Polynesian Cultural Center


A cultural park owned by the Mormon Church, the PCC revolves around Polynesian-themed ʻvillages’ representing Hawaii, Samoa, Aotearoa (New Zealand), Fiji, Tahiti and Tonga. The admission price is steep, but this includes frequent village shows and a park-wide boat parade showcasing native dances.

Brigham Young University (BYU) students dressed in native garb demonstrate poi pounding, coconut-frond weaving, handicrafts, music and games. The evening Aliʻi Luau show and buffet, an add-on, is a real spectacle, with some authentic Hawaiian dances and foods. Afterwards you can see Ha: Breath of Life, a Polynesian song-and-dance revue that’s partly authentic, partly Bollywood-style extravaganza. Check online for ticket packages; advance discounts are sometimes offered. Numerous bus tours come here from Waikiki.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Laʻie Beach Park

0.46 MILES

A half-mile south of the Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC) main entrance, this is an excellent bodysurfing beach, but the shore break can be brutal, thus…

2. Laʻie Point State Wayside

0.76 MILES

Crashing surf, a lava arch and a slice of Hawaiian folk history await at Laʻie Point. The tiny offshore islands are said to be the surviving pieces of a…

3. Laʻie Temple

0.83 MILES

In 1919 Mormons constructed a smaller but still showy version of their Salt Lake City, UT, temple here at the foot of the Koʻolau Range. It was the first…

4. Kokololio Beach Park

1 MILES

A wide patch of sand, good surf and decent parking make this a great beach to pause for a picnic and a splash. There's a wide lawn, picnic tables and…

5. Hukilau Beach

1.15 MILES

North of Laʻie Shopping Center is a crescent of white sand that’s a leisurely place for swimming when summer waters are calm. Just beware any time the…

6. Malaekahana State Recreation Area

1.47 MILES

The long, relatively uncrowded beach with buff-colored sand is popular with families. Swimming is generally good here year-round, although there are…

7. Mokuʻauia

1.59 MILES

When the tide is low you can wade from Malaekahana State Recreation Area's southern Kalanai Point to Mokuʻauia (Goat Island), a state bird sanctuary about…

8. Hauʻula Beach Park

1.98 MILES

Right along the highway in the middle of town, this narrow, ironwood-shaded beach has a shallow, rocky bottom that isn’t too appealing for swimming but…

  • placement: superzone
  • path: Destinations/POIs/superzone
  • possible size: [970, 250], [970, 90], [728, 90], [1, 1],
  • targeting:
    {
      "url": "usa/hawaii/la-ie/attractions/polynesian-cultural-center/a/poi-sig/452631/1333329",
      "position": "superzone"
    }