North Shore
For starters, the show Ha! Breath of Life is AMAZING! If nothing else, that is worth a visit.
Ok, so the Circle Island Tour - yeah, you circle (most of) the island and see some cool things (briefly), but you can get circle island tours from pretty much everyone and ended up with about 3 total after all of our activities there over our week. The biggest problem with this Circle Island Tour is that it takes TOO LONG! You're going to want ample time to do the tour, but not when that time cuts into your time at the cultural center.
We did the circle island tour and the ambassador package. By the time we finished the tour and go to the center, did all the ambassador check in crap, and got to start seeing the center, we had already lost at least 1.5 hours of the already short time available to visit the various cultures. The group tour and the guide does help you learn some cool things, but it also makes everything take longer. In the end, we went back a second day so that we could see all the things we missed the first day (maybe that's the point - more $$ from the visitors??).
I don't want to lead you to believe the center is poor. On the contrary, we very much enjoyed the center. The luau was meh. The show was GREAT! We just wouldn't recommend the circle island tour (as it was for us) or the ambassador package (unless you want to buy it for the good seats but ditch the tour guide in the park).
Definitely visit the park, definitely see the show. Consider ditching the tour guide in the park, consider doing the circle island tour with another company or on a different day, and if you see a luau anywhere else, consider skipping it here (it wasn't the best luau we attended).
Note, the 3 stars if for the package, not for the center on the whole. The center was great, we just weren't keen on the package we purchased.
Mahalo Brian for your wonderful feedback, very happy you were able to take advantage of another day; however sorry that the guide was not a benefit to you and your group. We will address these concerns with our team. Aloha oe!
It's been decades since I last participated. Last time I went with the standard option, but this time I chose the deluxe package, and I had a wonderful tour with a very beautiful student as my guide. The chief of Samoa was as entertaining as ever. The food wasn't anything special, but the show was even more interesting since I participated in the backstage tour beforehand.
数十年ぶりの参加です。前回はスタンダードだったので今回はデラックスにしましたが、とっても綺麗な学生さんがツアーガイドについてくださり、とても楽しいツアーでした。サモアの酋長さんも相変わらず面白い。食事はたいしたことないですが、ショウはバックステージツアーに参加してから観たのでよけいに面白かったです。
Thank you, farewell!
Mahalo, Aloha oe!
The story from our Japanese guide, Maki, was so enjoyable that we couldn't stop laughing during the half-day tour. The Polynesian show in the second half was far more impressive than we had anticipated, and it moved me to tears. I highly recommend this tour. I hope to see Maki again!
日本人の名物ガイド・マキさんのお話が楽しくて楽しくて…笑いっぱなしの半日観光でした。後半のポリネシアンショーは予想していたより遥かに見ごたえがあり、感動して涙してしまいました。お勧めのツアーです。またマキさんに会えたらいいね!
Thank you, goodbye!
Mahalo, aloha oe!
Our guide, Maki, was very kind and attentive. The roads in Hawaii are not very good, and combined with the uncomfortable bus ride, I experienced a bit of motion sickness. It would have been better if the bus windows were a little cleaner. At the Polynesian Cultural Center, there were many things to see and do, and we spent a very rich time there. It started to rain during our visit, but we were helped by receiving a free vinyl poncho. The behind-the-scenes tour included in the deluxe course is a must-see. The roast beef for dinner was delicious. It would have been even better if alcohol had been included.
ガイドのマキさん、とても親切で気の利く方でした。ハワイの道があまり良くないのと、バスの乗り心地が悪いのが相まって、少々車酔いしました。バスの窓がもう少し掃除して綺麗だと良かったです。ポリネシア文化センターでは見たりやったりが沢山で、かなり濃い時間を過ごしました。途中、雨が降ってきましたが、ビニールのポンチョを無料で頂けたので助かりました。デラックスコースに付いている、舞台裏の見学は必見です。夕食のローストビーフは美味でした。これでアルコールがOKならもっと良かったのですが。
Thank you and farewell!
Mahalo and Aloha oe!
The tour guide was not that good, spoke in a soft voice and let the passengers talk too much so it was hard to concentrate on what she was saying.
We started from Waikiki Beach and visited Hanauma Bay, Moanalua Gardens, Waimanalo Shopping Center, Dole Plantation, and Haleiwa in that order. We arrived at the Polynesian Cultural Center around 1 PM, where we spent the afternoon enjoying lunch, exploring the grounds, attending the dinner, and watching the light show until 9:30 PM. I think it was a very fulfilling tour.
ワイキキビーチから出発、次がハナウマ湾、モアナルアガーデン、ワイマナロショッピングセンター、ドールプランテーション、ハレイワの順番で回って、午後1時頃にポリネシアカルチャーセンターにたどり着き、ランチ、園内観光、デイナ、ライトショーを夜9時半まで園内で過ごしました。
とても充実したツアーだったと思います。
We had an excellent experience! Will definitely recommend to others
Our tour of the island was very enjoyable. Very happy to see the Pineapples growing, and the lay of the land. The guides were prompt and the guide at the Centre, was especially polite. (Congrats to them, too, for indicating they do not except tips.) We visited three villages but I've done these without a guide and on my own, saw all six villages in the time he took us to three. I know time is spent gathering people and passing out leis and explaining procedures, but this did detract from what we could experience. I would suggest that at the Center, folks are given the option to go with the guide or go on their own. The luau and HA - Breath of Life show are phenomenal!! We had half a house for the audience and I was so impressed with the quality of singing and dancing, of the performers, that I started the standing ovation. Those students really deserve our appreciation!!
The PCC, dinner, luau, and show were fantastic. The Island Tour itself was the sad part. Our driver was late and then we had to rush through all the sites, having barely time for a picture or look before having to reload.
Best tour arrangements . Driver was very helpful and conciderate.He did his best to show us around as much as he could. Best service .
Enjoyed the bus tour, but it gets you there 2 hours after it opens.
The center itself focuses too much on entertainment and not enough on education. It is run by the Morman education system, so one would think if we are supporting the students we in turn would be educated about the various Polynesian cultures around the pacific.
You can be picked up near the hotel early in the morning and enjoy sightseeing.
You arrive at the Polynesian Cultural Center in the early afternoon and have a not-so-tasty lunch.
After that, you can enjoy various attractions on the island with the guide.
After dinner (I wasn't expecting much since lunch wasn't good, but the dinner was delicious, possibly because it was deluxe), we watched a magnificent show.
It was impressive with a large number of participants, and we had a great time.
Since the ending time is late, if you sleep on the bus ride back, you'll quickly arrive at your hotel in Honolulu.
I recommend it.
早朝ホテル近くでピックアップしていただき観光も楽しめます。
お昼過ぎにポリネシア文化センターに着きあまり美味しくないランチをいただきます。
その後担当のお兄さんと共に島内で色々なアトラクションを楽しみ
夕食後(昼食が美味しくなかったので期待してませんでしたがデラックスだったせいか夕食は美味しくいただきました)壮大なショーを見ました。
大人数で迫力があり楽しめました。
終了時間が遅いので帰りのバスの中で寝ているとあっという間にホノルルのホテルに到着します。
おすすめです。
I applied for the deluxe course on behalf of my parents, who are over 60.
As for the meals, while they were considered deluxe from a Japanese palate perspective, they were a bit lacking. However, they had a lot of fun riding canoes, and the bus guide shared various stories along the way. They were very active during the day, so they thought they might be too tired to stay awake for the show, but the fire dance was so impressive that it woke them up! They mentioned it with a laugh.
還暦過ぎの両親の代わりにデラックスコースを申し込みました。
食事は、日本人の味覚からするとデラックスでも、うーん?…だったそうですが、カヌーに乗ったり、バスのガイドさん?も行き掛けに色々な話をしてくれたそうで、とても楽しかったようです。
日中、目一杯活動するのでショーの時間にはもう疲れて眠っちゃうかも、と思ったそうですが、ファイヤーダンスなどがあまりにも迫力があったそうで、目が覚めた!と話しておりました。笑
On the half-day tour of Oahu, we had a fun guide who felt like a friendly neighbor. The staff in the center greeted us with smiles and friendliness. We thoroughly enjoyed the evening Polynesian show. Changing from standard to a petite deluxe package was a success too! 😊
オアフ島半日観光では、近所のおばちゃん感覚の楽しいガイドさん。
センタ内ではフレンドリーに接していただくスタッフの皆さんの笑顔。
夜のポリネシアショーと満喫しました。
スタンダードよりプチ・デラックスに変更したのも成功でした(^^v
Awesome experiemce! The food is no that good! Interesting history
During my first visit to Hawaii, I signed up for this tour. First, we visited Hanauma Bay. The weather was nice, and the view from above was very beautiful! Next, we went to the Moanalua Gardens to see the "This is the Tree" tree. I had always wanted to see it, and when I finally stood in front of the tree, it was breathtaking! Although the sun was strong, it felt cool under the tree, and it was so comfortable that I could have stayed there for hours.
The Polynesian Cultural Center offered various cultural experiences, all of which were fresh and enjoyable. For the evening show, I had already heard the story in Japanese from our guide, so even though I didn't understand the language, I was able to enjoy it. The final fire dance was breathtaking and spectacular. This tour is definitely worth experiencing at least once!
初めて訪れたハワイで、こちらのツアーに申し込みました。
まずはハナウマ湾を見学。天気が良かった事もあり、上から見た眺めはとても美しかったです!
次に、この~木なんの木♪のモアナルアガーデンへ。一度は見てみたいと思っていたので、いざ木を目の前にした時は圧巻でした!日差しが強かったですが、木の下に入ると涼しく感じ、何時間でも居れるような心地よさでした。
またポリネシアカルチャーセンターは、様々な民族の体験ができ、どれも新鮮で楽しむことができました。
夜のショーは、あらかじめガイドさんから日本語でストーリーを一通り聞いていた為、言語はわからずとも楽しむことができました。最後のファイアーダンスは息を飲むような迫力で素晴らしかったです。一度は体験してみる価値があるツアーでした!
This is a must do. Very fun, SOOO much stuff to do. You will not be able to do everything so look through your map and do the stuff you want to do. They do allow you to go back to the park for free for the next 3 days (just don't get to watch the show or eat) to do the other activities if you have time.
In the morning, I was guided to the main tourist spots in Oahu and enjoyed the breathtaking views. The Dole pineapple soft serve was also very delicious.
In the afternoon, we had lunch at the Polynesian Cultural Center. It was a buffet, but the taste was... well, it was just something to fill the stomach. After lunch, we toured the center with a Japanese guide, but the breaks were short, and there were few shaded areas and benches, so families with small children should be cautious. I was really thirsty.
However, I thought it was great to experience various attractions like making Hawaiian leis and riding a canoe. For dinner, the buffet had more variety and tasted a bit better than lunch. We moved to the show venue and were impressed by the performance, which exceeded our expectations. I didn't understand any English, but I could somewhat grasp the story. The final fire show is a must-see.
After that, we returned to Waikiki by bus, arriving after 10 PM. For those visiting Waikiki for the first time, this might be a tour worth participating in.
午前中はオアフの主要観光スポットを案内してもらい絶景を楽しむ事ができました。
ドールのパイナップルソフトもとても美味しかったです。
そして午後はポリネシア文化センターにてまず昼食。
ビュッフェ形式ですが、味は???取りあえずお腹に入れるという感じです。
ランチ後センター内を日本語ガイドと共に回るのですが
休憩も短く、日陰やベンチが少ないので小さい子供さん連れはご注意を。
とにかく喉が渇きました。
ただ、ハワイアンローズを作成したり、カヌーに乗ったりと
いろいろなアトラクションを経験出来たのは良かったと思います。
そして夕飯のビュッフェ。昼よりは種類も多く味も少し良かったかも。
ショー施設に移動し噂以上のパフォーマンスに感激。
英語が全く分かりませんでしたがストーリーはなんとなくわかりました。
最後のファイアーショーは必見。
その後再びバスにてワイキキへ戻ります。
帰りは22時過ぎでした。ワイキキが初めての方には一度は参加してもいいツアーかもしれません。
Both the half-day tour and the Polynesian Cultural Center were enjoyable and packed with activities (^_^)v. The night show was wonderful, and the final fire performance was amazing. The guide was great, and I had a full day of fun. Considering the differences in dinner options, the seating for the show, and the backstage tour, I think it was worth it to go deluxe.
半日観光とポリネシア文化センターどちらも楽しく盛りだくさん(^_^)v
ナイトショーも素敵でした。最後のファイヤーパフォーマンスは凄かったです。
ガイドの方も良かったですし、一日たっぷり楽しめました。
夕食内容の違いとショーの席の場所、バックヤード見学を含めるとデラックスにしてよかったと思いました。
We had a wonderful fun time. We would love to do it again. I was not overly impressed with the food at the Polynesian Cultural Center though.
Had a fantastic day and our driver / guide (Jason) was very informative, funny and had an excellent knowledge of the islands history and culture. As a first time visitor to the islands, I would highly recommend this excursion especially the Polynesian
cultural centre as the 'Ha' breath of life show is out of this world and should not be missed !!!!!
Had a fantastic day and our driver / guide (Jason) was very informative, funny and had an excellent knowledge of the islands history and culture. As a first time visitor to the islands, I would highly recommend this excursion especially the Polynesian
cultural centre as the 'Ha' breath of life show is out of this world and should not be missed !!!!!
The show and grounds were very good but the food was just so- so. Only had a few dishes to choose from, the only good thing was the pork.
The circle island tour seemed rushed and we didn't stop anywhere once we passed the Dole Plantation. We basically cruised passed all the beaches on the north shore. Diamondhead was looked at from the front side but nothing was really brought up about it. The things we saw were nice but I wish we would have had more time exploring them. Once we got to the PCC this were great. The performers were top notch and the show was very educational and entertaining. The food was excellent and non-stop. The half day at the PCC was more than enough to see everything I wanted to see. Once the tour guide picked us up, we heard a little too much about his personal life for the hour plus ride home. My recommendation is if you want to see the entire island for a tour, don't include the PCC as a stop and just do it on another day.
Was very skeptical at first but oh my was I wrong!!!! Circle tour was outstanding the cultural center was an eye opening extravaganza !! Wish there was more time
excellent. Jason was amazing. His knowledge of the area extensive
The circle island tour (1 star) was too much a rush, it is literally a drive half way around the island to get to PCC, only a couple stops that barely has time to get off the bus and take photos, and no where states that the famous Hanauma Bay is closed on Tuesday for cleanup.
The PCC operates like the cruise ship, put a lei on you just to have photographer take pictures to sell you later, and then take the lei back. The so called guides in the PCC are students where some of them are not well trained to handle the group; you can do everything by yourself using the schedule of programs.
The Luau was mediocre, no whole pig roasting, just a huge dinning hall with lots of people, eating the buffet, and some show on stage. Sorry, I live in Vegas, this cannot compare.
"HA: Breath of Life" Show definitely 5 star, very well done and great performers, if you are willing to pay high price for shows in Vegas, this one is on par.
The tour guide and tour of the island was outstanding. The show at the Cultural Center was very well done and enjoyable. The food was okay, but not what was expected.
Nice event! So much to learn!! The day goes by fast with all the fun. They have a lot of activities for all the family. The dinner was awesome, prime rib buffet. Can't wait to go back!!
I HIGHLY recommend this tour to all!!!
I took this tour with my family about a year ago, and my brother and I told ourselves we must come back with our friends to enjoy it again!
Our tour guide, Mr. (Insert Several Incredibly Long Names Here) Polamalu was incredible! Personable, hilarious, engaging, knowledgeable...pure awesome-ness!! He made the tour so much fun, and on behalf of my group I'd like to say "MAHALO" to him for his service! Side Note: During the Circle Island Tour, I recommend everyone try Dole Whip Ice Cream at the Dole Plantation stop. It is truly some of the best ice cream I've ever had.
The second leg of our tour included an activity-filled rollick through the Polynesian Culture Center! The Center is so clean, everyone is so accommodating and nice, and the activities were very enjoyable! I loved watching the coconut slicing and juicing presentation! It was so informative...and very funny, I might add! Every student and staff member working there is a physica