nikicla1

My husband and I (56 & 53 years old) are going to Oahu and Kauai. In Kauai from September 23 to September 29 at the Aqua Kauai Beach Resort in Lihue with a rental car. We will be at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort in Oahu from the 29th to October 3. We are planning on renting a car on a daily basis as needed. I found the Polynesian Culture Center on the web. I think it looks really cool but don't know if it is as good as I am thinking or it is just a tourist trap? We know that we want to see Pearl Harbor, not sure if we take a tour or do on our own? We love nature, native culture and local food (not into fancy food). I would love any advice that you could give us.

garyt22

This debate has been hotly argued for years on this website...
PCC is a pricy Disney style display of several island cultures run by the Mormon Church... there is also an optional temple tour that pushes the church doctrine...

Students or missionaries dress in their native dress and perform dances or demonstrations... there is a daily parade and evening theatre show with a food dinner... packages range from about $30 for general admission to well over $100...

The PCC is spread out, requiring a lot of walking in the mid day heat, and has a "packaged" feel I did not like...

That said, we found many of the same performers at the free show at the Hilton Hawaiian Village, doing the same performances we saw at PCC... there are also tons of cultural displays and demonstrations for free on the islands...

My opinion is that it's an overpriced ripoff... discuss amongst yourselves...

janisj

>>This debate has been hotly argued for years on this website…

Inakauaidavidababy

On what basis have you judged Gary as a minority of this debate.

Please document it.

I'd beg to differ

Bedar

We only went to the PCC because it was free, part of our package at Turtle Bay. I can't reco it.

suze

I agree with much of what Gary said but I have never been there myself (mostly for the reason of the Mormon's running the show).

I have found wonderful dance & music shows and exhibits around Waikiki for free. Certainly not the scope of PCC but enough for me and more enjoyable that the whole packaged Disney-esque PCC experience.

The luau I've been to was on Maui, Old Lahaina Luau, which was fabulous. No experience on Kauai.

nanabee

Like the saying goes, the Mormons came to Hawaii to do good and did very well indeed. Sounds like they still are.

nanabee

http://www.byodo-in.com/

If you are interested in Hawaiian culture you might enjoy this Buddhist temple experience instead. To me it was more interesting.

sylvia3

What minority? I'm in full agreement with the tourist trap.

suze

>

You've also never had a mai tai at their luau!

MichelleY

I have been twice and loved it both times. I think it is interesting and shows the differences in the various Polynesian peoples as far as customs, dress, housing, dance, etc. I had no clue it was LDS while visiting. I would much rather have a cocktail at Duke's on Waikiki.

>. Suze, how do you know this! You have never been.

I love Disneyland too.

suze

Because I know I don't like that type of thing (fake reenactments) and I will not support the Mormon church, so that is how I know anything else would be more enjoyable for me than going to PCC.

janisj

If one has philosophical or political reasons for not going -- that is totally 100% fine. But one who has never been probably isn't the best to advise if it is 'worth' visiting. That is more a topic for the Lounge.

suze

janisj~ The OP is a brand new poster, they do not have access to The Lounge.

Kal

While on Kauai, be careful of swimming at the beach at your hotel. Seems that they have lost a few tourists over the years we've been going there (since '89). Just because "the locals" surf in that area, doesn't mean it's safe for tourists to swim. Same goes for other Kauai beaches.

You can drive or enjoy a nice walk up the beach to Lydgate Beach to swim. Nice picnic grounds with facilities.

The bad part about your Kauai location, IMHO, is if you want to eat/drink, you gotta drive.

You are a short drive to some good restaurants.
Street Burger, Kintaros, Brick Oven Pizza, Trees, Hukilau Grill, Lava Lava, Monico's, Wahoo's, Sleeping Giant Grill, Oasis (GREAT view and happy hour), Ono Family, Tiki Tacos, Olympic Cafe, JO2, Kauai Pasta, The Bull Shed to name a few.

We now return you to the Right Fighters bickering....

suze

There would be no "bickering" if each person could just express their opinion without others jumping in to comment.

sf7307

My opinion - Brick House Pizza stinks (that's an in-joke between me and Kal).

Kal

Yes...it's always those other people

Kal

@ SF....

Who luvs yah?!?!? That actually made me SOL! (Snort out loud).

annw

Lived on Oahu for years, have been back many times...for me, the PCC is a canned tourist experience a long drive out from most of the places I want to be on Oahu.

That said, janisj seems to be an experienced traveler with lots of useful advice; clearly people of good will can differ on this topic.

I'd recommend visiting the Bishop Museum.