E Kanikapila Kākou Moves to Kauaʻi PAC, Opens Feb. 2 with Hula

The long-running E Kanikapila Kākou series will launch its 43rd season at the Kauaʻi Community College Performing Arts Center, with a community hula night on Feb. 2 presented by the Mālie Foundation. The move away from the Outrigger Kauai Beach Resort comes as renovations continue at the resort, prompting organizers to shift the concert series to a campus venue that introduces new on-site amenities and family-friendly programming.

Week 1 is titled “Hula is Life All Over the World” and features kumu hula Maka Herrod, Troy Hinano Lazaro, Laʻelaʻe Elise Guirao, and Lihau Park. Doors will open at 5 p.m., a Hula Circle begins at 5:15 p.m., and the performance starts at 6 p.m. Children 17 and under will be admitted free, a policy likely to increase family attendance and local participation in the opening night.

Organizers highlighted a condensed but robust early-season lineup. Week 2 on Feb. 9 will feature Kulaiwi, and week 3 on Feb. 16 will present a combined performance by Hoʻokena and the Makaha Sons of Niʻihau. The series runs across eight weeks, and the move to the PAC brings weekly activations intended to broaden the audience experience.

New season amenities at the PAC aim to support local small businesses and community engagement. The venue will host a weekly Boroboro Boutique pop-up and a weekly ʻukulele giveaway, while food service will be handled by Puakea Grill for weeks 1–4 and Collab Cafe Food for weeks 5–8. Wine and bar service will be provided by the Garden Island Arts Council. These additions create ancillary revenue opportunities for vendors and add convenience for attendees arriving from across the island and from visitor markets.

The relocation has local economic implications. Shifting a longtime series from a resort to a community college campus concentrates evening foot traffic in the Lihue vicinity, which can increase patronage for nearby businesses and campus vendors. Free admission for those 17 and under lowers the price barrier for families, potentially increasing repeat attendance and long-term audience development for Hawaiian music and hula practitioners featured in the E Kanikapila Kākou lineup.

Community cultural value remains central: the Mālie Foundation–presented opening emphasizes hula and kumu leadership, while later weeks feature island vocal groups with intergenerational appeal. Detailed event schedule and ticketing information are available via the Garden Island Arts Council website.

For Kauaʻi residents, the move signals both continuity and change: E Kanikapila Kākou maintains its cultural reach in a new home while creating new economic and community touchpoints at the Kauaʻi Community College PAC. Expect family-friendly shows, local food and retail pop-ups, and weekly surprises through the eight-week season beginning Feb. 2.