FAQ - About The Polynesian Cultural Center

Founded in 1865, this area was originally desolate and uninhabitable. Through tender loving care and tenacity the lovely town of Laie, 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 Hawaii (now Brigham Young University Hawaii) 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 fish fry meant to entertain, instruct and support the community. We’ve come a long way since 1963. The center has grown to become Hawaii’s number-one paid attraction, drawing nearly a million visitors a year.

KITV, 2022 “Best of Hawaii” Viewers’ Choice Awards – 1^st 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 20^th 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.

We are committed to representing the Islands of Polynesia respectfully and accurately. The Mission Statement of the PCC states that “we will preserve and portray the cultures, arts and crafts of Polynesia.” For this reason we are knowledgeable about the true meaning, pronunciation, and visual presentation of the various Polynesian languages, including the use and importance of diacritical and language specific markers. Unfortunately, the Center is unable to control how these markings will show on different computer platforms and browsers. To avoid any misrepresentation of the written word we do not use the diacritical or other language-specific markings online.