About 20 minutes up the road is the small town of Laie where the PCC is located (website) – kind of like a cultural amusement park minus the rides but so fun for all ages. Stay all day and attend the Luau for dinner and the spectacular night show. During the day, you will visit six “polynesian villages”, learn about their history, culture, crafts and unique dances. Each village is represented by people from that country so it’s very authentic. They each have a humor and charm all their own. It’s a very hands on experience and brings Polynesia to life. One important tip is that because Laie is on the windward side of the island, it tends to have a lot more rain and moisture. So, when it’s sunny everywhere else, Laie can be rainy. So, no matter what the forecast, bring a light jacket or umbrella in case you get a few showers throughout the day.
The crowning jewel is of course the Night show, called “Ha: Breath of Life”. It is a brilliant and authentic display of Polynesia unlike anything on the island. It’s like a broadway show, hawaiian style. So much more than a Luau show. On their website they describe the show as, “A story of Passion, ignited by fire, song and dance. The symbolic story of Mana and his beloved Lani, punctuated by Polynesian dance, music and blazing fireknives…a stunning new evening show featuring over 100 polynesian natives, special effects, animation and surround sound. It is a Pacific isle saga of birth and death, love and family, triumph and tragedy.”
It is quite pricey but one of the best family polynesian experiences you’ll have and it will be money and time well spent. Children 4 and under are free and 5-11 are about $65 for the villages, the imax movie, the night show and depending on special offers, the luau. Adults are $80. But it’s a packed, day long adventure. Very disney-esque but with a little more culture. This is a can’t miss experience.
Laie is a great town that provides a few other things to do like visit BYU-Hawaii campus, visit the nearby mormon temple, or the picturesque Temple Beach. If you walk north along temple beach you’ll run into an outdoor bird sanctuary in the trees. You’ll hear it, just follow your ears. Stop along the highway at local fruit stands and enjoy the fruits of the island. A must is the hawaiian papaya with a squeeze of lime. And those baby bananas! The kids will love them, they are a little sweeter with a hint of tart and they are too fun to resist. Map
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