Cirque du Soleil: ‘Auana Is a Thrilling, World-Class Spectacle
The new show at the Outrigger Waikīkī Beachcomber Hotel melds Native Hawaiian culture with Cirque’s renowned artistry.
Photo: Robbie Dingeman
Cirque du Soleil: ‘Auana at the Outrigger Waikīkī Beachcomber Hotel is a dazzling world-class production that intertwines Cirque’s signature artistry and acrobatics with Native Hawaiian elements. One cast member describes it as a “Hawaiian wonderland”—80 minutes that feel as much like an emotional journey as a thrilling showcase.
We bought tickets to the first open-to-the-public show last week. The space is more intimate than Las Vegas’ Cirque shows, just 784 seats in Outrigger’s completely refurbished 20,000-square-foot theater. Eight acts include acrobats and dancers spinning in the air, jugglers, comic sketches and a theater full of movement with entertainers moving through the aisles.
The beginnings of Waikīkī’s rise as a destination are traced through hula and games. We see hula dancers rise from the sea as an aerialist on a spinning hoop pays homage to the moon goddess Hina. The show alternates acts of supreme acrobatic skill and daring with lyrical, artistic sets that soothe and captivate; then it crescendoes with even faster, higher acrobatics. Beautiful hula weaves between performances, as does a Trickster who provides comic relief.
Photo: Robbie Dingeman
A live band led by John Signor, the musical lead in Maui’s former ‘Ulalena production, helps with the immersive feel of the show. Original songs are by Los Angeles-based composer Evan Duffy, who’s made his mark in scores for movies (Crazy Rich Asians), television and video games as well as the NYC-based Cirque show Mad Apple.
“It’s just been an incredible journey learning these amazing stories and art forms from Hawai‘i,” says director and co-creator Neil Dorward of Hawai‘i’s first resident Cirque production. “It really is a celebration of the spirit of Hawai‘i through the lens of Cirque du Soleil.”
While Dorward brought leadership from the Montreal-based entertainment juggernaut, he emphasized the crucial partnership with Aaron Salā as the cultural creative producer. Salā, for his part, credits the entire artistic team, including Kumu Hula Hiwa Vaughan and costume designer Manaola Yap. It was Yap who coined the term ala moe, or pathway to a dream state. To Salā, this describes the way the audience is invited to join the journey: “To allow us to be in that liminal threshold between reality and fantasy that is apropos of the Cirque du Soleil brand,” he says.
Photo: Robbie Dingeman
Tickets
Expect to splurge for tickets with prices starting at $69 for non-residents, plus taxes and fees (which total about $85) with a 30% kama‘āina discount bringing the entry-level kama‘āina price to $48 plus taxes and fees. Shows are Wednesday through Sunday at 5:30 and 8:30 p.m. with no performances on Monday and Tuesday.
Front-row seats range from $125 to $195. We sat more toward the middle of the theater and thought the view worked great. Ticket prices are lower on Sundays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Groups of 10 or more get a discount rate via email hawaiisales@cirquedusoleil.com.
Parking
The show expects to draw the majority of its guests from visitors who can walk to the show or catch a short ride, so the bad news for kama‘āina is there’s no dedicated parking in the hotel or validation. The good news is that most of us know our favorite kama‘āina hacks: Eat and shop at nearby International Marketplace, which validates parking for those who spend $25 so that the first three hours cost $4. Park at the Honolulu Zoo and pay your parking through a smartphone app. For kama‘āina or military who attend an early show, you can park at Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center, spend $25 and get 3 hours of free parking (but keep in mind the parking desk closes at 8 p.m.). Or share a ride and the cost with friends and family.
SEE ALSO: Where to Park in Waikīkī
Cirque Hawai‘i Trivia
Guy Laliberté, the co-founder of Cirque, has said he was inspired by the beauty of a Hawai‘i sunset to create the company, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary.
$48–$195, Outrigger Waikīkī Beachcomber Hotel, 2300 Kālākaua Ave., cirquedusoleil.com, @cirquedusoleil.auana
