02 · GALLERY
Five frames.
The Waikiki Shell opened in 1956 in Kapi'olani Park at the eastern end of Waikiki. Edwin Bauer's white concrete clamshell faces 2,400 seated and 6,000 on the lawn; Diamond Head, a dormant volcanic tuff cone, sits directly behind the stage. The Shell has been the site of every Hawaiian sovereignty concert since the 1970s and remains the preferred venue for traditional Hawaiian programming. The banyan trees in Kapi'olani Park frame the approach. The lawn fills first; bring a mat and aim for the centre rear, where the shell's reflected sound converges.
Bring a mat and aim for the centre rear of the lawn, where the shell's reflected sound converges.
A mid-century open-air shell with a volcano for a backdrop. The room is the landscape.
Concert season April through October, evening programming. The annual Brothers Cazimero May Day concert (1 May) is a traditional Hawaiian highlight. Avoid winter (December-March), the venue is often closed.
Concert season April to October. Events evenings only. Box office variable. Kapi'olani Park itself open 24/7.
Walk from Waikiki Beach, ten minutes east. From Honolulu airport, 25 minutes by taxi or shuttle to Waikiki. The Shell is on the south side of Kapi'olani Park, signed.