Hours of Operation

What hours is the Polynesian Cultural Center open?  

Basically, the Center is considered open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 12:00 pm – 9:00 pm 

Closed Sundays, Wednesdays, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day  

The Islands of Polynesia area is open from 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm, with these exceptions: 

Hawaiian Journey Theatre: Last show at 6:30 pm 

Tram Tour: Last tour at 6:40 pm 

Lūʻaus: Finished by 6:30 pm

After those activities, guests shift to the Hukilau Marketplace (at the south end of the Center, just outside the bounds of the Islands area) to shop, eat, etc., and prepare to enter the Pacific Theater for HĀ: Breath of Life. The Marketplace end of the Center closes about 9:00 pm, after all guests of the show have left. (Do not plan on shopping or eating in the Marketplace after the show.) 

What hours is the Ticketing office open? 

Monday – Saturday, 11:45 am – 7:00 pm at the Welcome Center (The Welcome Center is located at the main arrival area of PCC. If you're walking from the Hukilau Marketplace, you’ll pass the Hamana Kalili “Shaka” statue and the Welcome Center will be on your right, directly opposite the Gateway Buffet. If you're entering through the main PCC entrance by the flags, the Welcome Center is the large building with the high roof straight ahead.). At the Hukilau Marketplace kiosk (located at the south end of the Marketplace parking lot, where the busses drop off guests), tickets are available from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm, then from 4:30 pm – 9:00 pm for ticket sales and transportation arrangements. Closed Sundays, Wednesdays, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day, New Year’s Day.

To make reservations before you arrive or if you need further information, please call  1-808-367-7060 

What hours is the Hukilau Marketplace open?  

Monday-Saturday, 11:00 am –9:00 pm  

Closed Sundays, Wednesdays, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day.

Some of the food vendors have morning hours, so they are the first to open. Some also stay open a little later than the majority. Check their listings for a complete explanation. The stores in the Hukilau Marketplace (at the south end of the Center, just outside the bounds of the Islands area) are open until 7:30 pm. But ideally, the Marketplace general area is open till 9:00 pm, allowing guests to leave after HĀ: Breath of Life. The gates close after all guests have left from the HĀ: Breath of Life show.

What hours is the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame open?  

12:00 pm – 7:00 PM on all days the Center is open. 

What time does the HĀ: Breath of Life show begin? 

Seating begins at 7:00 pm.    

The show runs from 7:30 pm to 8:45 pm 

Are there food options in the Islands? 

Within the Islands themselves, there are 6 options:

ʻĀkau Landing (Hawaiʻi Village)
1:00 pm  – 4:30 pm

Samoa Snack Shack (Samoa Village):
12:30 pm – 5:00 pm

Fale Niu Snacks (Samoa Village):
12:45 pm - 5:00 pm

Tonga Snack Shack (Tonga Village):
12:30 pm  – 5:00 pm

Kiwi Grill (Aotearoa Village):
1:00 pm  – 4:30 pm

Calamansi Drink Stand (Tonga Village):
1:00 pm  – 4:30 pm

You may also go to the Hukilau Marketplace 11:00 am to 7:30 pm, eat at Pounders Restaurant, or use the individual food trucks and kiosks.  

What hours is Pounders Restaurant open? 

Monday – Saturday: 11:00 am – 8:00 pm 

Closed Wednesdays, Sundays, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.

Are reservations required for Pounders Restaurant?  

No, reservations are not required, but if you are bringing a group larger than 6, reservations are recommended. Please call: 808-293-3287. 

What are the food options at the Polynesian Cultural Center?  

You may order the Aliʻi Lūʻau or the Gateway Buffet when you order your Super Ambassador Lūʻau, Aliʻi Lūʻau package, or Gateway Buffet package.  

You may also use the Hukilau Marketplace Food Trucks and kiosks which are open from 11:00 am to 8:30 pm.  

You may eat at Pounders Restaurant in the Hukilau Marketplace which provides indoor seating with or without reservations.  

There are also snack shops within the Island areas; open 1:00 pm to 5:30 pm. 

What can I expect from an Island Experience?  

The Island experience begins in the courtyard just inside the Welcome Center (the central building with the very high-pitched roof), and continues throughout the afternoon until time for the evening meal (lūʻau, buffet, or free choice options). The schedule is as follows:

12:00 pm — Welcome Center is open. Guests can check in and/or pick up tickets and enter the Center, but admission to the Islands has not started. You may stay in the courtyard or visit the Hukilau Marketplace - at the south end of the Center, just outside the bounds of the Islands area. (You can go back and forth between the Center and the Hukilau Marketplace as much as you like throughout the day.) 

12:15 pm — Islands of Polynesia entrance opens. Guests can begin entering the Islands. Some like to use this time to choose their seating at the lagoon for the  Huki: A Canoe Celebration.

12:30 pm — Huki: A Canoe Celebration Pre-show. Held along the lagoon before the main production, the Huki Pre-Show offers an interactive and engaging introduction to the themes and storyline of the  Huki: A Canoe Celebration. Also at 12:30, the islands open for hands-on activities.

12:40 pm – 1:00 pm — Huki: A Canoe Celebration.  A colorful extravaganza presented by our performers, dancing on canoes as they float up and down the lagoon. This is an introduction to all the islands you will see throughout the day, giving you a little bit of history and the energy of each one. 

1:10 pm — Cultural presentations begin across all six islands. These continue according to the published schedule throughout the afternoon. Some of the offerings are: 

• • Hula lesson and other cultural dances
  • Warrior training games 
  • Food demonstrations 
  • Weaving projects 
  • Fire making activity 
  • Fishing 
  • Spear Throwing
  • ʻUkulele lessons 

There are a lot more! You choose the ones that interest you. 

The last round of activities concludes by 5:30 pm to give everyone plenty of time to relax and enjoy the lūʻau, the buffet, or other food options before HĀ: Breath of Life comes on stage at 7:30 pm. 

Also available (all free): 

• Canoe rides: Our canoe guides take you on a trip the full length of the lagoon, telling stories and creating fun along the way. Stations at both ends of the lagoon allow you to go either direction. The trip is about 15 minutes one way. 
• • Hema Landing (south), 1:10 pm – 5:00 pm 
  • ʻĀkau Landing (north), 1:30 pm – 5:30 pm 
• Iosepa Learning Center: See active voyaging canoe of a traditional Hawaiian double-hulled canoe and learn some skill associated with the ancient art of wayfinding. 12:30 pm – 5:30 pm
• Hawaiian Journey Theater: Watch a 12-minute movie, every 30 minutes, 1:30 pm – 6:30 pm (last show out in time for HĀ: Breath of Life)
• Lāʻie Tour: Board the tram to see and hear the history of Lāʻie and Brigham Young University- Hawaiʻi. Includes a 15-minute stop at the beautiful Visitors’ Center and temple grounds of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Trams leave every 20 minutes, 3:00 pm – 6:40 pm, for an experience lasting about 35 minutes. (The last tour does not pause as long at the Visitors’ Center, so that guests can be back in time for HĀ: Breath of Life.) 

You may opt for a ticket that provides a guide, or wander at will throughout your stay. If you can’t get it all done in one day, you can come back for the next 3 consecutive business days* to tour the Islands, do more activities, and try more food. 

* The 3-day return visit applies to activities in the Islands only—not to HĀ: Breath of Life, lūʻau, or buffet dining. Those options would have to be purchased separately.The return visit also does not include a guide or transportation. If you need transportation or would like to add any other items to your reservation, please call our call center at 1-800-367-7060 and have your ticket number ready.

Can I get to the Hawaiʻi LDS Temple from the Polynesian Cultural Center?  

The Polynesian Cultural Center offers a tram service to the temple. The tram tours begin at 3:00 pm and run on a 20-minute schedule until 7:00 pm. The tram tours allow for a 15-minute stop at the Temple Visitor Center except the last tram leaves at 6:40 pm, does not stop at the temple, and returns to the center by 7:00 pm. 

What is in the Hukilau Marketplace?  

Hukilau Marketplace, at the south end of the Center, just outside the bounds of the Islands area, is open on days when the Center is open (typically closed when the center is closed). The basic hours of the Marketplace are 11:00 am to 7:30 pm, though some vendors have hours earlier and later. Check their listings for a complete explanation. It includes a variety of shops for personal, travel, gift, and souvenir items. A variety of food trucks and kiosks offer favorites from around the Pacific Rim. Entrance to the Marketplace and parking are free.  

What time does the HĀ: Breath of Life show begin? 

Seating begins at 7:00 pm. The show runs from 7:30 pm to 8:45 pm

All seats are reserved. Advance reservations are highly recommended. If you have not reserved seats before your visit to the Center, you may be able to purchase tickets while you are here, depending upon availability. Check with the Reservations agents. 

Video recording and photography during the show is prohibited.  

How do I get tickets for only the HĀ: Breath of Life show?  

You cannot order tickets for just HĀ online. You must call Ticketing +1-808-367-7060: select option 1. If you are in the Center, you can talk to a Reservations agent. Individual ticket sales are subject to availability. 

What hours is the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame open?  

12:00 pm – 7:00 pm  on days when the Center is open (typically closed Sundays and Wednesdays). 

What is the Polynesian Football Hall of Fame?  

The Polynesian Football Hall of Fame honors Polynesian players, coaches, and contributors who have made their marks in the NFL. The Hall of Fame Gallery incorporates Polynesian architectural design to highlight the heritage of the featured honorees. Lava stones, koa and ohia wood, and traditional fabrics surround photos and memorabilia. An interactive display helps connect the guests to the inductees. The permanent exhibit is on the south end of the Welcome Center. Admission and parking are FREE.  

1. Package Dining Experiences

• Ali‘i Lū‘au (included with the Super Ambassador package, the Aliʻi Lūʻau package or the Lūʻau & HĀ: Breath of Life Show package)
• Gateway Buffet (included with the Gateway Buffet package)

2. Hukilau Marketplace (at the south end of the Center, just outside the bound of the Islands area - also open to public)

• Pounders Restaurant (full-service dining)
• Food trucks
• Market vendors
• Marketplace hours: 11:00 am – 7:30 pm (extended hours may vary)

Marketplace Vendor Listings: https://hukilaumarketplace.com/eat/

3. Islands of Polynesia Area:

Snack Shacks available at:

• • ʻĀkau Landing (Island of Hawaiʻi/Iosepa Learning Center)
  • Island of Samoa
  • Island of Tonga
  • Island of Aotearoa
  • Island of Tahiti

4. Ala Carte Options

Opportunities are sometimes available to purchase these dining experiences ala carte on the day of your visit. So if you want to add them, please ask our agents at ticketing by the Welcome Center or the kiosk by the Hukilau Marketplace (at the south end of the Center, just outside the bound of the Islands area) during your visit or call the the call center on  1-800-367-7060 Please be ready with your ticket/confirmation number.