About Us

What is the Polynesian Cultural Center’s history? 

Founded in 1865, this area was originally desolate and uninhabitable. Through tender loving care and tenacity, the lovely town of Lāʻie, also known as ‘The Gathering Place’, grew into a beautiful center of spirituality, education and ethnic harmony. The Polynesian Cultural Center first opened its doors in 1963 as a way for students at the adjacent Church College of Hawaiʻi (now Brigham Young University Hawaiʻi) to earn money for their education and as a means to preserve and portray the cultures, art and crafts of the people of Polynesia. Prior to this great event, the town of Lāʻie hosted weekly hukilaus, a community fishing event, meant to entertain, instruct and support the community. We’ve come a long way since 1963. The center has grown to become Hawaiʻi’s number-one paid attraction, drawing nearly a million visitors a year.

Tripadvisor, Travelers’ Choice Awards Winner 2024 – Polynesian Cultural Center - Top 10% Worldwide (Reviews from millions of Tripadvisor travelers place PCC in the top 10% worldwide.)

USA Today 10 Best – Readers’ Choice 2024 – 1st Place “Best Family Attraction in Hawaii” 

Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 2024 “Hawaii’s Best” Readers’ Choice Awards – 1st Place for “Best Tourist Attraction”

Honolulu Family Magazine, “Best of Honolulu Family 2024 on Oahu” & “Best Place to Experience Cultural Activities” – Finalist

KITV, 2024 “Best of Hawaii” Viewers’ Choice Awards – 1st Place for Best “Tourist Attraction”, 1st Place for Best “Luau”

Hawaii Magazine, 2024 People’s Choice Awards – Best of Oahu – 2nd Place “Best Luau”, 2nd Place “Best Guide Tour”, 3rd Place “Best Live Show”

Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 2023 “Hawaii’s Best” Readers’ Choice Awards – 1st Place for “Best Tourist Attraction”, 1st Place for “Best Luau”

Honolulu Magazine, 2023 Best of Honolulu – 1st Place - “Best Place to take Out-of-Towners!”

Honolulu Family, 2023 Best of Honolulu – 1st Place – “Best Place to Experience Cultural Activities”

KITV, 2023 “Best of Hawaii” Viewers’ Choice Awards – 1st Place for “Tourist Attraction”

USA Today 10 Best – Readers’ Choice 2023 – 1st Place – Best Family Attraction in Hawaii

KITV, 2022 “Best of Hawaii” Viewers’ Choice Awards – 1st Place for “Tourist Attraction”

Honolulu Star-Advertiser “2022 Hawaiʻi’s Best” Readers’ Choice – 1st Place for “Best Tourist Attraction”

James Beard Foundation, “Smart Catch Leader 2022”

Smart Catch Approved 100% of volume

Seafood Watch Best Choice Items: 0 – – 0% of volume
Seafood Watch Good Alternative Items: 4 – Almaco jack (Farmed – United States of America), Bigeye tuna (Wild – United States of America), Albacore tuna (Wild – United States of America), Shortbill spearfish (WIld – United States of America) – 80.37% of volume
Seafood Watch Eco-Certification Recommended Items: 1 – White shrimp (Farmed – India) – 19.63% of volume
Approved (No Red Potential) Items: 0 – – 0% of volume
Honolulu Star-Advertiser “2021 Hawaiʻi’s Best” Readers’ Choice – First Place for “Best Tourist Attraction”

2021 KITV “Best of Hawaii” Viewers’ Choice Awards for Tourist Attraction – First Place

2019 International Business Awards, Marketing Campaign of the Year – Travel/Tourism/Destination –  “Kap Video Series – Remarketing” – Gold Stevie Award

USA Today 10 Best, Readers’ Choice Awards 2019 – “Best Hawaiʻi Attraction”

Star-Advertiser “2019 Hawaii’s Best” Reader’s Choice – Hawaiʻi’s Best Tourist Attraction – 1st Place

Trip Advisor 2018 Worlds Best Tours and Travel Activities “Top 10 U.S. Experience”

Honolulu Star-Advertiser People’s Choice Awards #1 place winner for “Hawaiʻi’s Best Attraction”

Hawaiʻi Magazine, 2018 People’s Choice Awards (March 2018 Announcement) – “Best Family Live Show”

USA Today 10 Best, Readers’ Choice Awards 2017 – “Best Hawaiʻi Attraction”

Travel Weekly Magazine, 2017 Silver Magellan Award – “Overall Culture / Arts Destination in the USA/Canada

Hawaiʻi Magazine 2017 Readers Choice Awards – “Best Oʻahu Lūʻau”

Hawaiʻi Magazine 2017 Readers Choice Awards – “Best Oahu Museum”

Trip Advisor 2017 – Certificate of Excellence (Reflecting superior service for consistently good reviews on Trip Advisor)

Star Advertiser’s 2017 “Hawaiʻi’S Best” Reader’s Choice Awards – Best Tourist Attraction – 2nd Place

Star Advertiser’s 2017 “Hawaiʻi’S Best” Reader’s Choice Awards – Best Lūʻau – 3rd Place

Hawaiʻi Magazine 2016 People’s Choice Awards – “Best Family Live Show”

Star-Advertiser’s 2016 “Hawaiʻi’s Best” Reader’s Choice Awards – Best Tourist Attraction – 1st Place

Trip Advisor 2016 – Certificate of Excellence (Reflecting superior service for consistently good reviews on Trip Advisor)

Hawaiʻi Magazine, 2015 People’s Choice Awards – “Best Family Live Show”

Star-Advertiser’s 2015 “Honolulu Pulse Awards” – Best Place to Take Visitors – 1st Place

Star-Advertiser’s 2015 “Hawaiʻi’s Best” Reader’s Choice Awards – Tourist Attraction – 1st Place

Hawaiʻi Magazine, 2014 People’s Choice Awards – “Best Family Live Show”

Star-Advertiser “2014 Hawaii’s Best” Reader’s Choice – Tourist Attraction – 1st Place

Hawaiʻi Magazine, 2013 People’s Choice Awards – “Best Family Live Show”

Star-Advertiser “2013 Hawaii’s Best” Reader’s Choice Tourist Attraction – 1st Place

Honolulu Magazine 2012 “Best Of” “Best Family Attraction” – 1st Place

Star-Advertiser “2012 Hawaiʻi’s Best” Reader’s Choice Hawaiʻi’s Best Luau – 2nd Place

Star-Advertiser “2012 Hawaiʻi’s Best” Reader’s Choice Hawaiʻi’s Best Tourist Attraction – 3rd Place

Star-Advertiser “2011 Hawaiʻi’s Best” Reader’s Choice – Hawaiʻi’s Best Tourist Attraction – 1st Place

Honolulu Magazine 2011 “Best of” Reader’s Poll – “Best place to take visitors” – 1st Place

Honolulu Magazine 2010 “Best of” Reader’s Poll – “Best place to take visitors” – 1st Place

Honolulu Star-Bulletin 2009 “Hawaii’s Best” Reader’s Poll – Best Tourist Attraction – 1st Place

Honolulu Star-Bulletin 2009 “Hawaiʻi’s Best” Best Lūʻau – 3rd Place

Honolulu Advertiser 2009 “Best of the Best” Reader’s Poll – Top Tourist Spot – 3rd Place

Honolulu Advertiser 2009 “Best of the Best” Reader’s Poll – Local Attraction – 3rd Place

Kāhili Awards (For preserving Hawaiian Culture) Aliʻi Lūʻau – “Hawaii’s Most Authentic Lūʻau”

Wayne Harada, Honolulu-Advertiser, March 2014 (Review of Hā: Breath of Life) – “An amazing theatrical accomplishment….” – “There are moments that will leave you breathless and thrilled…”

 
THEA AWARD 2013 – PCC Outstanding Achievement

The Polynesian Cultural Center’s (PCC) dedication to enhancing the guest experience with arts and culture has resulted in being awarded one of the attraction industry’s highest honors, a Thea Award for Outstanding Achievement.

Presented by the Themed Entertainment Association, the 20th annual Thea Awards, , is considered the entertainment and attraction industry’s highest honor and recognizes excellence in the creation of outstanding guest experiences.

The PCC is one of only 13 attractions worldwide to earn Thea Awards. PCC’s Thea Award for Outstanding Achievement is a tribute to its new Hawaiian Journey cinematic presentation and re-design of the Gateway restaurant. The recipients were honored at a special awards gala at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim on April 5, 2014.
 

What is the Polynesian Cultural Center’s history? 

Founded in 1865, this area was originally desolate and uninhabitable. Through tender loving care and tenacity, the lovely town of Lāʻie, also known as ‘The Gathering Place’, grew into a beautiful center of spirituality, education and ethnic harmony. The Polynesian Cultural Center first opened its doors in 1963 as a way for students at the adjacent Church College of Hawaiʻi (now Brigham Young University Hawaiʻi) to earn money for their education and as a means to preserve and portray the cultures, art and crafts of the people of Polynesia. Prior to this great event, the town of Lāʻie hosted weekly hukilaus, a community fishing event, meant to entertain, instruct and support the community. We’ve come a long way since 1963. The center has grown to become Hawaiʻi’s number-one paid attraction, drawing nearly a million visitors a year.