Canada’s Cirque du Soleil unveils new ‘Auana show

Canadian partnerships in Hawai’i bring more focus and investment to local culture on the Islands. In December 2024, Cirque du Soleil debuted their first-ever resident show in Honolulu — ‘Auana — a celebration of Hawaiian culture, history, and storytelling.

Created in collaboration with a distinguished group of Native Hawaiian creatives, ‘Auana, which means “to wander” or “veer off the beaten path,” reflects the show’s journey through Hawaiian stories and cultural landscapes. The production blends traditional hula and Hawaiian language with Cirque du Soleil’s signature acrobatics, daring feats, live music, and comedy.

The show’s establishment as a resident production creates local jobs, and supports Hawaii’s reputation as an entertainment and tourism powerhouse. It is a tangible example of the creative partnership between Canada and Hawaii.

Canada invests in Hawaii

Exports to Canada support 3,200 employees in Hawaii in addition to the 1,200 employees at Canadian-owned businesses across the state. Hawaii exports $366 million in goods and services to Canada.

Canadian-owned companies, including Oahu Publications, The Garden Island, PCL Construction and Nordic PCL, are major contributors to Hawaii’s economy. They employ residents in every sector and contribute to the local economy by paying salaries and local taxes and purchasing goods and services in their supply chain.

Hawaii exports $16 million in goods to Canada annually
Hawaii exports to Canada by industry

• Agriculture: 62%
• Equipment & machinery: 9%
• Minerals & metals: 4%
• Transportation: 12%
• Other: 13%

Top Hawaii goods exports to Canada

• Fruits & nuts: $4 million
• Live animals: $2 million
• Aircraft & parts: $2 million
• Oil seeds: $1 million
• Vegetables: $1 million
• Coffee, tea, & spices: $623,860
• Pearls, gems, precious metals & jewelry: $616,723
• Engines & turbines: $461,333
• Fish & crustaceans: $341,177
• Compressors & pumps: $285,155

Hawaii exports $350 million in services to Canada annually
Top Hawaii services exports to Canada

• Travel (including for education): $237 million
• Transport: $34 million
• Business services: $30 million
• Charges for the use of intellectual property: $26 million
• Financial services: $10 million

Hawaii imports $181 million in goods from Canada annually
Hawaii imports from Canada by industry

• Agriculture: 22%
• Energy: 39%
• Equipment & machinery: 14%
• Forest products: 7%
• Minerals & metals: 5%
• Other: 13%

Top Hawaii goods imports from Canada

• Natural gas & other gases: $56 million
• Animal or vegetable fats, oils & waxes: $29 million
• Fuel oil: $14 million
• Furniture & bedding: $9 million
• Wood & semi-finished wood products: $9 million
• Engines & turbines: $7 million
• Optical, medical & precision instruments: $6 million
• Flour & grains for milling: $4 million
• Fish & crustaceans: $3 million
• Electric motors & generators: $2 million