“The Epic Tale of Hiʻiaka,” a Broadway-Style Hawaiian Musical, Starts Previews Nov. 25 at Ko Olina

West Side, you’re getting a big new night out.

“The Epic Tale of Hiʻiaka: The Hawaiian Goddess,” which Hawaii News Now calls the first time a Hawaiian moʻolelo has come to the stage as a full-scale, Broadway-style musical, begins previews Wednesday, Nov. 25, at Ocean’s Edge at Ko Olina, Hawaii News Now reported. Opening night is Saturday, Dec. 5. After that it runs indefinitely, with shows Wednesday through Saturday evenings.

The story

The musical follows Hiʻiaka, Pele’s youngest sister. At Pele’s request, she travels across the islands to find Lohiʻau, the Kauaʻi chief Pele fell in love with in a dream, and bring him home to Kīlauea. The longer the journey goes, the more the sisters’ bond is tested. HNN says it’s told through live music, hula, oli, puppetry and projection, in English and ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi.

The script draws on Hoʻoulumāhiehie’s telling of the moʻolelo, which ran daily in the Hawaiian-language newspaper Ka Naʻi Aupuni from 1905 to 1906 and was translated into English by M. Puakea Nogelmeier. Roslyn Catracchia and Patrick Makuakāne wrote the book, music and lyrics, according to the show’s official site.

The cast and the team

• Hiʻiaka: Jana Anguay Alcain of Waiāhole
• Pele: Amy Hānaialiʻi Gilliom, a six-time Grammy nominee
• Narrator, Kāne and Panaʻewa: Moses Goods, of “Chief of War”

The show comes from Hawaiian Council (formerly the Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement) and WitzEnd Productions, a producer of the Tony-winning “Once On This Island” revival. HNN lists the producers as Michael Jackowitz and Jeffrey Grove for WitzEnd and Kūhiō Lewis, Hawaiian Council’s CEO. Ko Olina is the official partner and co-producer.

Jackowitz, who lives on Maui, told HNN he moved to Hawaiʻi 11 years ago to work out how to tell a story that would work for both a Hawaiian audience that grew up with these gods and goddesses and theater fans who had never heard of them. According to HNN, storyboarding started in 2014. Readings followed in New York and Honolulu, plus a world premiere preview at the 2025 Native Hawaiian Convention. Rehearsals began in September.

Tickets and the night

HNN lists three ticket levels. The official site lists the same tiers and what each includes:

• Show only, $126: a welcome gift, one signature cocktail, reserved seating in the outer ring and the show (no dinner)
• Standard dinner and show, $179: a welcome gift, all-you-can-eat buffet, one signature cocktail, reserved seating and the show
• VIP, $264: a welcome gift, two signature cocktails, premium seating, early buffet access, a keepsake photo and the show

The site describes the buffet as an island spread grilled over kiawe wood. It also says kamaʻāina save 25% with code HILOCAL25. Book at hiiaka.com or call 808-897-2906.

The evening runs 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. and starts with sunset by the ocean. The show itself is 90 minutes with no intermission.

Know before you go

• Where: Ocean’s Edge at Ko Olina, 92-100 Waipahe Place, Kapolei
• Previews: start Wednesday, Nov. 25
• Opening night: Saturday, Dec. 5, followed by an open-ended run, Wednesday through Saturday
• Ages: recommended for 8 and up. HNN says the show includes stylized battles, mature romantic themes, mild innuendo and volcanic effects. Infants aren’t allowed, and children 5 and older need their own ticket.
• Parking: free in the designated lūʻau parking
• Getting there: there’s no public transit to Ocean’s Edge. Round-trip transportation from Waikīkī is $30 per person, added when you book online.
• Accessibility: the venue is ADA accessible, per HNN.

Looking for more holiday-season plans? See our Oʻahu holiday events guide and the Oʻahu events calendar.

Related on Oahu Local: Oahu Events Calendar · More West Oahu stories · Free Movie Night: See “Moana 2” in ʻŌlelo Hawaiʻi on the Lawn at Ko Olina This Saturday

Sources

• Hawaii News Now, “‘The Epic Tale of Hiiaka’ begins previews Nov. 25 at Ko Olina” (HNN Staff, Nov. 13, 2026, 4:24 p.m. HST): https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2026/11/14/epic-tale-hiiaka-begins-previews-nov-25-ko-olina/
• Official site, The Epic Tale of Hiʻiaka (dates, schedule, ticket tiers, kamaʻāina code, phone), checked Nov. 14, 2026: https://www.hiiaka.com/