Polynesian Cultural Center Hawaii
 

We are wondering if this is an all day thing or can you do both the cultural center and Pearl Harbor in the same day. Our itinerary is getting tight with little free time and we don't want to overbook. We have five days in Oahu and want to hike Diamond Head, see Pearl Harbor, enjoy Waikiki Beach (we are staying at the Hilton Hawaiian Village - anyone been there?) and Relax!

Thanks, NannyJan

Yes, you could do both in one day but it'll be tight. Get to Pearl Harbor a before it opens so that you get an early boat out then drive right out to the Polynesian Cultural Center. There is a lot there to do & see - especially if you are taking in the evening show. We used our Entertainment Book coupon at the PCC - this is where the E-book really paid for itself.

Also - grab a coke or a cup of coffee on the way if you can't imagine a day without caffeine. The PCC is Mormon owned and all the soda, coffee, & tea they sell is decaf.

If your itinerary is getting tight, you may want to skip the PCC. We went at night, just in time for the luah dinner and the big show afterwards. Frankly, I thought it was very expensive and not worth it. I don't want to offend anyone, because so many recommend the place, but we were disappointed.

I would spend my extra time exploring the north shore or taking a kayak ride in kailua or lanikai.

i think you can easily do both. we went about an hour before the dinner and that was enough. we enjoyed it but i wouldn't spend 1/2 a day there.

Do we need to do the dinner? How pricey is it? We are doing the Old Lahaina Laua in Maui and everyone says one laua is enough...can we just walk around the cultural center...or are there must dos there?

Thanks, NannyJan

Everything is so personal -
I wouldn't do the luau at PCC if you are already doing one - I think one is enough.
We enjoyed the PCC, but for about one - to maybe two hours max and that was enough for us anyone.
I enjoyed far more the drive there, stopping along the way at different viewpoints, etc -

I like ajcolorado's idea - get to pearl harbor a bit before it opens is always a good idea - then, drive to PCC and if you are done in an hour or so you can have a great time driving back and stopping, if you are loving it, you can stay longer. But I wouldn't wait around for the luau. Too many other experiences to try while you are there to repeat one -

sorry - meant "That was enough for us anyWAY"
:)

The show at PCC is very good but if you are doing it early in your trip then definitely take the recommendation of getting caffeine. By the time the show started I was having a tough time staying awake. The Show was great but it was like 2am my time at the time. Doing Pearl Harbor and the PCC in one day seems tight. The difference between PCC and Old Lahaina is the PCC really gives you a detailed show on how different countries live. I didn't get that at Old Lahaina.

Don't try to go to PCC and Pearl Harbor the same day.

PCC is an all day event. Get there by 12:30 and enjoy the entire day there.

Skip the Old Lahaina Luau. You will enjoy 'Horizons' at PCC much more because of the different nations and the awesome fire knife dancing. Old Lahaina Luau does not have any fire knife dancer.

You can go to PCC and see the entire park including 'Horizons' (7:30pm), seven villages, a canoe pageant, IMAX and a canoe ride for $50.

For $80 you can get the Ali'i Luau (5:00pm) package which includes everything above, the additional Ali'i Luau, a lei greeting and upgraded seats for 'Horizons'.

Use the coupon in Entertainment Book for $36.

So for the Ali'i Luau package and using the coupon, it would end up at $62 each for two.

Guess this is a personal choice. I think what we will do is, as suggested, head out early to Pearl Harbor, and then in the afternoon, drive over to PCC. We will keep our luau in Maui, and just play it by ear. Just wanted to be sure we could just stop in and look around and leave without commiting to a whole day.

Thanks, NannyJan

PS Anyone ever stayed at Hilton Hawaiian Village?

The PCC doesn't even open until 12:30 or 1:00 p.m.. You can certainly do both in one day. I would suggest getting to the Arizona Memorial early - at least by 7:00 a.m. (6:30 would be better). Visit the memorial and then see what time it is. If it is still early I would suggest going next door and getting a ticket for a guided tour of the U.S.S. Missouri. It's an awesome battleship with a lot of history. Or do the Missouri on another day. We got to the PCC at about 2:00 p.m. and wish we would have gotten there earlier. My 17 year old daughter thought it was the best part of our trip to Hawaii. Take the time to visit as many of the "villages" in the PCC as possible and participate in the "village" shows and hands-on teaching that they each offer. We took a picnic dinner with us and skipped the PCC luau. But don't skip the night-time show - it was very good.

PCC opens at noon.