Cirque du Soleil Hawaii debut blends tradition and wonder
The Cirque du Soleil Hawaii debut will bring the internationally acclaimed ensemble to the islands in late 2024, with a permanent show at the Outrigger Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel.
Under the leadership of co-creator and Director Neil Dorward (The Illusionists, Circus 1903) and Simon Painter (The Works Entertainment), the creative team features Cirque du Soleil directors and designers and Native Hawaiian artists who are working together to “weave a tapestry of Indigenous stories together with the world-class, captivating entertainment that is Cirque du Soleil.”
Among the talented Hawaiian creatives working on the Cirque du Soleil Hawaii production are:
- Dr. Aaron J. Salā (Cultural Creative Producer), a globally-recognized visionary known for his work with Disney for the Hawaiian language rendition of Moana
- Manaola Yap (Costume Designer), an internationally celebrated Hawaiian luxury lifestyle fashion designer and hula practitioner, Manaola is the first Native Hawaiian to present Hawaiian culture and couture in a runway collection at New York Fashion Week 2017
- Kumu Hula Hiwa Vaughan (Choreographer), an award-winning and internationally renowned kumu hula (expert and teacher in the art of hula) and one of five women to hold two of hula’s most coveted titles: 1985 Miss Keiki Hula and 1995 Merrie Monarch Miss Aloha Hula
“This remarkable team imbues this first Hawai‘i-based Cirque du Soleil show with a foundation of cultural knowledge through the timeless stories that connect us back through the generations,” says Dr. Salā. “It is a privilege to collaborate with my incredibly-talented colleagues, showcasing the exceptional skill and aesthetic of kānaka maoli, local Hawai‘i and Pasifika talent. Storytelling has served instrumentally in the preservation of our culture, and I am deeply honored to uplift native voices in tandem with the stellar artistry of Cirque du Soleil.”
The collaboration is not only a performance but is designed to bridge cultures by combining Hawaiian art and culture with the theatrical acrobatics Cirque du Soleil is known for.
Additional details about the new Cirque du Soleil show at the Outrigger Waikiki Beachcomber Hotel, including title, ticket sales, and debut date, will be released in the spring of 2024.
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