Jake Shimabukuro is heading back to Kaua‘i this Saturday, Nov. 14, for a show at Porter Pavilion in Kīlauea, and while the pavilion seating has already sold out, lawn space is still up for grabs. The all-ages concert kicks off with doors at 5:30 p.m. and music starting at 6:30 p.m. at Anaina Hou Community Park.
Who's Playing and What to Bring
According to Kauai Now, Scott Buchholtz and Tanama Colibri are set to open the show, with Namahana Charter School music students also scheduled to perform a recital before Shimabukuro takes the stage. Organizers are asking attendees to plan ahead and bring a chair or blanket for lawn seating, since that's the only ticket option left for this round. The event listing notes that patrons under 18 must be accompanied by an adult, per the same source's community calendar.
Shimabukuro was born and raised in Honolulu and began playing the ‘ukulele at age 4, long before he became one of the instrument's most recognizable ambassadors. He gained international recognition after his rendition of George Harrison's “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” went viral, a moment that helped reshape how audiences around the world think about what a four-string instrument can do.
The 2006 video of Shimabukuro playing George Harrison’s “While My Guitar Gently Weeps” became one of YouTube’s early viral hits, bringing his playing to a global audience. His repertoire has since ranged across jazz, rock, folk and classical music, styles he performs on the four-string instrument. The PBS Hawai‘i documentary profile traces how that viral moment helped launch his solo career and broaden perceptions of what the ‘ukulele can do.
A Familiar Stage for Kaua‘i Fans
This isn't Shimabukuro's first stop at Porter Pavilion. Kauai Now reported that his “Holidays in Hawai‘i” show was slated for Dec. 13, 2025, at the same venue, with doors at 5:30 p.m. and the show beginning at 6 p.m. that night. Advance tickets for that earlier show were listed at $50 for lawn admission, $75 for pavilion seating and $90 for VIP pavilion seats, and Shimabukuro and friends reprised the performance the following night at Kaua‘i Community College Performing Arts Center in Līhuʻe.
Anaina Hou is more than a concert venue: the 15-acre Kīlauea campus also offers recreation and educational programs, including botanical mini golf, a playground and farmers markets. The park describes itself as a community gathering place and says it relies on donors, sponsors and volunteers to sustain its facilities and services. That mix of community programs and public gathering spaces puts Saturday’s concert in the context of a broader North Shore hub.
Saturday's return to Kīlauea gives Kaua‘i audiences another chance to catch the ‘ukulele player on home turf, even with the indoor seats already claimed. For now, those hoping to attend will need to settle onto the lawn with a blanket in hand and take in the music under the stars.
