In my life, I’m constantly looking for experiences that surprise me. Montreal’s Cirque du Soleil is one such company that helps me regularly tick that box, with their breathtaking touring and residency productions all over the world. And their new production ‘Auana in Honolulu, Hawaii, is no exception.
Years in the making, ‘Auana debuted at the Waikiki Beachcomber by Outrigger last month. It’s the first time Cirque has staged a residency in Hawaii, and is one of the first new permanent entertainment options in Waikiki in recent memory. It may seem like a bold step for the tropical hub, but with some 100,000 daily tourists to the city, it’s the sort of entertainment the tourist heart of the Hawaiian Islands has long been waiting for.
Though some residencies are built in theatres that Cirque have designed from the ground up, ‘Auana sits in a room previously utilised for the show Magic of Polynesia, which shuttered during the pandemic. However, the stunning interior has been completely rebuilt and redesigned to custom fit this show, one they intend to keep running as long as they can sell tickets. And they have a habit of doing that – their first residency, Mystere in Las Vegas, started all the way back in 1993, and is the company’s longest running show, continuing weekly performances to this day.
Before we get to the spectacle of the performances, it has to be said that the lighting and staging of the production is second-to-none. There are screens on either side of the room, and some great projection work, but the heart of the show’s aesthetic sits within a circular backdrop, and the ever changing lighting that surrounds it. It’s nothing short of breathtaking. The rooms 784 capacity audience sits in a semi circle, not dissimilar from the set up of their Walt Disney World residency Drawn To Life – though with about half the capacity, it feels so much more intimate.
The theming for the show starts in the lobby of the hotel, before you head up an escalator. Bird sounds play as you walk past the beer stand and into the theatre. While at many Cirque productions around the world, the pre-show sees the show’s “clowns” in the audience getting everyone amped up, here a man is simply playing guitar as you enter the room. A projection of the moon and ocean waves sits behind him, before the unveiling of the gorgeous stage, after an introduction similar to the Las Vegas spectacle that is O. Announcements are made in Hawaiian as well as English, setting the tone for the evening – a mix of Hawaiian culture and classic Cirque entertainment.
The show then opens on a boat – a variant of their Russian Swing act and apparatus, which eventually sees performers flying across the stage into a giant net; the impressive stage and its lighting also being introduced. These early moves telling us that we’ll get a taste of many staples of the Cirque experience, while serving up enough surprises that audience veterans like myself will be satiated. I think it’s fair to say, in fact, that this was the best Russian Swing act I’ve ever seen in any production. And that’s saying something, because it’s one of the more common features of shows like this.
And such is what you can expect of almost every aspect of this production: Cirque at its best.
Geographically, ‘Auana is the closest Cirque residency currently on offer for Australian travellers. The show’s director Neil Dorward is no stranger to Australia’s shores, having staged and premiered productions like The Illusionists and Circus 1903 in Australia. ‘Auana marks his second time creating a show for Cirque. His first, Mad Apple at New York, New York in Vegas, is more akin to a Spiegelworld variety show, than a traditional Cirque experience – and it shines because of it (see my review!). But with ‘Auana, he’s been able to play in the more traditional space. And the result is as much a love letter to Cirque itself as it is to the island that it calls home. You might even call it a night of greatest hits.
For one, fans of the former Las Vegas residency Zumanity will see one familiar talent here – Anna Ivaseva, who brings her water bowl act from Las Vegas to Hawaii. Other acts, like the “Wheel of Death” featured in multiple Cirque productions, and pictured below, are given new life in the space, and also a new name – the “Wheel of Life”.
Leaning into the best of Cirque du Soleil does not come by accident. Even though the show pays respect to Hawaiian culture, and gives us a taste of it, they’re not trying to replace existing cultural entertainment in the city. You’ll find that in Lūʻaus around the city, and with shows like HĀ Breath of Life at the Polynesian Cultural Centre. Rather, they find inspiration from it, and the result feels authentic, even if it may not necessarily be.
What was most impressive of the show – which isn’t always the case – was that they made even the most typical of Cirque acts surprising. In part this was because the immersion was second to none. The smaller size of the theatre certainly helped – but they did everything they could to keep you constantly gazing around the entire theatre. No inch of that space is unused. Even if you’re at the very back of the room, you’ll see performers drop down above you, and get covered in smoke filled bubbles. There ain’t a bad seat in the house. Though sometimes this may be in place to distract during the changeovers, everything is done to surprise you – and keep that jaw as close to the floor as it can be.
And for all the gravitas of the show’s most exceptional feats of strength, one of the most memorable moments is when Vira Syvorotkina, an artistic sand painter comes on stage, while a Hawaiian language version of “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” is performed.
Syvorotkina captivates the audience by painting various motifs using grains of sand. This quickly becomes one of the show’s more emotional moments, being paired with such a gorgeous live soundtrack. In spite of its simplicity from a production point of view, the sequence may have received the biggest ovation from the audience that night. And it’s not the only time the music of the show blows you away – it’s exceptional from start to finish, especially with such a small band, who so often move with the staging.
I simply loved ‘Auana. Director Dorward and his team have created something really special here. And I think it helps that it exists in a city where there is no competition of similar entertainment. Drawn To Life thrives in similar isolation. The shows in Vegas are all tasked with offering something different to one another. And while they’re all brilliant in their own ways, and provide thrills you can’t find anywhere else in the world (see O, in particular), there is something to said for taking the classics, and doing it better than ever.
At its best, Cirque du Soleil create a masterful world of wonderment. ‘Auana is Cirque at its best. Don’t miss it.
FIVE STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
‘Auana enjoys 10 weekly performances – Wednesdays to Sundays at 5.30pm and 8.30pm – at the Waikiki Beachcomber by Outrigger.
For tickets and more details head to the official website HERE.
Jetstar, Qantas and Hawaiian Airlines all offer direct flights from the East Coast of Australia to Honolulu.
All photos provided by Cirque Du Soleil. The author attended as a guest of Cirque du Soleil on 4th January 2025. While in Honolulu, we stayed at the new Outrigger Waikiki Paradise Hotel, around the corner from the ‘Auana stage.