Auana vs O vs KA
"Which Cirque du Soleil show is best?" is one of the most searched questions about the company, and the answer depends on what you want from the night. Here is how Auana in Waikiki compares with the two big Las Vegas classics.
The three, side by side
| Auana | O | KA | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where | Waikiki, Honolulu | Bellagio, Las Vegas | MGM Grand, Las Vegas |
| Big idea | Hawaiian legends, hula and island music | A water show on a stage that becomes a pool | A martial-arts epic on a stage that tilts vertical |
| Feel | Intimate: 784 seats | Grand and dreamlike | Cinematic and dramatic |
| Running time | 80 min | 90 min | 90 min |
| Viator rating | 4.9/5 (822) | 4.3/5 (1,497) | 4.4/5 (865) |
| From on Viator | $102 | $135 | $85 |
O or KA?
Pick "O" for beauty: divers, synchronized swimmers and acrobats in and above a 1.5 million-gallon pool, often called the most spectacular show in Las Vegas. Pick KA for story and machinery: a battle saga on a giant gantry stage that rotates and stands on end, with a fight scene fought on a vertical wall. KA is usually the cheaper ticket. Both are large-scale spectacles; neither has the closeness of a small theater.
Where Auana fits
Auana is the one to see if you want culture as well as acrobatics. It is smaller than the Vegas shows, which is its strength: you are never far from the stage, and several acts happen right above the audience. Visitors who know Las Vegas well rank it alongside the classics: "One of the best shows I've seen in a while and I've seen quite a few in Las Vegas," as one reviewer put it. If you want the adults-only Cirque experience, that is Mad Apple at New York-New York in Las Vegas, which does not admit anyone under 18; Auana is a family show for all ages. In Hawaii? Start with Auana ticket prices and where to sit.