Don’t miss this FREE presentation by IONA Contemporary Dance Theatre Founder and Artistic Director Cheryl Flaharty, focusing on the development of IONA’s work in the butoh dance form, costume creation, and the many causes IONA champions.

This event is part of IONA’s 35th Anniversary Celebration, supported by Atherton Family Foundation, City & County of Honolulu, Wallace, Elizabeth & Isabella Wong Family Foundation, Kosasa Foundation, G. N. Wilcox Trust, Hawai‘i State Foundation on Culture and the Arts through appropriations from the Legislature of the State of Hawai‘i and by the National Endowment for the Arts.

The Miss Chinatown Scholarship Pageant is the culmination of months of dedication by our contestants, who deepen their understanding and appreciation of their Chinese heritage, while developing leadership skills and participating in community service.  

Miss Chinatown Contestants:

- Kylie Carpenter - Emma Collo - Yuting He - May Kamaka - Noelle Lo - Janelle Liang - Mei Lani Wilkemeyer - Debbie Ye - Ashley Yoshikawa

Get ready for an extraordinary journey to the Ancient Roman Empire with Beyond the Music! Join Music and Artistic Director Dane Lam and your Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra as they perform excerpts from Respighi’s symphonic tone poem, Pines of Rome. Enhanced by narration and storytelling, HSO Susan Kosasa Composer in Residence Michael-Thomas Foumai will take you on a mesmerizing journey through Respighi's Rome—from the haunting echoes of Gregorian chant in the catacombs to the formidable might of the Roman legion. Perfect for the family, a Saturday morning adventure awaits!

Get ready for a beachfront street festival like no other!

Kalākaua Avenue will be transformed with booths showcasing Hawai‘i cuisine, crafts and culture stretching as far as the eye can see. Taste the best of local flavors from around the island in one place, and peruse artisan-made crafts. Multiple stages with incredible entertainment will rock the evening featuring top local artists, award-winning hālau hula, and more.

The 2025/2026 Halekulani Masterworks season kicks off with an extraordinary musical adventure along a symphonic Silk Road. The world’s leading pipa virtuoso Wu Man joins forces with Music and Artistic Director Dane Lam and the Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra for Jiping Zhao’s captivating Pipa Concerto No. 2, paired with two iconic tone poems: Respighi’s evocative Pines of Rome and Strauss’ Don Quixote featuring principal violist Mark Butin and principal cellist Mark Votapek.

The Creative City Presents Wednesdays in the Park In collaboration with the Henry Kapono Foundation and Hawai‘i Theatre Center

Join us Wednesday, September 24 for the inaugural Wednesdays in the Park, a signature event of the Home in the Islands (HITI) Festival and the kickoff of a monthly jazz series. Settle into midweek with an elegant evening of jazz in the heart of Chinatown. Just steps from downtown Honolulu, Wednesdays in the Park offers a refined Pau Hana experience—where the city’s creative energy meets live music, culture, and community. Let the melodies carry you, feel the rhythm, and immerse yourself in Hawai‘i’s vibrant arts scene in a relaxed, open-air setting.

A two-day celebration of our vibrant, historically-important neighborhood and its creative community!

Hosted in partnership with resident historian Gary Coover and the Fort Street Mall Business Improvement District, the event also marks DAC’s 5-year anniversary of hosting local arts exhibitions.

Sunset Arts Market: An evening arts market in Wilcox Park at Fort Street Mall will feature local arts and crafts vendors, food, live music, and more! The event aims to engage and inform the community about the rich, vibrant history of Honolulu’s historic Downtown district.

Based on the author’s true family history, Shell Song is a picture book about Japanese American incarceration in Hawai‘i during World War II and is a moving tribute to the importance of finding and collecting pieces of hope, big or small, even in the darkest of times.

A live book reading with author Sharon Fujimoto-Johnson, see rare shells in Bishop Museum’s Malacology collection, participate in a shell stamping activity, and hang out with malacologists and Hawai‘i Malacological Society members to learn how to identify rare shells – guests are encouraged to bring your own shells to I.D. with experts!

The Pūpū Ola: Kāhuli Captive Rearing Research Center will also be open to view live rare native snails reared at Bishop Museum.

A colorful procession of Hawaiian culture through Waikīkī

Intricate floats decorated with a rainbow of fresh flowers and men and women on horseback showcasing the traditional art of pāʻū riding. Participants from marching bands to hālau hula to civic leaders display the unique aloha spirit that unites Hawai‘i’s community.

Daytime activities at DAC for its 5th Anniversary will include a plein air timed outdoor painting competition focused on scenes from Downtown and Chinatown, along with live music, interactive art experiences, and celebratory treats.

The Moth is true stories, told live and without notes. We celebrate the ability of true, personal storytelling to illuminate both the diversity and commonality of human experience. Our work allows people all over the world and from all walks of life: astronauts, students, a dental hygienist, a hotdog eating champion, a mechanic, exonerated prisoners, veterans, Nobel laureates and everyone in between, to share their stories on stage in front of a live audience. Through live and virtual shows, storytelling workshops, a podcast, Peabody Award-winning Radio Hour, and New York Times Best Selling books, The Moth brings the power of personal storytelling to millions of people each year—creating community and building empathy around the world.

Pound for pound, Brad Williams is the funniest comedian in the country right now, and has become one of the most in-demand comedians working today. Williams started doing stand-up comedy as a teenager and has been touring successfully ever since, routinely selling out prestigious venues all over the country and world.

Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! is NPR's Peabody Award-winning comedy news quiz show. Host Peter Sagal leads a rotating panel of comedians, writers, listener contestants, and celebrity guests through a rollicking review of the week's news.  Contestants vie for the most coveted prize in all of public radio: a custom-recorded greeting by any of our cast members for their voicemail.

Every week, Wait, Wait.... Don't Tell Me! records in front of a live audience, then carefully edits out all the raunchy, inappropriate, shocking, and hilarious stuff so we can broadcast something that doesn't get NPR in trouble... well, more trouble. The only way you can find out what our panelists and guests really think about the news is to come see for yourself. And please--don't tell NPR. Also, we're all much more attractive than we sound.

Adam Trent is one of the most viewed magicians on the planet, having garnered over 16 Billion (yes, Billion) views from his viral social media videos in addition to having his own TV series’ on NETFLIX, ABC, Hulu, Disney Plus, and multiple TV appearances on America’s Got Talent, Ellen, The Today Show, and Disney Channel among countless other TV appearances. 

PRIDE PARADE: Hawai‘i’s largest celebration of the queer community! This fabulous procession down Kalākaua Avenue celebrates businesses, non-profit organizations, and individuals who proudly stand with us.

PRIDE FESTIVAL: When the sun goes down, the celebration lights up! The 2025 Honolulu Pride Festival features 70+ booths hosted by community partners and a high-energy, four-hour entertainment lineup.

Chicken-skin Hawaiian tales by master storyteller Lopaka Kapanui, “The Ghost Guy.” The author of four spooky story compilations, Kapanui joins your Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra and HSO Composer in Residence Michael-Thomas Foumai for a concert ghost tour paired with spooky symphonic favorites.

GRAMMY® Award-winning violinist Anne Akiko Meyers has earned the title “the Wonder Woman of Commissioning” from The Strad due to her relentless advocacy for many of today’s most influential living composers. Her collaboration with Michael Daugherty on the violin concerto Blue Electra, commissioned by her, powerfully reflects the extraordinary life and enigmatic disappearance of aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart. Critically acclaimed conductor Carl St. Clair returns to “pilot” a compelling journey that intertwines the themes of flight and fate, featuring Tchaikovsky’s commanding Symphony No. 4.

The 4th Annual Kāhuli Festival’s theme focuses on renewing and restoring cultural connections for conservation and is titled Ke Kani Nei Ka Pūpū – The Land Snails Sing. Through this theme, we acknowledge the resilience of our Hawaiian land snails in an everchanging landscape and how the aliʻi of Hawaiʻi remembered them in the naming of places, like Kamehameha III’s Nuʻuanu home, Kaniakapūpū, and in storytelling. The festival offers an opportunity for the research, conservation, education, and natural cultural resource community to showcase how we mālama pū i ka ʻāina, especially through the cultural lens surrounding endangered Hawaiian land snails and other native species.

Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra is inviting fans back for an evening of music and magic in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince ™ in Concert. Relive the adventure of a curious plot afoot at Hogwarts™ and a new Gryffindor™ Keeper, soaring across the big screen in high-definition! Experience the music of a live symphony orchestra performing the unforgettable score to the sixth film of the Harry Potter™ Series.

All characters and elements © & ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Publishing Rights © JKR.

Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra is inviting fans back for an evening of music and magic in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince ™ in Concert. Relive the adventure of a curious plot afoot at Hogwarts™ and a new Gryffindor™ Keeper, soaring across the big screen in high-definition! Experience the music of a live symphony orchestra performing the unforgettable score to the sixth film of the Harry Potter™ Series.

All characters and elements © & ™ Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Publishing Rights © JKR.

Cody Jinks has always built his career on his own terms. Drawing on his unique musical background—growing up near Fort Worth, Texas, he cut his teeth in bars and honky-tonks as well as the influential local metal scene— Jinks learned to disrupt the status quo with an industrious, do-it-yourself approach.

Dubbed by Wide Open Country as "one of the most beloved and successful independent voices in country music,” Jinks has amassed a loyal fanbase, having sold over 2 million tickets to date. He’s also released ten full-length albums that regularly chart near the top of Billboard Country and Independent albums charts and have staying power, to the tune of 4 billion streams across platforms and eight songs certified Platinum or Gold, led by the double-platinum success of “Loud and Heavy.” In recognition of this hard work, Jinks was named Music Row’s 2023 Independent Artist of the Year—the second time he’s received this honor.

Out March 22, 2024 - his new album Change The Game reflects the notion that the rewards from working hard are great, especially when you’re staying true to your beliefs and vision. The album also marks a new chapter for Jinks, one driven by personal and professional growth.

Praised by Gramophone Magazine for her "infinitely sweet" tone, violinist Jinjoo Cho takes center stage to perform Brahms' beloved Violin Concerto. Music and Artistic Director Dane Lam leads a program focused on themes of cultural crossroads, featuring the Hawaiʻi premiere of Māori composer Gillian Whitehead's powerful work, Tūranganui, alongside Elgar's cryptic Enigma Variations.

AGE RESTRICTION 12+

*VIP EXPERIENCE ADD-ON*
Available at checkout after selecting your seats

Add-on includes a Meet & Greet!

Please note: A VIP Experience Add-On does NOT include admission to the event. You must also purchase a standard event ticket to enter the venue.

Alabama-bred and Nashville-based, comedian, actress, and content creator, Danae Hays represents a fresh, new female voice in the comedy, acting, and music worlds. Her cast of zany southern characters and parody country music songs have pushed  her to the top of the Spotify and Apple Music charts, earning her a cumulative following of 3.6M+ followers and nearly 2 billion views. 

Danae's debut Country/Comedy single "Rode Hard" peaked at No. 5 on the Country Global iTunes Charts, No. 8 on Billboard’s Country Digital Song Sales, No. 22 on Billboard’s Digital Song Sales, and No. 34 on Billboard’s Emerging Artists.  

True to her multi-hyphenate nature, Danae's passion for acting landed her a role in "Mother Nature and the Doomsday Prepper" (which she just returned from filming in the spring of 2024) and "Summer Camp". Additionally, Danae has co-and-guest starred alongside many of the most notable names in entertainment including Diane Keaton,  Kathy Bates, Alfre Woodard, Tanya Christiansen and Josh Peck.

KT Tunstall has always lived in pursuit of creative evolution.  

The Grammy-nominated, Brit Award-winning Scottish artist made an indelible mark on the music world with her 2004 multi-platinum debut Eye to the Telescope, immediately establishing herself as a formidable force. 

Nearly two decades on, Tunstall’s career has spanned an eclectic array of genres - from introspective folk to blistering rock and  experimental electro-pop - while she has remained one of the most iconic live performers of her generation, renowned for her extraordinary voice that shifts effortlessly from soulful to bluesy grit to delicate folk-pop. Her music embodies a balance of raw emotion and visceral energy, always remaining in constant service to memorable melody, while her live shows are punctuated by a warm and often hilarious rapport with her audience.  

Next year, Tunstall will celebrate the 20th anniversary of her  seminal debut album Eye to the Telescope with a series of special performances and a re-release featuring additional tracks, including an inaugural headline show at London’s Royal Albert Hall. After two decades, KT Tunstall remains a vital, ever-evolving artist - one who continues to surprise, innovate, and captivate audiences around the world. 

As a proud trans-Hawaiian woman, Sasha is a staple in the American drag industry. She’s been hailed “A LEGEND” by castmates of Drag Race past and present, is a former Miss Continental 2012 (one of the most, if not the most prestigious titles in the drag community), and has been an influential figure of personal empowerment for the drag and trans community for over a decade.

Join Cary Elwes (Westley) for a behind-the-scenes look at life on and off the set of the classic film, The Princess Bride. 

After a screening of the iconic movie, Elwes will engage in a moderated discussion revealing never before shared secrets and tales of inconceivable antics!

Journey back to the lands of Florin and Guilder in an adventure filled with fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, miracles, and of course, true love.

Elwes has been in a multitude of films and tv shows including “Seinfeld”, “Robin Hood: Men in Tights”, “Bram Stoker’s Dracula”, “Saw”, “Days of Thunder” “Twister”, “Liar, Liar”, “Stranger Things” and “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”. He recently starred in Guy Ritchie’s “Operation Fortune: Ruse de Guerre”, and “Mission Impossible: Dead Reckoning.”

Now Elwes is hitting the road to share with fans the personal stories behind the making of this piece of cinematic history.

Don’t be a “Humperdinck”, make haste to see The Princess Bride: An Inconceivable Evening with Cary Elwes for a night you will always “tweasure”.

A limited number of VIP packages are available and include the best seats in the house, a Meet and Greet with Cary Elwes, and a signed copy of Cary Elwes best-selling book, As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride. The pre-show Meet and Greet will take place at 5pm sharp. Patrons must arrive at the venue at least 15 minutes before the start time. Late arrivals cannot be accommodated so don’t be late!

With nearly 4 million followers across his social media, Josh Johnson was recently called “the funniest guy on the internet” by WIRED and is a star on the rise. He is an Emmy-nominated writer, stand-up comedian, actor, and NAACP award-winner from Louisiana by way of Chicago. Johnson is currently a correspondent on Comedy Central’s Emmy & Peabody Award-winning program The Daily Show where he was previously a writer for the past seven years. Johnson is also a former writer and performer on NBC’s The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where he made his late-night debut in 2017. 

Johnson’s most recent stand-up special, Josh Johnson: Up Here Killing Myself, premiered on Peacock earlier this year to rave reviews touting Josh as a “naturally gifted story teller”. Comedy Central released Johnson’s first hour-long special #(Hashtag) in June 2021.

As a stand-up, Johnson headlines theaters, clubs, colleges, and festivals around the world. He is also a prolific writer and performer who puts out weekly stand up sets on his YouTube channel. This year alone, Josh has released over 24 hours of stand up, and the content on his YouTube channel has been viewed over 140 million times by people all over the world.

HONOLULU CITY LIGHTS IS PRESENTED BY THE CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE FRIENDS OF HONOLULU CITY LIGHTS.

Free

Opening Ceremony:

Begins at 5:30 PM and the lights are scheduled to be turned on at approximately 6 PM

Public Workers' Electric Light Parade:

• The parade travels on King Street, from River Street to Kawaiahao Street.

• Step-off is at approximately 6 PM and the first unit arrives at Honolulu Hale approximately 6:30 PM

Each year, Kapolei City Lights kicks-off with Opening Night Festivities featuring a wonderful Block Party and dazzling Parade centered around Kapolei Hale! For 2025, the opening night is set for Saturday, December 6!!

Block Party

Showcasing a wide variety of local vendors, live music, and excellent eateries, the Block Party is scheduled for Saturday, December 6 around Kapolei Hale. We’ve got so much planned for this party we are taking over several streets for the event, including: Ulu‘ōhi‘a, Ala Kahawai, ‘Alohikea, and Kama‘aha Ave.

Enjoy an amazing lineup of local entertainment and events on the stage near the mauka-end of Kapolei Hale. Emceed by Councilmember Augie Tulba, this venue will offer the following scheduled performances.

Get ready for an evening of sidesplitting laughter as Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood, the dynamic duo from TV's "Whose Line is it Anyway?," take the stage in a one-night-only uproarious live show, Colin Mochrie & Brad Sherwood: Asking for Trouble

Known by TV audiences for their work on The CW Network program, Colin and Brad take the stage live and improvise new material every night from audience suggestions and participation-- transforming the audience’s suggestions into an unpredictable evening of non-stop comedy gold. 

No script? No problem! “Asking For Trouble” is a wild rollercoaster ride of hilarity, where two improv legends prove they are still the best in the business. 

Get ready for a night of non-stop laughter that the whole family can enjoy.

The Hapa Holiday Extravaganza is back to celebrate the holidays in true island style! This HapaSymphony tradition embraces the spirit of the season with performances by Natalie Ai Kamauʻu, sing-alongs, seasonal favorites, and special guest appearances. Under the direction of Music and Artistic Director Dane Lam, bring the whole family for a memorable symphonic holiday night!

Four Time GRAMMY® Winner Kalani Pe’a Returns To Hawaii Theatre For his Hawaiian Christmas Show 2025 with Special Guests Kumu Hula Shelsea Ai & Hālau Lilia Makanoe, Jordan Soon, 24-VII Danceforce & Sounds of Aloha Chorus - Hosted By Mele Apana 

A true holiday favorite, this beloved comedy classic features renowned composer John Williams' charming and delightful score performed live to picture by the Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra. Macaulay Culkin stars as Kevin McCallister, an 8-year-old boy who's accidentally left behind when his family leaves for Christmas vacation, and who must defend his home against two bungling thieves. Hilarious and heart-warming, Home Alone is holiday fun for the entire family!

© 1990 Twentieth Century Fox.

A true holiday favorite, this beloved comedy classic features renowned composer John Williams' charming and delightful score performed live to picture by the Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra. Macaulay Culkin stars as Kevin McCallister, an 8-year-old boy who's accidentally left behind when his family leaves for Christmas vacation, and who must defend his home against two bungling thieves. Hilarious and heart-warming, Home Alone is holiday fun for the entire family!

© 1990 Twentieth Century Fox.

Island Magic Mike was born on the north shore of Oahu. Mike is a connoisseur of local comed. Growing up Mike was considered the class clown and has now taken his gift and turned it into passionate profession. Mike had gained local notoriety with his skits on TikTok and Instagram with almost 1/2 million followers.

Most recently Mike has sold out 2 shows at the Blue Note and at the Crown room in Hilo. This is a Great show for the whole family. Mike mixes his social media persona with his witty comedy combined with audience interaction.

Celebrated as one of the top ten greatest symphonies of all time by BBC Magazine, Mahler’s Ninth Symphony reflects a deep passion for life and the earth, even in the face of impending mortality. Though he never lived to hear it performed, Mahler’s masterpiece features an extraordinary opening movement resonating with profound emotion. Music and Artistic Director Dane Lam conducts a symphonic farewell, paired with Mozart’s Oboe Concerto, featuring principal oboist Gustav Highstein.

The geomungo, a traditional Korean instrument whose name translates to “black crane zither”, embodies an extraordinary and powerful spirit that serves as the focus of Black Dragon, a captivating concerto by Honolulu composer Donald Reid Womack. Experience the world premiere of the version for Western orchestra, performed by the sought-after geomungo virtuoso Yoon Jeong Heo.  Led by Music and Artistic Director Dane Lam, themes of theology and mythology weave together in a spellbinding program including Messiaen's Les Offrandes Oubliées and Brahms' Symphony No. 4.

Recently on Broadway, this bold, new musical is an unforgettable chronicle through the joy and ache of love.

With an acclaimed score by Tony Award winner Jason Robert Brown, The Last Five Years follows two New Yorkers, a rising author and an aspiring actress, as they fall in and out of love over the course of five years. Joy and heartbreak go hand in hand as on races towards the future and the other reaches back to the past. With an “extraordinary and jubilant” (Chicago Tribune) score, the musical explores whether a couple, once united by their dreams, can remain connected as their paths diverge.

Keauhou is set to captivate audiences once again at the HapaSymphony series with an unforgettable evening of traditional Hawaiian music. This acclaimed ensemble, featuring the talented Jonah Kahanuola Solatorio alongside brothers Nicholas Kealiʻi Lum and Zachary Alakaʻi Lum, boasts multiple Nā Hōkū Hanohano awards and is renowned for their deep respect for Hawaiian music’s rich heritage. Don’t miss the chance to experience the powerful fusion of beloved classics and original compositions with the Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra and Music and Artistic Director Dane Lam.

A lunar new year finale! Music and Artistic Director Dane Lam leads your Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra with an all-star program of seasonal favorites featuring renowned violinist Cho-Liang Lin and the phenomenal virtuosity of 16-year-old Canadian pianist Sophia Liu. 

In celebration of the 50th Anniversary of Hōkūleʻa's maiden voyage to Tahiti, the Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra joins forces with conductor Anthony Parnther, the Oʻahu Choral Society and the Polynesian Voyaging Society to present, for the first time, Michael-Thomas Foumai’s complete choral symphony, Raise Hawaiki. Inspired by the legendary voyages of Hōkūleʻa and the powerful words of Eddie Aikau and Nainoa Thompson, experience the trials and triumphs of Polynesian voyaging with captivating visual projections of historical photos alongside video from the current Moananuiākea voyage. The performance opens with Britten’s seaworthy Four Sea Interludes from Peter Grimes.