Since its opening in 1963, the Polynesian Cultural Center on Oahu's windward shore has become one of the island's most popular attractions, drawing upwards of 33 million visitors. Located 38 miles from Waikiki, it showcases the cultures of eight different island peoples by offering simulated habitats, an evening show, a canoe pageant, an award-winning luau, and a unique theater.
The Center is operated by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Its mission is two-fold: helping to preserve and perpetuate the positive aspects of Polynesian culture, while providing job opportunities for students at nearby Brigham Young University Hawaii. As an equal opportunity employer, the Center employs some 1,300 workers, full-time and part-time, throughout the year.
Roughly 15 million square miles of the South Pacific have been condensed into this 42-acre theme park. Represented here are the cultures of Hawaii, Fiji, Tonga, Tahiti, Samoa, the Maori of New Zealand, Easter Island and the Marquesas (French Polynesia)
To provide visitors with a whirlwind tour of these far-flung islands, separate villages have been created for each. Knowledgeable guides are on hand to introduce local games, language, art, crafts, music and history. The villages are open from noon to 6:00pm.
For children, there is the "Ohana Adventure!'' It features family-friendly games and such "go native'' activities as Tongan spear throwing, Samoan fire making, Maori temporary tattoos and war canoe building.
At 2:30pm each afternoon in the Center's freshwater lagoon, a canoe pageant is performed between the Hawaiian and Samoan villages. The 30-minute presentation of dancing and costumery is known as the "Rainbows of Paradise.''
Then, between 3pm and 6pm, the 600-seat IMAXtm Polynesia Theater offers showings of "Coral Reef Adventure'' four times a day, on the hour. Projected on the only 65'x93' screen in Hawaii, the film reveals the beauties of atolls, reefs and marine life in Fiji, Tahiti, Australia and more.
The Center's Ali'i Luau has been honored as the "most authentic'' in Hawaii, with flower leis, hula dancing, and an all-you-can-eat buffet. The menu includes such local specialties as poi made from taro root, kalua pua'a roast pig, and lomilomi (massaged) salmon, along with salads and tropical fruit. Although no alcohol is served at the Center, soft drinks are offered in abundance. Seating and entertainment start at 5:15pm, every day but Sunday.
Each evening Monday through Saturday, a high-energy live variety show called "Horizons, Where the Sea Meets the Sky,'' begins at 7:30pm in the 2,800-seat Pacific Theater. It features performances from the various Polynesian cultures, with singing, a wedding procession and an acclaimed fire dance. There is a brief intermission, and the show ends at 9:00pm. All seats are reserved; advanced reservations are recommended.
Among other amenities available to visitors are gift shops, a snack bar, and the Barbecue Luncheon Buffet, which opens at 11:45am. From 5pm to 7pm, the Ambassador Restaurant and the Gateway Buffet serve dinner.
Brochures describing the Center's activities are available in English, Chinese, Japanese and Korean. Adults may choose from a number of inclusive packages priced at $60 to $225 per person or opt for general admission at $45. A parking fee of $6 per vehicle also applies.
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