If we are staying at the Marriott in Waikiki, should we rent a car if we will be going to the Polynesian Culture Center for dinner show only and Pearl Harbor?

I'm assuming you're asking whether you should rent a car just for these particular things, and not over the course of your entire stay?

I would say that you need the car to go to the PCC, but you don't necessarily need the car to go to Pearl Harbor.

Pearl Harbor is easily accessible by bus, but if you're going to rent a car for the PCC dinner show, no reason not to take advantage of having the car and drive out to Pearl Harbor earlier that day.

Or you can use the car to drive around the island in the day, arriving at the PCC in time for the show.

It all depends on how long you plan to have the car.

There are car rental offices right in Waikiki that allow you to pick up/drop off at certain hotels, so if you only want to rent a car for selected days, it will be no problem.

You might keep in mind that it is nearly an hour drive back home - the first half on dark country roads-after the PCC show. Some people enjoy leaving the drive to the bus driver.

If you're talking about ONLY the PCC and Pearl Harbor, then no, you don't really need a car. But we always get a car because we don't just stay in Waikiki.

In my 50+ visits to Honolulu I have always rented a car.

Yes, you could take public transport to Pearl Harbor and a tour bus to the PCC. That would not be my preferable method but I know some people do not like to drive in unfamiliar places.

I have stayed at the Waikiki Marriott (which was just sold!) many, many times. Love the hotel but I hate the parking garage. There is rental car counter right in the lobby.

If you are considering taking the bus to the PCC, make sure you check the bus schedule first.

I don't think there are many bus routes out that way, and the buses may come infrequently - perhaps only once an hour.

Considering that you will be leaving the PCC late at night after the show is why I think a car is preferable to the bus. I would rather get in the car and drive myself back, rather than waiting around at the bus stop in the dark.

A caveat though - I haven't been to the PCC since I was a kid, so I have no idea where the bus stop is. It could very well be right at the entrance, so then it wouldn't be so bad. Even so though, I'd prefer a car.

It used to be you could get a "package" to the PCC which included R/T transportation but don't know how much that included transportation adds to the ticket price.

I'm not sure I understand part of your question.

You say PCC for dinner show only.

Are you confusing the dinner show, 'Ali'i Luau' (5:00), with the evening show 'Horizons' (7:30)? Or are you staying for 'Horizons' also.

The Ali'i Luau is good but not the best luau on the island. The food is average. The best things about the Ali'i Luau is in booking the luau package comes great seats for 'Horizons' and it is only $30 more than the regular admission.

Either way, rent a car for PCC because it won't cost you much more than getting transportation from Waikiki and you can make many stops along the way.

For Pearl Harbor, you can take the Bus, $2 each way or take a shuttle from Waikiki hotels for $6 roundtrip without having to make all the bus stops.

Round trip shuttle service WAIKIKI/ARIZONA MEMORIAL is available for $6. Call 808 923-1178 for more information and reservations.

Thank you for all of your insight...we are going to rent a car so we can explore on the way. Dusty-I was confused. We don't want to be at the PCC all day so we are doing the evening show only and combining with the Ali'i luau for the better seats. But,which luau do you suggest, instead? And should we swap it and skip the Horizons?

Horizons is the best show in all of the islands. So don't skip it.

If you were going to just the Ali'i Luau, I would recommend a different one.

The Ali'i Luau and Horizons will be great together. You don't have to spend the time to see the rest of the center, but I do recommend it.

The seven villages all have nice shows/demonstrations.

The canoe pageant is nice.

Here's a thread with lots to do on Oahu. You can stop at some of the places on the way to PCC.

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34652188