The Hawaii Youth Symphony is among the largest youth symphony programs in the country, serving 700 students annually from more than 100 schools across the state.  Incorporated in 1964 with a single 80-member orchestra, HYS has grown nearly 8-fold in the past  half century with 13 different programs. We offer a complete spectrum of out-of-school music programs organized under the following sections: the Symphony Program, Academy Program, HYS Jazz, and Music in the Clubhouse (MITCH)

Celebrate the season at Paula Fuga's “Home for the Holidays" shows this December!
Hawai'i's Queen of Soul is back again to share her sonic gifts and her favorite holiday tunes with her stellar band. Make “Home for the Holidays” your family party plan or work soiree this year!

Today, the Makaha Sons is considered to be one of Hawai‘i’s premiere Hawaiian musical groups. They continue to perpetuate that vibrant sound, full and rich, with harmonies that only they can create. Their incomparable vocal arrangements and delightful stage presence is filled with comical antics which have won the hearts of thousands of fans worldwide.

Over the past two decades, Jake has proved that there isn’t a style of music that he can’t play. While versatility for any musician is impressive, what’s remarkable about Jake’s transcendent skills is how he explores his seemingly limitless vocabulary – whether it’s jazz, rock, blues, bluegrass, folk or even classical – on perhaps the unlikeliest of instruments: the ‘ukulele. Responding to the urgent calls of his fervent imagination, Jake has taken the ‘ukulele to points previously thought impossible, and in the process he’s reinvented the applications for this tiny, heretofore underappreciated four - string instrument, causing many to call him “the Jimi Hendrix of the ‘ukulele.”

Over the past two decades, Jake has proved that there isn’t a style of music that he can’t play. While versatility for any musician is impressive, what’s remarkable about Jake’s transcendent skills is how he explores his seemingly limitless vocabulary – whether it’s jazz, rock, blues, bluegrass, folk or even classical – on perhaps the unlikeliest of instruments: the ‘ukulele. Responding to the urgent calls of his fervent imagination, Jake has taken the ‘ukulele to points previously thought impossible, and in the process he’s reinvented the applications for this tiny, heretofore underappreciated four - string instrument, causing many to call him “the Jimi Hendrix of the ‘ukulele.”

Over the past two decades, Jake has proved that there isn’t a style of music that he can’t play. While versatility for any musician is impressive, what’s remarkable about Jake’s transcendent skills is how he explores his seemingly limitless vocabulary – whether it’s jazz, rock, blues, bluegrass, folk or even classical – on perhaps the unlikeliest of instruments: the ‘ukulele. Responding to the urgent calls of his fervent imagination, Jake has taken the ‘ukulele to points previously thought impossible, and in the process he’s reinvented the applications for this tiny, heretofore underappreciated four - string instrument, causing many to call him “the Jimi Hendrix of the ‘ukulele.”

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!

Island roots and reggae night, every third Friday of the month. Presented by Capitol Modern and Mundo Reggae. December 19, featuring Chante, Trishnalei, and Leslie Bimwala. Hosted by Miss Lulu. Art + Flea urban market, with more vendors than usual for your holiday shopping, food and beverage vendors, and local artists.
Main galleries are closed for this event in preparation for new exhibits.

Free admission, all ages welcome.

Over the past two decades, Jake has proved that there isn’t a style of music that he can’t play. While versatility for any musician is impressive, what’s remarkable about Jake’s transcendent skills is how he explores his seemingly limitless vocabulary – whether it’s jazz, rock, blues, bluegrass, folk or even classical – on perhaps the unlikeliest of instruments: the ‘ukulele. Responding to the urgent calls of his fervent imagination, Jake has taken the ‘ukulele to points previously thought impossible, and in the process he’s reinvented the applications for this tiny, heretofore underappreciated four - string instrument, causing many to call him “the Jimi Hendrix of the ‘ukulele.”

Embark on a musical journey by candlelight

This holiday season, embark on a musical journey by the light of thousands of candles and ignite a new tradition. Candlelight concerts are the perfect way to enjoy music performed by the finest musicians and kindle the excitement during this special time.

Programme to include

12 Days of Christmas
Angels from the Realms of Glory
Angels We Have Heard On High
Away in a Manger
Carol of the Bells
Deck the Halls
Ding Dong! Merrily on High
Do You Hear What I Hear
God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen
Good King Wenceslas
Greensleeves (What Child Is This)
Hark! The Herald Angels Sing
In the Bleak Mid-Winter
Joy to the World
O Christmas Tree (O Tannenbaum)
O Come All Ye Faithful
O Holy Night
O Little Town of Bethlehem
Silent Night
The First Noel

KIMIÉ MINER is a Native Hawaiian mother of three and a GRAMMY® nominated producer, singer-songwriter, and recording artist. She is the CEO of Haku Collective, a multi-media talent management group founded in Hawaiʻi.

Miner is committed to mentoring Hawaiʻi's emerging artists through her MeleCraft BootCamp community programs which honor the Hawaiian culture and language by supporting a new sound of music makers.

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.

Nā Hōkū Hanohano Award-winning artists Kalaʻe & Kalena celebrate Christmas at Blue Note!

Beloved vocalist Starr Kalahiki returns for a soulful and sparkling holiday concert with the Honolulu Brass Quintet. Celebrate the season with popular holiday tunes.

Christmas time is here. Happiness and cheer. And for Peanuts fans everywhere, it just wouldn't be Christmas without this classic holiday delight.

A familiar face at the Blue Note Hawaii, Native New-Yorker and trumpeter Mike Lewis presents A Charlie Brown Christmas, featuring some of Hawaii's best jazz musicians. The show will highlight holiday classics along with selections from the soundtrack to A Charlie Brown Christmas, as written by legendary composer and pianist Vince Guaraldi.

Christmas time is here. Happiness and cheer. And for Peanuts fans everywhere, it just wouldn't be Christmas without this classic holiday delight.

A familiar face at the Blue Note Hawaii, Native New-Yorker and trumpeter Mike Lewis presents A Charlie Brown Christmas, featuring some of Hawaii's best jazz musicians. The show will highlight holiday classics along with selections from the soundtrack to A Charlie Brown Christmas, as written by legendary composer and pianist Vince Guaraldi.

Free admission, all ages welcome.

Free admission, all ages welcome.

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.

Tony®, EMMY®, and five-time GRAMMY® Award-nominated singer, songwriter, actor, and philanthropist Josh Groban possesses one of the most outstanding and instantly recognizable voices in music. His catalog spans a series of chart-topping blockbuster albums, including Josh Groban (5x-platinum), Closer (6x-platinum), Noël (7x-platinum), Awake (2x-platinum), Illuminations, All That Echoes, Stages (his first UK #1 album), Bridges, and his most recent release, Harmony. Along the way, he has packed arenas throughout North America, Europe, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, and Asia.

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.

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. 

For one night only, the world-renowned composer and conductor Joe Hisaishi will lead the Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra in a momentous program featuring his own classical works and a symphonic suite based on a beloved film score. From the intimate lyricism and emotional depth of his original symphonic compositions to the sweeping expressive scores of Princess Mononoke, this concert offers a rare opportunity to experience Hisaishi’s full musical world, brought to life under his own baton.

“Love looks not with the eyes, but with the mind, And therefore is winged Cupid painted blind.”

Beware the Ides of March! Shakespeare Festival kicks off with all things Bard at your HSO. Dane Lam leads Mendelssohn’s enchanted incidental music from A Midsummer Night Dream in collaboration with Manoa Valley Theatre. Get your tickets before they vanish “into thin air.”

“Parting is such sweet sorrow.”

The Shakespeare Festival is back, showcasing all things tragic. From the Merry Wives of Windsor to the story of star-crossed lovers, emotions run high in a Prokofiev double feature. Conductor Dane Lam leads selections from the composer's ballet Romeo and Juliet, and Gramophone Young Artist of the Year, violinist Stella Chen, performs Violin Concerto No. 2.

“Oh, I am fortuneʻs fool!”

Passions double and toil in trouble with a Tchaikovsky double feature! Dane Lam conducts the lovestruck Romeo and Juliet Fantasy-Overture in collaboration with Ballet Hawaii;. Silver Medalist of the 2015 International Tchaikovsky Competition, pianist George Li, performs Piano Concerto No. 1. The Shakespeare Festival comes full circle, concluding with violent delights and violent ends, including Michael-Thomas Foumai’s Lady Dark, inspired by the Dark Lady Sonnets.

Beyond the Music proudly returns to honor the 50th anniversary of HŌKŪLEʻA’s historic maiden voyage to Tahiti. Experience the captivating story of Hōkūleʻa and the art of Polynesian wayfinding, from her monumental first voyage to the inspiring current voyages of Moananuiākea, all brought to life through powerful symphonic music. Join esteemed guest conductor Anthony Parnther, HSO Composer in Residence Michael-Thomas Foumai, and the Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra as they present excerpts from "Raise Hawaiki." Presented with narration, storytelling, and projected visuals, this concert offers a wonderful opportunity for the whole family to explore the connections between music and Polynesian navigation. The concert will last approximately one hour.

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.

Pierce The Veil debuted atop Billboard’s Top Rock Albums, Alternative Albums, and Hard Rock Albums charts twice – first with Collide with the Sky (2012) and its follow-up, Misadventures (2016). A decade after its release, the already platinum “King for a Day” shot to No. 1 on Billboard’s Hard Rock Streaming chart, driven by the viral #KingForADay hashtag on TikTok.

Pierce The Veil debuted atop Billboard’s Top Rock Albums, Alternative Albums, and Hard Rock Albums charts twice – first with Collide with the Sky (2012) and its follow-up, Misadventures (2016). A decade after its release, the already platinum “King for a Day” shot to No. 1 on Billboard’s Hard Rock Streaming chart, driven by the viral #KingForADay hashtag on TikTok.

By popular demand, Hawaiʻi’s Favorite Entertainer, Johnny Valentine, returns for a special one-night-only Hapa Mama Celebration. Celebrate Mother’s Day early and treat mom to a night out with an unforgettable tribute that only Johnny can deliver! Composer-in-Residence Michael-Thomas Foumai conduct your Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra for a mother-of-all HapaSymphony performance, featuring covers and original songs from Johnny's "Mom's I Love Forever" playlist!

Praised for his “brilliant technique and real emotional depth” by the Washington Post, Polish-American pianist Adam Golka performs Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23. Conductor Emeritus JoAnn Falletta returns to conduct a program of classical delights, including Michael Torke’s speed fueled Javelin, and Dvořák Symphony No. 6.

Experience the enchanting sounds that inspired White Lotus and Classic Exotica at the unforgettable HapaSymphony finale! Join Waitiki 7—a captivating fusion of Waikiki and Tiki—as they partner with Music and Artistic Director Dane Lam and your Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra for an extraordinary evening that celebrates mid-century Exotica music. Inspired by legendary figures such as Les Baxter, Martin Denny, Arthur Lyman, Gene Rains, and Robert Drasnin from the late 1950s and 1960s, Waitiki 7 is dedicated to recreating the timeless Tiki sound, ambiance, and sheer joy that defined an era.