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Culture and the Arts

 

If your image of "culture and the arts" in Honolulu is limited to kitschy Waikiki shows spotlighting Polynesian fire dancing or celebrity impersonators who look like Cher . . . it's time to get reacquainted with the wealth of offerings that Oahu has to offer.

Honolulu's cultural scene is alive, well, and far more diverse than you may have ever imagined.

Along with Oahu's well-established art galleries, the Honolulu Symphony and Honolulu Opera Theater, kama'aina can attend any number of stage performances, poetry readings, jazz sessions, film festivals and, yes - even rock concerts by some of the biggest names in the music industry.

Of course, where you go, how you get there and who's headlining the performances are critical tidbits of information that you'll need before ordering tickets.

For the most part, Honolulu's cultural activities are staged at six main venues that include:

Neal S. Blaisdell Arena is located at 777 Ward Avenue and situated on the historic site of the 30-acre Victoria Ward Estate known as "Old Plantation."

The multi-purpose Arena is a circular performance facility with unobstructed sight lines for 8,800 people.

The upper level has permanent upholstered theater chairs, while the lower level has portable padded seats and seating risers.

Recent events include performances by Elton John, Celine Dion, Gwen Stefani, 'N Sync, Lee Ann Rimes and Jimmy Buffett.

The Arena, which is owned and operated by the City and County of Honolulu since 1958, also has hosted Japanese sumo matches and family entertainment such as Disney on Ice, Sesame Street Live, and international gymnastics and martial arts exhibitions.

It's also the site of a show done by legendary singer Elvis Presley, which was broadcast by satellite around the world in 1964. To commemorate the event, a life-size statue of "The King" was recently unveiled near the arena entrance and attracts visitors from around the world who come by the busload to have their pictures taken with the "bronze" singer.

For information on coming events, call the ticket office at 527-5400 or log on to www.blaisdellcenter.com.

The Blaisdell Concert Hall, which is located on the mauka side of the complex, is Hawaii's premier performing arts theater for the Honolulu Symphony and the Hawaii Opera Theatre.

Broadway productions such as The Lion King, Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserable, Rent, Miss Saigon, Chicago, Cats and other national touring shows have been performed here.

The theater features continental seating for 2,158 people, a proscenium stage, modern lighting and a high-tech sound system.

For information, call the Blaisdell Center or contact the The Honolulu Symphony Box Office at 792-2000.

The Waikiki Shell is located under the trees at Kapiolani Park with Diamond Head for a backdrop and Waikiki Beach at its opposite end.

This tropical outdoor amphitheater, built in 1952, is Hawaii's place to see the stars, under the stars.

The outdoor site is Oahu's favorite scene for Island-style festivals featuring hula, ukulele and Jawaiian music along with performances by local comedians and classic rock groups.

The Waikiki Shell seats 2,400 persons and its lawn area has capacity for an additional 6,000 people.

Naturally, Hawaii's tropical climate makes the Waikiki Shell a perfect setting for a memorable afternoon lawn party or evening concert.

"The Shell" - as it's referred to by locals - is located across from the Honolulu Zoo at 2805 Monsarrat Ave. For information, call the box office at 591-2211.

Bishop Museum first opened its doors in 1889 as a repository for the royal possessions of this last direct descendant of King Kamehameha the Great.

Today it serves as the Hawai'i State Museum of Natural and Cultural History with more than 24 million items that tell the history of the Hawaiian Islands and their Pacific neighbors.

The main hall houses Polynesian artifacts: lustrous feather capes, the skeleton of a giant sperm whale, photography and crafts displays and an authentic, well-preserved grass house inside a two-story 19th-century Victorian style gallery.

The latest addition to the complex is a natural science wing with state-of-the-art interactive exhibits.

The grounds of the Bishop Museum include a planetarium, and daily hula and Hawaiian crafts demonstrations are presented along with special exhibits.

The museum is located at 1525 Bernice St. For information, call 847-3511.

Diamond Head Theatre, known locally as the "Broadway of the Pacific," has been producing some of Oahu's best live community theater since 1915.

With its large stage, yet intimate seating, Diamond Head Theatre hosts upward of 40,000 theatergoers each season and is the oldest performing arts center in Hawaii.

Along with a busy theatrical schedule, the Theater works closely with schools and offers year-round classes for youth and adults in acting, tap dancing, ballet, vocals and staging.

The Theater is located near the base of Diamond Head at 520 Makapuu Ave. For information, call the Box Office: 733-0274. Hawaii Theatre has undergone a recent renaissance and is the hub of a regentrification effort that's transforming the look and feel of downtown Honolulu.

When the theatre opened its doors on Sept. 6, 1922, it was hailed as the "Pride of the Pacific," showcasing vaudeville, plays, musicals and silent films until it fell into disrepair and was abandoned in 1984.

Two years later, the non-profit Hawaii Theatre Center saved the structure from the wrecking ball and undertook a major reconstruction program that restored the old movie palace to its formal glory.

In 1996, the Hawaii Theatre reopened its doors as a 1400-seat, multi-purpose, state-of-the art performance center.

Since then, it's won the hearts of theatergoers throughout Oahu. It was selected as the "Outstanding Historic Theatre in America" in 2005 by the League of Historic American Theatres and, in 2006, was awarded an Honor Award by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. In addition, it's listed on both the State and National Registers of Historic Places.

But the theater is more than a "gilded facade." It has a full slate of activities ranging from piano concertos and performances by local slack key guitar masters to silent movies, animation festivals and is home for the annual Miss Chinatown Pageant.

And in this case, the venue alone is worth the price of admission. The Hawaii Theatre is located at 1130 Bethel St. in downtown Honolulu. For information, call 528-0506, or log on to www.hawaiitheatre.com.

Aloha Stadium is the largest and most versatile multi-purpose facility of its kind in Hawaii. The 50,000-seat facility officially opened in 1975 and is best known as the home to the University of Hawaii's Warriors football team.

It also hosts a multitude of other events including NFL Pro Bowl, baseball games, soccer matches, concerts, car shows, fairs and a swap meet - a popular shopping site for residents and tourists.

In essence, it's an open-air facility where the spirit of achievement can be nourished by the thrill of competition and where families can gather to share their cultural diversity with pride and a feeling of Aloha.

Because of its size, location and seating, Aloha Stadium is the favorite venue for musical events where local folks can rock the night away without worrying about upsetting the neighbors.

While they may not fall into the category of a classic concerto or a symphony under the guise of a "long haired" conductor, many icons of today's pop culture have performed at Aloha Stadium in Halawa Valley.

Headliners have included Mick Jagger and the Rolling Stones, U2, Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Bob Segar and the Silver Bullet Band and Mariah Carey.

Now if you still need more cultural choices than that, Oahu has a slew of art galleries, playhouses, and performance centers worth considering.

They offer an eclectic mix of art forms, ranging from modern sculpture and antiquities and to community theater and guest lecturers.

Cultural attractions on Oahu include:

• Honolulu Academy of Arts - 900 South Beretania St. (532-8734)
• Contemporary Art Museum - 2411 Makiki Heights Dr. (526-1322)
• Manoa Valley Theater - 2833 East Manoa Rd. (988-6131)
• Kennedy Theatre - 1770 East-West Rd. Honolulu (956-7655)
• Children's Discovery Center - 111 Ohe St. (524-5437)
• Doris Duke Theater - 900 South Beretania St., Honolulu, HI 96813 United States (map) (532-8700)
• Mamiya Theatre - 3142 Waialae Avenue, Honolulu, (739-4886)
• Hawaii Plantation Village in Waipahu - 94-695 Waipahu St. (677-0110)
• Polynesian Cultural Center in La'ie - 55-370 Kamehameha Highway (367-7060).