Arts & Entertainment
Meet the artists and craftspeople keeping Hawai‘i traditions alive
Hawai‘i is filled with talented, passionate artists and performers. In recent months we’ve featured an ‘ukulele maker, sculptors, hula performers, Native Hawaiian language experts, anime cosplayers, symphony musicians, local filmmakers, Okinawan drummers, musical theatre performers, and more. We’ve covered film festivals, comedy acts, live theater and classical concerts and more. This is where you’ll also find news about TV shows and movies filmed in the Islands or about Hawai‘i, and the actors attached to them. Venues matter, too, and we’ll update readers on improvements such as the recent upgrades to the Neal S. Blaisdell Concert Hall and the Waikīkī Shell.
News
Street art soon on display at Bishop Museum
Ready to dive into how modern street art and hip-hop culture got started? Tickets are now available online for a special exhibit called “Under/Ground" by World Wide Walls, which opens to the public on Saturday, Nov. 21, at Bishop Museum.
Katie HellandOctober 23, 2026
Local designer Rocket Ahuna teases next fashion show inspired by UH Mānoa
Ahuna took to Instagram on Thursday to preview his MĀNOA Spring/Summer27 Fashion Show — which pays homage to the valley, the university campus, and, of course, sports — set for Nov. 13 at the Neal S. Blaisdell Arena. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday.
Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosOctober 22, 2026
What to know about HIFF 2026
The Hawaiʻi International Film Festival, which starts this week, features 84 films, including 34 world premieres, and new cinema from the Islands, Asia, the Pacific and around the world. HIFF’s new executive director Jean Lee shares what she's most excited about.
Katie HellandOctober 22, 2026
Uncles and Aunties: Zita Cup Choy is ‘Iolani Palace’s longtime historian
After a career spent mostly in education, in both Guam and Hawai'i, Cup Choy joined the Ko‘olaupoko Hawaiian Civic Club, which set her on a new career path. She joined The Friends of ‘Iolani Palace among its first docents in 1978, and today, continues to lead tours and conduct research, while furthering the nonprofit's mission of recovering original palace furnishings.
Cheryl Chee TsutsumiOctober 21, 2026
Movies, music and more: your guide to the weekend on Oʻahu
Ready to plan the weekend? From the start of the Hawaiʻi International Film Festival to Spooky Season highlights, here are some of the events happening on Oʻahu on Friday, Oct. 23, Saturday, Oct. 24, and Sunday, Oct. 25.
Katie HellandOctober 21, 2026
Battle of the Bands is back
Three Indie/alternative rock groups will compete in HI93 Hawaiʻi’s Local Hits’ Local Break, Battle of the Bands on Wednesday, Oct. 21. Catch the music live at Secret Spot Honolulu in Waikīkī.
Katie HellandOctober 19, 2026
Winners named for Hula O Nā Keiki Competition
The Hula O Nā Keiki Competition was held on Maui and has named its winners for Miss Hula O Nā Keiki 2026 and Master Hula O Nā Keiki 2026. Read the full list of honorees.
Katie HellandOctober 17, 2026
Wailuku Film Festival returns for second year
Catch screenings of films focused on Hawaiʻi, Indigenous voices, watersports, animation, ocean conservation and more as part of the second Wailuku Film Festival, which will return to Maui in June of 2027. Learn more about plans for the second festival and how the event impacts local businesses.
Katie HellandOctober 16, 2026
Sonny Lim reflects on new album, upcoming festival
Born and raised in Kohala, Sonny Lim, a slack key guitar master, will be one of more than a dozen artists sharing music at the 29th Annual Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Festival – Kona Style on Hawaiʻi Island this weekend. His newest solo album, “Hoene,” recently won the Nā Hoku Hanohano Award for 2026 Slack Key Album of the Year.
Katie HellandOctober 15, 2026
Aloha Tower, Pride parade and ʻukulele tune-ups: 10 things to do on Oʻahu this weekend
Ready to make plans for the weekend? From celebrating 100 years of Aloha Tower to the Honolulu Pride Parade, there are lots of opportuntities to get outside this Friday, Oct. 16, Saturday, Oct. 17, and Sunday, Oct. 18. Don’t miss the guide for spooky season activities, and get ready for some Halloween fun.
Katie HellandOctober 14, 2026
Spooky season with Taimane at Hawaiʻi Theatre
The ʻukulele virtuoso will play her newest album “Liʻulā,” along with some of her greatest hits, and Halloween medleys at Hawaiʻi Theatre later this month.
Katie HellandOctober 12, 2026
31 things to do for Halloween on Oʻahu
Ready to get in the mood for Spooky Season? Here are 31 events happening between now and Halloween, which is Saturday, Oct. 31.
Katie HellandOctober 09, 2026
Oʻahu churches ‘treat’ the community with family-friendly Halloween events
Check out these fall-themed events held by churches around the O‘ahu — from Waikīkī to Lāʻie — for the entire ʻohana to enjoy.
Kelsey Kukaua MedeirosOctober 08, 2026
Adopt a book at this downtown Honolulu festival
The Books, Brews and Beats Festival started earlier this year as a passion project for Maia Mayeshiro — a Honolulu-based DJ, singer, and ʻukulele virtuoso — who wanted to bring the community together to celebrate "local business, reading and live instrumentation," she said. This Saturday, Oct. 10, attendees can visit Fort Street Mall to trade their book for another thoughtfully chosen read, while sipping single-origin coffee or ceremonial grade matcha and listening to ambient musical sounds.
Katie HellandOctober 08, 2026
Spooky season, jazz and more: what to do on Oʻahu this weekend
Aloha State Daily rounded up 10 ways you can spend the weekend. From a pumpkin patch visit at Waimānalo Country Farms to a craft beer event inside a hanger at the Pearl Harbor Aviation Museum, there are lots of events happening on Oʻahu this weekend. ʻIolani Palace will also host its Kamaʻāina Sunday this weekend, which includes a kōnane tournament.
Katie HellandOctober 07, 2026
Kit Ebersbach shares how free jazz album came to life
This Renaissance man with almost 60 years of experience playing music in Hawaiʻi just released "Ala Pōʻai," a new album from Lō'ihi Records. Learn more about the places that inspired his music and the listening party taking place this week near UH Mānoa.
Katie HellandOctober 06, 2026
Brittni Paiva and ʻGod Mode’
This Hilo-born ‘ukulele virtuoso, who released her first album when she was just 15 years old, is back with new music. The recording artist recently shared her first album in more than a decade. This weekend, she will play music from “Through the Chaos,” at Henry’s at The Lounge in Hawaiʻi Kai.
Katie HellandOctober 02, 2026
Lego bricks inspire sky-high imagination on display at Bishop Museum
The sky might be the limit for this Lego enthusiast, who is a Hawaiian Airlines engineer and after work creates custom-built aircraft currently on display as part of the museum’s special exhibit “Aloha Bricks '26: Stories of Hawaiʻi.”
Katie HellandOctober 01, 2026
Walk, feast, and party: What to do on Oʻahu this weekend
From the Hawaiʻi Walk & Roll to Cure ALS to First Friday celebrations and Hawaiʻi Children & Youth Day, there are lots of events happening on Oʻahu this weekend.
Katie HellandSeptember 30, 2026
Aloha Beer Co.’s Oktoberfest celebration is coming
The event, which is from 5 to 10 p.m. on Oct. 2 at the Kakaʻako brewery, is open to the public and free to attend. Attendees can look forward to giant steins, a seasonal Aloha Fest Bier, German-inspired dishes, dancing and more. A limited number of VIP tickets are also available for the event.
Kelli Shiroma BraiottaSeptember 29, 2026
Lumpia on menu at Consolidated Theatres
“Forgotten Island," an animated film by DreamWorks about best friends, is bringing Filipino food to local movie goers at concessions across Consolidated Theatres on Oʻahu through this weekend.
Katie HellandSeptember 29, 2026
Filmmakers reflect on bringing Hawaiʻi to New York
The recent Pacific Island Film Festival, held in New York City, included stories filmed in Hawaiʻi, which reached audiences almost 5,000 miles from where the cameras rolled.
Katie HellandSeptember 26, 2026
Mele for Maui gets encore broadcast on Hawaiʻi News Now
Did you miss the free concert featuring Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra’s first performance on Maui in a decade last weekend? This Sunday, you can catch the encore broadcast of the event, which features guest artists, such as Keola Beamer, Amy Hānaiali‘i and John Cruz, on Hawaiʻi News Now.
Katie HellandSeptember 25, 2026
Kanaka Maoli author talks story at Native Books
Tori Eldridge is a Broadway dancer turned fifth-degree black belt who decided to become a novelist when she turned 50 years old. This week, she explores her latest books, which are set in Hawaiʻi, and hosts a 90-minute writing workshop as part of a stop at Native Books in Chinatown on Sunday, Sept. 27.
Katie HellandSeptember 25, 2026