Music & Theater
in Hawaii, HI

(808) 733-0274

Diamond Head Theatre sits at the cornerstone of the Hawaiian arts scene: It is located at the foot of Diamond Head Crater and is the third oldest community theater in the U.S. The theater began in 1915 and has evolved into a true community center - a place where volunteers hone their acting chops, where the directors and set designers usher in the audience, tend to the gardens and design the costumes.

To refill the local talent pool, Diamond Head offers year-round classes in dancing, acting and singing. Plus, youth can participate in an extensive summer school or a youth troupe called Diamond Head Theatre Shooting Stars.

Known as the Broadway of the Pacific, Diamond Head brings classic tales to the stage, like "The King and I "and "Little Women, The Broadway Musical". Comedic turns are plentiful with perfomances like "I Hate Hamlet," "Altar Boyz" and "Hairspray."

(808) 596-7372

Hawaii Opera Theatre is a bold, successful effort to bring internationally acclaimed performers and the most fantastic opera productions to the Hawaiian island since 1960. Today, Hawaii Opera Theatre is known as one of the largest performing arts organizations in the state and Hawaii's only professional opera company.

The Theatre's season is a mix of classical and new opera. The theater has staged notable productions such as "Madama Butterfly," "Le Nozze di Figaro," "La Boheme" and "Carmen." Recent performances have included Faust and La Traviata.

The company typically performs three operas at the beginning of the season, then continues through a summer season as well.

International artists from the New York Met and throughout Europe and Asia have performed at the Hawaii Opera Theatre throughout the years, competing up to three years in advance to get on stage alongside local Hawaiian talent.

(808) 528-0506

Known as the "Pride of the Pacific," the Hawaii Theatre Center began as a classical downtown venue in 1922, where vaudeville, plays, musicals and silent films were the standard of the day. Eventually, the theater fell into disrepair and was abandoned in 1984. But an energetic local group of activists saved the historic venue from the wrecking ball, and the theater reopened its doors in 1996 as a 1400-seat performance center. 

Since then, the Center has hosted memorable performances, such as "Three Solos and a Duet", Ana Laguna and Mikhail Baryshnikov, "Silent Scream: Phantom of the Opera", and William Shakespeare's "Twelfth Night".

The Hawaii Theatre was recognized as the 'Outstanding Historic Theatre in America' in 2005 by the League of Historic American Theatres and, in 2006, was awarded an Honor Award by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and is listed on both the State and National Registers of Historic Places.

(808) 839-9885

Honolulu Theatre for Youth was founded in 1955 and is the only professional, non-profit theater in Hawaii. The aim of the theater is to produce performances that make a difference in the lives of young people, families and educators in the state of Hawaii.

Past programs include "The Dinosaur Play," "Navigator" and "The New Sense-sational Show." Public performances are held on weekends at Tenney Theatre, which is at the Cathedral Church of Saint Andrew.

(808) 885-6868

Kahilu Theatre began as the dream of a native Hawaiian, who wanted to create a theater that would inspire creativity and a passion for the arts among local residents and visitors. Built in 1979, the 490-seat theatre in the town of Waimea hosts stage performances throughout the year, as well as free community events, a youth concert series, meetings, lectures and other special events. 

The gallery in the theater displays work of up-and-coming Hawaiian artists as well as established artists on the Big Island. The Youth Concert series is a special series of performances from the headlining shows, reworked especially for a younger audiences. Performances have included HANDS, a Chinese Percussion Team; Kealoha, the founder of HawaiiSlam; and PHILADANCO!, a Philadelphia Dance Company.

(808) 956-7677

Experience dance, theater and music at the Kennedy Theatre, home to the Department of Theatre and Dance at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. The program is internationally recognized for its multicultural approach. It incorporates influences from the East and West, and is organized into Asian Theatre, Western Theatre, Design, Youth Theatre, and Dance. Past performances have showcased the talents of both students and visiting professionals in such notable pieces as "Hamlet," "Waiting for Godot" and "Kabuki: The Vengeful Sword."

(808) 536-4222

Kumu Kahua is a theater that celebrates and examines life in Hawaii, showcasing some of the state's most talented actors, directors, playwrights and technicians. The theater stages plays about life in Hawaii, plays by Hawaiian playwrights, and plays for Hawaii's people. The 100-seat playhouse is an intimate affair, the perfect setting to watch world premieres by local playwrights such as Dennis Carroll, Lee Cataluna, Victoria Nalani Kneubuhl, Edward Sakamoto and Lee A. Tonouchi.

Performances have included notable favorites such as "Ghosts in the Plague Year," "The Great Kaua'i Train Robbery" and "It's All Relative."

Another unique aspect of the theater is that it encourages actors to use their natural local dialect or accent. Many of the plays are written in Hawaii Creole English.

The theater promotes local talent by offering classes in acting and writing, as well as sponsoring an annual playwriting contest. Located in Honolulu, Kumu Kahua Theatre was founded in 1971.

(808) 988-6131

The Manoa Valley Theatre specializes in producing Broadway and Off-Broadway plays and musicals, bringing many Hawaii premieres to the stage since its inception in 1969.

The company was founded by a group of University of Hawaii graduate students, and in 1983 moved to its current 150-seat location.

(808) 242-2787

Maui Arts & Cultural Center opened in 1994 as the culmination of a long-standing dream of Maui’s residents to build a world-class gathering place for the arts. Now familiarly known as "The MACC," this center has been described by The Maui News as “the artistic and educational heart of an entire community” and “Maui’s entertainment and arts crown jewel.”

The MACC is the most comprehensive multi-disciplinary arts facility in Hawai‘i, and a gathering place where people can celebrate creativity through personal and shared experiences of the arts. It is a world-class facility where popular and innovative performing artists can be enjoyed, connecting our community to the world.