The Tastiest Performing Arts in Honolulu

The Leeward Theatre

★★★★★ 4.5 (6) • $$

"Really nice and very clean theatre. Watched a variety of voice, dance and acting students showcase their talents. It gets cold, so bring a jacket/sweater. The seats are leveled upward from the first row so everyone can see, but if someone is right in front, they somewhat block your view, especially if you want to take pictures or video from your phone.Parking is abundant since it is LCC, and right in front of the theater. There are stairs going down to the entrance with a huge sign right above."

Belly Dance Classes

★★★★★ 5 (1)

"Instructor is super cool, easy to follow and friendly. She is very knowledgeable about what she teaches."

Destination Dance Hawaii

★★★★★ 5 (11)

"Super friendly, welcoming, and lighthearted staff and students. My fiancé and I took an Adult Hula class where we felt so welcomed and comfortable even though the ladies have been taking classes with each other for months."

Pas De Deux Hawaii

★★★★☆ 3.6 (49)

"Monthly fees are reasonable... (about $65/month/class), classes once a week for one hour for most options.... but you must factor in total costs of everything else required to attend. Required performances every 6 months... or there is a high possibility of being kicked out of the class. Few "non-performing" class options. This is the notice you receive prior to the performance signup cut off:Cost:  $50 Performance Fee, $85-$105 Costume, Hip Hop shoes $65 (same style as last year) and $25-$35 Tickets plus tax*When calculating total costs please factor in monthly tuition, dance shoes, tights, make-up, hair, other optional costs such as dance portraits and show shirts.(Ya--- you have to pay for your own tickets to watch your child)Parent Participation:  We require parents to participate backstage in 5 hour shifts during the show.  If you cannot help during show dates, please indicate that when you sign the contract so we can give you a different volunteer assignment leading up to the show dates.  (Ummm.... I'm paying you and you are requiring me to work for you? Nope.)Also, for each of the classes (age groups) you need a specific color of uniform; leotard for ballet or jazz, tshirt for hip hop, etc. This is not what is worn in a performance and not part of that costume fee. The shoes and uniform for regular weekly classes adds up quickly... and can only be purchased through PDD (as it has their logo on the merchandise). They need to adjust prices and be more flexible on where outfits are purchased from (allow students to buy any type of leotard, tights, shoes within regulation from any seller/store). Dont require colors for age groups.... and $65 for hip hop shoes for a performance for a child is ridiculous.Only positive: teachers are friendly and my daughter enjoys her classes. But the cost brings the rating way down..... I cant afford for my daughter to have this hobby."

Wah Ngai Lion Dance Association

★★★★★ 4.9 (19)

"I wanted to incorporate a little bit of my culture at the wedding so I decided to have a lion dance performanceI called around, found Wah Ngai to be reasonably priced and easy to work with. I got two lions, requesting blue and purple to possibly match our colors. On top of that, I hired these guys as a surprise for my wedding guests...especially my family. On the wedding day itself, they arrived early...I'd hope they would hide out so no one saw them and even gave excuses when someone asked if they will be performing during the reception. They gave a great performance and my family as well as all of our guests was happy and loved them."

The Magical Mystery Show

★★★★★ 4.9 (183)

"Must see magic show! Highly recommended! A hidden gem in Hawaii. We got to see world class magician Shoot Ogawa up close in our VIP front row center seats. He's super entertaining, funny, witty and observant. Unique, intimate, captivating, educational, engaging and fun describes this magic show in an intimate showroom that looks like a Victorian era magic parlour. Our 7:30 show on a Thursday only had 24 people in 4 rows where 6 seats in the front row were reserved VIP seats and the back 2 rows are raised. Actually all the seats had a great views so you can see everything and Shoot Ogawa picked several people throughout the showroom to participate in his magic acts. It's almost like having your own private magic show. Having the expensive reserved seats did have some perks though with extra close up views of sleight of hand tricks and you were mostly likely chosen to assist him with a couple of tricks and you also get a small bag of magic tricks to take home. It was worth it for us because we had an awesome time but honestly you'll have a great time no matter where you're sitting. Drinks were provided while we were lined up outside before the start of the show during which were introduced to Merlin the Rabbit and could pet him. The lines moved in quickly for showtime. Peter was a great host that gave us a tour of the curio museum with some interesting history & stories. Kekoa gets the crowd pumped up for the show. Shoot Ogawa, the award winning magician from Japan, did an incredible magic show. He's down to earth and funny. A portion of the ticket sales goes to Shriners Hospital for children which is pretty cool. Parking is accessible from Kuhio Avenue and is valet parking only. There is free parking validation for the magic show. Just have to tip the valet drivers. They rotate the magicians from time to time so make sure you know what magicians are performing before booking. I highly recommend Shoot Ogawa!"

RSC Music Productions

★★★★★ 5 (1)

"I'm new to the genre of Latin music...and after seeing these guys perform live, I've become a fan. So much energy, gets you on your feet. We had such a blast--mahalo for a great show!"

Haunted Lagoon

★★★★☆ 3.9 (53)

"This year was the first year I went and I want to go back already. It was a lot more fun than I thought it would be. This haunted canoe ride around the "Haunted Lagoon" was about a half an hour, maybe more (?) There's a storyline here, about the lady from La'ie and how she's creepy, has long hair, wears white, and her face is all messed up... Oh and she is supposedly looking for her son. And any others to spend the rest of eternity with her. I jumped quite a bit during the ride, but so did everyone else on the canoe. There was a lot of laughter and screaming too. This ride is NOT recommended for old people and those with cardiac problems who could potentially die from a myocardial infarction. There are a ton of surprises in this ride and you will get wet (sprinkled) with stinky Haunted Lagoon water. (There's a kiddie version of this ride too. I heard that it's similar to the regular Haunted Lagoon ride, just way less scary.) A lot of thought went into this whole production and they really did a tremendous job. The props were awesome and the actors were great, especially the children. I'll probably have nightmares for a month, but I feel like it's almost worth it. The wait-time for this ride is horribly long, like a whole movie's length and then some. But there was food and some cool stuff to do in line (i.e. get an airbrush tattoo, ride and take pictures in a coffin, etc.). Oh and for those of you who like useless crap, they were selling those annoying-yet-cool-light-up-blinky-waste-of-money-toys and some Haunted Lagoon memorabilia.I will most definitely go next year. Check out www.hauntedlagoon.com for times and ticket info. Don't forget to take advantage of the Kama'aina discount if you're eligible. (I think it's $5 off.)"

Paradise Cove Luau

★★★★☆ 3.6 • $$$$

"Saturday, August 24, 2024 (RIP / HBD, Our Beloved Grandson Logan): Thanks to Tickets & Tours at Joint Base Hickam Pearl Harbor I was able to get Orchid seating in advance via email (Military discount of $123 each). We had a total of 13 vouchers for family with 4 more family members joining us there. There's a lot of parking and the staff is very friendly. Check in time was 4:45 pm. We were all given "credit cards" with $16 loaded on it to use toward any purchases.The grounds are clean and wide open. We were directed to our reserved table, which was located in the middle with a perfect view of the stage. There is shopping, tattooing, photos with the parrots, etc. Events for the entire family to enjoy!There is a nice beach on the property. Our family spread rose petals in honor of our 17 year old grandson, Logan, who passed away last year from Fentanyl poisoning. We all wore his shirts in his memory. It was a most spectacular sunset & we know he was there in spirit. Just before that a most wondrous rainbow appeared across the Hawaiian skies and we felt that Logan was sending us a sign that he knew his ohana was all together there for him on his birthday. We miss him so much!They opened the buffet in an orderly fashion and we all enjoyed the food; some got seconds. It was very tasty.We enjoyed the show. My battery died so I couldn't take more photos. Honestly, the most impressive were the two fire dancers! High energy and precision were the earmarks of their amazing performances. Neither one dropped a torch! The entire show was highly entertaining! As some had reservations about the dancers & musicians walking off from a previous show there was no sign of any squabbles. The show went on successfully without a hitch.We had an enjoyable experience and would recommend!"

Doris Duke Theatre

★★★★★ 4.5 (44)

"First time visiting this venue and it looks well maintained. No musty odors or peeling paint. Carpet looks new. Its located in the basement so there are stairs and an elevator. Outside is a ramp for wheelchairs. The entrance is on the Kina St side. Don't go through Art Academy main entrance doors as theater is on campus, but not connected to the Academy. What brought me here was the JOAN JETT biography movie. Just wanted to comment that she is a super-she and that the movie had great light hearted fun moments. There are a variety of movies from all genres and from around the world. Its up to you to look up their schedules because there doesn't seem much advertisements."

Simple Souls

★★★★★ 5 (8)

"Simple Souls is absolutely AMAZING. They blew me away every time I heard them (and after the first time, I went out of my way to hear them several more times, knowing my time on the island was unfortunately limited). Both of their voices are incredible -- rich, dynamic, versatile (hip-hop, pop/rock, ballads [only a few of the latter though, as these aren't napping performances], etc.), and with complementary ranges. And the variety of sound they get out of their two instruments is just incredible -- it's easy to forget that all they've got is a djembe and a guitar. This is also not your normal cover band (even your normal great cover band) -- Simple Souls puts their own spin on popular songs, which do the songs complete justice while not simply redoing what the original artists put out.I've recommended them to numerous people I know (plus a few strangers when I've found any possible excuse) and now I'm recommending them to you -- go see them! They're at LuLu's in Waikiki most Sunday nights (which doesn't have the best acoustics, unfortunately), and otherwise around the island."

Kuhio Beach Hula Show

★★★★★ 5 (4)

"Very relaxing moment to watch and enjoy the music and dance. It's on Sunday evening. And it's free!"

Belly Dancers In Paradise

★★★★★ 5 (18)

"Malia and her troupe kicked off our the Voyager PCS 6th Annual Concert Fundraiser with their amazing belly dancing. Wow! We held this event on The Great Lawn at Bishop Museum and they used the whole lawn, which really engaged the audience. The music was great, the dancing even better. It was a family event, and the dancing was totally appropriate for kids. Love!"

First Thursday Slam Poetry

★★★★☆ 4 (3) • $

"I was lucky to arrive the week for First Thursday! I had read about it last year but had never been able to attend. If you arrive early enough, you should be able to find a parking spot. I had never been to this space before and there's quite a bit going on....pool hall and what sounded like a dance club....maybe next time.I like the open space and open seating. People were pretty chill and friendly. They also have beverages for sale which was great. There were a number of interesting poets and a guest poet from some poetry slam contest on reality tv...yeah, I can't remember her name but she was funny. They also had musicians play which was great too! The MC was great!I would've given 5 stars, but they allowed some guy to go up and all he did was talk about his life. His friend read earlier. By allowing some random person to just rattle off about his sad pathetic life, it diminishes the purpose and intent of a poetry slam."

Manoa Valley Theatre

★★★★★ 4.5 (147)

"First time watching a play at MVT and had an interesting experience. It's their first showing after reopening from COVID. Tickets were bought early and were selling fast. Ticket was $40 per person. Check in was quick with multiple workers assisting. The theater was almost full and pretty crowded. The theater was smaller than Diamond head theatre and seats were a bit less spacey. We were pretty much touching shoulders. Guess it wouldn't be a problem to me if it weren't COVID times. We watched the showing of The Joy Luck Club. Love the set up on stage. I was really interested since I read the book and watched the movie of it. The actors were all great. Had a 15 minute intermission for a 3 hour show. Bathrooms are available. Ample parking at the Manoa Marketplace which is a few minutes walk to the theatre."

Honolulu Blend Show Chorus

★★★★★ 4.7 (3)

"HBSC is an amazing group of ladies that come together every Monday to sing in harmony and occasionally share their gift of singing with the community throughout several performances! It has brought such joy to my life! Anyone that likes to sing should join, no matter where you are in your singing journey!!!"

Aloha Dancesport Center

★★★★★ 4.7 (21)

"This is a large dance space. The studio is ran by a husband and wife team. They a professional dancers and teacher. They teach children and adults classes. And the teach private classes. They also hold weekend dances for adult put on shows. I use them for Latin Ballroom lessons for my niece while she was here on vacation. It was $45 for 45 minutes. She enjoy her private lessons. This studio was welcome, friendly and clean. My niece had a fabulous experience learn some Latin Ballroom for the first time."

Hawaii Opera Theatre

★★★★★ 4.6 (34)

"The Tales of Hoffman, the last opera written by the great Jacques Offenbach, was actually never seen by the creator himself, who passed away before the first production of it was completed. Because of this and the fact it has been described many times as a "fantastical opera" there leaves much to the imagination and, have had many renditions performed. An entertaining tale of Hoffman's three great loves. Who can resist not wanting to see this, and relating to bits of it.Tonite we were treated to this delightful rendition by Hawaii Opera Theatre (HOT). This opera also marked the end of an era, after more than 28 productions spanning over 20 years, it is the last opera Artistic Director H. Akina has directed before retiring. Akina, the first-ever Hawaii-born artistic director of the Hawaii Opera Theatre, is a graduate of Punahou High School and the Freie University, Berlin's graduate program. He is also the recipient of the prestigious Preis Honoree in Arts.Thank you HOT for such an entertaining evening. Thank you YELP for the opportunity! Thank you to Director Henry Akina for the many years and contributions in shaping H.O.T. to the world class opera theatre that we know today. Mahalo i Malama 'oe a hui hou. Thank you and take good care of yourself until we meet again."

Ha Breath of Life

★★★★☆ 4.2 (147)

"PAGENT describes this theatrical presentation of the "Story of Island Kings" and the breath of life in an outdoor theatre. The production is amazing. Our daughter surprised us with tickets and we got to see the show from a lovely location. People are asked not to take pictures or video during the show.The story has something for everyone including the children. It is tropical with adventure, and battles, and the birth of a King. The soundtrack and the staging were amazing, taking place at a Pacific Island village. Great story. Full of singing local songs, and dress. An abundance of high energy dancing and fire dancers. Volcanoes and young love. It had it all.The energy level was off the hook and everyone in the cast was invested. We loved every second of the show. There was also a storyteller's narrative in the background to keep you up with the action. Brilliant.This play is a great way to end your day."

Pearl City Piano Studio

★★★★★ 5 (1)

"Elsa is the best music teacher I've had. She is very patient and down-to-earth. She allows you to bring your own music or she can choose pieces she thinks will suit you. I really like how she talks during the lesson and treats you like a friend, while still being able to teach you."

Think Fast Improv

★★★★★ 5 (30)

"Stand up comedy on another level! They think so fast on their feet and loved the audience interaction. They even offer classes on Tuesday and Thursday if you are interested for yourself. Super fun and cool to watch! Can't wait for the next show in the future! They perform every first and third Saturdays!"

247 Dance Force Studio

★★★★☆ 4 (14)

"I do not currently take dance classes.I do not currently have my children enrolled in classes.HOWEVER.If I were to do either of those two things, which are probably going to happen in the not-too-distant future, I would absolutely 1000% choose 24-VII studios as they are incredible.I have a dance degree (was an EXCELLENT idea back when I lived at home and my dad cooked my food for me and paid my phone bill) and several years of choreography/teaching under the old belt. Therefore I feel I am an astute judge of quality. I have also watched a lot of youtube. BAM. Dance expert.24-VII danceforce has their shiz together. I attend the dance concerts just for fun because they are AWESOME. Choreography is on point, dancers are well trained, performance quality is out of this world, and it is a glorious experience every time. "You love dance, aren't all dance concerts glorious?"NO. No they are not. Yes, there are other studios on the island that are decent. But there are also other dance studios that are just... weak sauce. And sitting through a performance by one to those studios is like having your eyeballs stabbed with hot pokers and you feel like "Why? WHY DOESN'T ANYONE SEE HOW PAINFULLY BAD THIS CHOREOGRAPHY IS?!!!" WHY??!!!! WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO ME?!!!"But I digress.The students training at this studio are clearly expected to work hard and pour their whole hearts into their dance. The bar is very high, which is as it should be. You could send your child to a warm, fuzzy, low-key studio where he/she will feel like winner because everyone is a winner in their tepid, mediocre routines. OR you could send them here and they will actually end up good. Really good. Even great.And what's the point in doing something if you don't want to be great?Fun?You know what's fun?Being great.Don't get me wrong, I know several parents with small children at 24-VII who are having a blast. I've also heard other parents complain about "the environment" to justify why their kid is enrolled at some subpar studio. What about the environment? You mean the excellence? Is that what you don't like? Afraid of your kid having competition because he/she might, gasp, not be the best?Please.This review is turning out more negative than I intended it to. I think I have low blood sugar.At any rate, I have incredible respect for 24-VII. In fact, I have a secret dream to rebuild my dance chops and dance with them someday. I figure if I put on enough makeup and stand in the back, I'll blend and no one will be all "Good Gods, who is that middle-aged woman dancing with those young things?!!"Lots. Lots of makeup.And maybe it would help if I had abs. And, like, a masquerade mask.I need to stop writing.24-VII is awesome and anyone serious about dance should train there and their concerts are the best. Yes."

Guitarmonster Studio

★★★★★ 5 (2)

"I started taking lessons with Shoji when I was in 8th grade. He was incredibly patient with me for the several years I was his student. Shoji will always have a deep influence on my life, as my guitar teacher and as a mentor who imparted life lessons on me. Shoji taught me how to improvise, how to comp (he has the best chords!) and how to use those skills in a band situation. I was named to the state select stage band all four years in high school and invited to try out for a well-known music college. Shoji is the real deal. I was so lucky to have studied with him. He will always be one of my favorite people. My only regret is I didn't take more advantage of his knowledge when my mom was paying for my lessons!"

Hawaii Theatre Center

★★★★☆ 4.3 (243) • $$

"If you've never had the opportunity to visit the Hawaii Theatre for a play, concert, etc. you should do it! If you've visited before, you should do it again! The Hawaii Theatre is a beautiful venue full of history in downtown/chinatown.Seating: Having just seen a few shows at similarly older/historic theaters in New York, these seats felt roomy in comparison! The NY theater stairs were also much steeper. So no complaints with either here. Also, you get a good view of the stage no matter where you sit.Bar: Small bar on the second floor. It's always been crowded every event I've been to so I avoid it. I can wait until after the show to have a drink.Parking: Lots of options. Public garages, private garages and street parking. If you know which side streets to look at, you can almost always find a spot.Location: Chinatown. Honolulu is a big city and not immune to city crime and violence. Practice common sense and awareness.Support the local businesses surrounding the theater before or after your show! There are a number of cafes, restaurants, bakeries, boutiques, etc. just a block or two away."

School of Salsa

★★★★★ 5 (13)

"I had such a good time here!I took the beginner bachata class because I was too scared to take the advance class, but in hindsight, I would've been fine. The instructor still taught me some tricks for leading that I will definitely carry with me. She is able to project her voice very well so the class can hear her fine. She has great crowd control and awareness of our different skill levels. My only real complaint, the DJ during the social. I showed up thinking it was a bachata night, and they continued to play salsa music. This is honestly common for venues to play bachata and salsa, but it usually says bachata and salsa night. I don't really know salsa, so that's why it bothered me. Anyways, I definitely plan on coming back if I make it back to Honolulu. I had a really good time."

Experience Nutridge

★★★★★ 4.9 (459)

"This is a very well run and fun Luau. The Nutridge estate is on a lookout area over Honolulu so the views themselves are priceless. The group welcomes about 100 guests for the show and dinner. The food was delicious and the participants gave their all as they performed traditional dances and brought the audience in for games during the evening. We used their transport from the cruise pier and it worked seamlessly. If you want a well sized and fun luau check it out while in Honolulu."

Malu Productions

★★★★★ 5 (24)

"Attended the luau recently this Sunday and I must say that they have an Amazing performers and their performances were jaw dropping! My family and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Highly recommended!"

Renee’s Music Studio, LLC

★★★★☆ 4.3 (6)

"They are so wonderful and so accommodating to my wild and crazy group- I go solo with my two year old twins and a ten month old!! First music class we've tried and my boys loved it, so much they talk about it all week!"

Studio 808 Dance Project

★★★★★ 5 (4)

"This review is in regards to the Zumba class I recently took at Studio 808.Studio 808 is located in the heart of Waipahu next to the iconic Leeward Drive-Inn. I've heard of Studio 808's dance programs but have never taken a class until I heard about the Zumba class being offered there. You can take the stairs or elevator to the 2nd floor and reach the studio on the Leeward Drive-Inn side. Once arriving, there is a front desk area set up in front of the studio where people were manning. You can pay in cash or Venmo (I did the mobile pay option because I didn't have cash). Fortunately, Studio 808 has also catered the Zumba class as a remote class so you can actually sign up for the class and dance from home by watching the instructor.Upon arriving to the class, the room was overall clean and spacious. Because the class is also done virtually, there wasn't many people in the room. The Zumba instructor was Erin and I have nothing but great things to say about him. As someone who isn't a dancer, Erin was kind enough to teach the lessons via virtual cam and in-person. The overall class was a lot of fun and I enjoyed the music better at Studio 808 compared to the Zumba classes I take at 24 Hour Fitness. I would definitely recommend to go with Erin because he's exudes positive energy, always smiles while breaking a sweat and definitely knows what he's doing. I was even watching the participants online (who were older folks) and they seemed to thoroughly enjoy the class at home as they would in studio. If you're up for doing a Zumba class in Waipahu (or simply at your own home), I would definitely recommend this class to take. Admission is about $7 per class but the first class is free! Classes are every Tuesday from 6-7pm."

Kumu Kahua Theatre

★★★★★ 4.6 (57)

"One of my favorite classes in high school (besides First Aid) was Drama. Our teacher, Mrs. Sandla, (no relation to Adam Sandler) was so expressive and entertaining. She really encouraged us to see plays on our own time and gave us extra credit for attending live performances. This was the first time that I've been to this theater - Kumu Kahua Theater - and what a pleasant surprise it was!I found FREE street parking on King Street after 6:30pm and walked to the Box Office where my friend and I picked up our tickets. She had ordered them online and avoided the shipping fee by having them hold the tickets at the theater. The Box Office opened at 7pm and we were first in line. Seating is first come, first served, so we stood in line and got to sit in the front row!This is a very small theater with about 100 seats. The configuration was a U-shaped risers. The actors were in the middle of the room with the audience surrounding the action. This venue has a more intimate feel - as if we are part of the story.During intermission time, a clean restroom was nearby with a water dispenser in the hallway. No food is allowed in the theater. Restaurants are nearby for a meal before or after the show.Kumu Kahua Theater is known for "local stories" with contemporary themes. Often, the use of pidgin English is used, so non-residents of Hawaii may have some difficulty understanding the conversations. The play that we saw was "Aloha Las Vegas - A Moving Comedy" about the common issue of relocating to the mainland where homes are "inexpensive" and there are more opportunities.Now that I know the logistics of this theater, I'll be looking forward to the next presentation!"

IONA Contemporary Dance Theatre

★★★★☆ 4.2 (6)

"I cannot sing enough praises of this dance company. Although they have dropped the pear from their name, they remain the shining star of Hawaiian contemporary dance. A blend of traditional butoh and modern dancing, will keep you rivetted. Amazing, truly inspiring."

Kika

★★★★☆ 4.3 (6)

"Kika Inc thank you soooo much for making our wedding as beautiful as it was! Erin was so helpful aiding us in figuring out exactly what we wanted. She emailed us mp3's of different songs/styles, was extremely responsive when emailing or calling back and forth, and really stayed on top of everything up until the day of the wedding.We absolutely LOVED our ukulele soloist Henry. We couldn't have asked for more!! He played and sang my requested song acoustically (so romantic sounding!) as I walked down the aisle and made the moment just as I had always imagined. We had asked if he could learn "our song" a few months before the wedding, and play it for our first dance. I was informed that if it's a Hawaiian song, it shouldn't be a problem... but our song was definitely not Hawaiian, and kind of a soft rock song. Erin told me she would play it for Henry and see if he was willing to learn it. A week later, she said he already knew how to play it!! It really made our first dance extra special when Henry sang our song. He actually made it sound a little bit hawaiian-ish and put his own twist on it, which I totally loved!!!! All of our guests kept coming up to me throughout the night and telling me how great he sounded, and how ever did we find such a great musician. :) Awesome, music to a bride's ears hehehe. He was very generous with his equipment too, allowing us to (unexpectedly) hook up the iPod for a Michael Jackson dance that two of our 7 year old guests had been choreographing since cocktail hour hahaha. The night couldn't have been any more perfect thanks to Henry!!!If I needed any kind of entertainment for any event, I would contact Kika Inc right away and book their services. They have everything you need! Dancers, performers, musicians, bands, hula dancers, DJs, etc. I am so happy we found Kika, and want to give them the kudos they definitely deserve!!"

Samadhi Hawaii

★★★★★ 4.9 (18)

"Awesome blossom! About as unique as you can get for a birthday party!This review is for a birthday party for kids held at Samadhi Hawaii. I arranged a private party via email with Nicole. It was easy to arrange, she was informative and quick to respond. They are able to accommodate kids of almost all ages (they made it work for a 3 year old!). The payment is per person who participates in the party and the hours are held outside of their normal business hours. They are located on Cooke St, about a block in from Ala Moana Blvd and inside of Boca Hawaii (there's a door just to the right of the cashier area to get upstairs).The birthday I held was on a Saturday evening, which worked out just fine. You can also rent tables/chairs/space within their studio and bring in your own food/drinks to conduct the birthday celebration after the lesson. They had 3 tables and roughly 20 some-odd chairs. Nicole and her instructors are hands on and great with the kids. The group was divided into smaller groups of 3s, which gave everyone much more hands on application on the apparatus'. The private lesson runs between one and a quarter to one and a half hours or so, including stretching before and after the lesson. They used the silks and the trapeze. The kids had a blast and learned a lot - most, if not all, had not tried anything like this before. After the kids ate, they continued to bounce and run on the mats that were left out. I'm not sure if this was ok with Nicole and her staff but no one stopped them and the kids continued their good time. It's literally the perfect location for kids and an extra special girly birthday! The adults are happy too when their kids are worn out!We brought in food and drinks to have dinner there after the instruction. They don't offer refrigerator space so you need to have everything in coolers or out in the open (note: everything needs to be carried upstairs). Also, no A/C so it does get warm. Would recommend food that can be outside. Also, due to no A/C, best to let guests know so they can dress accordingly.Parking I believe is street only. I'm guessing there is not usually a problem on the weekends (though a little walk from some stalls). Boca, which is the main tenant of the building, has a small lot, which is reserved for them. I didn't ask but if you ever go to Samadhi, best to check with them if guests can park in the Boca lot after hours (they closed at 5 on that Saturday). Another tip is that once Boca closes, the front door is closed so guests need to ring the doorbell so someone from Samadhi can let them in.If you're looking for a unique birthday party, I would highly recommend Samadhi! (Based on the party, I'm sure their normal lessons are GREAT too!)"

Sabor Hawaii

★★★★★ 5 (3)

"It's my favorite place to dance in Honolulu! Besides, it's the only place around where you can dance salsa, bachata, and kizomba(!) or brazilian zouk(!!) - many thanks to skillful DJs over there. Great community of dancers!!! Every once in a while, there is a live band or a dance performance. There are plenty of foods and drinks available, and parking is easy, as well."

Applause Performance Academy

★★★★☆ 3.8 (12)

"When my daughter first shared her interest in the performing arts I was very worried about my shy child. APA embraced her and stresses the fact there are no cliques. I envisoned a bunch of snobby partents bragging about their children. I was pleasantly wrong. The instructors are supportive not only of the children but clueless parents as myself. My child has "come out of her shell" and is now hooked on dancing AND performing."