Buying Matching Hawaiian Print clothes for luau - Wasting money?

[limace]

My teenager would die if I made her do this .

And yeah, I wouldn't spend the money onthe PCC luau. Food anywhere there was pretty mediocre when we were there-just eat for fuel and splurge on the luau elsewhere. Show was great though.

 

[maggiew]

Are your teens willing to dress alike? I took matching t-shirts for our family with us one year to WDW and the teens absolutely refused to dress like the group. They liked the shirts and would wear them individually, but not if the rest of us were wearing them.

They were from our favorite balloon race and a nice bright color, which I thought would make us easy to find in crowds, but I also wanted one family picture with the matching shirts. Never got my picture.

Dress however you like and don't worry about looking like tourists, but make sure everybody is on board before spending money to buy the clothing. Sounds like DH would not be happy.

Sheila

My kids are pretty laid back and would agree to wear matching dresses. Not everyday, mind you, but for a picture and the luau. In fact, this year for our Christmas card picture we donned "ugly Christmas sweaters" and had a great time. Even DH participated! His sweater was the ugliest!!!

Maggie

 

[maggiew]

And yeah, I wouldn't spend the money onthe PCC luau. Food anywhere there was pretty mediocre when we were there-just eat for fuel and splurge on the luau elsewhere. Show was great though.

Several of you have said that the luau is bad but the evening show is good. So if we skip the luau, what do we do from 5 - 7 pm? They say the exhibitions end at 5 pm and the evening show doesnt start until 7 pm. So what do we do in between?? Can we leave and come back? I know you have to pay for parking, so would we have to pay again?

Maggie

 

[pamjb]

When we visited friends in Hawaii about 11 years ago, I purchased Hawaiian wear at the Flea Market at the Aloha Stadium. I paid $10 for my dress and it isn't overly Hawaiian. We also purchased a rolling duffle bag there for $15, as one of our pieces was severely damaged.
Not sure what the flea market is like now

 

[MichelleinMaine]

Several of you have said that the luau is bad but the evening show is good. So if we skip the luau, what do we do from 5 - 7 pm? They say the exhibitions end at 5 pm and the evening show doesnt start until 7 pm. So what do we do in between?? Can we leave and come back? I know you have to pay for parking, so would we have to pay again?

Maggie

They do shuffle you out of the regular exhibits to another area. IIRC, there were shops/etc and a counter service type snack bar. (We were at the luau, so only walked through this area after to get to the evening show.)

I don't recall there being a whole lot out near PCC. It is adjacent to Brigham Young University-HI. I know they have tours that take you out to it, not sure if in the 5-7pm range. The LDS temple nearby is where Elizabeth Smart was married this weekend.

Keep in mind too- if they're shooing you out at 5. There's some walking involvedto get out, then to get to the other area. Figuring you'll want to be at the show before 7 to get settled, etc. It's probably really not 2 hours you have to kill.

 

[steves1bear]

As someone who lives about 2 blocks from the PCC, I thought I would chime in.

Aloha wear is great and there are some really great places to take pictures. Just know there is the very touristy Aloha wear and the more local style. PP have already given you a great list of places to find some really nice styles. If all else, you can go to any of the malls and find something at Sears even that would work great.

As for the PCC luau. Keep in mind the PCC is owned by the LDS church so you are going to have a very very different experience there vs. a luau in town. The food is okay and there is a show going on at the same time. You'll see very similar dances in the villages and at the luau. I think the luau needs to be the next thing they update. If I remember right, I think the last village show might actually start at 5:00 or 5:30 even (you can download a schedule from their site to see exact times). I would have to check the schedule to make sure. The Temple visitor center tour leaves every 20 minutes from 3:00 - 6:00ish. Your dining options beyond the luau are the Gateway buffet or the prime ambassador buffet. There is a McDonald right next door you can walk to or a few other fast foodish places within a 2-3 minute driving distance. There are several shops to wander through right next to the night show theater. That will help take up time. The night was redone just a few years ago so hopefully you'll enjoy it!

Anyway, hopefully that helps answer a few questions. If you have more, I am happy to answer them.

 

[Hook326]

What i would skip is the "luau" at PCC. There shows are amazing-especially the night show but the food at their luau is in a word-mediocre at best and the experience is so so. If you want a better experience go to Germaines or Paradise Cove, the Hilton Hawaiian Village or Royal Hawaiian-none of those will be cheap but they are a better experience. If perchance you have military IDs the best value is the luau at the Hale Koa-it will cost about half of the others and the food is very good-and the show it quiet good too.

When we visited the PCC, we didn't stay for the luau so I can't compare that one, but between the luaus at Paradise Cove and the Hilton Hawaiian Village I would definitely pick the Paradise Cove one. It was a longish ride to get to from Waikiki, but they had games before you ate, it was on the beach, and it was just better than the Hilton one which takes place on a rooftop. Hilton wasn't horrible just not as pleasant as the Paradise Cove one.

 

[Hook326]

Oh and to answer your question...do what makes you happy with the clothes! I bought matching outfits for my little guys, and DH was quite happy getting the same print in a different color. I opted to get a less touristy dress that still looks Hawaiian to me in a shade that complemented my boys

Definitely follow everyone's advice and get it there though! My dress was only $18 at small shop down by Ala Moana pier(?). That could be totally wrong name, location! It was down where the dinner/whale watching cruises take off. My DH's shirt was $10 maybe at a little shop elsewhere along with the boys' outfits.

 

[Keurigirl]

You will LOVE the PCC!! It is super awesome and great for kids. My first trip to Hawaii was when I was 16 and the PCC is the thing I remember most about my trip!

We have been to Hawaii several times, and honestly everyone looks like tourists. And that's because they are!! It's OK to look like a tourist in Hawaii.

Of all the luaus and shows we've seen, I really like the PCC one. It's not an intimate setting by any means, but the food is as good as any luau we've been to, and the show is better than most.

 

[maggiew]

When we visited the PCC, we didn't stay for the luau so I can't compare that one, but between the luaus at Paradise Cove and the Hilton Hawaiian Village I would definitely pick the Paradise Cove one. It was a longish ride to get to from Waikiki, but they had games before you ate, it was on the beach, and it was just better than the Hilton one which takes place on a rooftop. Hilton wasn't horrible just not as pleasant as the Paradise Cove one.

You will LOVE the PCC!! It is super awesome and great for kids. My first trip to Hawaii was when I was 16 and the PCC is the thing I remember most about my trip!

We have been to Hawaii several times, and honestly everyone looks like tourists. And that's because they are!! It's OK to look like a tourist in Hawaii.

Of all the luaus and shows we've seen, I really like the PCC one. It's not an intimate setting by any means, but the food is as good as any luau we've been to, and the show is better than most.

We are staying out in Ko Olina, so the Paradise Cove luau would be nearby. I was thinking of maybe doing that one instead.

Although I am also thinking just go ahead and do the one at PCC just because we will already be there.

There is also a luau at our hotel (Marriott Ko Olina Beach Club), and that is another option.

Maggie