Polynesian Cultural Center — Restaurant in Oʻahu

My girlfriend and I decided to visit the Polynesian Cultural Center after spotting it in a brochure we saw in almost every convenience store and tourist stop across the island. At first glance, it seemed like a great opportunity to learn about Polynesian culture and history, especially since we're visiting from outside the country and were genuinely interested in the people, traditions, and stories of the Pacific Islands.

However, from the moment we arrived, something felt off. The atmosphere was unnerving. Staff were overly friendly in a rehearsed, robotic kind of way, almost as if they were being watched or monitored at every turn. It didn’t feel genuine — it felt performative. As we walked through the different “islands” and exhibits, we began to question the authenticity of what we were seeing. Everything felt manufactured — like a theme park version of Polynesia rather than an honest representation of its diverse cultures.

On the canoe ride, our unease deepened. The guide made a joke about women that was wildly inappropriate and unprofessional, and frankly, offensive. It didn’t just miss the mark — it revealed a deeper problem with how culture and respect were being treated throughout the park. Much of the information we were given during our visit felt watered-down, inaccurate, or infused with subtle religious undertones. It took us just about 30 minutes to walk through the entire park — and that’s being generous. This was incredibly disappointing, especially considering we spent over $450 dollars of our currency for the experience.

As we were leaving, we were approached by two women offering a “tour” — we assumed it would be a ride to a neighboring town or scenic area. Instead, we quickly realized they were trying to guide us through a tour of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. We politely declined, confused and frankly a bit unsettled by how aggressive and out-of-place this pitch felt.

While having lunch nearby, we decided to look up reviews of the Polynesian Cultural Center, curious if others had similar experiences. That’s when we discovered the entire center is owned and operated by the LDS Church — the Mormon Church. The moment I read that, I felt sick to my stomach. My appetite vanished, and I genuinely felt lightheaded and weak. I was horrified that we had just handed over so much of our hard-earned money to an organization known for its discriminatory and exclusionary beliefs. The fact that the Mormon Church profits off of what is being sold as a “cultural center” is disgraceful.

If we had known any of this beforehand, we would never have stepped foot inside.

The most disturbing part is how this place exploits Polynesian culture under the guise of education and entertainment, all while weaving in conservative Christian values that distort the cultural narratives they claim to celebrate. It is a clear case of cultural appropriation and white saviorism — a sanitized, controlled version of Polynesian life curated by an organization with a deeply problematic past and present. The true voices of Polynesian people are lost behind a religious and corporate machine profiting off their identity.

To top it all off, the food at the restaurant there was well below average. For a center that charges so much and claims to offer a “cultural” experience, the food was bland, uninspired, and felt like an afterthought. It’s laughable — and insulting — that this is what they offer while presenting themselves as experts on Polynesian traditions.

Let this be a warning to other visitors: do your research. This place is not what it claims to be. It's a polished tourist trap designed to funnel money and attention into an institution that has no business being the gatekeeper of anyone’s culture — especially not the vibrant, diverse, and sacred cultures...

The Polynesian Cultural Center is vibrant, impressive -- there's no denying the talent of the dancers and performers. The music, shows, and "warrior" demonstrations are entertaining and captivating. Good if you're looking for a lively, culturally-themed show.

​However, I felt it was more of a Disneyland theme park than a truly educational one. The focus seemed skewed toward music, dance, and dramatic performances -- overshadowing the deeper history and ingenuity of Polynesian cultures.

​I was hoping to learn more about the transformations and inventions of these societies—the advanced navigation techniques that allowed them to explore and colonize the Pacific, their sophisticated farming methods, and the complex societal systems they developed. Unfortunately, these inventions and historical achievements felt like a secondary component to the performing arts of the theme-park shows. I guess I wanted an educational experience more like the Pearl Harbor historic educational exhibits. That place had a lot of informational displays, historic videos, artifacts, and other more historical exhibits.

When you consider the theme park focus and the superficial treatment of Polynesian culture (without the history that I mentioned), which is then monetized, it gave me mixed emotions. I wasn't sure if I was viewing caricatures or real culture, what time periods, and what the significance was. I mean, I felt like I should have learned about Captain Cook and the history of pre and post colonization or something.

However, probably the best exhibit was inside a Tongan house, where we had a freeform conversation with a Tongan for about a half hour and learned all about his childhood and the society there. So the history is here, it's just not explicit and is overshadowed by the shows and performances. Basically you have to interview the center's guides (which you can -- they're nice and totally conversational).

Overall, it's a great place for entertainment, but if you're seeking an educational dive into Polynesian history, you might be left wanting more.

The Breath of Life show (the main evening show) was designed to tell and epic story, but the plot/message was so cliche and westernized, it wasn't engaging. It's basically the Lion King, or circle of life. And the plot magically aligns with one family connecting to another, so it feels very LDS-centric in its themes and events.

One more note: So many of the shows and characters are male-centered. My wife was looking for more of a balance, with more female leads. In most shows, including the Breath of Life, most of the females are decorative -- except the fire dancer at the end. She was pretty awesome/entertaining.

My wife actually skipped the final show b/c it was too loud for her, and I think she was tired of seeing male-dominated performances. I probably should note that we're ex-mo's so there's a bit of rancor and sensitivity that we still feel. Our friends we were with liked everything here. I think I should have gone to the Bishop...

This center is amazing! It's a must when visiting Honolulu for the first time and even thereafter. All shows are quality. The Ha Breadth of Life could be a Broadway show...Just fabulous choreography. It is an action packed day. Don't miss the movie in the Hawaiian Journey theater. It's one of the only air conditioned venues and the movie about Hawaii was awe inspiring. We learned how to play the ukulele near the mission settlement and each village had their entertainment show put on by the college students from that island culture. We followed with the Gateway Buffet which allows you to try Hawaiian/Asia foods that you may not try elsewhere. Huge buffet with options for vegans, vegetarians and gluten sensitive. The park opens at 12:30pm with a big show in the lagoon and you don't stop till about 9pm. It is at your own pace, but it's show after show and it encouraged you to just keep going from one village to the next We visited August 12th and we were told it was the hottest week of the summer. Very tiring being in the sun all afternoon; however if you miss anything, the park offers you a 3 day consecutive pass after your visit for free. Just show your original ticket the next day at the ticket booth near the football Hall of Fame in the marketplace and that's it. They will give you another entrance ticket. That 3 day consecutive is only for the 6 villages, not the show or buffet but you could pay to add it on. We found that 2 days was enough, but if you have children, you may need longer. Monday was most crowded (4-6) big busses came in from Waikiki and Tuesday was a slower day (1 bus). The first day we took the bus from Waikiki and glad we did. We were so tired at end of day. It was nice to sit back and enjoy the air conditioned ride back to our hotel. ($30 a person)The following day, we returned and drove to the Polynesian Cultural Center. The drive is beautiful. We stopped numerous times at parks and beaches for photos. The students who perform at the Polynesian center are absolutely wonderful. Great performances all around. It seems like a lot of money for the entrance, but it was worth it - like your first visit to Epcot in FL it could be compared to. I highly recommend the bus add on from Waikiki - meeting place is in front of ABC store which is well marked on a sign out front. The driver informed us of so much island history the entire drive to the park. Plenty of food options outside the park in the marketplace when you arrive (Disney prices, but good) You may picnic there as well, but can't bring food that needs refrigeration into the park. You can bring snacks. Save by bringing your own water to the park; It's allowed, or buy their fancy pineapple and coconut drinks in the park. Loved it! We found so many unique gifts in the marketplace shops. I can't rave enough about our experience here. It was a wonderful time. Don't forget to download their app in the Google Play store. You can get an...