We visited Aulani last week for seven nights. The resort is gorgeous, the food is wonderful (and expensive), the pool and beach were top notch. We rented a car from Alamo which is in the Aulani building and ventured out several times to explore Oahu, the North Shore, the southeast coast and sadly spent close to an entire day at the Polynesian Cultural Center.
We continually read that the PCC is a must do. Well let me tell you the other side of the story...
I can't believe we wasted a day in HAWAII on this boring tourist trap, run by the Mormon church.
Upsells at every turn for photos and food. You're "guides" who you learn are Brigham Young University students, lead you around like cattle to various Polynesian "islands" where you find more native BYU students putting on "shows" purporting to display native culture. Some of the shows were chanting and dancing, others were tacky stand-up routines, they were all embarrassing characatures of "native life."
There was a special canoe show where nothing happens. The luau was boring at best. No hula dancers or fire twirlers. No lively music. Just monotonous arm-waving mormon students. The food was buffet style like you would find at a VFW catering hall.
The drinks were syrupy sweet ice tea or lemonade. We bought a $10 pineapple drink before we realized that it was a just a slushy with no alcohol.
The whole ordeal comprises nearly 8 hours door-to-door.
When you read the reviews about this place, look very closely at the bad ones. They talk the truth. Although many reviews say that PCC is a "must do" or "can't miss" when visiting Oahu.
In reality it is very much the opposite.
Do your research, thoroughly.
We continually read that the PCC is a must do. Well let me tell you the other side of the story...
I can't believe we wasted a day in HAWAII on this boring tourist trap, run by the Mormon church.
Upsells at every turn for photos and food. You're "guides" who you learn are Brigham Young University students, lead you around like cattle to various Polynesian "islands" where you find more native BYU students putting on "shows" purporting to display native culture. Some of the shows were chanting and dancing, others were tacky stand-up routines, they were all embarrassing characatures of "native life."
There was a special canoe show where nothing happens. The luau was boring at best. No hula dancers or fire twirlers. No lively music. Just monotonous arm-waving mormon students. The food was buffet style like you would find at a VFW catering hall.
The drinks were syrupy sweet ice tea or lemonade. We bought a $10 pineapple drink before we realized that it was a just a slushy with no alcohol.
The whole ordeal comprises nearly 8 hours door-to-door.
When you read the reviews about this place, look very closely at the bad ones. They talk the truth. Although many reviews say that PCC is a "must do" or "can't miss" when visiting Oahu.
In reality it is very much the opposite.
Do your research, thoroughly.