Polynesian Cultural Center: A Hawaii Vacation Must Do

We do not make ANY compensation for recommending the Polynesian Cultural Center.
We are Amazon Affiliates and do make a small compensation on qualifying purchases.

The Hawaiian Islands boast an incredible vacation spot.  Beautiful beaches, incredible landscapes, and incredible waterfalls are all promised when taking a trip.  However, if you come to Hawaii and miss visiting the Polynesian Cultural Center to learn the culture, you've missed out on understanding the deep beauty of the islands.

The Polynesian Cultural center is located on the northeastern side of Oahu.  Opening in 1963, the center has been and educational oasis for Pacific Island cultures.  The center houses college students of Pacific Island decent, creating a dual relationship of sorts.  The students spend time teaching and sharing their culture and heritage, and in turn, the proceeds of the center provide the means of college education to those native to the Pacific Islands.

The center is divided into five islands:  Tonga, Samoa, Fiji, New Zealand, and Hawaii.  At the top of every hour, the island hosts a presentation on the history and culture of that specific island.  Afterwards, there are multiple different stations in the area that provide both educational opportunities and activities to engage in island life.  (Bring water!  Click here for travel water bottles! affiliate link)

One of the most interesting things that stood out to us was the amount of distance traveled between islands by the boats specific to the region.  Think Moana like.  These sea vessels are seemingly less structured than their European counterparts for traveling great distances.  Yet there is historical evidence that not only was travel possible, it went on for a great period of time as the cultures learned from each other, traded, and settled across the Pacific.

The center itself is worth at least a three hour visit.  That will get you a quick glimpse into everything there.  You can easily spend the day doing all of the presentations and activities.  The center also has a luau to attend and a night show highlighting each of the different cultures in an intricate performance.

The center is a higher cost than our typical budget.  However, the educational value of learning about the history of the islands and the support it provides to the students is well worth the cost.  There is always one "saved" vacation expense on our budget trips. (And traveling with a teen requires at least one experience.   We have a list of things we needed (Click Here/Affiliate).

​For Hawaii, the Polynesian Cultural Center was worth every cent!

Unsure of how to plan a budget friendly trip to Hawaii?  Click the buttons below to get started!

Find Your Flight

Where to Sleep

Find Your Car