Entertainment Highlights

Hawaiian entertainment at Royal Hawaiian offers up Hawai‘i’s very best.

The Royal Grove at Royal Hawaiian Center is a gathering place for kama‘āina and malihini alike. The nightly (except Sunday) line-up includes:

Kawika Trask & Friends

Kawika, a Kamehameha Schools graduate, along with Keao Costa, Dwight Kanae and others, performs traditional “cha-lang-a-lang” style of Hawaiian music, a nickname associated with strumming patterns. His dancers are clad in tī leaf skirts, fresh flower lei and colorful attire

Keoahu

Leilani Vakauta leads this family ensemble, also known in the music community as “The Soundettes.” Leilani is also a part of our Polynesian Cultural Center ‘ohana (family).

Pu‘uhonua

You’ll recognize trio member Puake‘ala Mann as she also teaches hula and ‘ukulele at RHC regularly. This group is associated with Hālau Hula o Maiki, the hula school established by the late Kumu Hula (hula master) Maiki Aiu Lake whose spirit lovingly embraces Helumoa.

Ku‘uipo Kumukahi

Ku‘uipo is a multi-award winning Hawaiian musician, recording artist and composer. She is currently the president of the Hawai‘i Academy of Recording Arts and is also associated with the Hawaiian Music Hall of Fame. The Royal Grove comes alive in her festive Aloha Friday performances.

Hula Kahiko at Helumoa

This new Saturday series presents a hālau hula (hula school) and their ‘ōlapa (dancers) in The Royal Grove performing traditional hula where drumming chanting are the accompaniment. This contrasts with hula ‘auana (modern hula) where singing and European-introduced instrument are the accompaniment. Costuming, instruments and stories are described in this showcase of hula enjoyed by our kūpuna (ancestors) and generations hence.

Ho‘okani Piano

Hawaiian-style piano playing in the Pā‘ina Lānai food terrace is a recent addition to RHC. Among players is Aaron Salā, a Kamehameha Schools graduate whoʻs studied the piano styling of Mahi Beamer and the late Leila Hohu Kī‘aha for his master’s thesis. His vocal styling are Hawaiian with a strong influence of bel canto technique.

Jimmy Kaina

Another Kamehameha graduate also “tickles the ivories” at Pā‘ina Lānai and sings in nahehane (sweet) Hawaiian baritone style. Joe Māhoe’s piano style is full-bodied and progressive. He performs Hawaiian classics and hapa-haole favorites.

Royal Hawaiian Band

The first Wednesday of each month at 1 pm, Bandmaster Michael Nakasone and the 40-member band perform in concert in The Royal Grove. The Royal Hawaiian Band was established in the mid-19th century by King Kamehameha III.

Polynesian Cultural Center

Our friends from Lā‘ie perform Thursdays and Saturdays showcasing the songs and dances of Polyensia including Hawai‘i, Tahiti, Sāmoa, Aotearoa (New Zealand) and more. Many of their talented promotional team performers are students at BYU Hawai‘i, and also perform out in Lā‘ie at the world-renown Polynesian Cultural Center.

Special Events at RHC (check for updates on dates and times):
September – Aloha Festivals
October – Twilight at Helumoa
November – Kahikuonālani Arts Festival
December – Lā Hānau o Pauahi Ali‘i (Founder’s Day)
March – Pualeilani Festival of the Arts, Twilight at Helumoa, KS Song Contest broadcast at Helumoa
April – Merrie Monarch broadcast at Pā‘ina Lānai.
May – Lei Day, Twilight at Helumoa
June – Nou Ka Hale