Planning a trip to Hawaii in December and want to know where to see the Nutcracker in Hawaii? Scroll to find out which Hawaii ballet companies are producing the show this year!
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Watching the Nutcracker is one of the best Christmas traditions out there. The ballet is so graceful and brings a magical spirit to your holiday season.
If you go to watch the Nutcracker every year during Christmastime, you don’t have to stop just because you have a Christmas vacation in Hawaii.
There are plenty of great places to see the famous Nutcracker ballet all over the Hawaiian islands, so you can enjoy a Hawaiian paradise and still do everything you want for Christmas!
Here is where to see the Nutcracker in Hawaii this holiday season.
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Hawaii Ballet Nutcracker FAQs
Hawaii does have ballet classes and performances on many of the Hawaiian islands. The main ballets in Hawaii are on Oahu.
There are a few places where you can go to see the Nutcracker in Hawaii each year during the holiday months. Read down below to see all of the places showing the Nutcracker ballet in Hawaii!
What is the Nutcracker?
The Nutcracker was first created back in the 1890s. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky originally wrote the score, and Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov choreographed it. It was actually not very popular when it first came out but began gaining popularity in the 1960s.
Now you can see the Nutcracker performed by ballets all across the United States.
It is about a young girl named Clara who gets a nutcracker for Christmas and loves it. In the middle of the night, she goes to check on her nutcracker. She finds out that her nutcracker, and everything comes to life.
It is a beautiful story to watch, especially with talented dancers!
Nutcracker on Oahu
Some of the best places to watch the Nutcracker are located on Oahu! Here you will find the Hawaii Ballet and see kids perform this beautiful ballet.
Neal S Blaisdell Concert Hall
You can see the Nutcracker in Honolulu at the Neal S Blaisdell Concert Hall. This year, you can catch this spectacular performance for only three days!
The Ballet Hawaii performs this rendition of the Nutcracker. During this rendition, you will see parts of the timeless classic Nutcracker with a mix of Hawaiian history.
You will see all the traditional dances but with a few Hawaiian twists. For instance, you will see Queen Liliuokalani, hibiscus and plumeria flowers, Hawaiian sea turtles, and Mauna Kea.
It is absolutely beautiful to see and one you won’t find anywhere else in the states!
Enjoy this Hawaiian-themed Nutcracker performed by Ballet Hawaii and the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra and directed by Pamela Taylor Tongg.
This Hawaiian version of the Nutcracker is choreographed by Septime Webre and has guests from many other ballets across the states, including the Pacific Northwest Ballet, New York City Ballet, and Carolina Ballet.
You can watch the Hawaii Ballet Nutcracker on the following days:
- Friday, December 2nd at 7:30 p.m.
- Saturday, December 3rd at 7 p.m.
- Sunday, December 4th at 12 p.m.
Tickets vary from $40 to $85 and tend to sell out fast!
Sacred Hearts Academy
You can also catch the Nutcracker in Honolulu, performed by Sacred Hearts Academy. It is a Catholic school for young girls and has been doing the Nutcracker each year for quite some time.
In the past, the performance had over 50 children ranging from 7-12 years old. Ticket prices range from $15 to $25, which is very budget-friendly!
You will see the special sugar plum fairy dance as well as the famous waltz of the snowflakes; this show does it all!
This Nutcracker ballet will show on December 5th, 2022, at 6:30 p.m. and will be at the Hawaii Theatre Center in Honolulu.
While this Nutcracker performance is not by professional dancers, watching the beautiful young girls dancing their hearts out is truly magical and one of the best experiences you’ll get watching this timeless ballet.
Hawaii State Ballet
The Hawaii State Ballet is also performing the Nutcracker this year at the Kaimuki High School Auditorium, located in Honolulu as well.
Children, teenagers, and adults can all take classes, participate in this ballet program, and perform the classic Nutcracker. This is an annual show the Hawaii State Ballet performs and is a wonderful Christmas activity during your trip to Oahu.
You can watch little ones dancing their hearts out and adults sharing their incredible talents all from the same stage. It will definitely be quite the experience! Tickets range from $20 to $40.
You can see this incredible performance either on:
- Saturday, December 3rd at 7:00 p.m.
- Sunday, December 4th, at 1:00 p.m.
- Sunday, December 4th, at 4:30 p.m.
Hawaii Ballet Theatre
Watch another great Nutcracker performance in Pearl City performed by the Hawaii Ballet Theatre. This ballet group has been performing the Nutcracker for over 40 years now, and love dancing this classic ballet.
You will see over 100 people dancing during this incredible show. Most are local dancers, but you will also see some special international guests as well.
Watch this performance at the Leeward Theatre, located on Ala Ike at Leeward Community College, on the following days:
- Friday, November 25th at 7:30 p.m.
- Saturday, November 26th at 2:00 p.m.
- Saturday, November 26th at 7:30 p.m.
- Sunday, November 27th at 3:00 p.m.
Be transformed into Clara’s world with this beautiful rendition of the Nutcracker. Tickets are from $35 to $45. This ballet performance will not disappoint you!
Nutcracker on Maui
You can also find beautiful renditions of the Nutcracker on Maui.
Alexander Academy
The Alexander Academy is a nonprofit in Maui dedicated to helping all, both children and adults, build and strengthen their love and passion for dance. Each year they perform the Nutcracker, and it is quite incredible to watch.
During their performance, you will see countless dancers, ranging from three years old to adults! Amelia Couture and Absalon Figueroa are both Co-Artistic Directors, and Zion Pradier is a guest from New York! This performance will be the full-length ballet and will be about two hours with an intermission.
You can go experience this traditional ballet on the following days:
- Friday, December 16th at 6:00 p.m.
- Saturday, December 17th at 2:00 p.m.
- Saturday, December 17th at 6:00 p.m.
- Sunday, December 18th at 12:00 p.m.
- Sunday, December 18th at 4:00 p.m.
You can watch each of the Alexander Academy’s performances at Seabury Hall’s ‘A‘ali‘ikūhonua Creative Arts Center in Makawao. Tickets range from $15 to $35.
Nutcracker Sweets
Both Maui On Stage and Momentum Dance Maui collaborate and come together to perform the Nutcracker Sweets. 2021 was their first performance, and they are going to do it again this year!
Nutcracker sweets is a different version of the classic Nutcracker. This rendition focuses on the ballet’s second half as Clara dreams of the fantasy worlds with dancing snowflakes, a sugar plum fairy, and a land of sweets.
She goes on to meet characters from China, Spain, Arabia, and Russia for a fun celebration. Afterward, they gather around to say goodbye to Clara as she heads home.
You can watch this fun version of the Nutcracker between December 15th to December 18th. Tickets range from $15 to $20. The show is between 60 to 75 minutes and does not have an intermission.
Nutcracker on the Big Island
West Hawaii Dance Theatre and Academy
Each year the West Hawaii Dance Theatre and Academy puts on the Nutcracker. This show has a mix of local dancers and guest artists from all over the world. You will usually see around 100 performers take the stage. Often, the Maui Academy of Performing Arts will join and perform together for this special event as well!
The choreography is based on the original version of the Nutcracker, and it does not disappoint. The Kamuela Philharmonic Orchestra will also be there to accompany the dancers.
Their performances will be held at the Kailua Theatre.
Nutcracker on Kauai
Kauai Ballet Academy
You can watch a beautiful version of the Nutcracker by the Kauai Ballet Academy at the War Memorial Convention Hall on Kauai. Make watching the Nutcracker part of your family tradition and see this fun, family-friendly version.
There are only two showings of this ballet performance, both on Saturday, December 3rd. You can view the matinee one at 1:30 p.m. or the evening performance at 6:00 p.m. The War Memorial Convention Hall is located in Lihue.
This year they are also doing something special for the Keiki. Children can go meet Clara and have a fun tea party with her at 10:30 a.m. before the matinee show. Kids will love meeting with Clara and her friends for fun crafts, treats, and a story in the land of sweets!
Nutcracker Hawaii Wrap Up
The Nutcracker ballet is something you definitely don’t want to miss, especially for a trip to Hawaii for Christmas. Don’t skip out and head to any of these locations to watch the Nutcracker during your Hawaii vacation this holiday season!