Maui: Jake Shimabukuro with Special Guest Pure Heart

Hawai’i has a range of concert halls and other venues for hosting music performances, from local talent to national touring acts. In addition, you can enjoy original plays as well as Broadway musicals, intimate jazz shows to on-your-feet rock concerts, plus film festivals, sporting events, consumer expos, and more.

As you might suspect, Honolulu has the widest range of concert halls and performance venues, from the Blaisdell arena to the open-air Waikīkī Shell and cherished Historic Hawai’i theatre. The outer islands boast a surprising array of venues, many historic places lovingly restored and featuring state-of-the art sound and lighting. In the list below, we begin with concert venues on O’ahu, followed by those on the outer islands.

Finally, find our calendar listing upcoming events at these and other venues across the Hawaiian Islands.

Neal S. Blaisdell Center in Honolulu

Blaisdell Center in Honolulu includes several venues: an Arena, Concert Hall, and Exhibition Hall. The center hosts music performances, including national touring acts and Broadway shows, sporting events, conventions, consumer shows, and graduation ceremonies, as well as other special events.

The original venue opened in 1964 as the Honolulu International Center. Neal S. Blaisdell was Mayor of Honolulu from 1955 to 1969 and oversaw the construction. His successor, Frank F. Fasi renamed the center in 1976, a year after Blaisdell’s death. The complex has been expanded and renovated several times.

The tranquil grounds around Blaisdell Center include remnants of the historic Ward Plantation estate and farmland on which the center was built: sweeping lawns, coconut tree groves, and artesian springs that serve as tropical fish ponds.

• Address: Blaisdell Center Box Office, 777 Ward Avenue, Honolulu, Hawaii 96814.
• Event Parking: Daily Rate $8.00. Public entrances during events are on King Street and Kapiolani Avenue.
• Website: https://blaisdellcenter.com/

Selected upcoming events at Blaisdell Center

We focus on events with a regular admission price of $15 or less but sometimes edge higher on events featuring local culture and talent.

• Hamilton revolutionary musical at Blaisdell Concert Hall. December 7, 2022 – January 29, 2023. Featuring a score that blends hip-hop, jazz, R&B and Broadway, HAMILTON has taken the story of American founding father Alexander Hamilton and created a revolutionary moment in theatre–a musical that has had a profound impact on culture, politics, and education. With book, music, and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, direction by Thomas Kail, choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler, and musical supervision and orchestrations by Alex Lacamoire, HAMILTON is based on Ron Chernow’s acclaimed biography. It has won Tony®, Grammy®, and Olivier Awards, the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and an unprecedented special citation from the Kennedy Center Honors. More info: Hamilton (Touring) Tickets | Event Dates & Schedule | Ticketmaster.com
• CATS The Musical at Blaisdell Concert Hall. June 13-18, 2023. Tickets: $45-$125. Broadway in Hawaii presents CATS, the record-breaking musical spectacular by Andrew Lloyd Webber that has captivated audiences in over 30 countries and 15 languages, is returning to Blaisdell Concert Hall for a long-anticipated encore engagement. Audiences and critics alike are rediscovering this beloved musical with breathtaking music, including one of the most treasured songs in musical theater, “Memory.” Winner of 7 Tony Awards including Best Musical, CATS tells the story of one magical night when an extraordinary tribe of cats gathers for its annual ball to rejoice and decide which cat will be reborn. The original score by Andrew Lloyd Webber (THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, SCHOOL OF ROCK, SUNSET BOULEVARD), original scenic and costume design by John Napier (LES MISÉRABLES), all-new lighting design by Natasha Katz (ALADDIN), all-new sound design by Mick Potter, new choreography by Andy Blankenbuehler (HAMILTON) based on the original choreography by Gillian Lynne (PHANTOM OF THE OPERA) and direction by Trevor Nunn (LES MISÉRABLES) make the Hawaii production a new CATS for a new generation. Ticketmaster is the official source for tickets for Broadway in Hawaii events. More info: Broadway in Hawaii – CATS

More info: Upcoming Events – Blaisdell Center

Tom Moffatt Waikīkī Shell

The Waikīkī Shell hosts concerts in every genre, including local, national, and international stars performing Hawaiian, Reggae, jazz, R&B, rock, country, contemporary, and classical music. The Shell is also the scene for music festivals, hula shows, fundraising events, and other entertainment.

The state-of-the-art outdoor amphitheater sits on the grounds of Kapiʻolani Park at the eastern edge of Waikīkī, in the shadow of Diamond Head Crater. The venue lawn is used for concert general admission, as well as other events including festival booths and outdoor yoga.

The outdoor venue was built in 1956 on the grounds that were once the site of King Kalākauaʻs horse race track. In 2018, it was named for Tom Moffatt, who passed away in 2016. The beloved concert promoter got his start as the first rock DJ in Hawaii.

“Uncle Tom” became a local record producer and concert promoter, booking big name acts at the Blaisdell Center and Waikīkī Shell, including Elvis Presley, Jimmy Hendrix, Elton John, Bruno Mars, Frank Sinatra, Michael Jackson, and the Rolling Stones.

• Address: Waikīkī Shell, 2805 Monsarrat Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96815. The Waikiki Shell is a Blaisdell Center venue. Tickets can be purchased online or at the Blaisdell box office.
• Event parking: Waikiki Shell parking lot is free; entrance on Monsarrat Avenue. Additional free and metered parking is available around Kapiolani Park on Monsarrat, Paki, and Kalakaua Avenues.
• Website: https://blaisdellcenter.com/venues/waikiki-shell/

Blue Note Waikīkī

Located inside the Outrigger Waikīkī Beach Resort, Blue Note Hawaii features local, national, and international performers in jazz, reggae, rock, pop, and Hawaiian music, as well as comedy acts.

Extensively renovated in 2016, Blue Note showcases nightly performances in an intimate club setting with a full-service restaurant and bar. In addition to a show ticket, there is a $10 food and beverage minimum.

• Address: Blue Note Hawaii, 2335 Kalākaua Ave, Honolulu, HI 96816
• Event parking: Self-park at Ohana East Hotel, 150 Kaʻiulani Ave, Honolulu, HI 96815. Enter on the makai (ocean) side of Kuhio Ave. Valet parking at Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort.
• Website: https://bluenotehawaii.com/

Selected upcoming shows at Blue Note Waikīkī

We focus on events with a regular admission price of $15 or less but sometimes edge higher on events featuring local culture and talent. Note: In addition to tickets, Blue Note has a $10 Food or Beverage Minimum Per Person. Full Bar & Full Dinner Menu Available. Seating is First Come, First Served.

•  Jake Shimabukuro & Friends Sessions with Special Guest Pure Heart. January 18-19, 2023. Tickets $35-$45. Ukulele master Jake Shimabukuro returns with pop trio Pure Heart! 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.” More info: Jake Shimabukuro & Pure Heart | Blue Note Hawaii (bluenotejazz.com)
• James Mane Blue Note Comedy Series. January 25, 2023. Tickets $15-$25. James Mane is a larger than life Samoan stand up comedian, actor, and podcast host from Hawaii. He is the first Samoan to do stand-up comedy on American television via FNX’s First Nations Comedy Experience which highlighted many Native American comedians and other indigenous people and can be seen on Amazon Prime. Mane has worked with comedians such as Dave Chappelle, Bert Kreischer, Doug Stanhope, Wanda Sykes, Ronny Chieng, Graham Elwood, Louie Anderson, Eddie Ifft, Amy Schumer, Brian Posehn, The Impractical Jokers, Cedric The Entertainer, Patton Oswalt, and many others. More info: James Mane | Blue Note Hawaii (bluenotejazz.com)
• Tavana with Special Guest Taimane. January 26, 2023. Tickets $15-$25. Tavana is a one-man band from Honolulu who uses his feet to lay down a variety of grooves to accompany himself while playing guitar and singing soulful, island-inspired rock and blues. Tavana has performed and recorded with Eddie Vedder from Pearl Jam, Jack Johnson, Henry Kapono, John Cruz and Leon Mobley (Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals), and has been the supporting act for Alabama Shakes, Shakey Graves, Xavier Rudd, Jenny Lewis, Julian Marley and Kaleo to name just a few. He is a multi-Nā Hōkū Hanohano nominee. More info: Tevana & Temaine | Blue Note Hawaii (bluenotejazz.com)
• Henry Kapono & Jerry Santos. February 2, 2023. Tickets $35-$45. Join Henry Kapono’s Artist 2 Artist Legends Concert Series! Turning back the clock on a much simpler time in the islands as part of the “Hawaiian Renaissance,” the seminal movement in Hawai‛i’s cultural history that brought language, music, hula, art, and all aspects of Hawaiian culture back to their central place in the life of the Islands. Kapono will “jam” and “talk story” one-on-one with iconic Legends of Hawaiian Music, “deconstructing” their career (as only one artist to another can do), and giving the audience insight into the spirit and aspirations of the person behind the music. More info: Kapono & Santos | Blue Note Hawaii (bluenotejazz.com)
• Henry Kapono & Keola Beamer. March 9, 2023. Tickets $35-$45. Join Henry Kapono’s Artist 2 Artist Legends Concert Series! Turning back the clock on a much simpler time in the islands as part of the “Hawaiian Renaissance,” the seminal movement in Hawai‛i’s cultural history that brought language, music, hula, art, and all aspects of Hawaiian culture back to their central place in the life of the Islands. Kapono will “jam” and “talk story” one-on-one with iconic Legends of Hawaiian Music, “deconstructing” their career (as only one artist to another can do) and giving the audience insight into the spirit and aspirations of the person behind the music. More info: Kapono & Beamer | Blue Note Hawaii (bluenotejazz.com)

More info: Shows | Blue Note Hawaii (bluenotejazz.com)

Honolulu’s Hawai’i Theatre

Historic Hawaii Theatre “Pride of the Pacific” hosts a broad range of entertainment and cultural performances. Located in downtown Honolulu and Chinatown, the non-profit Hawaii Theatre is listed on both the State and National Registers of Historic Places.

Built in 1922, the theatre has been home to vaudevilles, silent films, theatrical performances, musicals, ballets, concerts, and films. Renovated in 1996 and 2004, including a newly manufactured replica of the art deco marquee with computerized LED signage and the hallmark “HAWAII” vertical neon sign.

• Address: Hawai’i Theatre, 1130 Bethel St, Honolulu, HI 96813
• Parking: For Select Performances, pre-paid parking at Mark’s Garage, 22 N Pauahi St. Other lots nearby on King St and Beretania: https://www.hawaiitheatre.com/parking/
• Website: https://www.hawaiitheatre.com/

Selected upcoming shows at Hawaiʻi Theatre

We focus on events with a regular admission price of $15 or less but sometimes edge higher, especially for events featuring local culture and talent.

• HSO HapaSymphony Concert Series at Hawaiʻi Theatre. Subscription (five-concerts) $120-$320. Individual concerts $18-$99. The series features local and Hawaiian talent in a unique cultural vantage point blending Hawaiian culture and symphonic music. The concert series combines the talents of yourHSO musicians, celebrated Hawaiian musicians, and world-renowned guest conductors to create a special musical journey only found in Hawai‘i. More info: https://www.myhso.org/hapasymphony
  • Nov 5, 2022. HapaSymphony Featuring Lea Almanza, Starr Kalahiki, Miss Candi Shell, Lady Lartiza La Bouche.
  • Dec 10, 2022. HapaSymphony Featuring Kimié Miner.
  • Feb 4, 2023. HapaSymphony Featuring Keauhou.
  • Apr 15, 2023. HapaSymphony Featuring Honolulu Jazz Quartet
  • Apr 29, 2023. HapaSymphony Featuring Raiatea Helm
• Aloha Mele 100th anniversary concert. January 6-7, 2023. Tickets $50. In celebration of the Theatre’s 100th anniversary, local entertainers are coming together for two nights of mele.  Two nights, two different lineups of entertainment, and one reason to celebrate – our own Pride of the Pacific, The Historic Hawaii Theatre! More info: ALOHA MELE (force.com)
• Conversations about Hawai‘i’s food cultures: An Evening with Splendid Table’s Francis Lam. January 18, 2023. Tickets $35-$75. Hawaiʻi Public Radio and the Culinary Institute of the Pacific present: An Evening with The Splendid Table’s Francis Lam. rancis Lam, vice president and editor-in-chief for Clarkson Potter and host of the culinary public radio program, “The Splendid Table,” sits down with local tastemakers for conversations about Hawai‘i’s food cultures from near and far, and what’s ahead in food for 2023. Audio from the event will be recorded for a future local broadcast on Hawai‘i Public Radio and national broadcast on “The Splendid Table.” More info: AN EVENING WITH THE SPLENDID TABLE’S FRANCIS LAM (force.com)

Maui Arts & Cultural Center

Maui Arts & Cultural Center (“The MACC”) in Kahului is a state-of-the-art visual and performing arts center. The MACC hosts concerts and performances in the pavilion, two indoor theaters, and an outdoor amphitheater. The MACC galleries and studios offer art exhibitions and arts education classes for all ages.

Hula is performed in the pā hula (a performance space dedicated to hula). The pā is one of only four in the state and was created under the direction of Nā Kumu Hula and cultural specialists, Hōkūlani Holt, Keali‘i Reichel, AI Lagunero, and Bert Sakata.

• Address: Maui Arts & Cultural Center, One Cameron Way (off Wahinepi‘o Road), Kahului, HI 96732
• Parking: in the MACC lot and across the street at UH Maui College.
• Website: https://www.mauiarts.org/

Selected upcoming shows at The MACC

We focus on events with a regular admission price of $15 or less but sometimes edge higher on events featuring local culture and talent. More info: Event calendar (mauiarts.org)

• Jake Shimabukuro with Special Guest Pure Heart.  Jan 21, 2023, 7:30 PM. Tickets $15-$85. Over the past two decades, Jake Shimabukuro 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. Pure Heart is a Hawaiian contemporary trio that Jake started with two friends in 1994. The group also includes Jon Yamasato (guitar/vocals) and Lopaka Colon  (percussion). They etched out a unique sound of Hawaiian/pop/latin/jazz which has been keeping the attention of audiences for almost 30 years. After disbanding in 2000, Jake went on to become one of the world’s most known and admired representatives for the `ukulele around the world. Joining up again in 2014, the band casually gigs and continues to work on new music. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. More info:  JAKE SHIMABUKURO (mauiarts.org)
• Tumua ‘Not Even Joking’ 2023 National Tour. Feb 17 2023. Tumua Tuinei is one of Hawaii’s top and hottest comics. He has a huge following on social media with over 400,000 followers combined and his local skits and stand-up bits are very well known and popular in the islands. Tumua’s comic inspiration comes from his local family and the hilarious situations that he experiences on a daily basis.  This is a show for the whole family.   Guarantee “bus’laugh”.  More info: TUMUA – Not Even Joking Tour 2023 (mauiarts.org)

Hawai’i Island Palace Theater

Hiloʻs Palace Theater opened in 1925 as a silent movie house. Since then, the Palace has hosted film festivals, concerts, and many cultural performances, including Hawaiian music, classical ballet, live theater, and hula, as well as Lei Day, Lunar New Years, and other special events.

Since 2004, the non-profit Friends of the Palace Theater has raised funds to restore and upgrade the historic building and to keep it operational well into the future. The Palace Pipe Organ has also been restored. Donors and volunteers are always appreciated to support the historic theater’s operation.

• Address: Palace Theater, 38 Haili Street, Hilo, HI 96720
• Parking: street parking
• Website: http://hilopalace.com/

Selected upcoming shows at Palace Theater

We focus on events with a regular admission price of $15 or less but sometimes edge higher on events featuring local culture and talent. More info: EVENTS | PALACE THEATER (hilopalace.com)

• Dance Party with the Hot Potaytahs. January 20th @ 7:00pm. Tickets $15. Live music. Funk N Roll. Dance with the Hot Potaytahs playing funky classics, rocking covers, and piping fresh originals, The Hot Potaytahs is made up of Yisa Var, Charles Haines, Bill Heideman, Gonzo, Trever Veilleux, Jeff Silberman, & Randy Skaggs. Beer, Wine, Food available for purchase. More info: EVENTS | PALACE THEATER | CURRENT (hilopalace.com)
• Jake Shimabukuro with Special Guest Pure Heart. February 11th @ 7:00pm. Advance Tickets $35-$50; $5 more DOS. Over the past two decades, Jake Shimabukuro 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. Pure Heart is a Hawaiian contemporary trio that Jake started with two friends in 1994. The group also includes Jon Yamasato (guitar/vocals) and Lopaka Colon  (percussion). They etched out a unique sound of Hawaiian/pop/latin/jazz which has been keeping the attention of audiences for almost 30 years. After disbanding in 2000, Jake went on to become one of the world’s most known and admired representatives for the `ukulele around the world. Joining up again in 2014, the band casually gigs and continues to work on new music. Food and beverages will be available for purchase. More info: EVENTS | PALACE THEATER | CURRENT (hilopalace.com)
• Tumua ‘Not Even Joking’ 2023 National Tour. March 4, 2023. Advance Tickets: $38-$56; $5 more DOS. Tumua Tuinei is one of Hawaii’s top and hottest comics. He has a huge following on social media with over 400,000 followers combined and his local skits and stand-up bits are very well known and popular in the islands. Tumua’s comic inspiration comes from his local family and the hilarious situations that he experiences on a daily basis.  This is a show for the whole family.   Guarantee “bus’laugh”. More info: EVENTS | PALACE THEATER | CURRENT (hilopalace.com)

UH Hilo Performing Arts Center

The University of Hawaiʻi (UH) Hilo Performing Arts Center (PAC) is the major arts education and cultural center on the Big Island for University students as well as community events. The UH Hilo Performing Arts Center hosts diverse local, regional, national, and international performing arts events.

A typical year includes over 150 performances of dance, drama, music, mime, children’s shows, lectures, and special events. In addition, the UH Hilo Performing Arts Department produces two to six plays, concerts, musicals, and dance performances each season.

• Address: University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo, 200 W Kāwili St, Hilo, HI 96720
• Parking: paid parking on campus.
• Website: http://artscenter.uhh.hawaii.edu/

Selected upcoming shows at UH Hilo PAC

We focus on events with a regular admission price of $15 or less but sometimes edge higher on events featuring local culture and talent. The Performing Arts Center expects to return with live performances in Fall 2022.

Kaua’i Performing Arts Center

The Performing Arts Center (PAC) at Kaua’i Community College is the entertainment centerpiece of the Garden Isle. The state-of-the-art facility offers world-class lighting and sound.

The PAC celebrates the culture of Kauai and the world. The spirit of Aloha resonates with heartfelt joy in this gathering place.

• Address: Kauaʻi Community College, 3-1901 Kaumualii Hwy, Lihue, HI 96766
• Parking: campus parking lot
• Website: https://www.kauai.hawaii.edu/performing-arts-center

Kaua’i Community College Performing Arts Center has been largely closed since 2017 due to a series of mechanical and electrical failures. The expense and difficulty of repairs has delayed reopening, now estimated to be sometime in 2023.

Hanalei Cultural Community Center (Hale Halawai ‘Ohana)

Locally referenced as Hanalei’s Cultural Community Center, Hale Halawai ‘Ohana O Hanalei was founded by community members in 1993. The name translates to, “A house for the coming together of the extended family of Hanalei.”

The gathering place on the Kauaʻi North Shore, is the first privately funded community center in the state of Hawai’i. It is used for cultural education, social gatherings, recreation, and civic events that perpetuate the value of aloha. The programs perpetuate traditional Hawaiian culture.

• Address: Hale Halawai ‘Ohana O Hanalei, 5299C Kuhio Hwy, Hanalei, HI 96714
• Parking: unknown
• Website: https://halehalawai.org/

Kauai’s Historic Waimea Theater

Kauai’s Theater for Movies, Film Festivals, LIVE Performances, Music Concerts, and a gathering place for the community. Opened in 1938 and restored in 1999 after Hurricane Iniki. Screens first-run movies on a regular basis.

• Address: Waimea Theater, 9691 Kaumualii Hwy, Waimea, HI 96796 US
• Parking: unknown
• Website: http://www.waimeatheater.com/

Upcoming events in Hawai’i

The following calendar lists music and performance arts events in these and other locations across the Hawaiian Islands.

Friday, January 27, 2023

Saturday, January 28, 2023

Sunday, January 29, 2023

Monday, January 30, 2023

Tuesday, January 31, 2023

Wednesday, February 1, 2023

Thursday, February 2, 2023

Friday, February 3, 2023

Saturday, February 4, 2023

Sunday, February 5, 2023

Monday, February 6, 2023

Wednesday, February 8, 2023

Friday, February 10, 2023

Saturday, February 11, 2023

Sunday, February 12, 2023

Monday, February 13, 2023

Tuesday, February 14, 2023

Wednesday, February 15, 2023

Thursday, February 16, 2023

Friday, February 17, 2023

Saturday, February 18, 2023

Sunday, February 19, 2023

Monday, February 20, 2023

Tuesday, February 21, 2023

Wednesday, February 22, 2023

Friday, February 24, 2023

Saturday, February 25, 2023

Sunday, February 26, 2023

Monday, February 27, 2023

Wednesday, March 1, 2023

Friday, March 3, 2023

Saturday, March 4, 2023

Sunday, March 5, 2023

Monday, March 6, 2023

Wednesday, March 8, 2023

Thursday, March 9, 2023

Friday, March 10, 2023

Saturday, March 11, 2023

Sunday, March 12, 2023

Monday, March 13, 2023

Wednesday, March 15, 2023

Friday, March 17, 2023

Saturday, March 18, 2023

Sunday, March 19, 2023

Monday, March 20, 2023

Wednesday, March 22, 2023

Friday, March 24, 2023

Saturday, March 25, 2023

Sunday, March 26, 2023

Monday, March 27, 2023