Hanalei
While not as slick as the resort equivalents elsewhere on Kaua‘i, the North Shore’s one weekly luau is everything a Hawaiian luau should be. Housed in a…
Must-see entertainment in Hawaii
Masters of Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Concert Series
West Maui
Ledward Kaapana and other top slack key guitarists appear regularly at this exceptional concert series. George Kahumoku Jr, a slack key legend in his own…
Kuhio Beach Torchlighting & Hula Show
Waikiki
It all begins at the Duke Kahanamoku statue with the sounding of a conch shell and the lighting of torches after sunset. At the nearby hula mound, enjoy a…
Lahaina
From the warm greeting to the feast and hula dances, everything here is premium (including the drinks). No other luau on Maui comes close to matching this…
Honolulu
The Doris Duke Theatre shows an array of experimental, alternative, retro-classic and art-house films, especially groundbreaking documentaries, inside the…
Waikiki
The Kapiʻolani Park Bandstand is the perfect venue for this time-honored troupe that performs classics from the Hawaiian monarchy era. It’s a…
Hilton Hawaiian Village Fireworks
Waikiki
Every Friday night, the Hilton Hawaiian Village stages a booming 10-minute fireworks show. Although it's done in conjunction with a touristy luau …
Lihuʻe
Skip the same-old commercial luau and catch this dinner theater-in-the-round with a dash of Cirque du Soleil (think dancers, flashy leotards and…
Honolulu
Beautifully restored, this architecturally significant historic theater is a major venue for dance, music and theater. Performances include top Hawaii…
Hamakua Coast
There's something wonderful about watching a movie in a huge, old-fashioned theater – like this one, with a 50ft screen and over 500 seats. Built in 1930,…
Honolulu
Founded in 1836 by King Kamehameha III, the Royal Hawaiian Band is the only band in the US with a royal legacy, and is the only full-time municipal band…
Kohala & Waimea
A hot spot for music and dance, this theater has its finger on the pulse of the Big Island, and offers a variety of top performances – for example from…
Honolulu
In the restored 1871 Kamehameha V Post Office building, this little 100-seat treasure is dedicated to premiering works by Hawaii’s playwrights. Themes…
ʻIao Valley & Central Maui
The polar opposite of a corporate coffee-shop chain, Maui Coffee Attic has a living room–style lounge of mismatched furniture, overflowing bookshelves,…
Waikiki
It’s worth navigating through the gargantuan Hilton resort complex to this Polynesian-themed open-air bar just to see some of the best traditional and…
Waikiki
Named after a 1925 Charlie Chan novel set in Honolulu, this genteel open-air hotel lounge sprawls beneath a waterfront century-old kiawe tree (that's…
Waikiki
Inside this historic beachfront hotel bar, soak up the sounds of classical and contemporary Hawaiian musicians playing underneath the old banyan tree…
Waimea Canyon & the Westside
The Storybook Theatre tours Hawaii with puppets who ‘talk story’ (chat). Schedules vary, but drop in on Art Night, when it sometimes hosts kids’…
Honolulu
Right above Hank’s Cafe in Chinatown, this laid-back hideaway with a sedate vibe and lots of funky stylized masks on the walls and mirrors hosts a…
Honolulu
In the Kaimuki neighborhood, east of the UH Manoa campus, watch classics, foreign flicks and indie films – including some Hawaii premieres – in a tiny…
Waikiki
Once happy hour ends, the Outrigger’s poolside bar sets the scene for some of the most laid-back live-music shows of any of Waikiki’s beachfront hotels,…
Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Concerts
Hanalei
Veteran local musicians Doug and Sandy McMaster perform Hawaiian-style slack-key guitar and ukulele year-round in a refreshingly relaxed informal…
Hilo
This historic theater is Hilo's cultural crown jewel. Its eclectic programming includes art-house and silent films (accompanied by the house organ), music…
West Maui
Kaʻanapali’s best luau includes an imu ceremony (unearthing of a roasted pig from an underground oven), an open bar, a Hawaiian-style buffet and a South…
South Kona Coast
Meet one of the liveliest little community theater troupes in the islands: the Aloha Performing Arts Company, with quality plays, indie films and live…
Saddle Road
And now for something completely different: polo! An ancient game involving a ball, mallets and ponies played on an impressive, large field. The games are…
Kahului
This snazzy performance complex opened in 1994 and boasts two indoor theaters and an outdoor amphitheater. As Maui’s main venue for music, theater and…
Poʻipu
The Sheraton’s luau trades above all on its superb oceanfront setting, right alongside Po‘ipu Beach and timed to coincide with sunset. Otherwise, both the…
Waikiki
This oceanfront dinner show is like a three-act musical play narrating the history of Hawaiian mele (songs) and hula. The buffet features good renditions…
Wailua
It's a Kauaʻi institution, attracting droves of tourists yet run with aloha spirit by four generations at the family's riverside gardens. Surprisingly,…
Honolulu
Founded and hosted by Kealoha (the Poet Laureate of Hawai`i), HawaiiSlam is the largest registered poetry slam in the world. International wordsmiths,…
Lahaina
Food takes center stage at this intimate three-hour Polynesian luau on the beach. Dance performances in Hawaiian, Maori, Tahitian and Samoan styles are…
West Maui
Kaʻanapali’s shopping center shows free outdoor movies, with free popcorn, on Tuesday and Thursday nights in the lower-level courtyard. These family…
Pearl Harbor & Leeward O‘ahu
Pre-buffet activities include Hawaiian games and a hukilau (net-fishing) party, adding an interactivity that kids love at this luau. The much-hyped dinner…
Fia Fia Polynesian Dinner Show
Pearl Harbor & Leeward O‘ahu
These Polynesian performances lean heavily toward the Samoan, and feature an entertaining 'chief.' Kids love the preshow games and the fire and knife…
Honolulu
The 500-person Crossroads Concert Hall here sees acts of all kinds, especially blues, soul and rock. It's also home to the HawaiiSlam, and there are pool…
Oʻahu
Opened in 1915 and known as 'the Broadway of the Pacific,' this lovely old theater is the third-oldest continuously running community theater in the USA…
South Kohala
What happens when you open a venue in the Kohala dry zone? You figure rain is not an issue and make it open air. This retro-chic tiki bar/dance hall…
Honolulu
On the cutting edge of the Chinatown arts scene, this artist-run, nonprofit community arts center, gallery and performance space puts on a variety of live…
South Kohala
With music and dance numbers that go beyond tiki cliches, this luau feels slightly modernized compared to other contenders in the genre. It's notable for…
