newcomer

I can't decide which package to get. We will already have attended a luau on Maui, so I was leaning toward the basic package. It seems like you would have more time to explore if you weren't locked into a dinner reservation? My questions to all of you who have been there: 1.Will we still have a decent view of the show from "the cheap seats" (I saw the seating chart but would like to know from someone who has been there)? 2.Will we be missing much if we don't take the tour that is included in the upper level packages? 3. Should we take "TheBus" or sign up for the transportation? Thanks a lot.

leelane911

Newcomer, we were in the "regular seats," and the show was fabulous. It's the kind of place where there really are no "bad" seats, IMO. Unless you have children, I think you can skip the tour of the villages. To me, the show is worth the price of admission to the place. My sister and I were there from early afternoon, doing the whole shebang, and we felt we spent too much time there. JMHO......

kamahinaohoku

Re: the cheap seats - You could get lucky and have a decent view of the stage, but more likely you'll be in the nosebleed section. I've been there 4 or 5 times, and have had both good and really bad seats (all the way over at the side of the stage so you couldn't see half of what was going on). I'd go for the Ambassador package. NOT the Super Ambassador, as you're really TOO close to the stage to get the full picture, and appreciate all the dancers on stage. The Ambassador package seats are centrally located, and near enough to enjoy the performance, yet far enough away to enable you to see everything.

If you do plan to see the evening show, then I wouldn't advise using TheBus as your method of transportation. FROM PCC's website: "TheBus passengers may have to transfer at least once to get from Waikiki to Laie, and likewise on the return journey. Also, TheBus has an inconvenient schedule for those staying through the Center?s evening show, Horizons, which ends at 9:00 p.m., often returning to their Waikiki hotels about midnight. The last public bus leaves Laie at approximately 10:40 p.m."
I'd sign up for the transportation.

Regardless of the package you choose, all the dinners at PCC are mediocre steam table food at best. Unfortunately, it's the only place to eat out there. There's also no alcohol for sale there as it's run by the Mormons.

jacketwatch

True. No caffeine as well. I also remember being on a tram and making an unexpected stop at their temple and being ushered in to listen to what turned out to be a promotion for Mormonism. No disrespect intended but I think this was very inappropriate IMHO. We were on vacation and did not want to hear a religious sales pitch. They even asked us to fill out info leaving our addresses and home #'s. JM2C.

Sarah

I would stick with your cheapest option. The food at the luau is disappointing, cheaper more authentic Hawaiian at Ono's in Honolulu. The evening show is not worth the wait and there are better performance's of hula on the island for free (waikiki). PCC is really a theme park that is more suited for children. That is my take anyway and the guests I have visited with on two separate trips.

Bus trip I would not strand myself at PCC, if you find that it is not your cop of kava as I did. ...you want to be able to save your day/evening.

ALOHA!!!

garyt22

I agree with the prior posters who downplay the Cultural Center. It reminded me of a bad school field trip... the heat of the day was extreme, and hiking around the grounds trying to time our day for the various presentations was taxing... after our third demonstration on how to open a coconut ("first you have to kill the coconut") the teens became very suspicious... when one of the shows was held up until all the watermelon sherbet was sold at $5 a pop, we started for the exits... we knew that sherbet was far from a native Fijian treat... The $160 we spent to just get in and walk around (no show included) was wasted money... To top it all...the performers from the night show came to our hotel Hilton Hawaiian Village and performed a beautiful 1 hour show at poolside for free!!!

It seems that there are countless free opportunities to learn the customs and traditions of the Islands that there is no need to buy the easy amusement park packaging version...

wtggirl

I am planning my trip in October. I did a lot of research and read reviews on tripadvisor. I recommend the Ambassador package. The Luaui is NOT included, but instead a better menu is included in the Ambassador dinner. You can look this up on their direct website. I have heard negative reviews on the luaui, but excellent reviews on Horizons show. The Ambasssador included premium seating as well as a guide through the islands which I heard was very nice.

thornphoenix

I, too, agree with those posters who weren't too fond of the Polynesian Cultural Center....I was bored! Perhaps this was just when we went (March), but I didn't like how there were only 1-2 villages/shows open at a time thus requiring you to sit through the boring shows waiting for a different show to start. I would have preferred all the villages to be opened at the same time and continous shows going at all the villages, that way people can maximize their experience instead of waiting around twiddling their thumbs and sitting in shows that they're not really interested in. Overall, my opinion is that the Polynesian Cultural center is a lot of hype - we wouldn't return. I'd definitely recommend taking your own transportation so that you can escape if need be....we went on a tour bus and couldn't leave - bad idea on our part! Have fun whatever you decide to do!
Cheers,
Tracey

bonniebroad

Newcomer, I would pay the minimum I needed to to see the evening show which is fabulous! The rest of the place is nice for school children to enjoy, but not what I as an adult go to Hawaii to enjoy. And I hated that I couldn't get a cup of coffee........

newcomer

Thanks everyone! I, too, was wondering if that stop at the University would be a religious propaganda thing; do they have your visit structured so that you MUST visit it? After reading all the postings, I'm thinking it might be worth it to just rent a car for the day and do their twilight admission just to see the show; it sounds as if this attraction really caters more to family groups and we have no children. (If we decide to drive there ourselves, which would be the best route from Waikiki - going east or west?). Also, would we get better seats for the show if we purchased from PCC in advance or used the hotel "discount" booking service when we get there? Thanks again. I appreciate any and all viewpoints.

bonniebroad

Newcomer, here's a link for you with all kinds of info on tickets, seating, etc. I would call PCC, and ask them your question:

http://www.polynesia.com/shows.html

jacketwatch

To newcomer: We were there in 1995 so if things have changed or not I don't recall. I do remember taking a tram, supposedly for transport from one area to another and having it make a stop instead for this what turned out to be prostelithizing. Had we known we would not have gone in. At least the presentation was brief, albeit unwanted. Was it structured? I don't know but if not it was certainly opportunistic.

travelinandgolfin

I don't go there anymore either.

1. It's overrated. The show was ok, but the walking tour of the village was really nothing much.

2. I was also hijacked and taken to their temple for the indocrination speech to their Morman faith. I was dumbfounded. I thought I was going to see a video of the center or about Hawaii or the othe Poly. cultures. I also believe they use some of the monies from the PCC to support the Morman church. Not much cup of tea as far as what my money supports.

Sarah

lonely planet calls the evening show "an enthusiastic college production" That was my experience too. College productions are not all bad but are you coming for that? I would want something more sophisticated and authentic.

Halaus (hula schools) will demonstrate the spirit and reverance of this tradition better than kids that learn the dance in one semester.

I would check out other options at www.gohawaii.com. The city sponsors free productions that tap on the resources of halaus. Find out if they are year round performances. I think they start at 4 in Waikiki near duke statue. That just might be a summer thing though. If any hula competitions/exhibitions are on that is another good way to see what the hula means in modern Hawaiian culture.

KimV

We drove ourselves and arrived late afternoon. We had an hour before the show to walk around and take in a few of the villages. That was plenty of time for us. The luau was okay. Food was just okay. But we had never been to a luau so we enjoyed the atmosphere. We also enjoyed the night show and felt it was worth the money. Don't think there could be a bad seat to view it from.

crefloors

Save your money. But that's just my opinion.

kamahinaohoku

When I used to sell PCC a lot, the response from the returning people was divided: either they loved it or they hated it. If you like to get involved in the activities in the villages (pound poi, make lei, help carve a canoe), you'll probably enjoy it. If however, you don't like to get involved, you'll walk around the entire park in about 2 hours and then be bored to tears for the rest of the time while waiting for the show. Personally, I think the show is good, but I doubt I'll ever go back to see the villages.

Re: lonely planet calling the evening show "an enthusiastic college production"...that's because it IS basically a college production. The people who work at PCC are students at BYU, and by working in the parks, they pay for their college education. They come from all over the South Pacific, and it sure beats student loans.