Live Music in Honolulu

The thing visitors miss about Honolulu is that live Hawaiian music is free most nights if you know where to stand. The Royal Grove at Royal Hawaiian Center has music Tuesday to Saturday at 5:30 PM on the lawn — no ticket, no minimum. International Market Place's O Nā Lani Sunset Stories runs Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 6 PM under the banyan. Waikiki Beach Walk hosts Kū Haʻaheo on Tuesdays at 4:30 PM. On Saturdays the Kūhiō Beach Hula Show puts musicians and dancers on the sand at 6:30 PM. And every day at 3 PM there's the Daily Hula Show on Centerstage at Ala Moana. Nine of the live-music listings on our calendar are recurring and free; the hula shows guide arranges them by weekday.

Then there is the Royal Hawaiian Band — founded 1836, the only full-time municipal band in the United States — playing the ʻIolani Palace lawn most Fridays at noon, free, bring a mat. And in Kaimukī, Plantoem's jazz and poetry night on the third Thursday is the one recurring free jazz night we track.

The Hawaii Theatre on Bethel Street is the touring-act room: this autumn alone brings Brian Culbertson & Friends, Geoff Tate, Kelli O'Hara, Who's Bad on Halloween, Debbie Gibson in December and an Undertale orchestral concert in January — 29 events booked through February 2027, the busiest performance venue on our calendar. Out on the Windward side, Paliku Theatre at Windward Community College hosts the Candlelight series — string quartets by candlelight playing Bruno Mars, Joe Hisaishi, neo-soul and Coldplay vs. Imagine Dragons, from $32, sold through Fever. The Hawaii Symphony's season and The Republik's club shows appear here as dates are published.

Free tonight, most nights

Royal Grove Tue–Sat 5:30 PM · Sunset Stories Mon/Wed/Fri 6 PM · Kūhiō Beach Sat 6:30 PM

Free every day

Daily Hula Show, Centerstage, Ala Moana Center, 3 PM

Biggest touring room

Hawaii Theatre, 1130 Bethel St — 29 events booked through Feb 2027

Cheapest ticketed

Candlelight at Paliku Theatre from $32; Royal Hawaiian Band is free