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.

Puppet designer puts spotlight on conservation

Artist Greg Corbino brings to life a manta ray and a larger-than-life native land snail, along with other creatures who call Hawaiʻi home as part of the world premiere of “Carnival of the Nearly Extinct Animals” this weekend. The production combines music, dance and puppets to tell the stories of the world’s disappearing animals.

Katie HellandSeptember 18, 2026

Pacific Media Group launches 'Culture'

CULTURE by Pacific Media Group offers up local podcasts, social media shorts, YouTube shows and documentaries, bringing new media platforms together with legacy media.

Stephanie SalmonsSeptember 17, 2026

Hawaiian History Month: A Month to Remember, A Year to Celebrate

This year’s celebration features living history performances, panel discussions, cultural demonstrations and more that bring Hawaiʻi’s history to life. See the list of remaining events this month.

Ka Wai Ola StaffSeptember 17, 2026

Buckle up, cellos! HSO heads to Maui

Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra, which was recently designated the official state orchestra, will make its first appearance on Maui in 10 years with a free concert, Mele for Maui, on Saturday, Sept. 19. The outdoor performance under the stars of Kā‘anapali celebrates the resilience and courage of Lahaina, Kihei and Kula, and features guest artists such as Keola Beamer, Amy Hānaiali‘i and John Cruz.

Katie HellandSeptember 17, 2026

Hollywood ponders movie remake of “Hawai‘i Five-0” directed by Ha‘ikū helmer Destin Daniel Cretton

If produced, this wouldn’t be the first time Tinseltown tried to bring the iconic CBS-TV crime series shot in the 50th State to the big screen.

Ed RampellSeptember 16, 2026

Hoʻolauleʻa, Mid-Autumn Festival, and more: Your guide to the weekend on Oʻahu

Listen to live music at Hoʻolauʻleʻa in Waikīkī, watch a sea turtle crafted from recycled cardboard float across the stage at Hawaiʻi Theatre, or create a lantern at the Mid-Autumn Festival in Chinatown. Ready to make plans for the weekend? Aloha State Daily has you covered!

Katie HellandSeptember 16, 2026

This week only: CANstuction sculptures on display in Downtown Honolulu

This year's theme "CANtennial: Design of the Decades!" honors AIA Hawai‘i's 100th anniversary. You can find the sculptures at the Downtown Honolulu branch of Central Pacific Bank, located within Central Pacific Plaza.

Stephanie SalmonsSeptember 15, 2026

Legislation may be key to future of Satoru Abe sculpture at Aloha Stadium

The fate of a sculpture by Satoru Abe, a Guggenheim Fellow and well-known sculptor, painter and printmaker who died in 2025, was a subject of debate last week at the Hawaiʻi State Foundation on Culture and the Arts’ general board meeting. Commissioners discussed options to move or decommission the artwork.

Katie HellandSeptember 15, 2026

Chinatown 808's Mid-Autumn Festival returns

Also known as the Moon Festival, Chinatown 808’s Annual Mid-Autumn Festival includes a parade, lantern-making contest, and more than 30 food or craft vendors, plus activities for keiki and live entertainment. The festival is an opportunity to celebrate the moon and exchange wishes for good fortune.

Katie HellandSeptember 12, 2026

‘The Paper’ launches second season

Co-creators Greg Daniels and Michael Koman and star Domhnall Gleeson spoke with Aloha State Daily about “The Paper,” a spinoff of the wildly popular sitcom “The Office.” The Peacock series, which has a Hawai'i-born executive producer, launched Season 2 on Wednesday, Sept. 9. The mockumentary captures the struggles of a Midwestern paper and the people who break news.

Katie HellandSeptember 11, 2026

Pro-Surfer Tatiana Weston-Webb rides the wild surf in new doc shot at Kaua‘i, O‘ahu, Tahiti and Beyond

“A Marble in the Jar” debuts on 10 screens across the Mainland this Friday. The doc includes eye-popping, jaw-dropping camerawork above the pounders and underwater, as Weston-Webb rides the waves from Hawai‘i to French Polynesia to Australia to Bali to Mexico to France to Portugal to California and beyond on the pro-surfer circuit, in search of championships and the ideal tube.

Ed RampellSeptember 09, 2026

Megabon, music, and more: Your guide to the weekend on Oʻahu

Lots to choose from among O‘ahu events this weekend, from Megabon to the chance to eat Okinawan food, including andagi, at local restaurants. Here are some of the events happening this Friday, Sept. 11, through Sunday, Sept. 13.

Katie HellandSeptember 08, 2026

HIFF announces first wave of festival films

Catch the Hawaiʻi premiere of “Drifter” and the world premiere of “Protecting Kahoʻolawe: 50 Years of Aloha ʻĀina” or “Making the Line,” among other films reaching new audiences for the first time at the upcoming Hawaiʻi International Film Festival. The first wave of films, which includes 15 titles, has been announced.

Katie HellandSeptember 08, 2026

‘Don’t Stop Believin’ ’ band back for stop in Honolulu journey

ʻHold on to that feelin’ ’— the legendary rock band Journey is heading to the Neal S. Blaisdell Arena one more time, Saturday, Sept. 5, Sunday, Sept. 6, and Tuesday, Sept. 8, for its “Final Frontier Tour 2026."

Katie HellandSeptember 06, 2026

Slack Key guitar sings at Waikīkī festival

The 44th Annual Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Festival - Waikīkī Style just wrapped up last weekend. The slack key guitar festivals started in honor of the legendary Gabby Pahinui already made stops on Maui and Oʻahu this year. The next stop? Hawaiʻi Island.

Katie HellandSeptember 04, 2026

Playwright seeks help with cancer battle

She wrote plays like “Talk-Story,” “Banyan,” “Walls” and “Buffaloʻed.” Now, this playwright — who lives in Hilo and has created more than 80 plays — needs help battling cancer bills.

Katie HellandSeptember 03, 2026

Catch Journey, football, and more: your guide to the weekend

Ready to make plans for Labor Day weekend? Aloha State Daily has you covered. From live performances from the legendary rock band Journey to catching the Rainbow Warriors at their first home football game, here are some of the events happening on Oʻahu this weekend.

Katie HellandSeptember 02, 2026

Dolly Parton in Hawaiʻi: Photos from the Hawaiʻi State Archives

Dolly Parton, who died last week, has a number of ties to the Islands, where she once operated a restaurant and owned a home. Staff at the Hawaiʻi State Archives found some historical photos of her time on Oʻahu to share with Aloha State Daily readers.

Katie HellandSeptember 01, 2026

Catch Hawaiʻi-made films on the big screen at Consolidated Theatres

Films featuring Hawaiʻi directors and actors will be at movie theaters across Oʻahu starting in September. Catch the new series, curated by the Hawaiʻi International Film Festival, every other Wednesday.

Katie HellandAugust 29, 2026

44th annual Okinawan Festival is coming in September

This year’s festival features a modified format, due to renovations at the Hawaiʻi Convention Center. There will be no bon dance or early admission, but new this year is Prince Waikīkī’s House of Sakura pop-up that will include Okinawan-inspired dishes.

Kelli Shiroma BraiottaAugust 28, 2026

New drink collaboration to make you say, Das' how

Comedian Tumua Tuinei talks about the coffee that kept him going when he started his career doing stand-up at Blue Note Hawaiʻi. Now, Honolulu Coffee Co. has created a drink inspired by his current national tour, “Dasʻ How,” which has stops on Maui and Kauaʻi next month.

Katie HellandAugust 28, 2026

Slack key guitar, a Powwow and more: your guide to the weekend on Oʻahu

Catch slack key guitar under the stars at a festival that benefits the Waikīkī Aquarium or go bananas with an event themed around a popular tropical fruit. Looking for plans for this Friday, Aug. 28, through Sunday, Aug. 30? Aloha State Daily is sharing some ways to celebrate the weekend.

Katie HellandAugust 26, 2026

Hawaiʻi remembers Dolly Parton and ʻMy Hawaiʻiʻ

The singer, songwriter and actress with Appalachia roots had a career that spanned seven decades. She also had a special love for Hawaiʻi, where she once owned a home, operated a restaurant, and performed.