The Popular Canoe Show at Polynesian Cultural Center is Back

Before the pandemic one of the highlights at the Polynesian Cultural Center on Oʻahu for many visitors was the canoe show, where dancers, singers and musicians rode double-hulled canoes and surfboards through the canals that run through the 42-acre, Polynesian-themed park in Lāʻie.

Here’s what “Huki: A Canoe Celebration” looked like in 2018:

During the pandemic it shut down.

Four years later the center is relaunching the show—the only one of its kind in Hawaiʻi—today.

The show starts at 12:40 p.m. in the freshwater lagoon before the Islands of Polynesia. It’s free to watch with the purchase of general admission.

The popular water show is the only one of its kind in Hawaiʻi.
Photo: Courtesy of the Polynesian Cultural Center

It features a diverse array of canoes carrying world-class performers from across the Pacific. The family-friendly production showcases original music and performances choreographed by PCC’s musicians and cultural performance specialists.

For anyone who’s seen the show before, this version is completely new. What remains the same, though, is the focus on educating and showcasing the vibrant cultures of Polynesia and its six island nations: Hawai‘i, Aotearoa (New Zealand), Fiji, Tahiti, Tonga and Samoa.

The show starts at 12:40 p.m. on the days the center is open.
Photo: Courtesy of the Polynesian Cultural Center

“We are excited to bring back our beloved canoe celebration show at the PCC” said P. Alfred Grace, president and CEO of the Polynesian Cultural Center. “Our team has been working hard to relaunch ‘Huki,’ which introduces our guests to the unique history and folklore of Polynesia and to ensures an elevated experience for all of our guests.”

In ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi (the Hawaiian language), huki means “to pull”—as in a giant net being pulled to gather fish.

Closed Sundays. 55-370 Kamehameha Highway, Lāʻie, 1-800-367-7060, polynesia.com