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Driving Directions
Transportation to Laie can be purchased as part of a ticket package. For those who wish to drive themselves, the Polynesian Cultural Center is located at 55-370 Kamehameha Highway in Laie, near Oahu's north shore. Laie is on the other side of the Koolau Mountains from Waikiki, or approximately a 35-40 mile direct scenic drive for most visitors. Because we're on an island, there are only a couple of realistic routes to drive to Laie:


Likelike Highway | Pali Highway | North Shore | East Oahu | H-3 Freeway | Rental car information

Waikiki-Likelike Highway-Laie. The most direct route from Waikiki:
  Allow yourself at least 60-75 minutes of straight drive time.
Drive westbound (the side closer to the mountains) on the H-1 freeway (driving toward the mountains on either McCully St. or Kapahulu Ave. are the two closest on-ramps from Waikiki).
Exit right at Likelike Highway (#63, just past Bishop Museum), driving up and through the spectacular Koolau Mountains, and down the other side which is even more spectacular.
Take the first right-hand exit (Kahekili Highway), which soon turns into Kamehameha Highway (#83).
Enjoy 23 miles of scenery on #83, including Kualoa, Mokoli'i Island (Chinaman's Hat), and Kahana Bay. Once you enter Laie, the Polynesian Cultural Center is on the mountain (mauka) side of the highway.
  After the evening show, most visitors and tourist buses follow the reverse of this route back to Waikiki, turning east on the H-1 freeway and following the exit signs to Waikiki.

Waikiki-Pali Highway-Laie. An alternative route from Waikiki:
  Allow yourself at least 60-75 minutes of straight drive time.
Drive westbound (the side closer to the mountains) on the H-1 freeway (driving toward the mountains on either McCully St. or Kapahulu Ave. are the two closest on-ramps from Waikiki).
Exit right at the Pali Highway (#61), driving up Nuuanu Avenue, including a stop at the even more spectacular Pali Lookout, then through the tunnels and down the other especially spectacular side of the Koolau Mountains.
Take the first left-hand turn (#83). Continue under the H-3 freeway and turn left on the Likelike Highway (#63). Turn right at the second stop light onto Kahekili Highway, which soon turns into Kamehameha Highway (#83).
Enjoy 23 miles of scenery on #83, including Kualoa, Mokoli'i Island (Chinaman's Hat), and Kahana Bay. Once you enter Laie, the Polynesian Cultural Center is on the mountain (mauka) side of the highway.

Waikiki-pineapple fields-North Shore-Laie
  Allow yourself at least 75-90 minutes of straight drive time.
Drive westbound (the side closer to the mountains) on the H-1 freeway (driving toward the mountains on either McCully St. or Kapahulu Ave. are the two closest on-ramps from Waikiki) until you have passed Aloha Stadium and Pearl Harbor.
Exit right at the H-2 freeway intersection toward Wahiawa and the north shore. Continue driving to the end of the freeway, past Schofield Barracks, and follow the signs to the “north shore” on #99.
At Haleiwa (you can either drive through the town, or take the Joseph P. Leong cut-off: either runs into Kamehameha Highway #83). Drive toward the surfing beaches (Waimea Bay, Sunset, etc.) and keep going. The Polynesian Cultural Center will be located on the right about a mile beyond the first Laie community sign.

There are two other ways to cross over to the other side of the island from Waikiki:

East Oahu
  Allow at least 90-120 minutes to go around the far eastern end of Oahu by driving to the east end of the H-1 freeway and beyond on Kalanianaole Highway, past Hawaii Kai, Hanauma Bay, the Blow Hole, Makapuu, Sea Life Park, and Waimanalo until you reach Castle Junction. Turn left on the Pali Highway (#61) and then right on Kamehameha Highway (#83) toward Kaneohe. Continue under the H-3 freeway and turn left on the Likelike Highway (#63). Turn right at the second stop light onto Kahekili Highway, which soon turns into Kamehameha Highway (#83) again. Follow the highway to Laie.

H3 Freeway
Exit right from the H-1 freeway onto the H-3 freeway and enjoy the spectacular drive through the Koolau Mountains. Take the Kaneohe exit on the right, which momentarily puts you on the Likelike Highway (#63). Take the first right exit onto the Kahekili Highway, which soon turns into the Kamehameha Highway (#83). Follow the highway all the way to Laie.

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