Polynesian Cultural Centre
 

We're heading to Oahu in a few days and we'll be visiting the PCC during our visit.

However, I'm very confused about the luau and/or evening show. The ticket packages seem confusing to me...

There's the prime rib, the Alii luau and the Island buffet. Is there much of a difference between the luau and buffet? Is it worth paying the extra $? Is there entertainment during the luau?

As for the evening show, is it table seating or theater seating? Is the show visible from every area? Again, is it worth paying the extra $?

Not quite sure why this seems so confusing but it is to me this morning. Thanks in advance for the info!

Julie
From Eastern Canada

The PCC is a product of the Mormon Church, using students as performers... the entire experience is an expensive tourist trap and includes preaching... almost all of the shows can be found in other parts of the island at little or no cost...

They also have students peddling expensive fruit ices and often wouldn't start a show until they sold all of their product...

We saw the same dancers at the pricey PCC and a free show at our hotel.... beware...

That's disappointing, I had seen only good reviews about the PCC. What luau would you recommend garyt22?

PCC has the best Polynesian entertainment in Hawaii. Don't miss it!

Their evening show, Ha: Breath of Life is the best Polynesian show in Hawaii. Plus there re the daytime villages, the canoe pageant, canoe rides & IMAX. Plus the Ali'i Luau. All for about the same $$ as any other luau venue on Oahu.

The better package you get the better the seats for their evening show, Ha: Breath of Life.

The sooner you make reservations, the better your seats will be for the evening show.

The Ali'i Luau package is a good package with decent seats for the evening show. The Ali'i Luau does have entertainment during the dinner. The buffets do not have entertainment

Sad to bring religion into a travel forum!

And it's mostly BS! They start all their shows on time! And you don't have to buy any ice cream or drinks that they do sell!

Dusty is a plant from the PCC... Just google it for tons of reports on the religious tie in... Make your own choice based on research... Have fun...

Dusty is caucasian & non religious!

I am not affiliated with PCC in any way!

Pretty sad reply by garyt22!

>>The PCC is a product of the Mormon Church, using students as performers... the entire experience is an expensive tourist trap<<

Please don't let gary deter you. I really enjoyed the PCC (neither Mormon nor religious)

I loved the Polynesian Cultural Center. Visited in 1979 and took my whole family in 2002. I enjoyed the daytime activities to the villages, canoe pageants. Very educational. I do not recall any preaching.

I think the show is a must and believe it is in a theatre setting. We did the buffet. It was fine. I think the luau has the presentation of the pig: removed from the pit etc. more traditional setting and more expensive.

I am Catholic.

I looked at the packages. I would do the Ali'i Luau. More fun.

>> I do not recall any preaching.<<

Me neither

The show is about an Angel lifting a soul to heaven... the bus tour is a Mormon temple tour with overtones....

$7 for a watermelon ice sold prior to the start of a show... show delayed 10 minutes until all ices were sold...

Tickets priced at Disney level... cafeteria quality food

Was I at a different place?

How ignorant! I've been to PCC about 15 times & have never seen any delays to any of village shows, the Ali'i Luau or any other event!

Have you ever actually been to PCC? If not, take a hike as you don't have a clue!

Even if you were there, PCC has 8-9 hours of entertainment compared to 1 1/2 hours of entertainment at any other Oahu luau venue!

No one has to pay $7 for a slice of watermelon! Shows are not delayed until "something is sold".

How ignorant can you be?

>>I see the Hawaiian spirit of love hasn't rubbed off on you…<<

Pot / kettle

You started it w/ the 'expensive tourist trap' and saying dusty is a 'plant'.

I have been multiple times and not once have I been preached to . . .

The admission, show with luau for a family of four is over $1000...

Thats tourist trap .... dusty has spent several thousand...

Why so serious? Just my personal experience that with a little research, you can avoid wasting the big money and find the same shows even with the same performers for way less $$$... and even get real luau food...

It's your choice to waste your money... Aloha bra

The Ali'i Luau package at PCC is $109.95 for adults, $87.96 for kids 5-11, free for 4 & under. 10% off if reservations made more than ten days in advance.

How does that come up to $1000? I think your math is just a tad off!

http://www.polynesia.com/packages/in...l#.WAoUDCR2FQU

Paradise Cove Luau is almost the $$!

https://www.paradisecove.com/luau-packages/

9 hours of entertainment at PCC compared to one hour at Paradise Cove.

No one needs to take the optional bus to the Mormon Temple!

I haven't been to the PCC, so I can't comment personally, but feedback from our readers is generally very good. Our Oahu-based writers also like the show there.

But if you are looking for an alternative (probably at similar pricing), Disney is beginning a new luau at Aulani, and I suspect it will be a wonderful show. However, I don't think it starts until mid-November. You may want to look into whether there are any other options there.

There is, of course, the very famous free hula show at Kuhio Beach that runs several times a week. People also love it. But it's not a luau and doesn't give you the same experience. There are also four other luau shows in Oahu in addition to the PCC. They are all listed on our web site here under Oahu.

Anyone going to the Temple . . . is <i>looking</i> for a religious tie in - seems a no brainer. Most people don't do the Temple.

And you don't actually go in the temple.

And it is much more than the show and luau. I enjoyed the daytime visits to each of the Polynesian Villages: Fiji, Samoa, Tahiti, eat. Learning about each and participating in crafts or a dance. Fun and educational.

I would rather to go a luau with mai tais :-)