A Full Day (Or More!) of Polynesian Hospitality

Fresh flower lei greeting at the Alii Luau

A Full Day (Or More!) of Polynesian Hospitality

Fresh flower lei greeting at the Alii Luau
Fresh flower lei greeting at the Polynesian Cultural Center’s Alii Luau

A luau is an activity that usually fills an evening, sometimes a bit more. But one venue offers a deeper cultural experience that can easily take up an entire day, or even more! The Polynesian Cultural Center is located in La’ie, on the scenic windward side of Oahu. It’s a little more than an hour’s drive from Honolulu and every mile is gorgeous.

The Polynesian Cultural Center lets you get face-to-face not only with Hawaiian culture, but also with traditions from all around the Pacific, and since the luau includes a 3-day pass to the center, you might even consider spending more than one day exploring and learning all about the varied cultures of Polynesia.

A Full Day of Activities

The villages all offer activities that delight young and old
The villages all offer activities that delight young and old

The Polynesian Cultural Center consists of six villages, each representing a different Polynesian region. As you make your way through the villages, you have opportunity to try your hand at traditional crafts, see arts from around the Pacific Islands and meet people from all over the Polynesian Triangle. A canoe shuttles you to the first of the villages, and from there it’s a delightful stroll between the others. Don’t miss the 4D-movie, taking you on a trip through time and space back into the ancient past of the Hawaiian Islands.

 

 

Let’s Eat!

Kalua pig is just one of the delicious options on the Alii Luau buffet spread
Kalua pig is just one of the delicious options on the Alii Luau buffet spread

When it is time for the party to start, your hosts greet you at the luau venue with a beautiful flower lei. Enjoy exotic, traditional, and modern cuisine that tempts with new and familiar flavors. A highlight of the dinner buffet is the kalua pig, cooked the traditional way in an imu—an underground pit oven lined with hot lava stones.

The luau buffet is enhanced with traditional entertainment from the various islands of Polynesia. The music and dance spirit you away to an exotic, faraway world.

 

 

A Polynesian Extravaganza

"Ha: Breath of Life"
“Ha: Breath of Life”

After dinner, the evening entertainment awaits. “Ha: Breath of Life” is a lavish production featuring dozens of singers, dancers, and actors who tell the timeless love story of Mana and Lani. Inspired by Polynesian mythology, the show fuses traditional storytelling with state-of-the-art surround sound, special effects, and animations.

If you want to make your trip to the Polynesian Cultural Center entirely stress-free, you can opt to add round-trip transportation from Waikiki to your package. Pick-up is offered at 10 AM or 12 noon to take you to the windward side of Oahu and returns around 10.30 PM. An added bonus with this option is not only do you enjoy a safe trip home after a long day out, your driver also points out all the beautiful sights along the way!

Come Back for More!

If you have time, you should definitely spend more than one day at the Polynesian Cultural Center to take in all the villages and participate in all the activities without rushing. A return visit to the Polynesian Cultural Center can easily be combined with a tour around the world-famous North Shore of Oahu, with its iconic surf spots, historic Haleiwa town, and stunning beaches.

 

More on Hawaii Luaus