Polynesian Cultural Center: Gateway Buffet Package
Recommended by 98% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Oahu, USA
- 5 to 9 hours (approx.)
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Overview
Experience the rich heritage of the Pacific Islands at the Polynesian Cultural Center, featuring tickets, a gateway buffet, and a show. Explore six island villages with hands-on activities and cultural demonstrations, then enjoy island-inspired cuisine at the Gateway Buffet. End the day with HĀ: Breath of Life, a dynamic show featuring over 100 performers. This immersive visit supports a nonprofit committed to preserving culture and funding local education.
- Explore six island villages with hands-on cultural demos and shows
- Enjoy an all-you-can-eat buffet of island-inspired dishes and desserts
- Watch HĀ: Breath of Life, an evening show featuring over 100 performers
- Support the non-profit mission of the center, which aids student education
What's Included
- Admission Fee - Polynesian Cultural Center
- DinnerPremiere dining experience with live music and an expansive buffet of island inspired dishes.
- "HĀ: Breath of Life" evening show
- Self-guided experience through 6 island villages
- Transportation to/from Polynesian Cultural Center
- Tour Guide
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Polynesian Cultural Center55-370 Kamehameha Hwy, Laie, HI 96762, USA
Guests can meet us at the Welcome Center of the Polynesian Cultural Center, located at the right-hand side behind the Hamana Kalili Statue. This building houses the ticketing booths, where visitors can check in or inquire further about their visit.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Operating hours.12:15 pm
What To Expect
1
Polynesian Cultural Center
Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- Infants must sit on laps
- Infant seats available
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- Surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Most travelers can participate
- Strollers are convenient for exploring the area, but please note that during certain shows, strollers will need to be left outside, and parents may need to hold their babies on their laps.
- A tour guide is not included in the Gateway Buffet package, but group or private tours can be arranged for an additional fee. You can pay for a guide at the center on the day of your visit.
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 150 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.9
based on 637 reviews
Tamara_G, May 2026
Very nice show and the food was really really fresh. Had a really hard time figuring out the tickets.
Richard_G, May 2026
The students walking around guiding everyone to the different activities were very helpful.
The dinner buffet was incredible! So many choices and delicious food, one of the best I have ever had, and the girl that was our server was so nice, polite I wish I could remember her name, she went above and beyond when she found out it would be my birthday in 2 days, she brought an extra dessert with happy Birthday written on the plate.
And the Show was amazing! It kept us entertained through the whole program, those dancers had so much energy, and the fire dancers were incredible!
We would definitely recommend it to everyone!
Wendy_S, May 2026
This was my favourite day in Oahu. It was simply beautiful starting with an opening ceremony, then visiting all the different islands- shows, food, activities, dancing, music etc. The evening buffet was superb with so many choices of food, entertainment and a fashion show. Very well organised. Then the evening show was brilliant! The staff all day were so lovely. Happy and friendly.
We had arranged a coach transfer to and from Waikiki Beach. This was very worthwhile as the bus journey would have been very lengthy and a taxi expensive. Don’t miss this fabulous centre.
Janet_K, Apr 2026
Enjoyed learning about the island culturals, the shows and ask the fun all were having during it all
Stephanie_O, Apr 2026
Great experience with kids! Learned a lot. Buffet was extensive, lots of options, and the show was pretty amazing! Wish we had more time there
Response from Host, Apr 2026
Thank you! We’re so glad your family had a fun and educational experience. We’re happy you enjoyed the buffet and show. Come back soon to explore even more!
KurtEllyson_F, Apr 2026
Excellent experience, each section features a different island / polynesian history, culture and sample activities. Honestly, there’s so many to be done, you won’t be able to do it all in one day even if you arrive promptly at 1215. The buffet quality was excellent. The evening dance event was amazing! Plan ahead so you can maximize this experience!
Zarina_W, Apr 2026
We were going to book a luau but decided to book PCC instead and we definitely didn’t regret it. Majority of the workers there were students from BYU. The expenses helps these students who came from different parts of the world. All the other staff was very attentive. The gateway buffet was delicious and the show HA was beautiful! My kids enjoyed all the activities and shows from the different parts of the island. The whole family will never forget Kap! He was hilarious and also owns his own art studio found in PCC.
Craig_S, Mar 2026
Enjoyed visiting each island presentation and games, food that are specific to each island.
Take note that transportation is not provided by the PCC.
George_W, Mar 2026
Very good trip. Great programs, excellentbuffetand great show.
truthfulness, compassion and forbearance.
We will recommend to other people about this tour.
Justin_A, Mar 2026
Didn’t get to go, all the roads to the center were closed due to flooding, and the center was closed due to evacuations. In fact the national weather service issued several warnings to get to high ground. Why does this garner a bad review…well… Viator is jerking me around on the refund because it is less than 24 hours. They said they were reviewing my request, 4 days later is still have the charge on my credit card and no communication from the company. $600 charge still there. Didn’t get to go, and they are reviewing the incident. THE ROADS WERE CLOSED AND THE CENTER WAS CLOSED DUE TO WEATHER, refund people’s money, simple, nothing to review. I called Viator and they confirmed the center was closed on the day of the booking and said “we will review your request”. What is there to review?????? I’ll take this review down once I get my refund.
Ann_Y, Mar 2026
We had a great time at the PCC! There is so much to see and do and we learned a lot about the different Polynesian cultures. We even had a ukulele lesson!! We ate at the Gateway Buffet and the food was outstanding! I can’t remember her name but our hostess was very friendly and attentive to our needs. We had reservations for the fire and knife show at the end, but as it was our first full day in Hawaii, we were suffering some jet lag and were very tired so we skipped it. I would recommend waiting a day or two to get adjusted before spending 8+ hours at PCC, especially if you’re staying on the other side of Oahu like we were.
Dixie_J, Mar 2026
Andrew did a great job
Waited patiently for me while I had to go to the bathroom almost every stop was very through all his information keep ya all together stayed with us
He was great
Marcy_V, Mar 2026
Not much island traveling but fun events. They let you take pics during day but not at ha show. Fire shows at ha breath of life amazing.
Tessie_S, Feb 2026
Not as advertised. Very disappointed in the experience, for the money it costs, the opening and closing ceremonies were fabulous! We saw two island performances, they were both fun but over all the rest of the villages were not represented at all. We will not book again.
Nicholas_C, Feb 2026
There is so much to do with so little time. Don’t get caught up trying to do every activity. You won’t have enough time to do it. I wish they would start sooner. I liked the whole experience. The dances, the background stories behind every culture, and the shows were all great. A little pricey, but well worth it.
Hera_R, Feb 2026
This is a whole day experience, rich cultural shows and a good way to learn about Hawaii. We enjoyed the different presentation and the food was great.
Response from Host, Feb 2026
Aloha! Thank you for spending the day with us and for sharing your experience. We’re glad you enjoyed the cultural presentations and found the food great as well.
Our goal is to share the cultures and traditions of Polynesia in a meaningful and engaging way, and we’re happy you were able to learn and enjoy your time here.
Mahalo for visiting the Polynesian Cultural Center. We hope to welcome you back again in the future!
Cathy_A, Jan 2026
The cultural center was very
educational and enjoyable. There were friendly and knowledgeable staff everywhere to answer questions and provide direction.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Aloha Cathy! Mahalo for your kind 5-star review. We’re happy to hear that you found your visit both educational and enjoyable. It means a lot to us that our team was able to help answer your questions and provide direction as you explored the Center.
Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We hope to welcome you again in the future!
Christy_R, Dec 2025
Very educational experience. Explore all of the cultural differences one convenient way. I would recommend.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Mahalo for your 5-star review. We’re happy to hear you enjoyed learning about the many cultures of Polynesia and found the experience both educational and convenient. Thank you for the recommendation, and we hope to welcome you back again in the future!
Maria_M, Dec 2025
This was an amazing and immersive experience. We didn't know what to expect at first, but definitely plan for an all day experience! It has shows, demonstrations and lots of information about 6 Polynesian islands. There is so much to do and see here. We stayed for the buffet and HA Breath of Life Show too. The food was incredible and very diverse depending on what you wanted to try. The show explored the cultures more in a beautiful way, and the fire show at the end was astounding. It is a little bit out of the way from the downtown area, so plan your travel there accordingly, but we took a shuttle from our hotel area in Waikiki and it was easy to book, even the day of. Just a long ride for an already jet lagged family. But our driver on the shuttle was amazing and provided lot of information along the way.
Response from Host, Jan 2026
Mahalo for taking the time to share an amazing review. We’re so happy to hear your visit turned into a full-day, immersive experience and that you enjoyed exploring the cultures of Polynesia through our villages, demonstrations, buffet, and the HA: Breath of Life show. It’s wonderful to know the performances, food options, and fire finale made a lasting impression on your family.
Thank you as well for your kind words about the transportation team. We’re so happy the shuttle service and driver helped make the journey easier and informative. We truly appreciate your tips for future guests and hope to welcome you back on your next visit to Oahu!
Cindy_B, Nov 2025
It was a beautiful experience. All of the island areas were very informative. The Breath of Life show was wonderful to watch and the buffet meal before it was delicious.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Mahalo for your kind words! We’re so happy you had a beautiful experience and enjoyed exploring the island villages. It means a lot to hear that you found them informative and loved the HA: Breath of Life show. We’re also glad the buffet was a highlight for you! Our team works hard to make it special for every guest.
We truly appreciate you sharing your experience and hope to welcome you back to the Polynesian Cultural Center again someday!
Dana_S, Nov 2025
It was AMAZING!!! We enjoyed all the activities and learning about Polynesian customs. "Ha, Breathe of Life" was outstanding and we completely enjoyed. Wish we could have taken pics and video of the show, but understand the reason. 11 out of 10 review!
Response from Host, Nov 2025
Mahalo for taking the time to share such an awesome review! We’re so happy to hear you enjoyed exploring the different Polynesian cultures and that HA: Breath of Life was a highlight of your visit. While photos and videos aren’t allowed during the show to help preserve the immersive experience, we’re grateful for your understanding. Your “11 out of 10” truly means so much to our team. We hope to welcome you back again someday!
George_J, Oct 2025
Make sure you double check tour includes pickup. Every other tour picked us up close to our hotel. This one met at the event. Didn’t check till morning of activity, too late to cancel. SHOULD have shown more prominently!!! We trusted tour included everything instead of double checked.
Response from Host, Nov 2025
"Mahalo for your feedback. Unfortunately, it appears there was confusion regarding transportation. The Polynesian Cultural Center does not manage third-party tour listings or transportation details, and it sounds like this concern may be related to the tour company you booked through.
While many guests choose packages that include round-trip transportation, others book general admission without shuttle service. We recommend confirming details directly with the booking provider to ensure the right experience.
We will continue working with our partners to help make this information clearer for future guests.
If you’d like assistance identifying your tour provider so you can follow up with them, please feel free to reach us at customercare@polynesia.com and we’ll be happy to help.
Mahalo again for sharing your experience. We hope to welcome you again in the future.
Aimee_C, Oct 2025
We visited this last week, in October. The canoe show in the beginning was very good don’t be late and miss it. The villages were entertaining if you went to each show or activity. The gateway buffet had lots of food choices. But it’s a buffet. The food is ok nothing more. The HA breath of life show is excellent. Lots of performers and very involved. If you e never been it’s a great way to spend a day.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Mahalo for visiting and for sharing your experience! We’re glad you enjoyed the canoe celebration, village presentations, and especially the HĀ: Breath of Life show. It truly is a memorable finale!
We appreciate your feedback on the Gateway Buffet and will continue working to enhance the dining experience. We’re happy to hear you found the day worthwhile and hope to welcome you back again soon!
Nancy_T, Oct 2025
The intensity and energy of the show was impressive. This is the 4th version that I have watched - and I appreciate the focus on positive forgiveness rather than vengeance killing, thumbs up! Entertaining! Totally enjoyed the concept of the show wherein each island was represented with their traditional costumes and dances. The songs and percussions were beautiful and was so interesting, never felt sleepy. Kudos to the cast and crew!
Response from Host, Oct 2025
Mahalo for sharing such thoughtful feedback. We’re so happy to hear that you’ve seen multiple versions of the show and continue to enjoy the message, music, and performances. Your appreciation for the cultural representation and positive theme truly means a lot to our cast and crew. We hope to welcome you back again for future performances!
Brian_K, Oct 2025
Spent all day at the center. We were able to see each island display. There are activities at each area to include hands on, performances, artifacts and buildings. You will need more than one day of you plan to see and do everything thing.
The buffet has so much food. Bring your appetite and take small samples as there so many choices to try.
Breath of life night performance is a do not miss. The performer’s were exceptional.
Response from Host, Oct 2025
We’re so glad to hear you enjoyed your full day at the Center and took part in the hands-on activities, performances, and cultural displays from each island. Mahalo for your wonderful feedback about the buffet and the HĀ: Breath of Life evening show. Our performers will be glad to know you enjoyed it. We hope to welcome you back again soon to experience even more!
Stephanie_S, Oct 2025
Must do in Hawaii had the best time. Lots to do and staff are fabulous. Would recommend to all ages!!
Response from Host, Oct 2025
We’re so happy to hear you had the best time with us. Mahalo for your kind words about our team and for recommending the Center to all ages, that truly means a lot! We hope to welcome you back again soon!
Scott_G, Sep 2025
A full day, everyone is very very friendly. Lots of helpful BYU students about to offer guidance. A mini version of Busch Gardens more suitable for adults tho kids would enjoy it. No rides except the boat ride. Dinner at gateway buffet was very good, the selections overwhelming. Lots of international foods. The Ha! Show was very nice, not much English spoken but you get the drift that’s it’s about the cycle of life.
Downside-they changed buses at the ride home - had to wait in a line only to be moved to a different line.
Overall a great experience.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Aloha! Mahalo for sharing your experience with us. We’re so happy to hear that you enjoyed exploring the Center, connecting with our friendly students, and savoring the many options at the Gateway Buffet. It’s wonderful to know the Hā: Breath of Life show left a lasting impression as well. We appreciate your feedback regarding the return transportation and will share this with our team to help improve the guest experience. We’re so glad you chose to spend your day with us and hope to welcome you back again!
JLynn_J, Sep 2025
Perfect way to learn about Polynesian culture in a clean wholesome environment. The food and entertainment were top notch as well.
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Thank you so much for your kind words. We’re so happy you enjoyed learning about Polynesian culture and that the food and entertainment made your visit memorable. Your feedback means so much to us, and we hope to welcome you back again soon!
Edith_R, Sep 2025
It is such an amazing experience. There is so many activities and shows. And the breathe of life show at night is great and the buffet had really great food. Would definitely go back
Response from Host, Sep 2025
Mahalo for sharing your wonderful experience! We’re so happy you enjoyed the activities, shows, buffet, and especially the HĀ: Breath of Life evening performance. It’s great to hear you’d love to come back and we’d be happy to welcome you again!
Rosa_M, Aug 2025
The day was too long and tiring. Hot. But a wonderful experience. The Ha show was amazing. I wonder better doing this in. 2 days
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Mahalo nui loa for your 5-star review! We’re so happy to hear you had a wonderful experience with us and that the Hā: Breath of Life show was such a highlight of your visit.
We know it can be a full day, so we truly appreciate you spending that time with us and also sharing your feedback about pacing. We’ll pass that along to our team.
We’re grateful for your recommendation and hope to welcome you back again one day!
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