Free, all-ages evening of island roots and reggae music. Museum galleries are open and the Art + Flea urban market will include local artists and food/beverage vendors.

Discover a world of imagination, where music, movement, and art reveal the beauty and wonder of some of our planet’s most extraordinary animals.

Carnival of the Nearly Extinct Animals is a visually captivating, multidisciplinary performance celebrating some of the planet’s most rare and remarkable creatures. Through a seamless blend of live music, dance, and larger-than-life puppetry, audiences are invited on an unforgettable journey into the beauty of the natural world.

Presented by Ocean Music Action in partnership with Hawaiʻi Theatre Center, this World Premiere performance features newly commissioned choreography by Dance Heginbotham with dancers of Ballet Hawaiʻi, performed alongside an evocative live musical score. Large-scale animal puppetry by Obie Award–winning puppeteer Greg Corbino brings each creature to life with striking detail and expressive storytelling.

 Original poetry by local students is woven throughout the performance, offering a poignant reflection on connection, care, and our shared responsibility for the future of these animals. Bringing together internationally recognized artists and leading local creatives, Carnival of the Nearly Extinct Animals is a feast for the senses and a powerful call to action— an unforgettable theatrical experience for audiences of all ages.

Discover a world of imagination, where music, movement, and art reveal the beauty and wonder of some of our planet’s most extraordinary animals.

Carnival of the Nearly Extinct Animals is a visually captivating, multidisciplinary performance celebrating some of the planet’s most rare and remarkable creatures. Through a seamless blend of live music, dance, and larger-than-life puppetry, audiences are invited on an unforgettable journey into the beauty of the natural world.

Presented by Ocean Music Action in partnership with Hawaiʻi Theatre Center, this World Premiere performance features newly commissioned choreography by Dance Heginbotham with dancers of Ballet Hawaiʻi, performed alongside an evocative live musical score. Large-scale animal puppetry by Obie Award–winning puppeteer Greg Corbino brings each creature to life with striking detail and expressive storytelling.

 Original poetry by local students is woven throughout the performance, offering a poignant reflection on connection, care, and our shared responsibility for the future of these animals. Bringing together internationally recognized artists and leading local creatives, Carnival of the Nearly Extinct Animals is a feast for the senses and a powerful call to action— an unforgettable theatrical experience for audiences of all ages.

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.

SINGALONG BROADWAY is a high-octane love letter to Broadway musicals that will have audiences singing along to Broadway's greatest tracks at an all-out Broadway themed party.

For every musical novice to the Broadway expert - all ages and any musical experience will enjoy this full-blown, high-energy Broadway party where you are the star. Join us and prepare to sing your heart out to iconic showstoppers from all of your favorite Broadway musicals!

The entire show will be hosted by a male and a female host who will actively engage with the audience from on stage and in the audience.

The entire night will be interspersed with Medleys, Solos, Broadway themed games, Comedy and lots of audience participation.

Music, art, and nature can deepen our experience of the world around us.

Inspired by Carnival of the Nearly Extinct Animals, this special collaboration between Mānoa Heritage Center and Ocean Music Action invites participants to celebrate Hawaiʻi's remarkable biodiversity through live music, exploration, and hands-on art making.

The evening begins with a musical performance featuring harpist Megan Conley, bassist Shawn Conley, and violinist Iggy Jang. The program will feature music by inspired by the flora and fauna of Hawaii, including whales, butterflies, and kāhuli.

Following the performance, local artist and naturalist Kate Righter will lead a guided nature journaling experience through the beautiful gardens of Mānoa Heritage Center. Participants will observe native plants that provide food and habitat for Hawaiʻi's endangered species—including ʻōhiʻa and māmaki—and will be guided in the creation of their own nature journal pages, while learning how careful observation through writing and drawing can foster a deeper appreciation for the natural world.

This unique experience offers an opportunity to engage the senses— to listen, look closely, and deepen our understanding of the beauty and interconnectedness of Hawaiʻi's living landscapes.

Advance registration required; space is limited to 20 participants. 

Get ready to run amok, amok, amok! The witches are back and confused about what is happening in this new world of 2026! Hokus Pokus Live! is a hilarious, high-camp parody of everyone’s favorite Halloween cult classic, brought to life by drag royalty. With the power of Magica Mystica, Salem’s most infamous and glamorous trio is resurrected from the grave for one night only. Be wary; they are willing to attack and suck the life force out of everyone in their way to stay young, beautiful, and alive forever! This all live singing, fully scripted theatrical experience is unlike any other show you've ever seen! 

All ages.

The Miss Showgirl of the Pacific Pageant is a premier LGBTQIA+ cultural event, proudly presented by UTOPIA Hawai’i Inc..

Celebrating its first annual event in Hawai’i, the pageant provides a dynamic platform to honor Pacific Islander culture, heritage, and artistry, while championing diversity, inclusivity, and LGBTQIA+ pride.

Designed to go beyond the traditional beauty pageant format, the competition uplifts and empowers participants by showcasing not only physical presentation but also talent, creativity, leadership, and advocacy. Contestants are encouraged to express their personal and cultural identities through traditional and contemporary attire, choreographed performances, and storytelling, highlighting the richness and diversity of Pacific Islander communities.

The 26/27 Halekulani Masterworks Season launches with a clash of the musical titans! Experience the exhilarating collision of jazz and classical worlds as virtuoso pianist Makoto Ozone brings Gershwin’s iconic Rhapsody in Blue to life. Music and Artistic Director Dane Lam conducts the Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra in a performance to remember, featuring Mahler’s Symphony No. 1, “Titan,” and a Hawaiʻi premiere by acclaimed Native Hawaiian composer Leilehua Lanzilotti.

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.

The son of Mavis Rivers, “Polynesia's First Lady of Song,” and a proud Pacific Islander bestowed the Samoan chiefly title of La'auli, Matt Catingub has spent 50 years living at the intersection of two worlds. Saxophonist, pianist, vocalist, and award winning composer, he brings his landmark celebration to the Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra. From the islands of Samoa to the stages of Carnegie Hall. From his mother's voice to Sinatra's legacy. 50 years in the making.

A unique immersive theatrical experience bringing the history of the Honouliuli Internment Camp to life through a powerful fusion of dance, music, and poetry. The performance will illuminate the experiences, resilience, and humanity of those who were incarcerated — offering audiences an unforgettable and deeply moving journey into this important chapter of history.

Featuring, Jake Shimabukuro, Kenny Endo, Hawai’i Youth Symphony, Hui ʻIwa Academy, Jill Togawa’s Purple Moon Dance Project, Halla Huhm Korean Dance Studio, Will Espero and Sharon & Lauren Fujimoto-Johnson.

An evening of art and music at Capitol Modern: the Hawai'i State Art Museum! Free admission, all ages welcome. This event will feature the annual Producer Showcase with Slapp Good. Please note that the museum is closed during the day (Fourth of July state holiday observed) and will open at 5:00 p.m. for the First Friday event.

Direct from Off-Broadway and London’s West End , the internationally acclaimed A Taste of Ireland Company brings its flagship production — ‘A Taste of Ireland — The Irish Music Dance Sensation’ to Hawaii for the first time. Laugh, cry, and jig into the night with production that is Celtic, for this generation. 

Performed by former World Irish dance champions, and featuring dancers from Lord of the Dance, Riverdance, and the recent West End cast of Éireann, ‘A Taste of Ireland’ brings the spirit and energy of modern Ireland to life with a pint of Irish wit. Watch world-class performers blend melodic folk mash-ups, live jaw-dropping acapella tap battles, and heartfelt storytelling in a live celebration of Irish music and dance. 

Brian Culbertson & Friends
Join award-winning jazz-fusion artist Brian Culbertson for two unforgettable nights at the Hawaii Theatre!

• Friday, October 9, 2026: Brian Culbertson & Friends featuring David Benoit and Paul Taylor

• Saturday, October 10, 2026: Brian Culbertson & Friends featuring Candy Dulfer and Keiko Matsui

Each evening showcases an all-star lineup of world-class musicians for a unique blend of smooth jazz, funk, and soulful grooves.

By Moses Goods in collaboration with Kealakai Center for Pacific Strings

Back for a limited run before heading out on a national tour! The multi-media production features live music, oli, and is based on the real life story of Joseph Kekuku. In 1889, Joseph, a student at Kamehameha Schools, fabricated a steel bar in the school’s machine shop, slid it across the strings of his guitar and created a new sound that would impact music across the globe. 

PUBLIC PERFORMANCE DATE
Sat Oct 10 @ 4pm

The Hawaiian Mission Houses Historic Site and Archives (HMH) invites the community to experience “Mele Tūtū: Songs of our Grandparents”, the next installment of HMH’s acclaimed Mele Program. “Mele Tūtū means to invite guests to look closely at the memories and songs of our grandparents or great-grandparents’ generation from the 1930s/1940s. Connection to our kūpuna, our elders, helps us to maintain the genealogies, histories, and mana of generations that we revere today. Expressed through mele (song), oli (chant), and hula (dance), Mele Tūtū embodies the enduring principle of Mālama Kūpuna: caring for our elders and those whose shoulders we all stand upon in our present-day lives.

In the 1930s and 1940s, during the time of our grandparents and great-grandparents, live music performances and radio broadcasts were important ways of sharing local music not only across the islands, but also to the Continental U.S. and further abroad. Radio shows like “Hawaiʻi Calls” and its descendant program in the 1970s and 1980s, “Territorial Airwaves” helped to broadcast Hawaiian music, mele, and culture to people otherwise unfamiliar with Hawaiʻi, its history, or its people. Orchestras playing hapahaole music, jazz, and other forms of popular Hawaiian music were instrumental in connecting people across the airwaves.

For many kamaʻāina, the mele and hula of the 1930s and 1940s are direct connections to their ancestors who danced hula, played in world-renowned touring Hawaiian bands, and kept the memory and music of previous generations alive in new contemporary ways for the time period. These mele and hula evoke memories of family musicians in the yard or on the lānai, at family gatherings, or times when kūpuna would share the knowledge and history of the family with the younger generations. It brings back memories of joy, happiness, fun, and genuine connection between family members.

Brian Culbertson & Friends
Join award-winning jazz-fusion artist Brian Culbertson for two unforgettable nights at the Hawaii Theatre!

• Friday, October 9, 2026: Brian Culbertson & Friends featuring David Benoit and Paul Taylor

• Saturday, October 10, 2026: Brian Culbertson & Friends featuring Candy Dulfer and Keiko Matsui

Each evening showcases an all-star lineup of world-class musicians for a unique blend of smooth jazz, funk, and soulful grooves.

ALL AGES WELCOME!

Multi-platinum selling, Grammy nominated singer/songwriter Geoff Tate is best known for his 30-plus years as the creative and driving force behind the progressive metal band Queensryche. Since its inception with Geoff at the helm, Queensryche has sold over 20 million albums worldwide and has performed in upwards of fifty countries. Geoff is regarded as one of the most skilled vocalists in the genre with hundreds of modern, popular artists citing him and his former band as a major influence. Combining social consciousness and expertly crafted lyrics with high-energy, melodically complex music, Queensryche with Geoff Tate at the forefront became internationally recognized as the thinking man's rock band. The band's first three albums -- their self-titled EP (1983), The Warning (1984) and Rage for Order (1986) -- all hit gold status selling over 500,000 units each.’

The larger-than-life ambassador of New Orleans Bounce music, Big Freedia, is a nationally recognized hip-hop artist, TV personality and cultural influencer. Known by her fans as the "Queen Diva," Big Freedia is a loud and proud advocate for racial and gender equality and LGBTQ+ rights.

Free, all-ages evening of island roots and reggae music. Museum galleries are open and the Art + Flea urban market will include local artists and food/beverage vendors.

HSO Conductor Emeritus JoAnn Falletta returns to conduct Beethoven's Triple Concerto. Pianist Lisa Nakamichi, HSO Concert Master Ignace Jang, and cellist Julian Schwarz unite in an alliance of virtuosity for a program that includes the turbulent First Symphony of Sibelius and the Hawaiʻi Premiere of American composer Randall Svane’s super-colliding Quantum Flight.

Kelli O'Hara has established herself as one of Broadway's greatest leading ladies. The Tony Award winner, Emmy, SAG, and Grammy-nominated actress has appeared in twelve Broadway shows for which she has garnered eight Tony Award nominations. 

She won the 2015 Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical, along with Grammy, Drama League and Outer Critics nominations for her portrayal of Anna Leonowens in The King and I. O’Hara’s other Broadway credits include Kiss Me Kate, The Bridges of Madison County, Nice Work if You Can Get It, South Pacific, The Pajama Game, The Light in the Piazza, Sweet Smell of Success, Follies, Dracula, and Jekyll & Hyde.

As it celebrates 50 years of aloha, heritage, and community, Daughters of Hawaiʻi are honored to introduce Aloha Nuʻuanu as the new name of their beloved annual gathering at Hānaiakamalama (Queen Emma Summer Palace). Rooted in the spirit of Nuʻuanu, this inoa reflects a deeper pilina to this wahi pana- place of refuge, renewal, and aloha, and the shared kuleana to preserving its legacy for generations to come.
Join them for a day of mele, hula, hana noʻeau, ʻono food, local artisans, and meaningful connections as they hoʻi hou, returning once again to celebrate Queen Emma’s enduring legacy in the uplands of Nuʻuanu.
Save the date, and stay tuned as they share more exciting announcements in the weeks ahead.

From Princess Jasmine to Miss Saigon, Tony Award-winning icon Lea Salonga joins the Hawai’i Symphony for an unforgettable night of Broadway favorites, Disney classics, and timeless hits brought to life by her luminous voice and symphonic splendor.

From Princess Jasmine to Miss Saigon, Tony Award-winning icon Lea Salonga joins the Hawai’i Symphony for an unforgettable night of Broadway favorites, Disney classics, and timeless hits brought to life by her luminous voice and symphonic splendor.

A high-energy, live concert celebration of the music, movement, and spirit of Michael Jackson. Founded in 2003, Who’s Bad is the longest-running Michael Jackson tribute in the world, performing over 2,500 shows worldwide and captivating audiences across the U.S., Europe, Asia, and beyond. 

Inspired by Michael’s legendary live tours, the show features a full live band, dynamic dancers, iconic choreography, and the unforgettable hits that defined generations — from Billie Jean and Smooth Criminal to Thriller and beyond. Fronted by the electrifying vocals and pinpoint dance of Taalib York, the performance delivers the energy, precision, and emotional connection fans expect from an MJ concert experience. 

Dane Lam, conductor
Anthony McGill, clarinet

Salina Fisher - Kintsugi (Hawai’i Premiere)
Aaron Copland - Clarinet Concerto
Sergei Rachmaninoff - Symphony No. 2, Op. 27, E minor

Enter a world of lush melodies, radiant colors, and sweeping emotion as the Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra presents an evening of musical beauty and discovery.

An evening of art and music at Capitol Modern: the Hawai'i State Art Museum! Free admission, all ages welcome. This event will feature the annual Producer Showcase with Slapp Good. Please note that the museum is closed during the day (Fourth of July state holiday observed) and will open at 5:00 p.m. for the First Friday event.

A Hawaii Theatre production in partnership with the Still & Moving Meditation Fellowship + Still & Moving Community Center

For nearly two decades, Still & Moving has marked Diwali, the Indian festival of lights, with a living retelling the world's oldest epic: the Ramayana. What began as a small community gathering — a story shared among students and teachers — has grown into a full theatrical production, drawing dozens of performers ranging in age from 5 to 85. This year, for the first time, that story steps onto one of the most storied stages in the Pacific: the Hawaiʻi Theatre.

Join the original 'Brad Majors' - BARRY BOSTWICK - for a screening of the movie in a new 4k restoration with a live shadow cast and audience participation!

Plus a memorabilia display with artifacts and an actual costume from the movie, a costume contest, and more!

VIP Meet & Greet Available!

by John Kauffman, A Collaboration with Spokane Ensemble Theatre

Directed by Josephine Keefe

According to Coyote was created by the late HTY Artistic Director, John Kauffman, who performed this vibrant anthology of trickster tales worldwide. This production is directed by John’s niece and performed by indigenous actor Kellen Lewis, who is a member of the Nez Perce tribe. The production showcases some of the most popular characters in Native American mythology through traditional music, dance, and storytelling. 

PUBLIC PERFORMANCE DATES

Sat Nov 7 @ 7pm

Sun Nov 15 @ 2pm

Sun Nov 22 @ 2pm

An evening of art and music at Capitol Modern: the Hawai'i State Art Museum! Free admission, all ages welcome. This event will feature the annual Producer Showcase with Slapp Good. Please note that the museum is closed during the day (Fourth of July state holiday observed) and will open at 5:00 p.m. for the First Friday event.

The Hapa Holiday Extravaganza is back — and it's the most wonderful night of the year. Maestro Dane Lam and the Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra bring their signature energy to Blaisdell Concert Hall for an evening of timeless holiday classics, local flair, and pure festive joy. Bring your ʻohana and celebrate the season the Hawaiʻi way.

Buddy was accidentally transported to the North Pole as a toddler and raised to adulthood among Santa’s elves. Unable to shake the feeling that he doesn’t fit in, the adult Buddy travels to New York, in full elf uniform, in search of his real father. This holiday season, relive this heartwarming holiday classic on a giant screen as every note of John Debney’s wonderful score is played live to picture in: Elf in Concert!
ELF and all related characters and elements © & ™ New Line Productions, Inc.

Buddy was accidentally transported to the North Pole as a toddler and raised to adulthood among Santa’s elves. Unable to shake the feeling that he doesn’t fit in, the adult Buddy travels to New York, in full elf uniform, in search of his real father. This holiday season, relive this heartwarming holiday classic on a giant screen as every note of John Debney’s wonderful score is played live to picture in: Elf in Concert!
ELF and all related characters and elements © & ™ New Line Productions, Inc.

by Jarren Amian and Mattea Mazzella

What is that?!  Sound?  Music?  Come play and explore the grooves and sounds of Hawaiʻi in this original interactive experience created and performed by two of HTY’s resident composer-musicians and built specifically for our youngest audience members.  Listening will never feel so fun!

PUBLIC PERFORMANCE DATES

Sat Jan 23 @ 10:30am

Sun Jan 31 @ 2pm

Sun Feb 7 @ 2pm