Polynesian Cultural Center

The Polynesian Cultural Center or PCC is a major cultural attraction in Hawaii, attracting 700,000 visitors annually.

It encompasses 6 simulated villages presenting traditions of Hawaii and other Polynesian islands. Each village demonstrates how its people lived in a way that reflects their history and culture through crafts demonstrations (like woodcarving or weaving), dance performances (like hula or Tahitian drumming), culinary offerings (like poi or luau pig), storytelling sessions (like legends about Maui) or hands-on activities like canoe building or coconut husking games.

Most of PCC’s employees are students at Brigham Young University, owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or the Mormon church.

Arrival

As I parked in the large parking lot of the center and entered the PCC, I was greeted by the staff and introduced to my personal tour guide for the day. She was a student from Tahiti who worked at the center and was with me throughout the afternoon until dinner.

Super Ambassador Luau package

PCC offers multiple packages, and I picked the ultimate experience package called the Super Ambassador Luau package. This package allowed me to have an assigned front-row seat at every show, the dinner, and, most importantly, the central front-row seat at the final 90-minute show, "HA: Breath of Life". As part of the package, I was greeted with a kukui nut lei on arrival and a flower lei at dinner. You can learn more about this and other packages on the website.

Polynesian villages

With my guide, I began my journey through villages of the Polynesian groups represented in this theme park:

• Tonga

• Tahiti

• Fiji

• Aotearoa (New Zealand)

• Samoa

• Hawaii

Each of the villages has its own presentation show. Some of the shows encourage audience participation. The most memorable ones for me were the world-famous Maori Haka dance and the Tahitian wedding ceremony. In addition to the shows, hands-on activities like fire-starting or paddling a canoe were offered.

Due to the limited time, I did not get a chance to visit the village of Hawaii as I had to attend the dinner before the evening show. The tickets I had allowed me to come back for additional days, but I was leaving Oahu the next day.

I boarded a large canoe and headed towards the location of the evening luau.

Luau

Soon after I completed the tour, I entered a large dining venue with a stage in front of it. I was taken to my table right in front of the stage. The server, who was also a student at BYU, welcomed me and offered me a mocktail pina colada served in a pineapple. As a “super ambassador,” I was invited to get the food first, before everyone else got their turn in the buffet line.

This was not a regular dinner but a luau, a traditional Hawaiian party that is usually accompanied by entertainment. This luau was dedicated to Queen Kapiolani.

The food had a good selection of traditional Hawaiian dishes and fruits. There was poke, kalua pork, local fish, baked taro, and poi, among other things.

And, of course, the star of this dinner was the Kalua pork, cooked in an underground oven called the “imu”. This traditional way of cooking was presented on stage, and the pig was later chopped in the dining area for everyone to enjoy.

Marketplace

Before the final show, I wandered around the marketplace and visited shops selling everything from seashell jewelry to ukuleles and local candy.

"HA: Breath of Life" show

The culmination of the day was a live show by over a hundred performers telling a universal story of life and death, childhood and maturity, and love. The story begins with a young couple expecting their first child. When the child is born, they name him Mana. Mana's life story is then told from the perspective of all major Polynesian groups: Tonga, Maori, Fiji, and others. This energetic performance consists of an unforgettable 90 minutes of singing, dancing, and fire effects.

Tips

• The park is open only from 12:45 PM, and there is a lot of ground to cover, so keep that in mind if you are planning on visiting all of the villages. Consider coming back for a second day if you have that option.

• Alcohol is not served in the center.

• Video and photography are not allowed at the evening show.

• As you are going to spend the afternoon outdoors, it’s a good idea to bring water. Refilling stations are available in the park.