC...and the whole afternoon there....she's the perfect age for the theme park part and they teach you alot about different cultures!

I'm not Mormon either, but also have known great Mormon friends.

suze: Do you avoid Chinese restaurants because they are Buddists??

I'm really not trying to stir up an argument, just trying to make a point.

Belle

Belle- No, I have no objection to the Buddhist faith.

I rarely touch upon religion here on Fodors because it is an extremely personal subject but do feel it is OK for people to understand that PCC is a money making venture of the Morman church to make an informed decision about their participation.

Good point Suze! While I agree that the show at PCC is much better, it's not really a "luau" per say.

BigJim, April said that it was the show and dancing that her daughter was really interested in. That's why I'd recommend PCC's version of a luau ... their show is phenomenal. Suze,it doesn't bother me that the PCC makes money for the Mormon Church, just as it doesn't bother me that car washes and bingo nights make money for local churches in my community. The Mormon Church does a great deal of charitable work, and as long as they don't mention religion to me when I'm visiting there, I'm happy (except for the fact that I could not get a drink with caffeine! )

Well, at the PCC if you take the tour you end up with the "sell". I have thankfully missed that part.

If someone asked me about "Free Jeep Rental" from a booth along the sidewalks of Puerto Vallarta, I would tell them there is most likely a resort time-share sales pitch somehow involved. It is not necessarily about religion, rather about being an informed consumer.

crefloors: If you didn't get the 'sell', how is it you think everyone does? I didn't get the 'sell'. It would be interesting to know how many of you in Fodorville did?? (I would object to that as well!).

The thing I got the most feeling of 'the sell' was the way they push ice cream with fruit at every turn...totally harmless, in my viewpoint.

I found it a very pleasant,well organized, educational experience and the show to be nothing short of fantastic!

I did know in advance that the money goes to the Mormon University, to pay for tuition, books, food and lodging of the students getting an education there.

I'm just having trouble understainding your objection to it being sponsored by any particular religion, although that is certainly your 'right' to do so.

I my mind, there are MANY historic and educational institutions that religions other than my own may benefit from my visiting, but that doesn't keep me from wanting to tour or otherwise educate myself about them.

And, like I said, the education offered there is not about the Mormon religion, but about the various styles of Polynesian life & tradition.

I mentioned the Chinese restaurants, because, I have wondered as I walked into our local favorite, noticed the HUGE Budda, complete with incense and offerings,greeting us as we entered, if we were in some way being untrue to OUR Lord.

...but if we try to segregate ourselves from all 'other' religions, I guess we would end up living similar lives as the Amish....I just don't see how its possible, nor desirable.

I offer all this as my opinion, not wishing to step on toes, just trying to understand.

Belle

PCC puts on a good show and the villages are fun and interesting to see, while the food is typical tourist banquet fare.
The income from PCC supports BYU-Hawaii, a Mormon owned college. Kind of like paying for football tickets at Notre Dame and supporting the Catholic cause.

Actually money spent in many places these days ends up supporting various causes in big ways. There is a website somewhere which shows the huge political and charitable donations made by companies such as Costco, Walmart, Gerber, and many others.

While it can help me decide between two shopping choices, I wouldn't think it was as important when deciding whether to visit a one of a kind tourist destination.


I'm VERY sensitive to prosletizing (sp??) and have never never noticed any in my many visits to PCC.

Honolulu churches sometimes put on luaus that are more authentic than the commercial types. Look in the newspaper for ads.

Belle

At PCC, as you say, the "sell" is very insignificant.

I think what crefloors means by the "tour" at PCC is the optional free tour from PCC to the Mormon Temple.

I like PCC for the entertainment and I think it is the best in the islands. But, I recommend never taking the tour to the Mormon temple. The tour is about an hour, 50 minutes of which is in a room at the temple where it is a 100% sell of the religion.

Don't ever get on the bus from PCC to the temple.

On the other hand, if you are in the Laie area on a driving tour, you can take the long driveway to the temple and right back out again. It is a nice building to see.

I was never subjected to a "sell" of the Mormon religion at the PCC.

I think, though, that the PCC itself is technically a part of the BYU-Hawaii campus. I am told (don't know for sure if it's true) that the PCC employees who are also students, which is most of them, may therefore work at the PCC without INS approval, even though many are foreign students and not US citizens, because the "work" is actually an on-campus job.

Also, because the PCC is part of BYU-Hawaii, most of the money the PCC makes is exempt from taxes.

I don't really have a problem with a church making money and then using it to support its mission by paying for students' tuition, food, or housing. My bigger complaint is that the cultural center is so Disneyland-phoney. And I was also disappointed to find out that the PCC has very little of native Hawaiian culture. I have nothing against the cultures of Fiji or the Maori, but . . . it made think "fire dancing" was Hawaiian when it's not, and . . . well, I guess I was just expecting something different.

I think it's much more enjoyable as kitsch than as a true cultural center, and on that level, it is entertaining enough.

Just a follow up to this discussion afterwards. We did the Polynesian Cultural Center, the luau there and the Horizons show. We really enjoyed the PCC. Yes it is a little disney but it was very clean, the guides were friendly and helpful and the Mormon religion was never pushed at all. The luau food was typical food fixed for mass crowds but the Horizons show was FABULOUS. If you want a good show this is it. Thanks to everyone who helped in my planning. I will write a trip report soon.
April