Due to difficult economic times, Honolulu government had to cut back the number of Kuhio Beach Park Hula performances from six nights to three nights per week. This excellent free hula show is now offered Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday nights near sunset. See my advice for catching the Kuhio Beach Park Hula Show at Waikiki Beach.
I highly recommend you see this show on your Oahu vacation for several reasons:
- The setting immediately by the beach at sunset is beautiful.
- The quality of the authentic Hawaiian music, songs, chants, and show is very good.
- It’s free!
I like this show so much that I include it in my list of Oahu’s top 10 free vacation activities.
In case you can’t get to Waikiki Beach to see a performance soon, enjoy this brief video of one of the performances we caught back in 2008.
The schedule is subject to change. For more information call 808-843-8002.
Sheila Beal
12 comments
We’re going to check this out on our first night on the island. Certainly a nice (and free) way to start our vacation. Thanks for the tip.
ALS – great plan! Seeing this show is an ideal way to kick off an Oahu vacation. Enjoy!
I have seen this hula show and came back for more shows while I was in Ohau this past Jan. The show is different every time and it is a great show to see. I saw this beach show 4 times over a 2 week period. It also provides a wonderful opportunity to catch the fantastic sunset on Waikiki Beach. The show is narrated and has many explanations of Hawaaian culture. It is full of humor and best of all it’s FREE. If you buy the cookies that are sold for fundraising of this show, they are delicious!
Tammy – thanks for sharing your experience in catching this show. As you mentioned, it’s really a great show and you can’t beat the price! 🙂
I’ve not noticed the cookie fundraiser while I’ve been there, but I’d certainly be up for trying one…for a good cause, of course. 😉
I don’t know if this would be good to know, but a quick affirmation. I just hung up the phone with the guys holding this show, the information in this article still holds true as of March 1st, 2010
🙂
Mohammed – I do my best to try to keep everything up to date. But with nearly 1200 articles and businesses and organizations constantly changing schedules, venues, etc, it’s challenging to do. I keep a close eye on the schedule for the Kuhio Hula Show. So, I was pretty certain it was all good. Thanks for confirming. 🙂
Please give me information on the length of the hula show and is there enough time from the end of the show to get back to the airport to catch the last flight out to Maui at about 9 p.m. on Tuesday, May 9, 2011??
Please tell me how long the Kuhio Beach Hula Show last. And is there enough time at the end of the show to get to the airport for a return trip to Maui about 8-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 9, 2011.
Elaine – I don’t recall exactly how long the show lasts. As best I can remember, it goes on for about 45 minutes. You are free to leave at any time, so you can catch as much or as little as you want of this show.
May 9, 2011 falls on Monday, so there will be no show that evening.
If you meant May 10, 2011 instead, the show will most likely begin 6:30pm. To be safe, you should plan 45 minutes to get to the airport from Waikiki. Then you need time to get through security and to your gate for your flight. So I don’t think it’s really feasible to catch the show and make it to a 8 or 8:30 flight.
As posted on Web and local magazine, 4th show added, Tuesday evening was included. Planned vacation to do this. Called phone # suggested and Tuesday not mentioned on message. Was on Wakiki Beach Tuesday night, people were sitting waiting for show. Torches were lite. So, we waited also from 5:45 to 6:45 with crowd. There was not a show. Very disappointed!! Rest of week was booked to try and see show another evening. Even though this is free which is GREAT, Information published still needs to be consistent and correct for visitors, or sign posted at location “no show”, or someone show up to let attendees know “no show”.
If our group would have had correct information we would have scheduled other activities on a different night in order to include the Hula Show on Wakiki. Jamie in Florida.
Jamie — I’m sorry you missed the show.
It would have been good if the show directors had put out a sign indicating the show was cancelled. Unfortunately, I don’t have any control over their decisions and communications.
I don’t know why the show directors decided to cancel the show, but a couple of days ago, I did happen to learn that they canceled all Tuesday shows in December 2011. I updated this post as soon as I found out: https://govisithawaii.com/2007/12/13/kuhio-beach-free-hula-show/
I sincerely strive to provide accurate information and update schedule changes when I’m alerted to them.
My wife and I went to this show several times and afterward would go down to IMP to the foodcourt for their show.
Hopefully the economy will improve to where they can bring it back to six nights along with Sunset on the Beach, that’s a great way to watch a movie.
The hula show starts at sunset and lasts an hour, you may see keiki (children) or tutu’s (grand mothers) or everything in between. We would bring a neatsheet or a bamboo beachmat, big enough to offer others a place to sit.