Don’t be left curbside waiting for your HNL to PCC pickup. Book with us.
A visit to the Polynesian Cultural Center is a must-do for many Oahu visitors, and for some it’s literally the first destination after arriving at Honolulu International Airport (HNL). But at about 35 miles from HNL it’s practically the furthest of all popular attractions from the island’s gateway. Because of this some smart planning is essential to a successful visit to the park. Below we have detailed everything you need to know.
Best Way to Get from Honolulu International Airport to the Polynesian Cultural Center and What Else You Need to Consider
There’s No Official PCC Shuttle from HNL so Book Here Instead
The Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC) offers paid shuttle service from Waikiki which can be purchased with along with your PCC tickets. That doesn’t do you any good because you need to get to there from the airport. It would be a big waste of time to head for Waikiki first, not when you can cut right through HI-63 N and HI-83 W to Laie after hitting I-H-1-E from HNL. With no official PCC shuttle you need to look at the next best option, or perhaps even better since you don’t relish the idea of being crammed into a shared shuttle after leaving a cramped plane and even more congested baggage claim area. Now this is where we typically run through the reasons why Uber/Lyft, traditional taxis, and even car rentals from HNL through to great distances is a bad idea. But we’ve already covered that in our recent article about how to get from the airport to the town of Laie, where PCC is located. View the reasons why right here. Or, simply come to the right conclusion that the most comfortable and cost-efficient option is to take direct, private, and flat rate shuttle from HNL to the Polynesian Cultural Center.
Book your flat rate direct shuttle from HNL to PCC – just $110 for up to four people
Get a Head Start on Your Polynesian Experience With a Lei
You’re in search of some Polynesian authenticity from the moment you’ve arrived at HNL so why not have your entire party receive a lei as soon as you step outside of baggage claim? We offer lei greetings for individuals and groups and better yet you can choose from a variety tropical flora. Your Polynesian adventure will begin from the moment you step into your private shuttle.
Book a lei greeting with your HNL to PCC trip
Book Your PCC Tickets Beforehand
We recommend buying your Polynesian Cultural Center tickets online before you arrive on Oahu when you plan on heading there from the airport. It’s a very popular tourist destination and while general admission won’t be an issue, you may not be able to score tickets to the buffet, luau, the “HA : Breath of Life” show, and seasonal events that require special purchases. Even if you don’t intend on partaking in the special activities, you probably don’t want to wait in the general admission ticket purchase line after dealing with the usual lineups at the airport.
Don’t Cut It Too Close
Take note of the following hours of operation so that you can plan your day, afternoon, or evening accordingly.
Polynesian Cultrural Center:
- Monday-Saturday, 11:45 AM to 9 PM
- Closed Sundays, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day
Polynesian Village Tours:
- Open 12 PM to 6 PM daily
PCC Hukilau Marketplace:
- Monday-Saturday, 11 AM – 9:30 PM
- Closed Sundays, Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day
While open fairly late into the evening, you don’t plan on sticking around until closing time seeing as you went straight to the Center from the airport. Eventually you need to head to your hotel or vacation rental, and doing so late at night on the island’s countryside is not the best way to wind down your first day in paradise. That means don’t cut your PCC arrival close to when you want to leave it. Give yourself at least four or five hours. You may think you only need two or three, but with so many things to see and do (even under the general admission ticket) you want to get the most out of your time. For instance, there are a six different Polynesian island nation villages on site that you absolutely must experience, both by guided canoe and self-guided walking tour. The last canoe ride is at 5 PM, and the village shows shut down by 6 PM (most even sooner) so if arriving from HNL in the late afternoon be sure to hop in one of the guided canoes soon after you get there, and save the souvenir shopping and so forth for later.
When it comes to getting from the airport to the Polynesian Cultural Center, timing is everything. Book a direct shuttle you can trust to be on time, and to get you there as efficiently as possible. All you need to do is give us 24-hours notice and we’ll pick you and your party up from the airport and take you directly to Polynesian Cultural Center. Call us at 1.800.929.1219 or complete the form found here.
Note: Like the featured image above? The photo is the property of Honolulu Airport Transfer (and photographer) but you may use it on your website with linked attribution back to this article.
~ ALOHA ~