OK, I’m biased when it comes to all things Outrigger — I spent a good part of my career there and will always have a soft spot for the Kelley family legacy and my many friends still with the company. So when my former boss and Outrigger CCO, Sean Dee, invited me to check out the new Cirque show, Auana, I was excited to head back into Waikīkī.
First off, I was blown away by what they’ve done with the space. I remember seeing magician John Hirokawa make a car appear out of nowhere in the old, somewhat dingy showroom years ago — and I’ve seen it sit completely empty for years. But they’ve transformed it into a sleek, purpose-built venue for Cirque, and it’s seriously impressive
I’ve seen a few Cirque shows before, and this one didn’t disappoint. Honestly, I expected a bit of kitsch, but it was beautifully done. Classic Cirque feats were woven into a story of Hawaiʻi’s history with local performers in a way that worked — OK, maybe the couple on roller skates were a stretch — but the show was mesmerizing. At times, there’s so much happening on the stage and around the theater, you don’t know where to look. It is definitely worth seeing more than once to catch all that is going on.
I highly recommend this one for both locals and visitors. A couple of tips: They offer great kamaʻāina rates, and there’s not a bad seat in the house, so no need to splurge for the most expensive seats.
