The Polynesian Cultural Center is a great experience, but this review is for the Luau. Basically, avoid this Luau at all cost. The "entertainment' during the luau is very short, the food is on par with a $10 buffet. The fish is super dry and just bland, no flavor. The chicken teriyaki is gross, its basically plain chicken and they poured the sauce on top, the pork is just mediocre, that was their three main courses, the rest is rice, fruits and salad.
(1)
Matthew D.
I'm not sure why people are ripping on this so bad. I don't have any other luau experiences to compare to, but for my first one, I left here entertained and with a belly full of great food... I don't think I could have asked for much more. It sounds like a lot of people went here and only focused on the negatives. Of course they had a horrible time. The Polynesian Cultural Center has a lot of grounds and staff to keep up with,so of course they are going to try to make money and charge high prices for simple things such as pictures and smoothies. Just don't buy those items... your experience won't be any worse without a smoothie or a picture taken by the staff (ask another Luau goer to take a picture of you/your group for free). We looked at many different Luaus on both the Big Island and Oahu and decided this one sounded the best. We knew we wanted to check out the Cultural Center, so that entry was already a fixed cost for us. Compare the extra fee of attending the Luau and it's actually cheaper to do a day here than every other Luau we looked at. Our food was excellent. There were a ton of different options to choose from and you eat as much as you want. I tried almost everything, and like almost all of it (not a fan of Poi). Go here, make a day out of it, learn about the cultures, watch their presentations, get stuffed and entertained at the Luau, and cap off the night with Ha. There will be negatives to it, like there are everything, but it's a lot of fun and a great way to spend the entire day/evening.
(5)
Jay Y.
#cousinT was a great host at the best luau. We love the PCC. The luau was the perfect ending to a great day of food, fun, and culture. The live music was fantastic and CousinT was perfect MC. Such a great voice and personality. The dancers of course we're also amazing. Well worth the drive #bestattraction #bestluau
(5)
Vivienne J.
We did the whole PCC "Ambassador" package one Saturday in February. This review is just for the lu'au. The Good: Good entertainment (especially the keiki) Flower lei greeting on entry Taro rolls with butter The Meh: Crowded tables (no elbow room) Confusing when to go get food (a couple seated with us just went when they wanted, the rest of us waited and someone came and directed us to go get food) Demonstrated to us good tasting poi earlier in afternoon, then served us fermenting poi at lu'au The Bad: Really hard, if not impossible, to eat and watch the entertainment at the same time Food was largely underwhelming and lukewarm Dessert was at the buffet, then they brought MORE dessert to the table Another picture for you to sell us, really? If I were to go again, I'd go see the Cultural Center itself and possibly the Ha show, but would absolutely skip the lu'au.
(3)
Helen S.
The Polynesian Cultural Center is supposed to have the best luau and I can see why. If you're not expecting to be in Hawaii very much and you are would like to attend a luau, this is the one to choose because you'll get the entire experience. The Hawaiian food is delicious, the service is good, and the show had an entertaining storyline and was a grand performance. You really feel like you're a part of something when you're watching it.
(4)
Peter F.
"The Breath of Life" program was too long, but did have a high production value. Some good dancing, drumming and effects. You really need to be into the Polynesian culture to fully enjoy the show, but the cast works really hard. The food on the other hand at the PCC was purely and simply HORRIBLE. The price of the show includes this miserable buffet (we had the Island Buffet) and the food was cold, tasteless, horrible selection, undercooked...just simply a complete eating nightmare!! PLUS...some young singers (from Brigham Young University) came to our table and started singing to us which was totally annoying and not called for. This is a Mormon operation, so no alcohol and EVERYBODY is smiling and saying "aloha" at every opportunity. Nice people for sure, but they need to work on their food service operation or put in vending machines which would probably be better than what we got!
(1)
Judy L.
OK, the show was fun. The food was meh..... We had a party of 4, but we were split up because they didn't have an available table for us. So K and I sat with a group of 6, they didn't even say hello. Alrighty! Pork - Was a little dry and salty Beef - It was moist but tasteless Fish - Was tasteless and a little dry Chicken - Moist and actually the good tasting protein Fruits - Fresh Poi - It did NOT look good Taro rolls - Sweet and good Soft drinks - free refills but the cups are so tiny Pass on the Luau here.
(2)
Diana C.
Alright.... There are a lot of things to review.... THE DAY EXPERIENCE: 4* The shows are a pretty cool experience and they are definitely a learning experience. If you want to learn about Hawaiian (and other Polynesian cultures) it's a good place to get a brief history. The LUAU: 1* The food is pretty terrible. They try with the entertainment and the showing of the cooked pig, but overall the food is really awful. I hope this isn't your only or first luau experience. The HA Show (Breathe of Life): 4* The show is pretty good, lots of dancing, singing, and a desert serving in between. The PCC does nickel and dime you for just about everything, and it's run by Mormons so it is dry and not open on Sundays. If you've never experienced it and you have some extra time on the island, I would recommend trying it out once. I grew up on the island so have been as a child with school field trips and have taken my bf as an adult. Either way it's a way to spend a day on the island learning a little more about the cultures that make up the island population. Go with the right expectations and you're sure to find something you enjoy.
(3)
Josh S.
Way over priced. The good was terrible. Luckily there is a McDonald's out on the highway. A high school musical would have been better. Save your money and just go experience a good dinner on the beach
(1)
Wes J.
What a great time! Walking around all the villages was really neat. All the employees in the various villages did a great job, they were enthusiastic about portraying their cultures. Taking the canoe ride throughout the park was a real treat, kids thoroughly enjoyed their time. We bought the Ali'i Luau Package, with free seating upgrade for the main show. This buffet is held more central in the park and has its own show to watch while eating. They did a great time entertaining us, even inviting up those having a birthday or anniversary to hula on stage. Food was pretty good and pretty authentic. Be prepared to lay down some money though, we spent a total of 6 hours in the park; so the $210 we spent was actually pretty cheap. The main show was "Hands Down" amazing!!!! 1.5 hours of pure entertainment. It wasn't a traditional Hula show, its was a live show, depicting life back before explorers came to the islands. Really really cool. Only thing i did not like, should have taken all the stars away but decided to only take one away. When I took my daughter out to the main passageway just outside the arena (She was tired and crying) I could smell some of the employee's smoking marijuana behind the construction fence. (This was the Saturday following mothers day). It wasn't guests because this area was only accessible by employees. This kind of stuff has no place around families. Aside from a few knuckleheads breaking the law we had a great time here!
(4)
Antonio P.
I've been to two other luaus on the island and so far this has been the best one! They had the most selection of local island grinds (kalua pork, poi, lomi lomi salmon, taro bread roll, teriyaki chicken, beef, sweet potato, rice, dessert bar etc) compared to the other luaus. In the beginning we joined hands with others on the table and sang a prayer with the musicians and afterwards they showed us how they cook and prepare the pig from the umu or eemu outdoor kitchen - that was cool! The musicians and steel guitar did a great job and their MC Cousin T was AMAZING! Great voice and explained each song so well. Especially loved the bit about the steel guitar and how the Shaka sign was born with Mr Hemana. The dancers were beautiful and my family had fun singing happy birthday and doing the Tahitian shaking dance with them. The fire-knife dancing was a great close to the show. My family was impressed to see the children do the fire-knife. Overalll, it was the BEST LUAU I've ever been to! Such a great family oriented place the Polynesian Cultural Center and this Luau is. Totally would recommend this to other families!
(5)
Casie C.
We went to eat before the show. During dinner, they had cute little Hawaiian show going on for entertainment which is pretty interesting. The food on the other hand was alright... It wasn't great and the choices were limited. The show started right on time. Everyone was talented and did a wonderful job. BUT the beginning of the show was quiet boring for me.. (sadly) the best part was probably the end because that's when they played with fire and did a little acrobat here and there. Overall, it was a decent experience.
(3)
Heather P.
Polynesian Cultural Center has got the best show that Oahu offers in my honest opinion. You can decipher all the different dances from all the different islands so much better here. A must see!
(5)
Joanna V.
After begging my friends to go to the Polynesian Cultural Center, for what was supposed to be the most authentic luau in Hawaii, I was so disappointed. First let's talk price. They do not offer an option for just the luau, so the cheapest route to go was almost $100 per person. Another $10 to park. Then "can we take a photo for you?" Great, that'll be $18! $18!! For a mediocre 8x10 that you already printed and are just going to throw away when I sadly shake my head at hearing the price? No, thank you! Also, how wasteful!!! And those yummy looking smoothies served in pineapples at the luau... Another $10 dollars!! So disappointing!!! For that much money one would think all of those things would be included in the cost. When I pictured going to Hawaii's "most authentic luau" I pictured round tables under tiki torch lightning with a pig roasting over a fire pit and a pina colada in my hand. What I got was an over crowded football stadium sized seating area with a buffet of meh food and no alcoholic beverages in site. Fruit punch served in plastic cups. Pork cut at a table (am I at a luau or Old Country Buffet?). The whole experience felt rushed, and the entertainment felt distant and inauthentic. My Hawaiian friend I had dragged along said, "it's pretty bad when the 10-year-old haole is the best hula girl up there". Enough said. Last be warned, the luau only lasts a short hour, and you will be left with an hour and a half between it and the "Ha: breath of life" show. The only thing open besides a 15 minute video? The gift shop, of course. In summary, the whole thing is a money trap and my advice is to save it ;).
(1)
Shynita D.
If your coming here for booze, stay away. There isnt any. Lol. The luau was fun. My children enjoyed it so much. Its a definite must do luau but I could be saying that because its the only one.
(4)
Raymond M.
First of all WORST luau EVER!! 1st : I want to start off with the $10 parking fee, that's just ridiculous, they should offer free parking! 2nd: I do like the free drinks ( unlimited compared to $4 drinks, ar paradise cove) 3rd: the food is not good. It's so simple and Plain 4th: super close sitting and no fresh air By all means go to PARADISE cove! This luau for ambassador is $125 I believe! You're better off in paradise cove deluxe for cheaper!
(1)
Mike M.
A ALL day event, parking is easy. Get there first thing and you can beat the rush and go at your own pace. We did the buffet dinner. I have been to many and the food is ok. The night show is amazing. A must do on the island to experience.
(4)
Omar N.
bring a flask or ur favorite 'drink' ! lol if u haven't been to a luau, u can check this one out if ur in North Shore ...hella far from Waikiki. its basically a cheap(but pricey buffet) that seats alot of people in a outdoor setting that included a 'show'(hula dance and more hula dance and a really COOL fire dance at the end) ...all a bit too long in duration, performed mostly by the College kids next door at BYU Hawaii and/or locals. ...the entire experience is great for 1st time visitors/tourists! my opinion: u'll be okay if u can't check this one off your list of 'things to do' while on Oahu
(2)
Isabella B.
This is the second part of my 3 part review series of the PCC. Polynesian Cultural Center (part 1): yelp.com/biz/polynesian-… Ha: Breath of Life [show] (part 3): yelp.com/biz/ha-breath-o… The ali'i luau was purchased as part of the package that included admission to the PCC and the show. I chose the luau as my family wanted to try a luau and it is conveniently scheduled between two activities. You get leid with flowers at the entrance. The flowers were pretty nice. The staff takes a picture which you can find with all the rest of the pictures taken at the PCC... for $18. There's several long lines of tables with choices of water and soda, which is surprising for a Mormon-run center. There's also their taro bread, a sweet bread which is actually one of their better offerings. Your group waits until it is called to fall in line to the buffet table. I didn't pay much attention to the entertainment, but the MC was educating about what a luau is and catering to people who were going to Oahu for special reasons. I don't think they brought out the pig. The foods really are hit-or-miss. This is not surprising for buffet food. Poi - the first time I've had this liquid purple stuff. Devoid of any taste, I could see why people, even the locals, aren't too fond of it. Supposedly its very nutritious. At least I tried it. Salad was decent, the thousand island dressing and the sunflower seeds made it better. Pipi kaula - tastes like beef jerky. Kalua pork - Decent for pulled pork. I've had much better pork at Filipino parties (whole lechon). Chicken long rice - the noodle dish. Noodles and chicken were good. Felt like eating soup noodles without the soup. Tasted strongly of chicken boullion. Island Fish steamed with ginger and garlic - Meh. Didn't even taste like fish. Was wondering what the brown stuff was, didn't taste like ginger and garlic at all. Lomi lomi salmon - Small salmon with tomatoes and onions. You can't see the salmon, but it's there. Good with rice and along with salad, a good dish that has vegetables. Teriyaki chicken - The skin was too rubbery and the chicken was overcooked. Sweet potato - I prefer it hot, too starchy. Potato salad- lots of potato, liked the sauce. Didn't care for the carrot. Haupia pie - tasted like pina colada without the liquid and alcohol. Tasted a bit weird. Island Fruit Pudding - decent for bread pudding. Bread was good, meh for the flavors. At least I tried the "most authentic luau" in Oahu, so the PCC says. Next time I'll go to another luau or try other restaurants in the area. Out of all the places I ate in Oahu, this was one of the worst places I've eaten. I've had better Hawaiian food at the L&L back in San Diego!
(2)
Julianne F.
Awesome for the whole family!! Food was great and the entertainment fabulous! I would come again and definitely recommend it to others.
(5)
Carolyn P.
This review is only for the luau & not the breath of life show. We had great seats & there were carafes of water & Pepsi on the tables along with taro rolls. We had a lovely time chit chatting with our table neighbors. Then the cheese ball mc started talking. He was better suited for a cruise ship than a Hawaiian luau. After 20 minutes or so we were directed to the buffet. The food was blah. The best part was the $15 for 2 piña colada that you could buy. They don't serve any alcohol here.
(2)
Jeff L.
Figured I would leave a quick review here as well as on PCC itself. We just attended this shenanigan and thankfully drove ourselves (paying $8 to self park of course) so we could get the heck away from this place upon realizing what a complete farce it is. I'm embarrassed for Hawaii and it's beautiful people that this ridiculous cultural sterilization center is permitted to conduct such activities. This place is nothing more than a front to employ BYU students and pedal the Mormon doctrine while simultaneously reducing Polynesian history and it's people to dancing and screaming. The dinner is appalling for the price charged. For any price this would be unacceptable. I honestly have never had such an awful meal that I've had to pay for. The sweet potato buns were the only food item acceptable for human consumption. Like a previous reviewer I saw glasses of punch from tables being poured back into Pitchers. I thought at first this was to facilitate dumping them but then saw the server throw ice in the jug and head back to the tables. This is when we got up and left. All over the grounds you are pushed to buy cheap knickknacks from anywhere you can imagine other than from a local Polynesian. Cheap overpriced junk is abundant and all the money gets funneled directly to the LDS cult. The show Ha.... Haha...more pathetic cleansing... The men are dressed in, you guessed it... White collared shirts and dark pants. Is this how native Hawaiian men dressed? Of course not but Joseph Smith is familiar with attempts to rewrite reality so why would anything else be expected here, now knowing the truth about this immoral place. If you are a culturally sensitive, compassionate and moral person I would urge you to stay away from this place.
(1)
Seth B.
What an overpriced disappointment! The food was TERRIBLE and the show was even worse! I don't know if the performers are rejects from the Breath of Life show, or if they have to perform as a punishment for doing something wrong- but either way it was terrible. The food was bland, desserts were worse than store-bought, and some of the "authentic tastes" like poi and pig were downright inedible. Buy a ticket to see the show HA- Breath of Life to get a feel for the Hawaiian culture, but avoid this tourist trap!
(1)
Dianna N.
I absolutely loved the whole Polynesian Cultural Center experience. From the individual islands to Ha. The only thing I did not like was the Ali'i luau portion. The entertainment was fine, although lost amongst the food segment of the night. The food was dry and not very good. The service was a bit slow, and no one ever came to clear our plates. The workers were very friendly though. The food thing about the experience was the fact that there were orange slices in the pork and the beef. I asked someone if there was a way to get some of both dishes with out oranges due to a severe orange allergy. They were very accommodating and made that happen fairly quickly. Overall, the whole experience was awesome, and I would do it again in a heartbeat. I would change to a different dining experience though.
(3)
T F.
I didn't realize I could do separate reviews. This is my review from 03/10 Went to the Island Style Buffet and to see the show "Ha - Breath of Life" using the kama'aina discount. The food at the Island Style Buffet was horrific. It was cold, greasy, and just plain bad. We are from Oahu, so we know what the food should be like. The kalua pig was overly greasy, the ham was ok but salty, the sushi was generic and not tasty or pleasing to the eye. The fish was so-so and the "island seafood" was just yuck. We looked at the menu for the upgraded Ambassador Buffet and there was a much better variety. However, I would be hesitant to eat there too. The show was nice. I liked their other show Horizons better; I think, it has been a very long time since I went. But Ha was entertaining and we enjoyed it. If you study any polynesian dance or hula, take the show with a grain of salt, it was purely only entertainment. Not for the form. Go to PCC to see the rest of it, the islands and the culture. Do not go for the food or the show. Germaine's or Paradise Cove are better.
(1)
Linda L.
The food was just awful! The pork was way too salty. The teriyaki chicken was tolerable. The island fish was tasteless. The rice was too sticky and hard to eat. The chop suey was kind of gross. The entertain was not too bad but if you plan to to the the show : Ha , breath of life, it is too long. I would not recommend this dinner at all.
(1)
Maria C.
The luau and show were not up to my expectation in terms of the food and the show. It was so crowded, you have to share tables with people and if you sit next to a fat person like I did, you can't even move. It's way too tight, at least I felt like it cuz I had 4 over weight people next to me. If you wanted food for the day, just do the general buffet package, it's not worth the extra $26 for the luau. I wanted a good luau experience and this was not. I totally should have gone to the paradise cove luau, but got attracted by the extra cultural center exhibits. But if you are like me and it's your first time in Hawaii looking for a good luau, skip this one. My husband and I were very disappointed.
(1)
Janet E.
This luau was really not that great. The reason why we opted to have it was because of the kalua pig. But unfortunately, when we arrived, the kalua pig was not even ready to be served for dinner until AFTER we were leaving. And one of the only reasons why we left was because the staff here was asking people to leave if they had finished their meal to allow other people waiting in line to be seated to eat. Apparently the space does not allow for everyone to be seated at one time. The food was only okay and there were not a lot of great options. The two outer sides had the same option of food, but the middle had different food. Next time, if I come back, I'm going for the more expensive dinner without the kalua pig.
(3)
Jerry E.
Let's get one thing straight here: I'm reviewing the food, not the entertainment. And I am actually a bit surprised by the amount of unhappy diners posting below. I really did enjoy my meal here! I thought the food, with what was available, was pretty darn good. I thoroughly enjoyed the pork and fish dishes. The taro bread rolls were also good. The poi, I guess if that's your thing... tasted like poi. The kimchi was average. Overall, simple yet tasty fares to enjoy. The hostess typically brings pitchers of beverages by, which is a nice convenience. The dining settings are very pleasant, and the outdoor eating atmosphere It is buffet style, so obviously the food is not going to taste like a sizzling platter fresh out of the kitchen. But as buffet food, I felt it did a very good job. Perhaps my only gripe is that they offered a few more dishes, and maybe more dessert options. Don't count on great luau entertainment. I didn't even notice what was going on, it was that uninteresting. Go see the Ha show, that thing is epic.
(4)
Jenni A.
Outstanding!! Great show, very entertaining, very lively! The food was good, everyone was very friendly! No alcohol was not an issue for us as we don't drink! A MUST DO!!!!
(5)
Libbie P.
The experience just started off bad. The ticket office person was dismissive and wouldn't print my tickets for the luau until 15 minutes before the luau was to begin. Not certain why and she wasn't into explaining. In any case my family was looking forward to an authentic luau, what we got was a decent show that we really couldn't see because everyone is seated cafeteria style at long tables, a cheesy Hawaiian Ryan Seacrest type MC, and a buffet meal consisting of nothing special food. The pig was pretty good, but forget about actually seeing the roasted pig unless you want to get up from your seat, walk past the stage and around the corner to get a peak at the roasting pig along with every other tourist in Oahu. Yeah, not authentic and not worth it. Go see "Ha: Breath of Life" instead. The show is better with lots of talented dancers. But keep in mind it's only a low budget version of the Lion King about humans instead of animals.
(1)
Janine E.
I would say this is a great day activity for families. Seeing all of the different cultures of the polynesian islands was fascinating. The Luau was ok, I wasn't particularly impressed with the food but that's ok. The show after dinner was great though, really entertaining. I would recommend this if you have a full day. It's busy and tiring so wear good shoes and bring plenty of water.
(3)
Alecia S.
I can basically 2nd or 3rd everything that has been said prior. Your shoved into stuffed table settings, soda and water is spares and warm. Food was ridiculous and actually I was sick on my bus ride back...This is my 3rd luau and I was very disappointed. We also bough the tour guide deal and lunch and it was pretty similar to dinner.
(2)
Brian C.
The food was Ordinary. I hadn't eaten since breakfast, so at that moment it was fantastic. Lol. It was more like school cafeteria food.
(2)
Robbie M.
For the tourists that have never been to a luau it is fantastic. We did the ali'i package. I brought my friend here becauae they were supposed to do the imu ceremony. We didnt see it. The true local food like lomi lomi salmon, Poke and poi was at a seperate table and not identified so most people missed trying these local specialties. The food was tasty. The sweet potato salad was one of my favorites as was the chicken and of course kalua pig. I wish theyboffered iced tea for thoae of us who can't drink sweet drinks. The PCC tour was good however we onlyvsaw the shows so I am not sure what we missed. Our tour guide Ali'i was really entertaining. So was the guy at the Samoa village. He was like a Polynesian Steven Wright. Many shows involved audience participation which made it fun. The evening show was fantastic. So much going on. The performers were magnificent and you could tell thay loved what they were doing. The costumes were amazing. A great way to end the day.
(4)
Rachel C.
Just ok. Food was about average and buffet style, which would be ok but we got there early and somehow this got us very back seats. It was an average experience. Nothing spectacular but not bad.
(2)
Yuka N.
Over rated, way too expensive, tourist trap. Once you've experienced a luau, that's enough for a lifetime. Unless you want to check out the other luaus in Hawaii. The food and service was ok. Nice cultural center. The show was pretty cool! I have nothing else to say about this place.
(2)
Brian P.
Be sure to get there early so you can see them take the pig out of the emu!!! After they bring the pig to the carving station, the traditional entertainment begins and they will begin dismissing tables soon after, a few at a time, to go grab food. If you aren't baller enough to pay for an Ambassador package, this means you'll be sitting around a while which is what happened to us :( The food is basically a buffet plus a pig carving station and a separate dessert table. The buffet has various food, mostly local grindz such as teri chicken, kalua pork, etc. If you like kalua pork I would recommend getting it from the carving station only because the one on the buffet is mass produced like the other buffet foods and is a lot drier. The food was pretty good overall and dinner includes water and soft drinks that they bring in pitchers to each table. There are also smoothies served in cored pineapples but those cost extra so we didn't get one. The only thing I wish was different is the close quarter seating at each table, which is really cramped and awkward when you don't know any of the other parties seated with you. The people that sat with us were kind of quiet and nobody really talked despite having to bump elbows while eating!
(4)
Pat R.
So if I were a tourist and only had one chance to attend a luau, I'd be sorely disappointed if this was the one I chose. Spending the day in the park getting educated about of our pacific island cultures, you naturally develop quite an appetite. To our dismay, the adjectives used to describe the food was a mixture of the Cold, Stale, Bland, salty, unpalatable. Just to name a few. Honestly it was a poor representation of what a luau and island food is and should be. The only thing that was any good was the pipikaula. Another gripe was the seating arrangement.. 1. you don't have a choice on who you sit with. 2. We had the bad luck of sitting next to a set of tourists who were obnoxious and rude. You don't get much privacy when dining here. The luau was the low point of our "play tourist" day at PCC. Save your money, and just come for the park exploration and the show.
(2)
Bryan R.
Horrible, Horrible Food... 5 Stars for the Ambassador package which included a personal, guided tour (Amanda, who btw did an EXCELLENT job), Great & Funny Shows (Samoa was HILARIOUS)... -4 stars for the horrendous Buffet that was by far the worst thing I've eaten so far on the island (possibly anywhere) & pissed me off considering the amount of money spent for this experience. I assumed we'd get the full show with the Kalua Pig being pulled/served out of the imu but no-go... We DID see the pig (strictly for pictures & who knows where it went afterwards), but the food was already pre-staged on a fairly small buffet table. Selection was horrendous & food was just as bad. Barely filled up my plate & forced myself to eat most of this garbage on a single trip. Only + was the Coconut Haupia cake which was 'ok', but my standards were set much lower due to the buffet which would've been a ripoff, even @ $5 a head. I don't recall ever having a buffet experience this bad (flies on the food were a nice touch btw), even @ the garbage joints such as Country Buffet which in comparison w/ this 'luau food' would rate a perfect score on Zagat. I came for a luau for the entire experience though this basically destroyed what would've been a perfect day. Luckily, Ha, Breath Of Life came in to save the day & more than made up for this garbage meal. Thank God we ate at Hukilau Cafe just before we showed up, otherwise the entire family would've been in an even shittier mood during the long drive back to Waikiki.
(1)
Asha S.
The food was alright - some okay, some better than others, a few good..... However, if you've never been to a luau, you must go to this one. It's a lot of fun! There was a great deal of food (and a few yummy fish dishes I can't quite remember well enough to describe anymore), but the ones that were most memorable: * POKE - 5/5 [It's raw, prepared with soy sauce and a little seaweed... and so good I went for seconds.] * POI - 2/5 [Traditional staple made of taro that needs to be eaten with meat or something else. Starchy...... not the best thing in the world, although I hear it's healthy.] * KALUA PUA'A - 3.5/5 [Roast pork - wasn't such a huge fan of this one, but the boy seemed to like it a lot.] * TERIKAYI CHICKEN - 3.5/5 [This isn't really anything unique, and their teriyaki chicken was, IMO, slightly under seasoned that day..] * CHICKEN LONG RICE - 3.5/5 [I used to have varities of these as a kid, and the ones I remember tasting back in the day was a little better than this one..] * TARO ROLL - It's a roll.. so I won't rate it. However, it was fun to watch the boy freak out at the sight of "purple bread".. * HAUPIA - 5/5 [I've always loved these custard-like dessert made of coconut cream... and I loved them that night, too.] This one was definitely geared towards tourists.. though sliiiiiiiightly less so than the ones I remember being dragged to when I went to Hawai'i at 12 and 13.. I'm determined to go to a REAL luau on my next trip there. For now, though, if you're visiting Hawai'i - make sure you go to the one at the Polynesian Cultural Center!
(4)
Nhu-Quynh N.
The canoe ride was awesome. Our pusher was great, and funny. The walks around to learn about each tribe was informative, they include you in doing some of the things like weaving and such. I think it'd be fun if you are the type of person who actually wants to go out and do things. If you're the type of doesn't care about much, the walks around isn't worth it. The Luau was great. The food was alright. Some were a hit and miss but most of it was a hit. The only thing was they do not serve alcohol. I don't personally drink, but my family and boyfriend do. No big deal. The dessert were kind of a miss, I didn't really enjoy too much of it. They great you with Hawaiian Lei's when you walk through the door, and take a nice picture. (truth be told: I wish our picture was with a hotter guy. LOL I'm sorry) Anyways... The picture was rather pricy, if you're a first timer, I'd get it for the experience. The HA show was great, very touching. I enjoyed the show. Definitely an experience everyone has to do. No cameras allowed, they gotta get they money some how. As far as pricing... We had a discount, but I did see how much regular price was and it's quite pricy too. I've never been to any other luau so I can't say this is the best. But it was pretty good, I enjoyed it.
(4)
eva B.
It was awful, don't come to this luau. Way way overpriced, bad food, total tourist trap. We left early and felt robbed of our money.
(1)
M T.
This place is anything but a cultural center, you barely learn about the cultures that are supposedly presented here. It is a complete tourist attraction run by students from BYU Hawaii Campus.... We had the Luau which was horrendous, cafeteria style self serve mush. The show was fairly decent and that is about the only thing I would recommend at this place.
(2)
Caitlin L.
I wish I could separate my reviews into two parts, because the dinner and the show deserve different reviews and ratings, but alas, I'll cram it into one and average the score! We went here for a ladies' night while some out-of-state friends were visiting. We arrived around 500p for dinner buffet and the Ha show that was starting at 730p. So, we had pre-purchased tickets, but had to pick them up at will call. I don't know if it was amateur night or what? but it was such a clusterf**k in that line, that by the time we finally got to dinner, most of the food was gone! This included the diet Pepsi and the sushi...pretty much the 2 things I wanted! Boo! Their desserts were pretty tasty though! The night show, Ha! Breath of Life, was a different story! We paid a little extra to upgrade our seats and they were phenomenal. I highly recommend paying extra for better seats if possible. The closer you can get to those tan, sweaty, shirtless men...the better! Yum!! :) The show is a journey around the Polynesian islands through a young man's coming of age. They feature dances and customs from all the different islands. I think one of our favorite parts was going down and meeting the dancers afterwards. They're all so friendly and will take great pics with you! Highly recommended if you have family or friends visiting out of state!
(4)
Donna Lyn B.
Compared to Paradise Cove's luau, this place is almost neck and neck. For kama'ainas, it's not about the show, it's about the authenticity of the Hawaiian lu'au food. My lasting impression of Paradise Cove's luau food was greasy and too haole-fied because they served fried chicken at their luau. I'm pretty the native Hawaiians didn't have fried chicken in their 'imu! My lasting impression of PCC's luau food was bland and boring. The main dish that makes a luau is the kalua pig. When they ceremoniously retrieved the roasted pig from the 'imu, you'd expect to eat that very same pig. Oh no. That's not what we got. I can tell the kalua pork we had was not straight from the 'imu that was just pulled out from the ground just a few minutes ago. It was pre-cooked! It tasted like it came from a crock pot. That's not right! Are we being served pre-cooked kalua pig because we didn't pay more money for the other higher priced package deals? Did that pig that came out of the 'imu go to the Island Feast or the Prime Dining restaurant? If so, there should be a disclaimer for customers when they book their tickets. It should say, "The Ali'i Luau is only for show. This is how we cooked the kalua pig, but you won't get to really get to eat it." For a kama'aina, we want the real thing. For tourists, they also deserve the real thing. Believe me, real kalua pig straight from the underground oven really tastes 'ono aka delicious. PCC's kalua pig is "oh no!". If you're a tourist, I'm sure you wouldn't suspect any thing different, but I was disenchanted by the whole luau show and the luau food overall. Still, my relatives that came from the mainland enjoyed their first luau and I kept my gripes under wraps... but I'd sure gripe about it on Yelp! :D
(2)
Brandon B.
We did receive a refund for two dinners, around $50. The manager who called me from Hawaii was very courteous, and made multiple attempts to reach me as I was on business. He addressed all of my concerns and was respectful of my opinion. Excellent customer service, especially for a tourist place that perhaps doesn't rely on repeat business as much. The show after dinner was entertaining. I appreciate the commitment to service but I stick to the "this food was crap" review. It certainly isn't what I would do when I go to Hawaii. In fact, I would skip Oahu entirely, there are much better islands in the chain.
(1)
D J.
The food was pretty good. The show afterwards was totally awesome and entertaining. Super fun times at this place.
(4)
Fiona C.
I would like to correct reviewer Christine regarding the no alcohol policy. It is not because the servers are college students, it is because Mormons generally condemn the consumption of alcoholic beverages. Other than that, I agree with most of the reviewers who say that the luau experience at the PCC is a wonderful one, as well as the show that follows. The show has changed over the years, and it is still very entertaining. No, the food at the luau is not gourmet, but it is very authentic, and I agree that the desserts are not the greatest, but it's not really the most important part of the experience and definitely forgivable.
(4)
Audrey L.
I would say that this is a def. must see if you go to the Polynesian center. The Center offers you I believe two or three places to dine for dinner. This one has a great show and the food is really good. It's probably better to purchase the dinner with the entrance tickets and the tickets to the show, so that you wouldn't have to run back to the front and purchase them again. Happy Eatings! =]
(4)
Alexis C.
No alcohol, bad food, and make no mistake this is a Morman-run luau. The food could not have cost more than $8/person to make and worst of all it was DIRTY. I found a hair in my dessert/flan thing and the waiters were taking half-drunk glasses of watered down Kool-aid and soda after people left, pouring it back in the carafes, and serving it to other people that were still there... disgusting! Also there was steak on the menu, which ended up being individual cubes of dried steak (jerky?) with each cube in it's own individual plastic cup with a lid... wtf? I was irritated that they would create that much plastic waste for one dinner (of many), especially on an island. After seeing the "recycling" of the Kool-aid and soda, I wouldn't be surprised if those cubes were from leftover steaks of previous luaus. I totally agree with the reveiwers who said this was like a Hawaiian version of Hometown Buffet. Actually, I think Hometime Buffet would have been a step up from the food here. My husband and I paid nearly $200 for a McDonalds quality dinner, NO alcohol, and watered-down room temperature drinks with other people's spit in them. The show afterwards definitely did not redeem the dinner. Male and female dancers were chastely dressed and there was an obvious "we're here to sell you Jesus" theme. It was nothing like the sexy ad posters I kept seeing around for "Ha:Breath of Life". Overall, a waste of an evening and we felt like suckers. We were just thankful we didn't get food poisoning. Definitely skip this one.
(1)
Joshua S.
If you're going just for the Luau go somewhere else. The food at the Luau is about 2/5 compared to Germaine's Luau. No alcohol FYI. The entertainment feels secluded but they try.
(2)
Stefanie M.
This review is for the Luau, NOT the PCC or Ha. I just don't get it. How can the PCC, whose mission is to help preserve and perpetuate the more ideal aspects of Polynesian culture, put on this shamefully ridiculous luau and claim it's the "the best luau in Hawaii"? The PCC is great and does great work educating Polynesian students and giving out scholarships, the show Ha is also great, but this luau is a slap in the face to the supposed mission statement of the PCC, presenting Polynesian culture as a cheesy caricature and ridiculous over the top stereotype. It went against everything we had learned about Hawaiian/Fijian/Polynesian culture the whole day. I was not expecting good food, it's a buffet for 200+ people, I know the food is mass produced, bland and sucks. But the SHOW, OMG, the Chinese kid doing the hula with a voice over from the cheeseball host is really NOT adding authenticity to my dry Mormon luau. If William Shatner were a car salesman, and Hawaiian, he would be our luau emcee. It was so horrific, all I wanted was a drink to make it all go away, but wait, the place is run by the church of latter day saints, so it's as dry as a popcorn fart on the entire property, which just added to the humiliation. So my advice is 1. Go to PCC spend the day there - it is a neat place. 2. Flask it. 3. DO NOT purchase a Luau at the PCC, it's ridiculous. 4. See Ha: breathe of life and enjoy a good show.
(1)
Scott C.
Food wasn't bad, but for the price it should have been better and the selection should have been MUCH better. VERY limited selection and really nothing for kids except fruit and deserts. Wouldn't go back for the food.
(2)
Heidi K.
I am so happy to see that I can review the luau separate from the tours/Ha Breath of Life Show. All I can really say is both my husband and I are violently sick today, and we went last night. Fortunately, we live here and can spend our Sunday sitting on the couch writhing in pain, however, if you are a tourist and trying to enjoy the beauty that Oahu has to offer, I would hate for you to have an opportunity to eat better food that won't have you strapped to your toilet the next day. Some people wait their whole lives to come to Hawaii ONCE... why waste your day trying not to crap all over the place when you could have gone somewhere with better food that won't leave your stomach in knots? The selection was not that great. Generally, the food and show at Germaine's Luau was better, but the dessert bar had a wide variety of generally good desserts. The keiki dancers were so adorable. The only thing I can say that I LOVED was their smoothies in a pineapple. They were really cute, and at 1 for ten or 2 for fifteen, we tried the pina colada and strawberry. They were adorable!
(2)
Caitlyn Y.
While the day of cultural touring an the HA show at night were amazing the luau dinner sucked!!! Unfortunately the way they time the show it's almost unavoidable not to eat at the center. They shouldn't call this a luau or even worse "the best luau in Hawaii". The food was gross and they don't even serve alcohol. How is a luau authentic without Mai Tais??? I wish they would have explained this upfront. Overall it was a nice day but Long and the luau was dissapointing.
(1)
Jason G.
The food was pretty good and exceeded expectations, albeit originally low expectations. It's just a large buffet and the entertainment is okay. It just doesn't have that authentic or exciting feel that a smaller and stand alone luau has versus having this one added on to the PCC day.
(3)
Anita L.
Meh... 2.5 stars from me, but since I liked PCC so much, I decided to go with 3 stars. I got the Alii Luau as part of my Circle Island + Luau + Show package. If I am comparing this to the prior luaus I have been to, this is bad. But if you are looking at this Alii Luau as a Dinner Buffet with performers on stage, then it's okay. Food was okay, nothing too special. Since it's college students serving at the luau, there's no alcohol at PCC (even during the luau).
(3)
TJ V.
Wow. The worst buffet ever. I needed a drink so bad but they didn't mention it was Mormon owned/run so no drinks. Pitchers of water or flat soda. We paid $125 for nasty buffet and the lamest entertainment ever. I'm so p$&$ed. Self-proclaimed 'best luau' in Oahu. I wish yelp allowed 0 or negative stars. Started at 5:15 and they started closing up at 6. Wtf. The evening show was decent. 3 stars but buffet was at least -2 stars. Except all girls wearing mumus. Not quite like the sexy girl in the brochures. Mormon influenced costumes too. DO NOT go to the luau.
(1)
Diana L.
I'm really sad to give this place only 3 stars. It is absolutely gorgeous, but there isn't much to do (in my opinion). I did the canoeing, which was probably the most "activity" thing there. It fits 4 in a canoe and you have a staff member guide your canoe while you're rowing. It doesn't require too much physical exertion, so no worries. I also did a couple of games and watch a couple of showings, but honestly, it was boring. Note: I did the tram ride thinking it would give me a tour of the Polynesian Cultural Center, but it doesn't. It goes to a Mormon temple and you stay there in a room with a huge globe the whole time. It got really awkward when the volunteer tour guides of the tram were trying to talk to us about being Mormon (my family is completely open to and accepting of other religions, but we won't convert). Awkwaaard. Seriously. I wish there were more activities. I got bored after about 2 hours. You DO have the option of choosing to only go to the luau and not spend the whole day at the Cultural Center. I would recommend going to other places (nut farm, shrimp farm, Buddhist temple, Dole plantation, "top of the world" mountain tops, etc.) that are around there. This place is BEAUTIFUL, but can only keep your attention for so long. Also, bring comfortable shoes if you're planning on staying here all day. It's a big place!
(3)
Janis A.
The hubby and I were very pleased to have booked this luau. The customer service was great, the food was GOOD (especially the kalua pork!!), and the entertainment was fun :) My only tip is to arrive early enough so that you get good seats, but the view isn't bad no matter where you sit. We chose a luau at PCC because we were able to spend the entire day at the park and enjoyed the activities. By luau time, we were ready eat. Then after the luau, you have time to go souvenir shopping before heading over to watch the show - Ha, Breath of Life - which was AWESOME!! I would love to see it again.
(4)
Mike W.
Hated it. They dressed in moo-mus and didn't server alcohol. The show was, good they were clearly very good dancers, and the tech they used was nice. The outfits were very nicely made, and if you like looking at guys in long skirts with no shirts, while the women wore high necked, long dresses while dancing hula, I guess you might like it.
(1)
Megan F.
I went to this luau several years ago. It was horrible. First of all, I knew this was a Mormon-run luau, and there would be no booze. Fine. As we sat down at the crowded tables, and pitchers of room-temperature soda were brought out, I also realized there would be no caffeine in this camp. The food was beyond horrible. Sure, made a show of putting a pig to roast in a pit, on stage. But this is certainly not the pork being served on the buffet. I can't remember all the details, but trust me. It was bad.
(1)
Clint B.
This luau was part of our admission package to the Polynesian Cultural Center. Touted as their most popular dining option, seating for the masses was efficient as they brought people to tables of 8 and filled up all seats with other parties. Yes, you'll have to share the table with strangers so brush up on small talk, put on your happy face and make some new friends. There's an MC who runs the pre- and post-dinner entertainment. Honestly, can't remember much of the entertainment. That should tell you how memorable it was. Unfortunately, the food was even worse. Living in Las Vegas, maybe I'm spoiled when it comes to buffets, but I was disappointed by the lack of choices and quality of food. They had some shoyu glazed chicken thighs, steamed white fish, and kalua pork that was bland and tasteless, not to mention watery. A salad section with iceberg lettuce, a few types of dressing and basic condiments was a letdown. The ahi poke was decent compared to everything else, but portioned out into tiny plastic cups usually reserved for soy sauce from take out restaurants. Desserts weren't much better. The coconut cake with haupia sauce was far superior to an awful bread pudding made up of taro rolls and uninspired pineapple bars. I can normally down 4 or 5 plates at buffets but here I barely had one and a small sampling of desserts. The PCC itself is a great attraction, but the food needs some help.
(1)
Pawnster B.
Overpriced. Way overpriced. $50? I might pay $15 or $20 max for the quality of the food and maybe $5 for the lei. The "luau" had more of a feel of hometown buffet or dinner at a church hall than a luau. No sand. No beach. One tiki torch. The food was average and limited. Salad, potato salad, poi, noodles with chicken, teriyaki chicken, fish, and kahlua pork. And the entertainment was kind of weak. Not impressed at all and wouldn't recommend it to anyone. I've been to paradise cove luau which was much better. The only benefit for paying for the luau dinner is you get second tier seating for the ha show which is actually very good and worth the $50.
(1)
Craig K.
Pretty cool entertainment, however no alcohol since the place is Mormon owned. Food was pretty good, liked the coconut milk fish n pork.
(3)
Xiomara R.
Easily the dinner highlight of our trip. After a day of touring the area, we sat down for our expected feast and weren't disappointed. The food itself was grade A. The pork, which they do the whole fire pit thing for, was amazing... the best we have ever had. The fish was also great, while the taro bread was more than just a novelty as it was delicious. The meal was a little slow to start, and the deserts a little disappointing, but the main meal delivered and let you go back freely to stock up on more food (a great feature for the male portion of this review team and his bottomless stomach). The entertainment during the feast wasn't particularly memorable, but did add to the enjoyment and made the whole meal that much better. Overall, pricey, but highly recommended for anyone doing a first time tourist trip to the area as it grants a great sampling of some more exotic types of food they might not be familiar with.
(4)
Alison V.
Good food. Melt in your mouth pork. Poke. Salmon. Salad. Taro roles. Teriyaki chicken. Fish. Beef jerky, which was so fresh it doesn't even seem like jerky. Fresh fruit. Buffet style all you can eat. Great entertainment. Listen for Uncle Bennys version of Louis Armstrong's, "It's a Wonderful Life." You'll be impressed. Dessert a bit disappointing but yummy. Coconut cake. Coconut pudding. Chocolate cake. Worth the drive out here and experiencing the rest of PCC.
(5)
Anu M.
The Ali'I Lu'au Dinner is from 5pm to 7pm and it is a traditional Polynesian dinner, which includes pork cooked in an imu (an underground oven). The dinner is accompanied by live music and hula dance. The buffet included taro rolls, kalua pork, teriyaki chicken, fish, rice, salads and desserts. The food was horrendous, I would not recommend the Ali'I Lu'au dinner at the Polynesian Cultural Center. Waste of time and money!
(1)
Kandi R.
The Polynesian Cultural Center is great! The activities during the day are a must do. They represent many different island cultures, very interesting and educational. The show at the end of the night is also amazing and makes more sense if you take the time to learn about all of the island cultures during the day. The luau dinner is not good. They do not serve the pig cooked in the ground. The show during dinner is difficult to see depending on where your table is at. No alcohol is served. Fancy pineapple smoothie drinks cost $22.50. Dinner is salad, rice & 4 different meats - pork, chicken, tri tip, salmon. All food tastes good, just not what I expected for the price and at a luau.
(4)
Beatrice T.
Luaua was decent but nothing to write about... wished they had more variety. All the hot food was limited to one table.
(3)
Alicia A.
Is this is such a generic luau experience. I was so unhappy with my "Hawaiian Luau." The food was ok, nothing special or great. It seems like a Hawaiian version of Hometown Buffet. Sucks. Waste of money!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(1)
Christine P.
Like so many others, I often wish that Yelp would allow for half stars but I can see why they keep it simple. Because the Husband and I got the Ambassador package, we were quickly ushered in the short line and were promptly seated. The emcee was pretty cheesy, kind of like William Shatner in Miss Congeniality. You can order soft drinks from the many servers who flit around or smoothie drinks. They put a special colored flag on your chair to let the others know what you've ordered. Because all of the waitstaff are college students, the PCC Luau has a no-alcohol policy. Before you can eat, there are a couple of mini presentations with small children coming out to show you what you can taste and the emcee explaining how things work and then two strapping youths ceremonially take out a pig that has been cooking in the traditional way and walk away with it. They let you get your food from the two large buffet stations located behind all of the tables in groups, depending on where you're sitting. We got to get our food pretty quickly and there was a lot of it. Kalua pig, tuna poke, rice and poi, among other things. The food is plentiful and the kalua pig is good. At the end, they bring out large platters of semi-ok desserts (they weren't the best) and then everyone is directed to go to the Ha Breath of Life show. During the luau, they have a few more presentations, like a royal court showing, a hula competition and then they ask honeymooning or anniversary-ing couples to come onto the stage. They asked how long people had been married and then made them dance to a special song. The Husband and I did not go up there as we are painfully embarrassed by things like that but it was sweet to see an old couple who had been married over 50 years. All in all, if luau you must, this is an ok one to see and you can hit the PCC on the same day.
(3)
Steven J.
Definitely stay away from the luau. Even though the price is quite steep, thought it would be a good experience to attend a luau. Boy was I wrong and quite disappointed. Not sure how they claim they are the best Luau in Hawaii. Go to the PCC for the education and interactive activities, go for the HA show, but definitely stay away from the luau. For the money you pay, you're better off leaving the center, grab a bite to eat at a local eatery and then come back for the show. You're herded in and sat down is overcrowded rectangular tables. Even with the stage shows on going, it's hard to pay attention because you're given instructions on when you can go and get your food. Then there's the climactic fan fare about the roast pig. Everyone goes to take a look and see it being carried to the table. People then go back to their tables and wait to be called to go and get your food. When you finally get to the food, the buffet is terrible. There is pork, but we were quite disappointed that they didn't even serve the pig that was cooked that day. For the price, you definitely do not get the quality of the food. I get it, all the money is to help the students and contributes to the scholarship fund at the school, but come on, make the food at least 3 star caliber! I've heard from locals and cabbies, try the Paradise Cove Luau or wait until you're in Maui. It's on the beach and it's supposed to be fabulous. I plan to take my family there next time we're back in Hawaii.
(1)
Michael J.
I've never been to a luau before in my life, but I'm very impressed with this touristy geared luau. As being part of the Polynesian Cultural Center, the Luau is an experience that you must partake if you've never experienced oen before. This is where the unexperienced become experienced. The dining hall is outdoors but is covered by a huge canopy. There are many tables and people dining here are excused a couple tables at a time as to not overwhelm the lines at buffet. The luau is basically a show, so you arrive at your specified time and everyone sits down. You are then introduced by an emcee and the emcee will guide you in the overall experience. There is live music and entertainment while you dine and you are free to leave the dining hall whenever you want. The food is not amazing, but it is pretty good and combined with the entertainment and music it is pretty darn awesome. Oh yea one more thing, the marinated chicken is so good... grab a couple before sitting down. I highly recommend the Luau, but you can only dine here if you purchase the Luau or Ambassador Luau packages. There are other luau packages, but I'm pretty sure the food and the entertainment is similar to that of the Ali'i Luau with exception to prime rib and crab legs of course.
(4)
Josh S.
I have never been more disappointed. The food had the appeal of an elementary school cafeteria. The cultural center and breath of life show were nice but skip the luau. FYI no Mai tai's or alcohol of any sort.
(1)
Gene J.
This place is way overpriced! We paid $300 for two people and it has been a very terrible experience. Among many disappointment, the evening fire show was not impressive. It was supposed to be the highlight of the show and it was mediocre at best. I'd discourage anybody to go to this place or sign up for the day-long tour
(2)
C M.
This is for the buffet inside the PCC. Its gross. No one in my party liked any of the food. It was old tasting and flavorless. Yuck. Way over priced too.
(1)
T. W.
This is a review for the Alii Luau only, not the PCC itself or HA the show. My wife and I were excited to go the "Most Authentic Luau" on the island. Whoever rated it the best luau is an idiot. To say we were disappointed in the food would be an understatement. It was bland and look more liked cafeteria food than a Luau. Even the desserts were not quality. They should go to Costco and buy dessert that would have been a huge improvement. Do yourself a favor and go have a nice dinner before going to the PCC and save yourself the money and the trouble of going to the Alii Luau. The performers are the only reason I am giving it two stars instead of one.
(2)
Shannon W.
The luau had great selections of traditional fare, pleasant dinner entertainment and nice atmosphere. Not an experience that needs to happen with every visit to Oahu but definitely worth checking our once or twice.
(4)
Maren S.
My husband and I recently visited Oahu and were recommended highly to visit the PCC for a luau that we've been eager to see for years. We signed up for the dinner and the luau and barely made it through dinner. As we were waiting, we noticed the tickets to get in stated that BYU and the LDS were supporters. We are very skeptical of the mormon religion and DO NOT support it in the slightest. We were astounded when they had everyone at all the tables hold hands for prayers. Everyone around us seemed very uncomfortable. Then the announcer brought us into prayer. They had a show going on to entertain everyone wheel they waited their turn for the worst cafeteria style food ever. We couldn't tell what was polynesian culture, which we were very interested learning about, or what was the mormon coming out. They called everyone "brother" and "sister". The food looked and tasted unappealing. We left after this part. THis place is way too expensive also!
(1)
Austin L.
worst food ever, the ticket booth was very pushy trying to make us upgrade are package. the show was just bad, college level at best.
(1)
Christian W.
I have been to many luaus in Hawaii and must say that PCC's is the best since it is the only authentic Hawaiian Luau in the islands. Most luaus combine other cultures from the South Pacific in their entertainment. PCC doesn't have to because they have a big evening show right after their luau that features the other Polynesian cultures. The Alii Luau is a convenient place to entertain friends and family. Just make sure you make your reservations in advance because during the busy season, they frequently sell out, even though they have 3 separate Luau venues. My favorite Hawaiian food is the pork, laupia and pipi kaula (Hawaiian beef jerky). Go to the luau hungry because you can eat as much as you like.
(5)
Judy C.
enuff said no comment must go and see =)
(5)
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
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Address :Polynesian Cultural Center,55-370 Kamehameha Hwy
Laie, HI, 96762
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : No Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Touristy Noise Level : Loud Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : No Caters : No
Hieu L.
The Polynesian Cultural Center is a great experience, but this review is for the Luau. Basically, avoid this Luau at all cost. The "entertainment' during the luau is very short, the food is on par with a $10 buffet. The fish is super dry and just bland, no flavor. The chicken teriyaki is gross, its basically plain chicken and they poured the sauce on top, the pork is just mediocre, that was their three main courses, the rest is rice, fruits and salad.
(1)Matthew D.
I'm not sure why people are ripping on this so bad. I don't have any other luau experiences to compare to, but for my first one, I left here entertained and with a belly full of great food... I don't think I could have asked for much more. It sounds like a lot of people went here and only focused on the negatives. Of course they had a horrible time. The Polynesian Cultural Center has a lot of grounds and staff to keep up with,so of course they are going to try to make money and charge high prices for simple things such as pictures and smoothies. Just don't buy those items... your experience won't be any worse without a smoothie or a picture taken by the staff (ask another Luau goer to take a picture of you/your group for free). We looked at many different Luaus on both the Big Island and Oahu and decided this one sounded the best. We knew we wanted to check out the Cultural Center, so that entry was already a fixed cost for us. Compare the extra fee of attending the Luau and it's actually cheaper to do a day here than every other Luau we looked at. Our food was excellent. There were a ton of different options to choose from and you eat as much as you want. I tried almost everything, and like almost all of it (not a fan of Poi). Go here, make a day out of it, learn about the cultures, watch their presentations, get stuffed and entertained at the Luau, and cap off the night with Ha. There will be negatives to it, like there are everything, but it's a lot of fun and a great way to spend the entire day/evening.
(5)Jay Y.
#cousinT was a great host at the best luau. We love the PCC. The luau was the perfect ending to a great day of food, fun, and culture. The live music was fantastic and CousinT was perfect MC. Such a great voice and personality. The dancers of course we're also amazing. Well worth the drive #bestattraction #bestluau
(5)Vivienne J.
We did the whole PCC "Ambassador" package one Saturday in February. This review is just for the lu'au. The Good: Good entertainment (especially the keiki) Flower lei greeting on entry Taro rolls with butter The Meh: Crowded tables (no elbow room) Confusing when to go get food (a couple seated with us just went when they wanted, the rest of us waited and someone came and directed us to go get food) Demonstrated to us good tasting poi earlier in afternoon, then served us fermenting poi at lu'au The Bad: Really hard, if not impossible, to eat and watch the entertainment at the same time Food was largely underwhelming and lukewarm Dessert was at the buffet, then they brought MORE dessert to the table Another picture for you to sell us, really? If I were to go again, I'd go see the Cultural Center itself and possibly the Ha show, but would absolutely skip the lu'au.
(3)Helen S.
The Polynesian Cultural Center is supposed to have the best luau and I can see why. If you're not expecting to be in Hawaii very much and you are would like to attend a luau, this is the one to choose because you'll get the entire experience. The Hawaiian food is delicious, the service is good, and the show had an entertaining storyline and was a grand performance. You really feel like you're a part of something when you're watching it.
(4)Peter F.
"The Breath of Life" program was too long, but did have a high production value. Some good dancing, drumming and effects. You really need to be into the Polynesian culture to fully enjoy the show, but the cast works really hard. The food on the other hand at the PCC was purely and simply HORRIBLE. The price of the show includes this miserable buffet (we had the Island Buffet) and the food was cold, tasteless, horrible selection, undercooked...just simply a complete eating nightmare!! PLUS...some young singers (from Brigham Young University) came to our table and started singing to us which was totally annoying and not called for. This is a Mormon operation, so no alcohol and EVERYBODY is smiling and saying "aloha" at every opportunity. Nice people for sure, but they need to work on their food service operation or put in vending machines which would probably be better than what we got!
(1)Judy L.
OK, the show was fun. The food was meh..... We had a party of 4, but we were split up because they didn't have an available table for us. So K and I sat with a group of 6, they didn't even say hello. Alrighty! Pork - Was a little dry and salty Beef - It was moist but tasteless Fish - Was tasteless and a little dry Chicken - Moist and actually the good tasting protein Fruits - Fresh Poi - It did NOT look good Taro rolls - Sweet and good Soft drinks - free refills but the cups are so tiny Pass on the Luau here.
(2)Diana C.
Alright.... There are a lot of things to review.... THE DAY EXPERIENCE: 4* The shows are a pretty cool experience and they are definitely a learning experience. If you want to learn about Hawaiian (and other Polynesian cultures) it's a good place to get a brief history. The LUAU: 1* The food is pretty terrible. They try with the entertainment and the showing of the cooked pig, but overall the food is really awful. I hope this isn't your only or first luau experience. The HA Show (Breathe of Life): 4* The show is pretty good, lots of dancing, singing, and a desert serving in between. The PCC does nickel and dime you for just about everything, and it's run by Mormons so it is dry and not open on Sundays. If you've never experienced it and you have some extra time on the island, I would recommend trying it out once. I grew up on the island so have been as a child with school field trips and have taken my bf as an adult. Either way it's a way to spend a day on the island learning a little more about the cultures that make up the island population. Go with the right expectations and you're sure to find something you enjoy.
(3)Josh S.
Way over priced. The good was terrible. Luckily there is a McDonald's out on the highway. A high school musical would have been better. Save your money and just go experience a good dinner on the beach
(1)Wes J.
What a great time! Walking around all the villages was really neat. All the employees in the various villages did a great job, they were enthusiastic about portraying their cultures. Taking the canoe ride throughout the park was a real treat, kids thoroughly enjoyed their time. We bought the Ali'i Luau Package, with free seating upgrade for the main show. This buffet is held more central in the park and has its own show to watch while eating. They did a great time entertaining us, even inviting up those having a birthday or anniversary to hula on stage. Food was pretty good and pretty authentic. Be prepared to lay down some money though, we spent a total of 6 hours in the park; so the $210 we spent was actually pretty cheap. The main show was "Hands Down" amazing!!!! 1.5 hours of pure entertainment. It wasn't a traditional Hula show, its was a live show, depicting life back before explorers came to the islands. Really really cool. Only thing i did not like, should have taken all the stars away but decided to only take one away. When I took my daughter out to the main passageway just outside the arena (She was tired and crying) I could smell some of the employee's smoking marijuana behind the construction fence. (This was the Saturday following mothers day). It wasn't guests because this area was only accessible by employees. This kind of stuff has no place around families. Aside from a few knuckleheads breaking the law we had a great time here!
(4)Antonio P.
I've been to two other luaus on the island and so far this has been the best one! They had the most selection of local island grinds (kalua pork, poi, lomi lomi salmon, taro bread roll, teriyaki chicken, beef, sweet potato, rice, dessert bar etc) compared to the other luaus. In the beginning we joined hands with others on the table and sang a prayer with the musicians and afterwards they showed us how they cook and prepare the pig from the umu or eemu outdoor kitchen - that was cool! The musicians and steel guitar did a great job and their MC Cousin T was AMAZING! Great voice and explained each song so well. Especially loved the bit about the steel guitar and how the Shaka sign was born with Mr Hemana. The dancers were beautiful and my family had fun singing happy birthday and doing the Tahitian shaking dance with them. The fire-knife dancing was a great close to the show. My family was impressed to see the children do the fire-knife. Overalll, it was the BEST LUAU I've ever been to! Such a great family oriented place the Polynesian Cultural Center and this Luau is. Totally would recommend this to other families!
(5)Casie C.
We went to eat before the show. During dinner, they had cute little Hawaiian show going on for entertainment which is pretty interesting. The food on the other hand was alright... It wasn't great and the choices were limited. The show started right on time. Everyone was talented and did a wonderful job. BUT the beginning of the show was quiet boring for me.. (sadly) the best part was probably the end because that's when they played with fire and did a little acrobat here and there. Overall, it was a decent experience.
(3)Heather P.
Polynesian Cultural Center has got the best show that Oahu offers in my honest opinion. You can decipher all the different dances from all the different islands so much better here. A must see!
(5)Joanna V.
After begging my friends to go to the Polynesian Cultural Center, for what was supposed to be the most authentic luau in Hawaii, I was so disappointed. First let's talk price. They do not offer an option for just the luau, so the cheapest route to go was almost $100 per person. Another $10 to park. Then "can we take a photo for you?" Great, that'll be $18! $18!! For a mediocre 8x10 that you already printed and are just going to throw away when I sadly shake my head at hearing the price? No, thank you! Also, how wasteful!!! And those yummy looking smoothies served in pineapples at the luau... Another $10 dollars!! So disappointing!!! For that much money one would think all of those things would be included in the cost. When I pictured going to Hawaii's "most authentic luau" I pictured round tables under tiki torch lightning with a pig roasting over a fire pit and a pina colada in my hand. What I got was an over crowded football stadium sized seating area with a buffet of meh food and no alcoholic beverages in site. Fruit punch served in plastic cups. Pork cut at a table (am I at a luau or Old Country Buffet?). The whole experience felt rushed, and the entertainment felt distant and inauthentic. My Hawaiian friend I had dragged along said, "it's pretty bad when the 10-year-old haole is the best hula girl up there". Enough said. Last be warned, the luau only lasts a short hour, and you will be left with an hour and a half between it and the "Ha: breath of life" show. The only thing open besides a 15 minute video? The gift shop, of course. In summary, the whole thing is a money trap and my advice is to save it ;).
(1)Shynita D.
If your coming here for booze, stay away. There isnt any. Lol. The luau was fun. My children enjoyed it so much. Its a definite must do luau but I could be saying that because its the only one.
(4)Raymond M.
First of all WORST luau EVER!! 1st : I want to start off with the $10 parking fee, that's just ridiculous, they should offer free parking! 2nd: I do like the free drinks ( unlimited compared to $4 drinks, ar paradise cove) 3rd: the food is not good. It's so simple and Plain 4th: super close sitting and no fresh air By all means go to PARADISE cove! This luau for ambassador is $125 I believe! You're better off in paradise cove deluxe for cheaper!
(1)Mike M.
A ALL day event, parking is easy. Get there first thing and you can beat the rush and go at your own pace. We did the buffet dinner. I have been to many and the food is ok. The night show is amazing. A must do on the island to experience.
(4)Omar N.
bring a flask or ur favorite 'drink' ! lol if u haven't been to a luau, u can check this one out if ur in North Shore ...hella far from Waikiki. its basically a cheap(but pricey buffet) that seats alot of people in a outdoor setting that included a 'show'(hula dance and more hula dance and a really COOL fire dance at the end) ...all a bit too long in duration, performed mostly by the College kids next door at BYU Hawaii and/or locals. ...the entire experience is great for 1st time visitors/tourists! my opinion: u'll be okay if u can't check this one off your list of 'things to do' while on Oahu
(2)Isabella B.
This is the second part of my 3 part review series of the PCC. Polynesian Cultural Center (part 1): yelp.com/biz/polynesian-… Ha: Breath of Life [show] (part 3): yelp.com/biz/ha-breath-o… The ali'i luau was purchased as part of the package that included admission to the PCC and the show. I chose the luau as my family wanted to try a luau and it is conveniently scheduled between two activities. You get leid with flowers at the entrance. The flowers were pretty nice. The staff takes a picture which you can find with all the rest of the pictures taken at the PCC... for $18. There's several long lines of tables with choices of water and soda, which is surprising for a Mormon-run center. There's also their taro bread, a sweet bread which is actually one of their better offerings. Your group waits until it is called to fall in line to the buffet table. I didn't pay much attention to the entertainment, but the MC was educating about what a luau is and catering to people who were going to Oahu for special reasons. I don't think they brought out the pig. The foods really are hit-or-miss. This is not surprising for buffet food. Poi - the first time I've had this liquid purple stuff. Devoid of any taste, I could see why people, even the locals, aren't too fond of it. Supposedly its very nutritious. At least I tried it. Salad was decent, the thousand island dressing and the sunflower seeds made it better. Pipi kaula - tastes like beef jerky. Kalua pork - Decent for pulled pork. I've had much better pork at Filipino parties (whole lechon). Chicken long rice - the noodle dish. Noodles and chicken were good. Felt like eating soup noodles without the soup. Tasted strongly of chicken boullion. Island Fish steamed with ginger and garlic - Meh. Didn't even taste like fish. Was wondering what the brown stuff was, didn't taste like ginger and garlic at all. Lomi lomi salmon - Small salmon with tomatoes and onions. You can't see the salmon, but it's there. Good with rice and along with salad, a good dish that has vegetables. Teriyaki chicken - The skin was too rubbery and the chicken was overcooked. Sweet potato - I prefer it hot, too starchy. Potato salad- lots of potato, liked the sauce. Didn't care for the carrot. Haupia pie - tasted like pina colada without the liquid and alcohol. Tasted a bit weird. Island Fruit Pudding - decent for bread pudding. Bread was good, meh for the flavors. At least I tried the "most authentic luau" in Oahu, so the PCC says. Next time I'll go to another luau or try other restaurants in the area. Out of all the places I ate in Oahu, this was one of the worst places I've eaten. I've had better Hawaiian food at the L&L back in San Diego!
(2)Julianne F.
Awesome for the whole family!! Food was great and the entertainment fabulous! I would come again and definitely recommend it to others.
(5)Carolyn P.
This review is only for the luau & not the breath of life show. We had great seats & there were carafes of water & Pepsi on the tables along with taro rolls. We had a lovely time chit chatting with our table neighbors. Then the cheese ball mc started talking. He was better suited for a cruise ship than a Hawaiian luau. After 20 minutes or so we were directed to the buffet. The food was blah. The best part was the $15 for 2 piña colada that you could buy. They don't serve any alcohol here.
(2)Jeff L.
Figured I would leave a quick review here as well as on PCC itself. We just attended this shenanigan and thankfully drove ourselves (paying $8 to self park of course) so we could get the heck away from this place upon realizing what a complete farce it is. I'm embarrassed for Hawaii and it's beautiful people that this ridiculous cultural sterilization center is permitted to conduct such activities. This place is nothing more than a front to employ BYU students and pedal the Mormon doctrine while simultaneously reducing Polynesian history and it's people to dancing and screaming. The dinner is appalling for the price charged. For any price this would be unacceptable. I honestly have never had such an awful meal that I've had to pay for. The sweet potato buns were the only food item acceptable for human consumption. Like a previous reviewer I saw glasses of punch from tables being poured back into Pitchers. I thought at first this was to facilitate dumping them but then saw the server throw ice in the jug and head back to the tables. This is when we got up and left. All over the grounds you are pushed to buy cheap knickknacks from anywhere you can imagine other than from a local Polynesian. Cheap overpriced junk is abundant and all the money gets funneled directly to the LDS cult. The show Ha.... Haha...more pathetic cleansing... The men are dressed in, you guessed it... White collared shirts and dark pants. Is this how native Hawaiian men dressed? Of course not but Joseph Smith is familiar with attempts to rewrite reality so why would anything else be expected here, now knowing the truth about this immoral place. If you are a culturally sensitive, compassionate and moral person I would urge you to stay away from this place.
(1)Seth B.
What an overpriced disappointment! The food was TERRIBLE and the show was even worse! I don't know if the performers are rejects from the Breath of Life show, or if they have to perform as a punishment for doing something wrong- but either way it was terrible. The food was bland, desserts were worse than store-bought, and some of the "authentic tastes" like poi and pig were downright inedible. Buy a ticket to see the show HA- Breath of Life to get a feel for the Hawaiian culture, but avoid this tourist trap!
(1)Dianna N.
I absolutely loved the whole Polynesian Cultural Center experience. From the individual islands to Ha. The only thing I did not like was the Ali'i luau portion. The entertainment was fine, although lost amongst the food segment of the night. The food was dry and not very good. The service was a bit slow, and no one ever came to clear our plates. The workers were very friendly though. The food thing about the experience was the fact that there were orange slices in the pork and the beef. I asked someone if there was a way to get some of both dishes with out oranges due to a severe orange allergy. They were very accommodating and made that happen fairly quickly. Overall, the whole experience was awesome, and I would do it again in a heartbeat. I would change to a different dining experience though.
(3)T F.
I didn't realize I could do separate reviews. This is my review from 03/10 Went to the Island Style Buffet and to see the show "Ha - Breath of Life" using the kama'aina discount. The food at the Island Style Buffet was horrific. It was cold, greasy, and just plain bad. We are from Oahu, so we know what the food should be like. The kalua pig was overly greasy, the ham was ok but salty, the sushi was generic and not tasty or pleasing to the eye. The fish was so-so and the "island seafood" was just yuck. We looked at the menu for the upgraded Ambassador Buffet and there was a much better variety. However, I would be hesitant to eat there too. The show was nice. I liked their other show Horizons better; I think, it has been a very long time since I went. But Ha was entertaining and we enjoyed it. If you study any polynesian dance or hula, take the show with a grain of salt, it was purely only entertainment. Not for the form. Go to PCC to see the rest of it, the islands and the culture. Do not go for the food or the show. Germaine's or Paradise Cove are better.
(1)Linda L.
The food was just awful! The pork was way too salty. The teriyaki chicken was tolerable. The island fish was tasteless. The rice was too sticky and hard to eat. The chop suey was kind of gross. The entertain was not too bad but if you plan to to the the show : Ha , breath of life, it is too long. I would not recommend this dinner at all.
(1)Maria C.
The luau and show were not up to my expectation in terms of the food and the show. It was so crowded, you have to share tables with people and if you sit next to a fat person like I did, you can't even move. It's way too tight, at least I felt like it cuz I had 4 over weight people next to me. If you wanted food for the day, just do the general buffet package, it's not worth the extra $26 for the luau. I wanted a good luau experience and this was not. I totally should have gone to the paradise cove luau, but got attracted by the extra cultural center exhibits. But if you are like me and it's your first time in Hawaii looking for a good luau, skip this one. My husband and I were very disappointed.
(1)Janet E.
This luau was really not that great. The reason why we opted to have it was because of the kalua pig. But unfortunately, when we arrived, the kalua pig was not even ready to be served for dinner until AFTER we were leaving. And one of the only reasons why we left was because the staff here was asking people to leave if they had finished their meal to allow other people waiting in line to be seated to eat. Apparently the space does not allow for everyone to be seated at one time. The food was only okay and there were not a lot of great options. The two outer sides had the same option of food, but the middle had different food. Next time, if I come back, I'm going for the more expensive dinner without the kalua pig.
(3)Jerry E.
Let's get one thing straight here: I'm reviewing the food, not the entertainment. And I am actually a bit surprised by the amount of unhappy diners posting below. I really did enjoy my meal here! I thought the food, with what was available, was pretty darn good. I thoroughly enjoyed the pork and fish dishes. The taro bread rolls were also good. The poi, I guess if that's your thing... tasted like poi. The kimchi was average. Overall, simple yet tasty fares to enjoy. The hostess typically brings pitchers of beverages by, which is a nice convenience. The dining settings are very pleasant, and the outdoor eating atmosphere It is buffet style, so obviously the food is not going to taste like a sizzling platter fresh out of the kitchen. But as buffet food, I felt it did a very good job. Perhaps my only gripe is that they offered a few more dishes, and maybe more dessert options. Don't count on great luau entertainment. I didn't even notice what was going on, it was that uninteresting. Go see the Ha show, that thing is epic.
(4)Jenni A.
Outstanding!! Great show, very entertaining, very lively! The food was good, everyone was very friendly! No alcohol was not an issue for us as we don't drink! A MUST DO!!!!
(5)Libbie P.
The experience just started off bad. The ticket office person was dismissive and wouldn't print my tickets for the luau until 15 minutes before the luau was to begin. Not certain why and she wasn't into explaining. In any case my family was looking forward to an authentic luau, what we got was a decent show that we really couldn't see because everyone is seated cafeteria style at long tables, a cheesy Hawaiian Ryan Seacrest type MC, and a buffet meal consisting of nothing special food. The pig was pretty good, but forget about actually seeing the roasted pig unless you want to get up from your seat, walk past the stage and around the corner to get a peak at the roasting pig along with every other tourist in Oahu. Yeah, not authentic and not worth it. Go see "Ha: Breath of Life" instead. The show is better with lots of talented dancers. But keep in mind it's only a low budget version of the Lion King about humans instead of animals.
(1)Janine E.
I would say this is a great day activity for families. Seeing all of the different cultures of the polynesian islands was fascinating. The Luau was ok, I wasn't particularly impressed with the food but that's ok. The show after dinner was great though, really entertaining. I would recommend this if you have a full day. It's busy and tiring so wear good shoes and bring plenty of water.
(3)Alecia S.
I can basically 2nd or 3rd everything that has been said prior. Your shoved into stuffed table settings, soda and water is spares and warm. Food was ridiculous and actually I was sick on my bus ride back...This is my 3rd luau and I was very disappointed. We also bough the tour guide deal and lunch and it was pretty similar to dinner.
(2)Brian C.
The food was Ordinary. I hadn't eaten since breakfast, so at that moment it was fantastic. Lol. It was more like school cafeteria food.
(2)Robbie M.
For the tourists that have never been to a luau it is fantastic. We did the ali'i package. I brought my friend here becauae they were supposed to do the imu ceremony. We didnt see it. The true local food like lomi lomi salmon, Poke and poi was at a seperate table and not identified so most people missed trying these local specialties. The food was tasty. The sweet potato salad was one of my favorites as was the chicken and of course kalua pig. I wish theyboffered iced tea for thoae of us who can't drink sweet drinks. The PCC tour was good however we onlyvsaw the shows so I am not sure what we missed. Our tour guide Ali'i was really entertaining. So was the guy at the Samoa village. He was like a Polynesian Steven Wright. Many shows involved audience participation which made it fun. The evening show was fantastic. So much going on. The performers were magnificent and you could tell thay loved what they were doing. The costumes were amazing. A great way to end the day.
(4)Rachel C.
Just ok. Food was about average and buffet style, which would be ok but we got there early and somehow this got us very back seats. It was an average experience. Nothing spectacular but not bad.
(2)Yuka N.
Over rated, way too expensive, tourist trap. Once you've experienced a luau, that's enough for a lifetime. Unless you want to check out the other luaus in Hawaii. The food and service was ok. Nice cultural center. The show was pretty cool! I have nothing else to say about this place.
(2)Brian P.
Be sure to get there early so you can see them take the pig out of the emu!!! After they bring the pig to the carving station, the traditional entertainment begins and they will begin dismissing tables soon after, a few at a time, to go grab food. If you aren't baller enough to pay for an Ambassador package, this means you'll be sitting around a while which is what happened to us :( The food is basically a buffet plus a pig carving station and a separate dessert table. The buffet has various food, mostly local grindz such as teri chicken, kalua pork, etc. If you like kalua pork I would recommend getting it from the carving station only because the one on the buffet is mass produced like the other buffet foods and is a lot drier. The food was pretty good overall and dinner includes water and soft drinks that they bring in pitchers to each table. There are also smoothies served in cored pineapples but those cost extra so we didn't get one. The only thing I wish was different is the close quarter seating at each table, which is really cramped and awkward when you don't know any of the other parties seated with you. The people that sat with us were kind of quiet and nobody really talked despite having to bump elbows while eating!
(4)Pat R.
So if I were a tourist and only had one chance to attend a luau, I'd be sorely disappointed if this was the one I chose. Spending the day in the park getting educated about of our pacific island cultures, you naturally develop quite an appetite. To our dismay, the adjectives used to describe the food was a mixture of the Cold, Stale, Bland, salty, unpalatable. Just to name a few. Honestly it was a poor representation of what a luau and island food is and should be. The only thing that was any good was the pipikaula. Another gripe was the seating arrangement.. 1. you don't have a choice on who you sit with. 2. We had the bad luck of sitting next to a set of tourists who were obnoxious and rude. You don't get much privacy when dining here. The luau was the low point of our "play tourist" day at PCC. Save your money, and just come for the park exploration and the show.
(2)Bryan R.
Horrible, Horrible Food... 5 Stars for the Ambassador package which included a personal, guided tour (Amanda, who btw did an EXCELLENT job), Great & Funny Shows (Samoa was HILARIOUS)... -4 stars for the horrendous Buffet that was by far the worst thing I've eaten so far on the island (possibly anywhere) & pissed me off considering the amount of money spent for this experience. I assumed we'd get the full show with the Kalua Pig being pulled/served out of the imu but no-go... We DID see the pig (strictly for pictures & who knows where it went afterwards), but the food was already pre-staged on a fairly small buffet table. Selection was horrendous & food was just as bad. Barely filled up my plate & forced myself to eat most of this garbage on a single trip. Only + was the Coconut Haupia cake which was 'ok', but my standards were set much lower due to the buffet which would've been a ripoff, even @ $5 a head. I don't recall ever having a buffet experience this bad (flies on the food were a nice touch btw), even @ the garbage joints such as Country Buffet which in comparison w/ this 'luau food' would rate a perfect score on Zagat. I came for a luau for the entire experience though this basically destroyed what would've been a perfect day. Luckily, Ha, Breath Of Life came in to save the day & more than made up for this garbage meal. Thank God we ate at Hukilau Cafe just before we showed up, otherwise the entire family would've been in an even shittier mood during the long drive back to Waikiki.
(1)Asha S.
The food was alright - some okay, some better than others, a few good..... However, if you've never been to a luau, you must go to this one. It's a lot of fun! There was a great deal of food (and a few yummy fish dishes I can't quite remember well enough to describe anymore), but the ones that were most memorable: * POKE - 5/5 [It's raw, prepared with soy sauce and a little seaweed... and so good I went for seconds.] * POI - 2/5 [Traditional staple made of taro that needs to be eaten with meat or something else. Starchy...... not the best thing in the world, although I hear it's healthy.] * KALUA PUA'A - 3.5/5 [Roast pork - wasn't such a huge fan of this one, but the boy seemed to like it a lot.] * TERIKAYI CHICKEN - 3.5/5 [This isn't really anything unique, and their teriyaki chicken was, IMO, slightly under seasoned that day..] * CHICKEN LONG RICE - 3.5/5 [I used to have varities of these as a kid, and the ones I remember tasting back in the day was a little better than this one..] * TARO ROLL - It's a roll.. so I won't rate it. However, it was fun to watch the boy freak out at the sight of "purple bread".. * HAUPIA - 5/5 [I've always loved these custard-like dessert made of coconut cream... and I loved them that night, too.] This one was definitely geared towards tourists.. though sliiiiiiiightly less so than the ones I remember being dragged to when I went to Hawai'i at 12 and 13.. I'm determined to go to a REAL luau on my next trip there. For now, though, if you're visiting Hawai'i - make sure you go to the one at the Polynesian Cultural Center!
(4)Nhu-Quynh N.
The canoe ride was awesome. Our pusher was great, and funny. The walks around to learn about each tribe was informative, they include you in doing some of the things like weaving and such. I think it'd be fun if you are the type of person who actually wants to go out and do things. If you're the type of doesn't care about much, the walks around isn't worth it. The Luau was great. The food was alright. Some were a hit and miss but most of it was a hit. The only thing was they do not serve alcohol. I don't personally drink, but my family and boyfriend do. No big deal. The dessert were kind of a miss, I didn't really enjoy too much of it. They great you with Hawaiian Lei's when you walk through the door, and take a nice picture. (truth be told: I wish our picture was with a hotter guy. LOL I'm sorry) Anyways... The picture was rather pricy, if you're a first timer, I'd get it for the experience. The HA show was great, very touching. I enjoyed the show. Definitely an experience everyone has to do. No cameras allowed, they gotta get they money some how. As far as pricing... We had a discount, but I did see how much regular price was and it's quite pricy too. I've never been to any other luau so I can't say this is the best. But it was pretty good, I enjoyed it.
(4)eva B.
It was awful, don't come to this luau. Way way overpriced, bad food, total tourist trap. We left early and felt robbed of our money.
(1)M T.
This place is anything but a cultural center, you barely learn about the cultures that are supposedly presented here. It is a complete tourist attraction run by students from BYU Hawaii Campus.... We had the Luau which was horrendous, cafeteria style self serve mush. The show was fairly decent and that is about the only thing I would recommend at this place.
(2)Caitlin L.
I wish I could separate my reviews into two parts, because the dinner and the show deserve different reviews and ratings, but alas, I'll cram it into one and average the score! We went here for a ladies' night while some out-of-state friends were visiting. We arrived around 500p for dinner buffet and the Ha show that was starting at 730p. So, we had pre-purchased tickets, but had to pick them up at will call. I don't know if it was amateur night or what? but it was such a clusterf**k in that line, that by the time we finally got to dinner, most of the food was gone! This included the diet Pepsi and the sushi...pretty much the 2 things I wanted! Boo! Their desserts were pretty tasty though! The night show, Ha! Breath of Life, was a different story! We paid a little extra to upgrade our seats and they were phenomenal. I highly recommend paying extra for better seats if possible. The closer you can get to those tan, sweaty, shirtless men...the better! Yum!! :) The show is a journey around the Polynesian islands through a young man's coming of age. They feature dances and customs from all the different islands. I think one of our favorite parts was going down and meeting the dancers afterwards. They're all so friendly and will take great pics with you! Highly recommended if you have family or friends visiting out of state!
(4)Donna Lyn B.
Compared to Paradise Cove's luau, this place is almost neck and neck. For kama'ainas, it's not about the show, it's about the authenticity of the Hawaiian lu'au food. My lasting impression of Paradise Cove's luau food was greasy and too haole-fied because they served fried chicken at their luau. I'm pretty the native Hawaiians didn't have fried chicken in their 'imu! My lasting impression of PCC's luau food was bland and boring. The main dish that makes a luau is the kalua pig. When they ceremoniously retrieved the roasted pig from the 'imu, you'd expect to eat that very same pig. Oh no. That's not what we got. I can tell the kalua pork we had was not straight from the 'imu that was just pulled out from the ground just a few minutes ago. It was pre-cooked! It tasted like it came from a crock pot. That's not right! Are we being served pre-cooked kalua pig because we didn't pay more money for the other higher priced package deals? Did that pig that came out of the 'imu go to the Island Feast or the Prime Dining restaurant? If so, there should be a disclaimer for customers when they book their tickets. It should say, "The Ali'i Luau is only for show. This is how we cooked the kalua pig, but you won't get to really get to eat it." For a kama'aina, we want the real thing. For tourists, they also deserve the real thing. Believe me, real kalua pig straight from the underground oven really tastes 'ono aka delicious. PCC's kalua pig is "oh no!". If you're a tourist, I'm sure you wouldn't suspect any thing different, but I was disenchanted by the whole luau show and the luau food overall. Still, my relatives that came from the mainland enjoyed their first luau and I kept my gripes under wraps... but I'd sure gripe about it on Yelp! :D
(2)Brandon B.
We did receive a refund for two dinners, around $50. The manager who called me from Hawaii was very courteous, and made multiple attempts to reach me as I was on business. He addressed all of my concerns and was respectful of my opinion. Excellent customer service, especially for a tourist place that perhaps doesn't rely on repeat business as much. The show after dinner was entertaining. I appreciate the commitment to service but I stick to the "this food was crap" review. It certainly isn't what I would do when I go to Hawaii. In fact, I would skip Oahu entirely, there are much better islands in the chain.
(1)D J.
The food was pretty good. The show afterwards was totally awesome and entertaining. Super fun times at this place.
(4)Fiona C.
I would like to correct reviewer Christine regarding the no alcohol policy. It is not because the servers are college students, it is because Mormons generally condemn the consumption of alcoholic beverages. Other than that, I agree with most of the reviewers who say that the luau experience at the PCC is a wonderful one, as well as the show that follows. The show has changed over the years, and it is still very entertaining. No, the food at the luau is not gourmet, but it is very authentic, and I agree that the desserts are not the greatest, but it's not really the most important part of the experience and definitely forgivable.
(4)Audrey L.
I would say that this is a def. must see if you go to the Polynesian center. The Center offers you I believe two or three places to dine for dinner. This one has a great show and the food is really good. It's probably better to purchase the dinner with the entrance tickets and the tickets to the show, so that you wouldn't have to run back to the front and purchase them again. Happy Eatings! =]
(4)Alexis C.
No alcohol, bad food, and make no mistake this is a Morman-run luau. The food could not have cost more than $8/person to make and worst of all it was DIRTY. I found a hair in my dessert/flan thing and the waiters were taking half-drunk glasses of watered down Kool-aid and soda after people left, pouring it back in the carafes, and serving it to other people that were still there... disgusting! Also there was steak on the menu, which ended up being individual cubes of dried steak (jerky?) with each cube in it's own individual plastic cup with a lid... wtf? I was irritated that they would create that much plastic waste for one dinner (of many), especially on an island. After seeing the "recycling" of the Kool-aid and soda, I wouldn't be surprised if those cubes were from leftover steaks of previous luaus. I totally agree with the reveiwers who said this was like a Hawaiian version of Hometown Buffet. Actually, I think Hometime Buffet would have been a step up from the food here. My husband and I paid nearly $200 for a McDonalds quality dinner, NO alcohol, and watered-down room temperature drinks with other people's spit in them. The show afterwards definitely did not redeem the dinner. Male and female dancers were chastely dressed and there was an obvious "we're here to sell you Jesus" theme. It was nothing like the sexy ad posters I kept seeing around for "Ha:Breath of Life". Overall, a waste of an evening and we felt like suckers. We were just thankful we didn't get food poisoning. Definitely skip this one.
(1)Joshua S.
If you're going just for the Luau go somewhere else. The food at the Luau is about 2/5 compared to Germaine's Luau. No alcohol FYI. The entertainment feels secluded but they try.
(2)Stefanie M.
This review is for the Luau, NOT the PCC or Ha. I just don't get it. How can the PCC, whose mission is to help preserve and perpetuate the more ideal aspects of Polynesian culture, put on this shamefully ridiculous luau and claim it's the "the best luau in Hawaii"? The PCC is great and does great work educating Polynesian students and giving out scholarships, the show Ha is also great, but this luau is a slap in the face to the supposed mission statement of the PCC, presenting Polynesian culture as a cheesy caricature and ridiculous over the top stereotype. It went against everything we had learned about Hawaiian/Fijian/Polynesian culture the whole day. I was not expecting good food, it's a buffet for 200+ people, I know the food is mass produced, bland and sucks. But the SHOW, OMG, the Chinese kid doing the hula with a voice over from the cheeseball host is really NOT adding authenticity to my dry Mormon luau. If William Shatner were a car salesman, and Hawaiian, he would be our luau emcee. It was so horrific, all I wanted was a drink to make it all go away, but wait, the place is run by the church of latter day saints, so it's as dry as a popcorn fart on the entire property, which just added to the humiliation. So my advice is 1. Go to PCC spend the day there - it is a neat place. 2. Flask it. 3. DO NOT purchase a Luau at the PCC, it's ridiculous. 4. See Ha: breathe of life and enjoy a good show.
(1)Scott C.
Food wasn't bad, but for the price it should have been better and the selection should have been MUCH better. VERY limited selection and really nothing for kids except fruit and deserts. Wouldn't go back for the food.
(2)Heidi K.
I am so happy to see that I can review the luau separate from the tours/Ha Breath of Life Show. All I can really say is both my husband and I are violently sick today, and we went last night. Fortunately, we live here and can spend our Sunday sitting on the couch writhing in pain, however, if you are a tourist and trying to enjoy the beauty that Oahu has to offer, I would hate for you to have an opportunity to eat better food that won't have you strapped to your toilet the next day. Some people wait their whole lives to come to Hawaii ONCE... why waste your day trying not to crap all over the place when you could have gone somewhere with better food that won't leave your stomach in knots? The selection was not that great. Generally, the food and show at Germaine's Luau was better, but the dessert bar had a wide variety of generally good desserts. The keiki dancers were so adorable. The only thing I can say that I LOVED was their smoothies in a pineapple. They were really cute, and at 1 for ten or 2 for fifteen, we tried the pina colada and strawberry. They were adorable!
(2)Caitlyn Y.
While the day of cultural touring an the HA show at night were amazing the luau dinner sucked!!! Unfortunately the way they time the show it's almost unavoidable not to eat at the center. They shouldn't call this a luau or even worse "the best luau in Hawaii". The food was gross and they don't even serve alcohol. How is a luau authentic without Mai Tais??? I wish they would have explained this upfront. Overall it was a nice day but Long and the luau was dissapointing.
(1)Jason G.
The food was pretty good and exceeded expectations, albeit originally low expectations. It's just a large buffet and the entertainment is okay. It just doesn't have that authentic or exciting feel that a smaller and stand alone luau has versus having this one added on to the PCC day.
(3)Anita L.
Meh... 2.5 stars from me, but since I liked PCC so much, I decided to go with 3 stars. I got the Alii Luau as part of my Circle Island + Luau + Show package. If I am comparing this to the prior luaus I have been to, this is bad. But if you are looking at this Alii Luau as a Dinner Buffet with performers on stage, then it's okay. Food was okay, nothing too special. Since it's college students serving at the luau, there's no alcohol at PCC (even during the luau).
(3)TJ V.
Wow. The worst buffet ever. I needed a drink so bad but they didn't mention it was Mormon owned/run so no drinks. Pitchers of water or flat soda. We paid $125 for nasty buffet and the lamest entertainment ever. I'm so p$&$ed. Self-proclaimed 'best luau' in Oahu. I wish yelp allowed 0 or negative stars. Started at 5:15 and they started closing up at 6. Wtf. The evening show was decent. 3 stars but buffet was at least -2 stars. Except all girls wearing mumus. Not quite like the sexy girl in the brochures. Mormon influenced costumes too. DO NOT go to the luau.
(1)Diana L.
I'm really sad to give this place only 3 stars. It is absolutely gorgeous, but there isn't much to do (in my opinion). I did the canoeing, which was probably the most "activity" thing there. It fits 4 in a canoe and you have a staff member guide your canoe while you're rowing. It doesn't require too much physical exertion, so no worries. I also did a couple of games and watch a couple of showings, but honestly, it was boring. Note: I did the tram ride thinking it would give me a tour of the Polynesian Cultural Center, but it doesn't. It goes to a Mormon temple and you stay there in a room with a huge globe the whole time. It got really awkward when the volunteer tour guides of the tram were trying to talk to us about being Mormon (my family is completely open to and accepting of other religions, but we won't convert). Awkwaaard. Seriously. I wish there were more activities. I got bored after about 2 hours. You DO have the option of choosing to only go to the luau and not spend the whole day at the Cultural Center. I would recommend going to other places (nut farm, shrimp farm, Buddhist temple, Dole plantation, "top of the world" mountain tops, etc.) that are around there. This place is BEAUTIFUL, but can only keep your attention for so long. Also, bring comfortable shoes if you're planning on staying here all day. It's a big place!
(3)Janis A.
The hubby and I were very pleased to have booked this luau. The customer service was great, the food was GOOD (especially the kalua pork!!), and the entertainment was fun :) My only tip is to arrive early enough so that you get good seats, but the view isn't bad no matter where you sit. We chose a luau at PCC because we were able to spend the entire day at the park and enjoyed the activities. By luau time, we were ready eat. Then after the luau, you have time to go souvenir shopping before heading over to watch the show - Ha, Breath of Life - which was AWESOME!! I would love to see it again.
(4)Mike W.
Hated it. They dressed in moo-mus and didn't server alcohol. The show was, good they were clearly very good dancers, and the tech they used was nice. The outfits were very nicely made, and if you like looking at guys in long skirts with no shirts, while the women wore high necked, long dresses while dancing hula, I guess you might like it.
(1)Megan F.
I went to this luau several years ago. It was horrible. First of all, I knew this was a Mormon-run luau, and there would be no booze. Fine. As we sat down at the crowded tables, and pitchers of room-temperature soda were brought out, I also realized there would be no caffeine in this camp. The food was beyond horrible. Sure, made a show of putting a pig to roast in a pit, on stage. But this is certainly not the pork being served on the buffet. I can't remember all the details, but trust me. It was bad.
(1)Clint B.
This luau was part of our admission package to the Polynesian Cultural Center. Touted as their most popular dining option, seating for the masses was efficient as they brought people to tables of 8 and filled up all seats with other parties. Yes, you'll have to share the table with strangers so brush up on small talk, put on your happy face and make some new friends. There's an MC who runs the pre- and post-dinner entertainment. Honestly, can't remember much of the entertainment. That should tell you how memorable it was. Unfortunately, the food was even worse. Living in Las Vegas, maybe I'm spoiled when it comes to buffets, but I was disappointed by the lack of choices and quality of food. They had some shoyu glazed chicken thighs, steamed white fish, and kalua pork that was bland and tasteless, not to mention watery. A salad section with iceberg lettuce, a few types of dressing and basic condiments was a letdown. The ahi poke was decent compared to everything else, but portioned out into tiny plastic cups usually reserved for soy sauce from take out restaurants. Desserts weren't much better. The coconut cake with haupia sauce was far superior to an awful bread pudding made up of taro rolls and uninspired pineapple bars. I can normally down 4 or 5 plates at buffets but here I barely had one and a small sampling of desserts. The PCC itself is a great attraction, but the food needs some help.
(1)Pawnster B.
Overpriced. Way overpriced. $50? I might pay $15 or $20 max for the quality of the food and maybe $5 for the lei. The "luau" had more of a feel of hometown buffet or dinner at a church hall than a luau. No sand. No beach. One tiki torch. The food was average and limited. Salad, potato salad, poi, noodles with chicken, teriyaki chicken, fish, and kahlua pork. And the entertainment was kind of weak. Not impressed at all and wouldn't recommend it to anyone. I've been to paradise cove luau which was much better. The only benefit for paying for the luau dinner is you get second tier seating for the ha show which is actually very good and worth the $50.
(1)Craig K.
Pretty cool entertainment, however no alcohol since the place is Mormon owned. Food was pretty good, liked the coconut milk fish n pork.
(3)Xiomara R.
Easily the dinner highlight of our trip. After a day of touring the area, we sat down for our expected feast and weren't disappointed. The food itself was grade A. The pork, which they do the whole fire pit thing for, was amazing... the best we have ever had. The fish was also great, while the taro bread was more than just a novelty as it was delicious. The meal was a little slow to start, and the deserts a little disappointing, but the main meal delivered and let you go back freely to stock up on more food (a great feature for the male portion of this review team and his bottomless stomach). The entertainment during the feast wasn't particularly memorable, but did add to the enjoyment and made the whole meal that much better. Overall, pricey, but highly recommended for anyone doing a first time tourist trip to the area as it grants a great sampling of some more exotic types of food they might not be familiar with.
(4)Alison V.
Good food. Melt in your mouth pork. Poke. Salmon. Salad. Taro roles. Teriyaki chicken. Fish. Beef jerky, which was so fresh it doesn't even seem like jerky. Fresh fruit. Buffet style all you can eat. Great entertainment. Listen for Uncle Bennys version of Louis Armstrong's, "It's a Wonderful Life." You'll be impressed. Dessert a bit disappointing but yummy. Coconut cake. Coconut pudding. Chocolate cake. Worth the drive out here and experiencing the rest of PCC.
(5)Anu M.
The Ali'I Lu'au Dinner is from 5pm to 7pm and it is a traditional Polynesian dinner, which includes pork cooked in an imu (an underground oven). The dinner is accompanied by live music and hula dance. The buffet included taro rolls, kalua pork, teriyaki chicken, fish, rice, salads and desserts. The food was horrendous, I would not recommend the Ali'I Lu'au dinner at the Polynesian Cultural Center. Waste of time and money!
(1)Kandi R.
The Polynesian Cultural Center is great! The activities during the day are a must do. They represent many different island cultures, very interesting and educational. The show at the end of the night is also amazing and makes more sense if you take the time to learn about all of the island cultures during the day. The luau dinner is not good. They do not serve the pig cooked in the ground. The show during dinner is difficult to see depending on where your table is at. No alcohol is served. Fancy pineapple smoothie drinks cost $22.50. Dinner is salad, rice & 4 different meats - pork, chicken, tri tip, salmon. All food tastes good, just not what I expected for the price and at a luau.
(4)Beatrice T.
Luaua was decent but nothing to write about... wished they had more variety. All the hot food was limited to one table.
(3)Alicia A.
Is this is such a generic luau experience. I was so unhappy with my "Hawaiian Luau." The food was ok, nothing special or great. It seems like a Hawaiian version of Hometown Buffet. Sucks. Waste of money!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(1)Christine P.
Like so many others, I often wish that Yelp would allow for half stars but I can see why they keep it simple. Because the Husband and I got the Ambassador package, we were quickly ushered in the short line and were promptly seated. The emcee was pretty cheesy, kind of like William Shatner in Miss Congeniality. You can order soft drinks from the many servers who flit around or smoothie drinks. They put a special colored flag on your chair to let the others know what you've ordered. Because all of the waitstaff are college students, the PCC Luau has a no-alcohol policy. Before you can eat, there are a couple of mini presentations with small children coming out to show you what you can taste and the emcee explaining how things work and then two strapping youths ceremonially take out a pig that has been cooking in the traditional way and walk away with it. They let you get your food from the two large buffet stations located behind all of the tables in groups, depending on where you're sitting. We got to get our food pretty quickly and there was a lot of it. Kalua pig, tuna poke, rice and poi, among other things. The food is plentiful and the kalua pig is good. At the end, they bring out large platters of semi-ok desserts (they weren't the best) and then everyone is directed to go to the Ha Breath of Life show. During the luau, they have a few more presentations, like a royal court showing, a hula competition and then they ask honeymooning or anniversary-ing couples to come onto the stage. They asked how long people had been married and then made them dance to a special song. The Husband and I did not go up there as we are painfully embarrassed by things like that but it was sweet to see an old couple who had been married over 50 years. All in all, if luau you must, this is an ok one to see and you can hit the PCC on the same day.
(3)Steven J.
Definitely stay away from the luau. Even though the price is quite steep, thought it would be a good experience to attend a luau. Boy was I wrong and quite disappointed. Not sure how they claim they are the best Luau in Hawaii. Go to the PCC for the education and interactive activities, go for the HA show, but definitely stay away from the luau. For the money you pay, you're better off leaving the center, grab a bite to eat at a local eatery and then come back for the show. You're herded in and sat down is overcrowded rectangular tables. Even with the stage shows on going, it's hard to pay attention because you're given instructions on when you can go and get your food. Then there's the climactic fan fare about the roast pig. Everyone goes to take a look and see it being carried to the table. People then go back to their tables and wait to be called to go and get your food. When you finally get to the food, the buffet is terrible. There is pork, but we were quite disappointed that they didn't even serve the pig that was cooked that day. For the price, you definitely do not get the quality of the food. I get it, all the money is to help the students and contributes to the scholarship fund at the school, but come on, make the food at least 3 star caliber! I've heard from locals and cabbies, try the Paradise Cove Luau or wait until you're in Maui. It's on the beach and it's supposed to be fabulous. I plan to take my family there next time we're back in Hawaii.
(1)Michael J.
I've never been to a luau before in my life, but I'm very impressed with this touristy geared luau. As being part of the Polynesian Cultural Center, the Luau is an experience that you must partake if you've never experienced oen before. This is where the unexperienced become experienced. The dining hall is outdoors but is covered by a huge canopy. There are many tables and people dining here are excused a couple tables at a time as to not overwhelm the lines at buffet. The luau is basically a show, so you arrive at your specified time and everyone sits down. You are then introduced by an emcee and the emcee will guide you in the overall experience. There is live music and entertainment while you dine and you are free to leave the dining hall whenever you want. The food is not amazing, but it is pretty good and combined with the entertainment and music it is pretty darn awesome. Oh yea one more thing, the marinated chicken is so good... grab a couple before sitting down. I highly recommend the Luau, but you can only dine here if you purchase the Luau or Ambassador Luau packages. There are other luau packages, but I'm pretty sure the food and the entertainment is similar to that of the Ali'i Luau with exception to prime rib and crab legs of course.
(4)Josh S.
I have never been more disappointed. The food had the appeal of an elementary school cafeteria. The cultural center and breath of life show were nice but skip the luau. FYI no Mai tai's or alcohol of any sort.
(1)Gene J.
This place is way overpriced! We paid $300 for two people and it has been a very terrible experience. Among many disappointment, the evening fire show was not impressive. It was supposed to be the highlight of the show and it was mediocre at best. I'd discourage anybody to go to this place or sign up for the day-long tour
(2)C M.
This is for the buffet inside the PCC. Its gross. No one in my party liked any of the food. It was old tasting and flavorless. Yuck. Way over priced too.
(1)T. W.
This is a review for the Alii Luau only, not the PCC itself or HA the show. My wife and I were excited to go the "Most Authentic Luau" on the island. Whoever rated it the best luau is an idiot. To say we were disappointed in the food would be an understatement. It was bland and look more liked cafeteria food than a Luau. Even the desserts were not quality. They should go to Costco and buy dessert that would have been a huge improvement. Do yourself a favor and go have a nice dinner before going to the PCC and save yourself the money and the trouble of going to the Alii Luau. The performers are the only reason I am giving it two stars instead of one.
(2)Shannon W.
The luau had great selections of traditional fare, pleasant dinner entertainment and nice atmosphere. Not an experience that needs to happen with every visit to Oahu but definitely worth checking our once or twice.
(4)Maren S.
My husband and I recently visited Oahu and were recommended highly to visit the PCC for a luau that we've been eager to see for years. We signed up for the dinner and the luau and barely made it through dinner. As we were waiting, we noticed the tickets to get in stated that BYU and the LDS were supporters. We are very skeptical of the mormon religion and DO NOT support it in the slightest. We were astounded when they had everyone at all the tables hold hands for prayers. Everyone around us seemed very uncomfortable. Then the announcer brought us into prayer. They had a show going on to entertain everyone wheel they waited their turn for the worst cafeteria style food ever. We couldn't tell what was polynesian culture, which we were very interested learning about, or what was the mormon coming out. They called everyone "brother" and "sister". The food looked and tasted unappealing. We left after this part. THis place is way too expensive also!
(1)Austin L.
worst food ever, the ticket booth was very pushy trying to make us upgrade are package. the show was just bad, college level at best.
(1)Christian W.
I have been to many luaus in Hawaii and must say that PCC's is the best since it is the only authentic Hawaiian Luau in the islands. Most luaus combine other cultures from the South Pacific in their entertainment. PCC doesn't have to because they have a big evening show right after their luau that features the other Polynesian cultures. The Alii Luau is a convenient place to entertain friends and family. Just make sure you make your reservations in advance because during the busy season, they frequently sell out, even though they have 3 separate Luau venues. My favorite Hawaiian food is the pork, laupia and pipi kaula (Hawaiian beef jerky). Go to the luau hungry because you can eat as much as you like.
(5)Judy C.
enuff said no comment must go and see =)
(5)