‘Auana by Cirque du Soleil at the Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel

ʻAuana takes Cirque du Soleil’s high-flying style and gives it a distinctly Hawaiian heartbeat. In about 80 minutes, you’ll see acrobats, aerial performers, comedians, singers, musicians, and hula dancers tell stories linked to Maui, surfing, Hawaiian folklore, and the islands’ changing relationship with visitors.

I like the small theater, which keeps even the farther seats close to the action. I also like the mix of local and international talent, especially the way traditional hula and Hawaiian music share the stage with risky stunts and modern stage effects.

The main consideration is seat location. A few seats close to the stage can face bright lights or offer a less complete view, while seats farther back may let you take in the full production more easily.

Key points to know before you book

• Hawaiian stories guide the show: The production includes Maui pulling the islands from the ocean, legendary Surfriders, and Hawaiʻi’s golden age of tourism.
• The theater is compact: Even seats farther from the stage can feel close to the performers.
• Seats in the 200s may offer the best overall view: Several comments favor a wider perspective over the closest possible seat.
• Expect many kinds of performance: Hula, live music, comedy, acrobatics, aerial work, and high-risk stunts all appear in one production.
• It works for families: Children and adults can follow the visual action, humor, music, and storytelling.
• Plan around an 80-minute show: Transportation, meals, and drinks are not included.

A Hawaiian story told with Cirque du Soleil flair

ʻAuana is not simply a standard Cirque du Soleil performance with Hawaiian costumes added. Its central idea is to connect the company’s physical theater with stories and traditions from Hawaiʻi.

The journey includes Maui, the famous figure who pulls the islands from the ocean floor. It also brings in the Surfriders, presented as legendary figures moving with the waves, and the period when Hawaiʻi became a major destination for visitors drawn by its beaches.

That gives the show a clear arc. You move from myth and creation to the sea, then toward the modern image of Hawaiʻi. The production uses these ideas as a frame for music, dance, comedy, and feats of balance and strength.

I appreciate that this gives the acrobatics a sense of place. You are not watching unrelated acts placed one after another. The performers are part of a larger story about the islands, their natural world, and the people who have shaped their cultural image.

The Hawaiian focus is also practical for a first-time visitor. You do not need a background in Hawaiian mythology to follow the broad themes. The visual storytelling, music, and physical comedy make the show easy to enjoy, while the cultural references give it more substance than a purely athletic performance.

What happens during the 80-minute performance

The show moves through a series of acts rather than following a spoken tour or guided presentation. You can expect frequent changes in tone, from humor and music to heart-racing acrobatics and hula.

The opening portion introduces the Hawaiian world of the production. Maui’s story gives the performance a mythic starting point, connecting the stage to the origin of the islands. This section sets up the idea that Hawaiʻi is more than a beach destination. It is a place of stories, ancestors, natural forces, and living traditions.

From there, the action turns toward the ocean. Surfing is central to Hawaiian identity, and the Surfrider material gives the performers a chance to move with speed and rhythm. This is where the dance and acrobatic sides of the show meet most clearly.

You will also see hula dancers, whose work provides a different kind of physical expression. Hula is not presented as a pause between stunts. It helps carry the cultural meaning of the production, giving the show moments of control and grace between the larger comic and acrobatic set pieces.

Comedy keeps the mood from becoming too serious. The comedians interact with the audience and add a playful break from the more demanding acts. If you are attending with children, these lighter moments help hold attention during the more story-driven portions.

The final sections look toward Hawaiʻi’s tourist era. That theme lets the production play with the familiar images of beaches, visitors, and island fantasy. It also gives ʻAuana a chance to gently examine how Hawaiʻi has been presented to the outside world.

The exact balance of acts can vary with the performance, but the overall pattern is clear: music, hula, comedy, aerial work, and acrobatics follow one another at a brisk pace. There is little time for the show to drag.

Why the small theater matters

The venue at the OUTRIGGER Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel is one of the production’s strongest practical features. It is described as small and intimate, which changes how you experience Cirque du Soleil.

In a huge arena, a performer can seem distant even during a technically impressive act. Here, the stage feels much nearer. You can better appreciate the performers’ timing, expressions, costumes, and interaction with the audience.

That closeness also means you do not need the most expensive section to feel involved. Several comments point out that seats farther from the stage can still provide a strong experience because the theater itself is compact.

There is a tradeoff. A close seat can put you right beside bright stage lights, and one person found a front-row position on the left side uncomfortable for that reason. Very near the stage, you may also have to look upward or turn often to follow every part of the action.

The show contains a lot to watch at once. Acrobatics may take place while musicians, dancers, or comedians remain active elsewhere. A wider view can help you understand the whole composition.

For that reason, I would not automatically pay extra for the closest seat. If you have a choice, compare the categories carefully. Seats in the 200s have been singled out as a good option because they may give you a fuller view than some seats in the 100s.

No seat is guaranteed to suit every person, of course. If you care most about seeing facial expressions and close physical detail, move nearer. If you want to follow the whole stage picture, a middle or farther section may serve you better.

Music, hula, and the sound of the islands

Music is a major part of ʻAuana’s identity. The Hawaiian songs and presentation help separate this production from Cirque du Soleil shows set in other places.

The musical side is not just background for the acrobatics. It establishes mood, supports the hula, and connects the different stories. The presence of talented singers and musicians gives the show a live-performance quality that recorded music alone could not provide.

The hula sections are especially important. They provide a direct connection to Hawaiian cultural expression, while the acrobatic acts show the international Cirque du Soleil style. Placing those forms together is what makes the production feel specific to Oʻahu rather than like a touring show with a few island references.

The result is a varied evening. One moment may focus on controlled dance and song. The next may bring an aerial act, a comic exchange, or a stunt that depends on extreme strength and timing.

If you come mainly for traditional Hawaiian performance, keep your expectations in check. ʻAuana is a Cirque du Soleil production first, with acrobatics, spectacle, comedy, and theatrical effects at its core. The hula and Hawaiian music are central, but they share the stage with high-risk entertainment.

The acrobatics and high-risk acts

The physical performances are the main draw for many people. You can expect aerial work, stunts, acrobatics, and acts that demand unusual strength, balance, and concentration.

The best part is the contrast between the performers. Aerial artists create height and suspense. Acrobats bring speed and precision. Hula dancers offer grounded movement and storytelling. Comedians give you a chance to breathe before the next demanding act.

The production also uses high-tech stage effects. These add scale without taking attention away from the performers. In a smaller theater, the combination can feel especially immediate because you are close enough to see the human effort behind the spectacle.

There is a lot happening in a short period. If you like shows that keep moving, you should find the pace satisfying. You may also find yourself choosing where to look, especially during busy scenes with music, dance, and action happening together.

That is another reason I favor a seat with a broad view. The production is designed as a full stage picture, not just a sequence of close-up tricks.

Is ʻAuana good for families?

Yes, this is one of the safer evening entertainment choices for a family visiting Waikiki. The material includes mythology, music, comedy, dance, and visual stunts, so children do not need to understand every cultural reference to enjoy the performance.

Adults have more to consider. You can watch the athletic skill, listen to the Hawaiian music, and think about the show’s treatment of tourism and island identity. The result is broad enough for different ages without being made only for children.

The performance can also work for a couple or a group of friends looking for a polished night out. It is energetic and colorful, but not dependent on nightlife or alcohol. The show itself is the main event.

Anyone under 18 must attend with someone aged 18 or older. Most people can participate, and there is no physical activity required from the audience, though the production may interact with people in the crowd.

Location, timing, and what is included

The theater is at the OUTRIGGER Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel, in the center of Waikiki. You arrange your own way there, since hotel pickup and drop-off are not included.

The ticket includes admission to ʻAuana in the category you select, along with fees and taxes. Food and drinks are extra, so plan those separately if you want dinner or refreshments before or after the performance.

The approximate running time is 1 hour and 20 minutes. That makes it easy to fit into a Waikiki evening, especially if you want a show between other activities. It is long enough to feel like a complete event without taking up your entire night.

Your ticket is mobile, which is convenient for a phone-based travel plan. I would keep the ticket easy to open before you arrive and allow enough time to reach the hotel and find the theater without rushing.

Is the ticket good value?

The answer depends on what you compare it with. ʻAuana is not a low-cost way to fill an hour. You are paying for a professional stage production with trained performers, live music, theatrical effects, comedy, and a cultural theme.

That price makes more sense if you want a special evening rather than a casual activity. The show combines several forms of entertainment that would otherwise require separate performances: Hawaiian music, hula, circus skills, aerial work, comedy, and stage production.

The compact theater also adds value. You are not simply watching a distant spectacle on a large screen or faraway stage. The performers are close enough for the physical effort and timing to register clearly.

I would be more cautious if your main interest is a quiet, traditional hula presentation. This is a theatrical interpretation, with major acrobatic and comic elements. For a visitor who wants a polished, high-energy show connected to Hawaiʻi, the ticket is easier to justify.

The experience has received a 4.9 rating from 540 ratings, with 96 percent recommending it. Those figures suggest unusually broad satisfaction, but your seat choice and expectations still matter more than a number.

Small practical details that can shape the evening

The production does not permit audience video recording, according to one especially disappointed family. That can be frustrating if you like to preserve every part of a show, but it also means you should plan to watch rather than spend the performance holding up a phone.

The audience interaction can be part of the fun. The performers do not remain sealed off from the crowd, and some moments may involve direct engagement. If you prefer to stay completely anonymous, a seat farther from the stage may feel more comfortable.

The theater’s sound has been praised as clear, which matters in a production that depends on music, singing, comedy, and timed action. You want to hear the words and songs, not only watch the movement.

The no-change, no-refund policy is important. Once you book, you cannot cancel or amend the experience for a refund. I would confirm your date, party size, and seating category before paying.

Who should book ʻAuana?

I would point you toward ʻAuana if you want:

• A major evening show in Waikiki
• Hawaiian music and hula combined with circus performance
• A family-friendly activity with broad age appeal
• Close views in a relatively small theater
• Fast-paced acrobatics, aerial acts, comedy, and stage effects
• A cultural theme rather than a generic circus program

I would think twice if you want a strictly traditional cultural performance, a very quiet evening, or complete flexibility after booking. The production is polished and energetic, not a museum-style presentation of Hawaiian history.

Should you book this Cirque du Soleil show?

I would book ʻAuana if you want one memorable performance during your time on Oʻahu. Its best qualities are clear: Hawaiian stories give the show a sense of place, the cast covers a wide range of skills, and the compact theater keeps the action close.

Choose your seats with care. A wider view may serve you better than the closest possible position, and the 200 sections deserve serious consideration. If you are traveling with children, a group of friends, or someone who enjoys live music and athletic performance, the show offers enough variety to keep everyone engaged.

The main reason to skip it is not quality. It is fit. If your evening is better spent at a quiet cultural event or outdoors, this high-energy production may feel like too much. Otherwise, ʻAuana is a strong choice for a polished Waikiki night that connects Cirque du Soleil spectacle with Hawaiian stories, music, hula, and humor.

FAQ

How long is ʻAuana by Cirque du Soleil?

The performance lasts approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes.

Where is ʻAuana performed?

It is performed at the OUTRIGGER Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel in Honolulu.

What does the ticket include?

The ticket includes admission to ʻAuana in the category selected when booking, along with all fees and taxes.

Are food and drinks included?

No. Food and beverages are not included.

Is hotel transportation included?

No. Hotel pickup and drop-off are not included, so you arrange your own transportation to the Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel.

Can children attend the show?

Yes. The production is suitable for a wide range of ages, and anyone under 18 must be accompanied by someone aged 18 or older.

Can I cancel or change my booking?

No. The experience is non-refundable and cannot be changed. If you cancel or request an amendment, the amount paid will not be refunded.