Itinerary of the Month: Polynesian Cultural Center

Welcome to Lāʻie—small-town calm, big aloha, and island tradition.

Lāʻie is perfect for a 7-day “slow North Shore” stay: you can anchor your trip around the Polynesian Cultural Center (PCC), beach and lookout days, and a couple of easy day trips to Kahuku, Sunset Beach, and Haleʻiwa—without changing hotels every night. The plan below is built to be visitor-friendly with predictable driving, repeatable sunset routines, and plenty of flexibility.

7-day itinerary (Lāʻie base)

Day 1 — Arrival + gentle orientation

Morning: Arrive, check in, and do a low-key grocery/essentials run so the week feels easy.
Afternoon: Walk Hukilau Marketplace to get oriented (shops, food, nightly entertainment), then decide which PCC package/night you want later in the week.
Evening: Sunset drive to Lāʻie Point State Wayside; parking is extremely limited and there are no facilities—be quick, quiet, and don’t block driveways.

Day 2 — PCC “villages day” + show night

Morning: Arrive early to PCC and spend the day in the island villages and daytime activities.
Afternoon: Upgrade your plan with the Aliʻi Lūʻau (if desired), then stay on-site for the evening show.
Evening: Watch “HĀ: Breath of Life” at PCC (big production; plan to stay late).

Day 3 — Beach reset + Kahuku eats

Morning: Sleep in, then do a beach morning nearby (Windward/North Shore conditions vary; keep it conservative and watch the surf).
Afternoon: Drive up toward Kahuku for casual food stops, then return to Lāʻie for a relaxing afternoon.
Evening: Easy night at Hukilau Marketplace (free parking, easy dining, low-stress).

Day 4 — Temple Visitors’ Center + scenic stops

Morning: Visit the Laie Hawaii Temple Visitors’ Center (open daily 10 a.m.–8 p.m.; admission is free).
Afternoon: Quiet walk on the temple grounds and gardens (temple interior is for members only), then short drives for photos along Kamehameha Hwy.
Evening: Return to Lāʻie for dinner and an early night.

Day 5 — North Shore beaches day (Sunset / Pūpūkea / Waimea Bay area)

Morning: Head west toward the “classic North Shore” beach corridor; start early for parking and calmer mornings.
Afternoon: Keep a single “home base” beach and add short stops rather than trying to hop 6 beaches in one day.
Evening: Sunset viewing (choose a safe, open beach park area) and drive back to Lāʻie after dark.

Day 6 — Haleʻiwa town day + shopping

Morning: Drive to Haleʻiwa for town strolling, shave ice, and galleries; keep it relaxed and park once.
Afternoon: Optional: add a short hike or beach stop on the way back, then rest in Lāʻie.
Evening: Final “local” dinner near Lāʻie and pack up gradually.

Day 7 — Mālaekahana State Recreation Area + departure

Morning: Early beach/park morning at Mālaekahana State Recreation Area (day use and camping areas; check the DLNR page for the latest updates).
Afternoon: Return, rinse off, pack, and leave buffer time for traffic and airport return logistics.
Evening: Depart or enjoy one last mellow dinner if you have a late flight.

Top 10 activities (Lāʻie + nearby)

Spend a full day at Polynesian Cultural Center (villages + activities).
Aliʻi Lūʻau at PCC.
“HĀ: Breath of Life” evening show.
Hukilau Marketplace shopping and dining.
Sunset viewpoint at Lāʻie Point State Wayside (be respectful; extremely limited parking).
Laie Hawaii Temple Visitors’ Center (free; open daily).
Day trip to Haleʻiwa (town + galleries + food).
North Shore beach day (choose one anchor beach and stay safe).
Mālaekahana State Recreation Area beach day.
Birdwatching at Lāʻie Point via Hawaiʻi Birding Trails (seabirds offshore).

Top 10 restaurants (Lāʻie-area, “official-site” approach)

Many small North Shore eateries don’t have full standalone sites, so to keep this “official,” the most reliable restaurant links in Lāʻie are the PCC/Hukilau Marketplace venues and pages that list their on-site dining.

PCC dining planning (hours and packages).
Aliʻi Lūʻau (meal included in package).
Hukilau Marketplace food options (on-site vendors; confirm day-of).
If you tell me your food preferences (local plate lunch, poke, vegetarian, kid-friendly), I can produce a strict “top 10 restaurants” list limited only to those with their own official domains.

Top 10 shopping (best around Lāʻie)

Hukilau Marketplace Shops

Hapa Home —

https://hukilaumarketplace.com/hapa-home/

Goo’s Plantation Store —

https://hukilaumarketplace.com/goos-plantation-store/

The Hukilau Store —

https://hukilaumarketplace.com/the-hukilau-store/

The North Shore Christmas Shoppe —

https://staging.hukilaumarketplace.com/the-north-shore-christmas-shoppe/

Aunty Trisha's Lei Stand

https://auntytrishasleistand.com

Hukilau Marketplace Eateries

Pounders Restaurant —

https://hukilaumarketplace.com/pounders-restaurant/

Soda Bomb —

https://hukilaumarketplace.com/soda-bomb/

Chunky Cookies —

https://hukilaumarketplace.com/chunky-cookies/

Aunty Emily’s Bakery —

https://hukilaumarketplace.com/aunty-emilys-bakery/

Tita’s Grill —

https://hukilaumarketplace.com/titas-grill/

Hukilau Marketplace Services

Hukilau Salon

Split-stay suggestions (2 patterns)

Option A (most relaxed): 5 nights Lāʻie + 2 nights Waikīkī to finish with dining/nightlife and reduce your last-day airport stress.
Option B (North Shore immersion): 7 nights Lāʻie, but do two “big loops” (Haleʻiwa day + Sunset Beach day) and keep the rest local so you don’t burn time driving.

Travel tips (Lāʻie-specific)

PCC is a full-day attraction—use their hours page to plan arrival, luau timing, and the evening show without rushing.
For Mālaekahana, check DLNR updates (they note improvement projects and operational changes directly on the park page).
Lāʻie Point has no facilities and extremely limited parking; DLNR specifically asks visitors to respect neighbors and not block driveways.