ALOHA!
So you’re highly considering getting in some Hawaiian culture activities during your Hawaii vacation!
Or you’ve decided to get Polynesian Cultural Center tickets to attend your Oahu luau of choice?
Good choice! Here’s why. 😉
A trip to the Polynesian Cultural Center is one of the many ways to get a glimpse of Hawaiian culture on Oahu!
But now that you’ve made that decision, is a Waikiki shuttle to the Polynesian Cultural Center the best transportation for you and your family?
The cost of the standard shuttle tickets to the Polynesian Cultural Center provided by the cultural center from Waikiki is around $22 per person.
Price subject to change, of course!
The shuttle is only available as transportation to the Polynesian Cultural Center if you’re staying for dinner and the evening show (Ha: Breath of Life) since there is only one departure time back to Waikiki and that is after the evening show.
The evening show usually ends by 9:00pm and you will be on your way back to Waikiki by 9:30pm.
This means that you can expect to get back to Waikiki around 11:00pm, give or take depending on where your drop-off location is.
If you haven’t decided yet if you want to go with taking the shuttle provided by the cultural center, first take a look at your different options for how to get to the Polynesian Cultural Center from Waikiki.
The most common options are the shuttle or rental car.
The bus isn’t really recommended because of time and other inconveniences, but if you want to consider it, here is information for taking the bus from Waikiki to the Polynesian Cultural Center.
Covered on this page:
- How to buy your shuttle tickets to Polynesian Cultural Center
- Options for your shuttle pick-up time
- Locations of Waikiki hotel shuttle stops, with map
On another page: Be sure to take a look at things to do at the Polynesian Cultural Center too!
what to pack for hawaii >> what to wear to a luau – what to wear snorkeling – what to wear hiking
Buying your Waikiki shuttle tickets to Polynesian Cultural Center
Once you’ve decided that you want to take the shuttle to the Polynesian Cultural Center, you’ll purchase your tickets for the shuttle at the same time you buy your tickets to the Polynesian Cultural Center.
When you go to buy your tickets, you’ll need to provide a location that you want to be picked up by the shuttle, and you’ll need to provide the time that you want to be picked up as well.
Side note!
See about the best shoes for hiking in Hawaii and what to wear snorkeling in Hawaii! And for Hawaii vacation ideas, see the best things to do in Waikiki that will give you Hawaii vibes!
Choosing your shuttle pick-up time
The time is the easy part!
You basically have 2 options: 10:00am and 12:00pm.
The hotel pick-up points that are later on the shuttle route may be closer to 10:30am and 12:30pm.
This means you’ll be getting to the Polynesian Cultural Center around 11:30am – 12:00pm and 1:30pm – 2:00pm.
Unless you have other activities you want to do in the morning, 10:00am is likely the best choice so you can spend as much time as possible at the cultural center! So much to do, so little time. 😉
The cost of the shuttle is the same either way.
Choosing your shuttle pick-up location
Next, you need to figure out where you want to be picked up!
What are the pick-up locations for the shuttle to the Polynesian Cultural Center from Waikiki?
These are the current pick-up points near various points of interest and hotels in Waikiki:
- Ala Moana Hotel
- Ilikai Renaissance Hotel
- Hilton Hawaiian Village Hotel
- Waikiki Gateway Hotel
- Sheraton Waikiki Hotel
- Waikiki Trade Center
- Hyatt Regency Hotel
- Waikiki Beach Marriott Hotel
If you’re staying at one of these hotels, well, you know where to request your pick-up!
Map of shuttle pick-up points from Waikiki hotels
If you aren’t staying at one of these hotels, as a visitor to Oahu, a list with names is probably meaningless to you because you have no idea where any of these Waikiki hotels are located.
But figuring out your pick-up point is also made easy with the map below! 😉
Zoom in to the map, find your hotel location, then click on the icon closest to your hotel.
If you’re not sure off-hand the location of your hotel on a map, that’s made easy too!
- Open up this Waikiki map in Google Maps
- Click on the search icon
- Type in your hotel’s name
- Click on your hotel from the auto-suggest list!
The map is easiest to explore on desktop.
If the map isn’t showing up below, or you want to explore it in Google Maps, head on over to the Waikiki map here.
Note that the shuttle pick-up points below are approximate.
When you are given your options, make a note of the street that’s designated as the pick-up point, since sometimes hotels face more than one street.
The street name will likely come in your e-mail confirmation too.
Do you like maps? For easier planning, see the Oahu map index for a bunch of ideas of things to do. Also see the Oahu beaches map, Oahu hikes map, and the Oahu island tour map!
Other things to do in Oahu
If you’re interested in getting Polynesian Cultural Center tickets, you may like some of these Hawaiian culture activities in Oahu too! Many of the sites are easy stops to make alongside other nearby points of interest and are free!
HAPPY POLYNESIAN CULTURAL CENTER PLANNING!
Things to do with Polynesian Cultural Center tickets
more hawaiian culture activities on oahu
things to do in oahu | map >> north shore – east oahu – central oahu
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🐠 Here are things you must consider packing!
- Swimsuit or swimming shirt aka rash guard
- rash guard: swim set for women and swim shirt for men
- Water shoes
- Waterproof phone case (so you can capture pictures of fishies underwater!)
- cheapo phone case OR waterproof camera
- I also have this "camera" wrist float to attach to my cheapo waterproof phone case so my phone won't sink to the bottom of the ocean in case I somehow let go of it. (Mine does stay afloat - test this for yourself before completely trusting it!)
- Swimming goggles or snorkeling mask set
- Reef-safe(r) sunscreen
- lightweight travel towel:
- walking sandals:
I also don't go snorkeling without a personal swim float buoy. Not only does it help to keep me visible, but it makes for a perfect way to rest out in deeper water! Oh, and it also serves as a dry bag so I can take stuff into the water with me.
Another way I have taken valuables into the water with me is to wear a travel money belt that I don't mind getting wet with salt water (it's not waterproof but I have several so I just use one of them) and then I put things in a ziplock freezer bag, and put that freezer bag in the money belt.
There are also designated waterproof waist pouches that you can store your valuables and take into the water with you.
see more:
- What to wear hiking
- What to wear snorkeling
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