While we travelled around Hawaii this past December, we took in so many breathtaking sites, sounds and tastes; we truly fell in love with the island and its culture. This led to us wanting to deepen our understanding of Hawaii and its neighbouring Pacific islands. By fully immersing ourselves at the Polynesian Cultural Center, we did just that.
Located on the North Shore of O’ahu, this attraction is a truly magical experience. It will take you on an informative and interactive journey through six Polynesian island nations: Samoa, Aotearoa, Tonga, Fiji, Tahiti and Hawaii. Here, you learn all about culture, traditions, food and more through activities, games, and interactive performances.
The Center is situated approximately an hour from Honolulu International Airport. We rented a car via Discount Hawaii Car Rental, and stayed at the conveniently located Courtyard O’ahu North Shore by Marriott which is positioned just next door.
We arrived at the grounds, a short walk or drive from our hotel, entering the Hukilau Marketplace, a lovely open-air market with various food trucks and gift shops, and enjoyed some delicious fish tacos.
Our Getaway Buffet package included a self-guided experience through all six island villages, a buffet dinner with live music, and a performance of HĀ: Breath of Life, a stunning theatrical experience.
Each package and ticket will allow you access to the grounds for three days, which is amazing if you don’t have time to see everything in one day. I would recommend purchasing a package or ticket that includes a guided tour, as it is likely the swiftest way to take in all there is to see. We were running short on time, and without the help of a guide, were unable to take part in every experience.
The vast 42-acre property is divided by a river that is surrounded by a diverse selection of native plants from several islands represented at the center. Everyone is called “family” by native Polynesian interpreters and performers who guide your experience. I recommend taking part in the double-hulled canoe tour on arrival to get your bearings and take it all in.
We started our adventure in Tahiti, learning how to throw spears. In Aotearoa (New Zealand), we were privileged to witness a high-school group, visiting from the island, perform Haka, a grouping of ceremonial dances in Māori culture. In Tonga, we tried traditional weaving with palm fronds and took in an amazing drum performance, complete with participation from the audience.
After visiting most of the island areas, we took in a 12-minute cinematic experience, Hawaiian Journey, at the almost 500-seat cinema of the same name. The experience, which opened in 2013, is immersive from start to finish, as you enter the cinema by way of a cave-like structure. Speakers are installed in each seat for a full surround-sound viewing, while 252 “special effect” seats also offer motion and additional features. Breathtaking scenes of Hawaii are paired with native lore, explaining the spiritual connection of Hawaiian peoples and their ancestors to their land.
The center was established in 1963 and is connected to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS). Just beyond the grounds of the Center lies Brigham Young University-Hawaii. The University was founded by the LDS church, which funds the education of most of their students. Seventy per cent of its students are from Oceania and the Asian Rim. Most of the performers and workshop leaders you will meet are students of BYU-Hawaii, and working at the Polynesian Cultural Center supplements their educational expenses. Students must also follow the traditions and values of the LDS church while pursuing their education. The North Shore of O’ahu is a predominantly alcohol-free area of Hawaii, serving a large LDS population. This means you won’t find any tropical cocktails at the Center, or at various places in the area.
Though you won’t be able to indulge in spirits at the Getaway Buffet, you will find some of the most incredible local fare.
From whole, fresh ahi tuna sliced on site and served sashimi style, to delicious roast pork, poke bowls, fresh vegetables, chicken and more, this buffet does not disappoint. Musicians serenaded us with everything from local songs to the Moana soundtrack. Robot waiters (known as “Shaka-bots”) are there to help clear away dishes, and also play music through their speakers as they putter around the space. Just don’t touch them; the human wait staff will assist the robots with clearing up.
And while the ice cream station provides an excellent dessert, the real treat is the amazing theatrical experience, HĀ: Breath of Life. This impressive 90-minute feat features over 100 young Polynesian performers, along with fire dancers, volcanoes, water effects and a phenomenal range of special effects and surround sound. The set is expansive, with multiple levels of a rock structure to perform on complete with waterfalls and pyrotechnics. It’s a symbolic show about life, death, family and triumph. Expect to see many performance styles and skills from your tour of the center, but much more elevated and thematic.
This show is a must see to cap off your Polynesian experience. Tickets to the performance are included in all packages—except the Islands of Polynesia package, which provides a self-guided experience through the six island villages only.
Across our afternoon and evening, we learned so much and felt so welcomed by everyone working there. The Polynesian Cultural Center offers a unique opportunity to gain understanding of Pacific Polynesia and its peoples and traditions, and we cannot recommend it enough.
If you find yourself on O’ahu, do yourself a favour and book a tour. Head to the official website for more details.
The Polynesian Cultural Center is open five days a week from Noon to 9pm, and is closed on Wednesdays and Sundays, as well as Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. HĀ: Breath of Life performs across those five nights. For tickets and more details, head to their official website HERE.
The author visited as a guest of the Polynesian Cultural Center. While on the North Shore of O’ahu we stayed next door at the Courtyard O’ahu North Shore by Marriott and rented our car courtesy of Discount Hawaii Car Rental. Photos by Larry Heath unless otherwise credited.
