Polynesian Cultural Center: Gateway Buffet Package
Description
Located on O‘ahu’s North Shore, the Polynesian Cultural Center is a one-of-a-kind attraction showcasing the people, culture, arts, and crafts of Polynesia. Since 1963, it has welcomed millions of visitors and remains a favorite for both locals and tourists. As a non-profit, 100% of its revenue supports daily operations and the education of its student employees from nearby Brigham Young University-Hawaii. The Gateway Buffet Package offers a full day of immersive experiences, including hands-on activities and cultural presentations across six Polynesian Island Villages. Enjoy a delicious all-you-can-eat feast at the Gateway Buffet, featuring island-inspired dishes, a salad bar, and desserts, all served in the spirit of ohana (family). End your evening with the spectacular HĀ: Breath of Life show, a breathtaking performance by over 100 talented Pacific Island performers in our open-air theater. Join us today for an unforgettable experience!
Tour Options
Itinerary
Islands of Polynesia villages admission is open from 12:15pm-5:30 pm. Each of the 6 island villages provides hands-on activities, demonstrations, and performances which bring these unique cultures to life. All-day admission to explore the authentic cultures of the islands staffed by friendly villagers ready to share information. Take a leisurely canoe tour across our magnificent lagoon. The Gateway Buffet is our most popular dinner package and is offered as an alternative to our lūʻau. It includes live music in a relaxed atmosphere with an expansive buffet of island inspired dishes in our dining hall that features a 360° mural. Doors open at 4:30pm - 7pm at our Gateway Restaurant. From 7:30pm-8:45pm, the stunning “HĀ: Breath of Life” evening show features over 100 Pacific Islander performers, special effects, animation, fire knives and surround sound. It is a saga of birth and death, love and family, tragedy and triumph.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Infants are required to sit on an adult’s lap
- Specialized infant seats are available
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- 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.
Reviews(716)
We originally wanted the guided tour package, but it was sold out online, so we had no choice but to purchase the ticket that included self-guided village admission, the buffet, and the show. However, once we arrived at the Polynesian Cultural Center, we realized that having a guide would make the experience so much better! We decided to book a private tour on the spot, and meeting our guide, Eli, was truly our lucky day. He was so thoughtful and attentive throughout the entire tour and worked incredibly hard to make sure our family had the best experience. Eli was also incredibly kind to our three teenage children, taking the time to explain everything in detail and making sure they felt included and cared for. Because of him, every member of our family had a wonderful and memorable experience. The buffet was delicious, and every staff member we met was so kind and friendly, which made us feel happy all day long. The HA: Breath of Life show was absolutely amazing and the perfect ending to a wonderful day. Thank you all for making our trip so special!
Had a great day with the family. Love that there is an opportunity for these students to share their culture and go to school at the same time.
This was my husband and my first time to visit the PCC. We had heard how wonderful it was from many friends and family. My brother’s architectural firm even designed the doors to the island buffet. My husband and I were delighted with all of the interactive elements to each section, and we loved all the different performances in each area. The opening canoe show was amazing and the closing performance was incredible! The food was delicious and everyone was so incredibly friendly. All around the park, we heard people referring to each other as family. It really helped us experience the spirit of aloha as well as build appreciation for many Polynesian cultures. We are so grateful to have visited and definitely plan on returning!
Kate was a wonderful server. Super friendly and helpful. Food was delicious.
This place is amazing and all the people is super nice and friendly. And the night show is out of this world!!!!
Winderful experience for my family! Four grandchildren ages 4,5,7 and 10 had an amazing time with the activities and we all loved the evening show. We chose the Gateway Buffet since we had a couple of picky eaters and the food choices were amazing! There were a lot of people but so many food stations it was easy to get exactly what we wanted! Overall we all loved tge experience and would recommend!
Thank you for sharing your family’s experience! We’re so happy to hear guests of all ages enjoyed the activities, food, and evening show. Creating a welcoming environment for families while sharing Polynesian culture is at the heart of what we do. Mahalo for joining us!
Excellent food!! Great servers
Thank you for your feedback! We’re glad you enjoyed the food and received great service from our team. We appreciate you being part of the Polynesian Cultural Center experience!
This event was fun but certainly didn’t need to be an all day event. It would have been time better spent arriving mid to even late afternoon and still be able to take in all the shows and have dinner and see the evening show. Made for an exhausting day and it didn’t need to be. 10AM pick up and 10:30 PM drop off.
The food was good and the experience was a lot of fun and interactive.
Thank you for your feedback! We’re happy to hear you enjoyed the food and found the experience fun and interactive. Creating opportunities to connect with the rich cultural diversity and spirit of Polynesia is what we strive to share with every guest.
Found the Polynesian cultural center a lot of family, fun, great food and the show was amazing!
Thank you for your kind words! We’re happy to hear you and your family enjoyed the food, fun, and overall experience. It’s wonderful to know the show made a lasting impression as we share the cultures and spirit of Polynesia.
