“Welina mai i ʻAuana!”
A note from the Director:
‘Auana is a celebration of the spirit of Hawaiʻi through the lens of Cirque du Soleil. I wanted to create a fantastical world where stories could exist unconstrained by reality— a multi-sensory experience that audiences can truly invest in and enjoy.
Most importantly, I wanted to create a show for the Hawaiian community—something they could be proud of. From the very beginning, authenticity was my top priority. Every detail in the production was crafted with care, with the goal of shining a light on and magnifying the deep beauty found within Hawaiian culture.
Hawaiʻi and its people have endured so much over time. My hope is that this production can offer a moment of healing—a restoration of light to Waikīkī.
- Neil Dorward
Co-creator & Show Director
ABOUT THE SHOW
ʻAuana is Cirque du Soleil’s first resident show in Hawaiʻi—a breathtaking fusion of acrobatics, hula, music, and storytelling inspired by the islands’ rich cultural heritage. The production celebrates the meeting of past and present, where Hawaiian traditions and Cirque artistry intertwine to create a journey that is both familiar and fantastical.
The Trickster is our guide through ‘Auana—a wanderer returning home to Hawaiʻi after years away. Drawn by ancestral voices, he crosses from the modern world into one shaped by myth, memory, and imagination. Playful and curious, he leads us through stories where Hawaiʻi’s moʻolelo (stories) come to life through laughter, movement, and connection.
The Pattern of ‘Auana
Designed by our costume designer Manaola Yap and inspired by traditional ʻohe kāpala, the bold triangular niho motif appears throughout the show.
Large niho represent the Hawaiian Islands; smaller ones carry ancestral knowledge, linking each act through story and place.
Like the saying, “He waʻa he moku, he moku he waʻa”—a canoe is an island, an island is a canoe—the pattern reminds us that all are connected by land, ocean, and journey.
The Acts
The journey begins with the call of the ancestors. Guided by chants, the Trickster casts a magical hook into the deep, echoing the story of Māui pulling the islands from the ocean floor. As dawn rises, voyagers paddle toward new horizons, bringing the first light of Hawaiʻi.
On Stage: A voyaging waʻa (canoe) launches performers in powerful arcs across the stage, their daring flights and precise landings echoing the teamwork and courage of Polynesian navigators.
❖ Fun Fact: Polynesian navigators crossed thousands of miles guided only by the hōkū (stars), kai (sea), and manu (birds).
Drifting into Waikīkī’s golden era, the Trickster finds a world alive with hula, music, and surf. Beneath banyan trees and boardwalks, the sound of Hawai‘i carries across oceans—radiant, joyful, and timeless.
On Stage: Hula dancers and musicians fill the stage with vibrant color and sound, while Icarian Games performers launch and catch one another in playful harmony, embodying the carefree spirit of Waikīkī’s famed Beach Boys.
❖ Fun Fact: Hawaiʻi Calls, first aired in 1935, was broadcast to more than 600 stations worldwide from the Moana Hotel.
Night falls and the Trickster looks skyward to Hina, goddess of the moon. She embodies wisdom, femininity, and the cycles of life, guiding the tides and rhythms that connect ocean and sky.
On Stage: The theatre transforms as the Aerial Lyra artist rises against a sparkling sky. Below, dancers ripple like the tides, uniting ocean and moonlight.
❖ Fun Fact: The show’s highest aerial moment happens in Hina, nearly 20 feet above the stage."
A board carver introduces the Trickster to the spirit of nalu (wave)—the force that calls both body and mind into focus. Drawn to the ocean’s rhythm, he learns that surfing reflects the deep connection between people and the sea.
On Stage: The Rola Bola artist balances on surfboard props stacked in rising tiers. Around him, surf-skaters and veil poi flow in unison, turning the stage into a living ocean.
❖ Fun Fact: The final pose is inspired by Duke Kahanamoku, Hawaiʻi’s legendary Olympic swimmer and “father of modern surfing.”
Following a trail of sand, the Trickster discovers the story of Papahānaumoku (Earth Mother) and Wākea (Sky Father), whose union gave birth to the islands. Their story reminds us that aloha ʻāina—love and care for the land—is the source of all life in Hawaiʻi.
On Stage: The Sand Artist shapes the tale in flowing grains, each image appearing and transforming before our eyes. Accompanied by a vocalist, her work becomes an ephemeral tribute to creation and the enduring spirit of the islands.
❖ Fun Fact: The lyric “Ke one hānau” (“the sand of my birth”) is a poetic name for Hawai‘i as ancestral homeland.
Beneath the waves, the Trickster encounters Māmala, a kupua (supernatural being) who takes the form of both wahine (woman) and mo‘o (water guardian). Known as a fearless surf rider, she embodies strength, fluidity, and the ever-changing spirit of the sea.
On Stage: Around a large water bowl, the artist performs acrobatics and hand-balancing, her movements shifting between playful splashes and poised stillness. The entire theater becomes her ocean—alive, untamed, and transforming.
❖ Fun Fact: The bowl holds 400 gallons of water, and those in the front rows may catch a sprinkle from the splash zone.
In a grove divided between mountain and sea, the Trickster witnesses the story of Kuahiwi and Kahakai—young lovers torn apart by Pele’s jealousy and transformed into naupaka blossoms. Each bears half a flower, forever reaching to be made whole
On Stage: Duo Skaters glide in daring motions, circling close before being pulled apart. Their spins, lifts, and final separation mirror the lovers’ fate—two halves divided by distance yet forever bound by love.
❖ Fun Fact: The naupaka is a real Hawaiian plant with two species—one that grows by the sea and one in the mountains. Each bears a half-flower, said to complete the other.
Flames rise as the Trickster enters the realm of Pele, goddess of volcanoes. Through hula and rhythm, her power awakens, and a torch is offered to him—the gift of creation and renewal as the earth begins to stir.
On Stage: Acrobats run, leap, and balance atop giant rotating wheels, their daring movement symbolizing Pele’s brothers in motion. Surrounded by bursts of fire and sound, they bring to life the intensity and beauty of Hawai‘i’s volcanic heart.
❖ Fun Fact: The red accents in costume recall the ʻalae ʻula (Hawaiian gallinule), waterbirds in Hawaiian lore who kept the secret of fire.
The Trickster’s journey circles back to where it began. Light, song, and movement surge together as ʻāina (land), ea (life), and lāhui (people) are celebrated in a joyous spectacle.
On Stage: The full cast gathers in a vibrant celebration of color, movement, and sound. Hula, drumming, and glowing poi fill the theater in a final burst of joy—an expression of unity, connection, and aloha.
❖ Fun Fact: ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi (Hawaiian language) has more than a dozen words for rainbow, each describing a unique form.
“We began this process with one central goal — that ʻAuana be a respectful, accurate, and inspiring representation of Hawai‘i and Hawaiian culture.”