At Waikiki’s Kuhio Beach Hula Mound, you’ll find a beautiful, authentic hula show. It’s really a lovely setting with sounds of the ocean mixing in with the Hawaiian music. Visitors and locals alike can enjoy this show for free.
The show includes usually starts with a traditional conch shell blowing. Then, authentic Hawaiian music and hula performances begin. Weather permitting, the hula show takes place as follows:
- weekly on Tuesdays
- weekly on Saturdays
Please note that the show may not take place on a holiday or on days with parades or street fairs.
You’ll find the show at the Kuhio Beach Hula Mound on Waikiki Beach near the intersection of Uluniu and Kalakaua Avenues in Waikiki. Look for the beachside, grassy hula mound near the Duke Kahanomoku statue and the large Banyan trees. You can use this Google Maps link to create directions.
Show times alternate from 6:00pm and 6:30pm depending on the season and sunset. Here’s the general pattern of when the shows start:
- November, December, January – starts at 6:00pm
- February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October – starts at 6:30pm.
The schedule is subject to change. For more information call 808-843-8002 or check this website.
The show lasts about an hour. If you’re going, you may want to bring a towel or a beach mat as there is only lawn seating. Another idea for you, bring a little snack, picnic or ice cream treat with you and enjoy dinner and a show. 🙂
This hula and music presentation typically starts with the blowing of the pu kani (conch shell) which is a Hawaiian way to announce an arrival or the start of a ceremony protocol. Then the Hawaiian-only music and hula begins with graceful and rhythmic movements.
The following video shows some brief scenes from one of the hula shows at Kuhio Beach Park.
Have you been to this Waikiki hula show? How was your experience?
Sheila Beal
31 comments
We are planning to go in April and will see this show. Do you know if there is any free parking available around there?
Hi Rohit – Do you know where you’ll be staying? If you are staying in Waikiki Beach, by chance, it’s very walkable.
Finding free or low cost parking in Waikiki can be a real challenge. Here’s a post listing free or low cost parking options in Waikiki Beach: https://govisithawaii.com/2007/11/13/finding-reasonable-parking-in-waikiki/
From zooming in on the map included in that post, it looks like you can find inexpensive metered parking by Kapiolani Park on the mauka side (mountain side) of the street.
Another option, you might want to consider is that there’s a great sushi and seafood restaurant just across the street in the Waikiki Beach Marriott. It’s called Sansei and it’s one of my personal favorites. They offer validated parking per their website: http://www.sanseihawaii.com/location_waikiki.html
Does that help?
I just checked on google. This place is 2 blocks from my hotel on waikiki beach. It is gud then.
Only thing sucks about my hotel is $18 daily valet parking. I will use the map above to find cheap parking around. I hope i can find some empty space to park there. 🙂
Thanks again, sheila.
Hi Rohit – oh, good! You’ll be in a great location. A parking rate of $18 per day is really not that bad for Waikiki standards, but I hate paying for parking at all, don’t you?
Here are a couple more tips about rental cars for Waikiki:
Be sure that you don’t leave any valuables in your car.
https://govisithawaii.com/2008/03/18/hawaii-advice-lock-your-car-doors/
https://govisithawaii.com/2008/11/25/hawaii-vacation-driving-stress-reducer-navigation-system/
This show is now on tues, thurs and sat at 6:30 at hula mound. Nice free show.
Hi Rohit – can’t beat the price, right? 😉
Starting May, 2009, they’re adding another show on Sunday nights.
Indeed, Sheila! 🙂 It is nice show to attend while you are walking around in town.
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!
Thanks Sheila for your it was very helpful for us.
Thanks, Tammy, for letting us know what you thought of this free hula show.
Does anyone know who is in charge of the entertainment on this stage? …..Jon
Will there be a free hula show on Friday night, April 20? My wife and I are on a cruise and the ship will only be in Honolulu on Friday. If not are there any other free shows of the same quality?
Thank you.
Joe – there’s not a Friday night show. At the present time, there are only shows on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday.
Just about any restaurant/bar offers free music around sunset. Though not many of them offer hula as well. Of course, they expect you to purchase food and or beverages.
Check out my recommendations for sunset drinks at Halekulani. https://govisithawaii.com/2011/11/08/best-places-for-a-sunset-cocktail-drink-in-waikiki/ The show is free and I’ve always seen a hula dancer there as well.
Hi!!!
My name is Elena, I’m italian and I’m finally here in this paradise!!!! 🙂
I’m looking for a hula show, where do I can find it?
I read about the Waikiki’s Kuhio Beach, is it still going? What time and days?
I’m staying at the hilton at waikiki beach, so it would be very close!
Ciao
Hi Elena — as the article says, this free hula show “offered every Tuesday*, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday nights, weather permitting. You’ll find the show at the Kuhio Beach Hula Mound on Waikiki Beach near the intersection of Uluniu and Kalakaua Avenues in Waikiki. Look for the mound near Duke Kahanomoku’s statue and the large Banyan trees.”
It will probably be about a 20 minute walk from the Hilton Hawaiian Village. It’s quicker to go via the beach.
I want to take my kids this aug when we are in Hawaii. Does it get real crowded? What ate the best days to go? Thanks
I’ve never compared the crowds from night to night, but I would imagine that the weeknight shows would be slightly less crowded.
Would like to use your image of the Hula show at the Kuhio Beach Hula Mound for a National Geographic travel book titled ABROAD AT HOME showcasing ethnic neighborhoods and cultures throughout the US and CAnada. Let me know if this image is available.
Kay – we don’t own the rights to the photo. Check the last sentence of the article where we indicate that.
We have a collection of photos from the Kuhio Beach Park Hula Show here. If any of those photos are of interest, contact us to discuss the next steps.
No Sunday show! There was one up until a few months ago and it was cancelled, so be aware.
Do you still have this show? If so are they the same days? Thanks
Yes and yes. 🙂
can you tell me how long the show goes?
We’ve never timed it, but as best I can remember it’s less than an hour.
Hi Sheila..I am Shaila 🙂 found your blog today and already loving it. I am planning a Hawaii vacation in Dec 2nd week. I am a solo traveler and planning to book thru Costco travel / AAA . Costco is offering Hyatt waikiki and Hyatt Maui for similar price as AAA / (Pleasant holidays) Hilton Hawaiian village & Sheraton Maui..I am so confused..would love to know your thoughts as you are Hawaii expert..
Thank you for this free Hula show suggestion..I will definitely attend.
and Thanks for this wonderful blog. This weekend I will read all your articles..
They’re all good choices. Check out our where to stay pages for some additional insights:
https://govisithawaii.com/maui-where-to-stay/
https://govisithawaii.com/oahu-where-to-stay/
Hello there, Sheila I am sooooo happy I found your sight. You sound like my kind of traveler. We spent ten days in Hawaii in June of 1987 for our Honeymoon.What wonderful memories. Neither one of us had been further than three of our neighboring states. Sorry to say my husband passed away unexpectedly 11-11-11, seven months before our twenty-fifth wedding anniversary. While going through papers in his desk I found an envelope with a large sum of cash in it. Mind you, he was a middle school teacher, I worked part time & we have four kids from 10 to 17 & The oldest had just started college. We are not the kind of people who have extra money laying around anywhere. I doubt you could find loose change under a couch cushion.One of the twins walks in the den & sees the envelope in my hand, he takes it & says don’t say anything Mama. I hear him calling out to the rest of the kids.He brings all of them in & through tears they explain how along with Dada, all of them had been saving for over a year, so the whole family could celebrate our 25th together in Hawaii. I always thought we would go back someday, but I thought it would be by the time the kids had kids of their own.Well to make a long story longer, 5 years later the kids give me a box for Christmas & in it is the Just mauied shirt I got in Maui in 1987 & the Itinerary for Waikiki 6-20-17 which would have been our 30th. I don’t know how they do it but my kids just amaze me. I can’t wait to spend this time with them! I need to find something REALLY SPECIAL to do with them on Waikiki, a great memory maker! Thanks so much for your help. GreatfulMama
Hi there, just wanted to check if the show is still running? This week? Is it easy to find? Thanks
This show has been running for many years. We always note if no shows are planned when we are informed. If we’ve not noted that a show is not scheduled, then assume it’s a go. We’ve given directions in the article.
I will be traveling along with six oter ladies. How can I book for the Free Lula?
We’re traveling July 5-9.
You don’t need to book or pay for this Waikiki hula show.