17 Best Performing Arts Venues in Oahu, Hawaii

Music lovers adore this intimate venue, which draws local and national acts—jazz, rock, reggae, pop, and more—throughout the year. Comedy acts take the stage, too. Acoustics are fantastic, and seating is at tables, all with excellent views. The atmosphere is sophisticated, and the food here is excellent, too, with small and large plates offered (there's a $10 per person food or drink minimum). It's worthwhile to find out who's performing while you’re in town so you can purchase tickets in advance, since the more popular acts sell out quickly. This 300-seat room is centrally located at the Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort, so you can grab a drink at Duke’s before or after the show.

The only professional theater troupe in the state, this group stages delightful productions, with creative props and engaging stories, August through May. Local stories and themes are the focus, making for unique shows for visiting kids. Founded in 1955, it's one of the oldest children's theaters in the country, offering drama-education programs and school and family performances.

Consisting of four ensembles, this group has been around for decades and performs at the Honolulu Museum of Art's Doris Duke Theatre ( 901 S. Beretania St., Honolulu), the Paliku Theatre at Windward Community College ( 45-720 Keaahala Rd., Kaneohe), the University of Hawaii's West Oahu Library ( 1001 Farrington Hwy., Kapolei), and other locations around Oahu. The season runs from fall through spring.

Hawaii's oldest performing arts center offers a little of everything: musicals, dramas, and experimental productions. It opened in 1915 and is the third-oldest community theater in the United States.

Locals refer to it as "HOT," probably because the Hawaii Opera Theatre has been turning the opera-challenged into opera lovers since 1961. All operas are sung in their original language, with a projected English translation.

The orchestra is the latest incarnation of the now-defunct Honolulu Symphony, with a mission to bring international talent to Hawaiian audiences of all ages. The orchestra performs at the Neal Blaisdell Concert Hall and the Waikiki Shell.

Since the early 1980s, the Honolulu Zoo Society has sponsored hour-long evening concerts, branded the "Wildest Show in Town," that are one of the best deals in town. They're held at 6 pm on Wednesday, June–August. Listen to local legends play everything from Hawaiian to jazz to Latin music. Take a brisk walk through the zoo, or join in the family activities. This is an alcohol-free event, and there's food for those who haven't brought their own picnic supplies. Gates open at 4:35.

Eclectic programs—everything from Hawaiian language to musical theater to Bollywood—are offered at this space on the Manoa campus of the University of Hawaii. The theater, which opened in 1963, was designed by internationally renowned architect I. M. Pei.

Focusing on plays written by local playwrights about Island life and Hawaiian experiences, this troupe stages five or six productions a year in an intimate, 100-seat auditorium.

Wonderful performances grace this intimate community theater in lush Manoa Valley.

Unlike most island luau shows, Mauka Warriors at Hawaii Country Club goes beyond hula and fire-knife dances to tell the stories of King Kamehameha I, who aimed to unite the Hawaiian Islands, and also the warriors who populated islands throughout Polynesia. Tickets (three days a week) include a Polynesian buffet, various activities, and fascinating interactive performances. Transportation is available ($30 per person) from Honolulu and Waikiki.

At one of the largest events on Oahu, you can stroll, drink in hand, through an authentic Hawaiian village, learn traditional arts and crafts, and play local games. The lively stage show includes a fire-knife dancer, singing emcee, and both traditional and contemporary hula and other Polynesian dances. A finale dance features participation from the audience. Admission includes the buffet, activities, and the show. You pay extra for table service, box seating, and shuttle transport to and from Waikiki—but the stunning sunsets are free. It starts daily at 5.

With a beachfront location in the middle of Waikiki, the Royal Hawaiian’s Ahaaina luau is an exceptional, upscale event with hula, fire dancing, live music, Hawaiian-inspired and luau-favorite dishes, and more. Options range from "standard dinner and show" to "premium dinner and show." The three-hour event is held two nights a week (Monday and Thursday); be sure to reserve in advance during the high season.

Don a flower lei and feast on traditional Hawaiian luau fare while enjoying cultural activities and a Polynesian show, with a choice of start time at 12:30 or 5 on Monday and Wednesday through Friday. It's a three-hour experience, and tickets include a Waimea Valley pass so you can explore the gardens before the luau. 

On the campus of Windward Community College, the 300-seat Paliku Theatre features everything from dramatic productions to chamber music concerts to hula and dance performances. The sound system is exceptional.