Honolulu's event center on Ward Avenue, with the Arena, the Concert Hall, the Exhibition Hall, parking lots and a parking structure. Concerts can be very crowded, every bag must be 12 by 12 inches or smaller, and outside food is allowed only for a child, for medical or accessibility needs, or when an event allows it. Walkways to the Concert Hall are changed for construction.
Know before you go. The Blaisdell Center doesn't list sensory-friendly shows or a quiet room. Here's what it does say about crowds, bags, food, parking and getting in.
Hours
Main Box Office: Tuesday to Saturday, 8 am to 4 pm; closed on all City and County of Honolulu holidays, including Thanksgiving (Thu Nov 26 2026), Christmas Day (Fri Dec 25 2026) and New Year's Day (Fri Jan 1 2027). The Concert Hall Box Office opens only on event days, typically about two hours before the event. Doors for concerts open about an hour before the start time (times may vary, and some events open earlier); exhibition shows open their doors at the start of the show. Parking gates usually open two hours before an event.
777 Ward Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96814 (the main Box Office is on Ward Avenue, closer to Kapiʻolani Boulevard, between the Arena and the Exhibition Hall)
“At events, we do not encourage patrons to bring strollers due to different certain limitations: most concerts are very crowded and have thousands of attendees and there is no area for a stroller next to a patron's seat.” blaisdellcenter.com (Common Patron Questions)
“Doors for concert events open approximately one (1) hour prior to the event start time, though door times may vary and may open earlier for select events.”
“Security measures, including bag checks or screening procedures, may be in place for certain events.”
“The general bag policy for all venues is that all bags do not exceed 12 inches by 12 inches. Bags do not need to be clear.” blaisdellcenter.com (House Rules)
“Construction is currently underway on the lawn surrounding the Neal S. Blaisdell Concert Hall as part of the Concert Hall Exterior Improvements Project. During this time, pedestrian access and entry routes to the Concert Hall have been temporarily modified.”
“Guests using ride share services or being dropped off should allow additional time for arrival, as traffic and curbside access may vary by event.”
To ask about what your kid needs, call the Administrative Office at 808-768-5400 before your visit; requests are looked at case by case. For accessible seating or other accommodations when you buy tickets, call the Box Office at 808-768-5252 ahead of time or ask when you buy (the line starts with an event information recording; press 0 for a cashier).
Diaper bags are allowed as long as everything in them is for a child, and food for your child is allowed in. Strollers aren't encouraged, but they aren't turned away unless an event says no strollers; there's no space for one by your seat, and it may have to be stored somewhere unattended.
Bags must be 12 by 12 inches or smaller at all venues, though the Blaisdell's FAQ also says a big purse is fine. Pack to the 12 by 12 inch size to be safe.
Every bag must be 12 by 12 inches or smaller at all venues (bags don't need to be clear). Some events check bags or screen guests, and allowed items and re-entry rules can change by event.
No outside food, drinks, bottles (including Hydro Flasks, glass and tumblers) or cans, except as needed for medical or accessibility reasons or when an event allows it; food for a child is allowed, and diaper bags are fine if everything inside is for a child. Food and drinks are sold at some events, not all.
Construction on the lawn around the Concert Hall has changed its walkways and entrances for now; the Blaisdell posts a walkway map showing the paths, the security and bag check spots, the Concert Hall Box Office and the entrances on the Ward Avenue and McKinley High School sides.
Parking: $8 daily or event rate, $10 with in-and-out privileges for one day, $4 for a motorcycle in a motorcycle stall, and $25 event valet when available (select Arena and Concert Hall events, bought on Ticketmaster, subject to availability). The King Street gate is the main entrance; the Kapiʻolani Boulevard gate is unattended and takes cards only, and signs send cash payers to King Street. No left turn from Ward Avenue into the valet areas during events. For some big events, overflow parking may be at McKinley High School, cash only. No daily parking on Fri Nov 27 2026 (event parking only). If the lots close because they're full, cars dropping off guests with accessibility needs can still come in to drop off.
Accessible parking: stalls for guests with valid ADA parking permits are near the Concert Hall, Exhibition Hall and Arena and in the parking structure, at the same rate as other parking; locations vary by venue and event.
Tickets: sold through Ticketmaster.com and the Blaisdell Box Offices; for the Symphony's concerts, more seats are also sold at myhso.org (see the holiday shows below). All sales are final, with no refunds or exchanges. The Box Office takes cash, Visa, Mastercard and Discover (no American Express). Each event sets its own age rule; for example, Ballet Hawaii's The Nutcracker and the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra concerts say ages 3 and up need a ticket.
Holiday shows at the Concert Hall: Ballet Hawaii's The Nutcracker, Sat Dec 12 2026 at 4 pm and Sun Dec 13 2026 at 2 pm, tickets are $50 to $120; Elf in Concert with the Hawaii Symphony Orchestra, Sat Dec 19 2026 at 7 pm and Sun Dec 20 2026 at 2 pm, tickets are $45 to $115. Box Office sales add a $1 per ticket facility fee, and Ticketmaster adds its own fees online. The Symphony's morning Beyond the Music concerts are $18.50: Sat Feb 27 2027 and Sat Apr 10 2027, both at 11 am. For the Symphony's concerts, more seats are also sold at myhso.org, and any discounts are only at the Blaisdell on the day of the event.
House rules: footwear is required; no professional cameras or audio or video recording (including GoPros and DSLRs), no selfie sticks, no inflatables, no helium balloons without written consent, no sticks or poles, and no smoking or e-cigarettes. Service animals are welcome and must stay under their handler's control; emotional support animals are not recognized as service animals.
Exhibition Hall shows have their own entry rules: no outside food or drinks (including Hydro Flasks and other double-walled containers), clear empty plastic bottles allowed, and one roller bag up to 9 by 14 by 22 inches per person plus a personal item. Some expos allow emptied insulated bottles, so check your event. A bag check, when there is one, isn't storage for items that aren't allowed.
Restrooms and access: family restrooms are in select spots in the Arena and Exhibition Hall; the Arena has four (two on each side), and one on the west side has an adult changing table. Elevators and escalators aren't in every venue. Event staff can help you find a restroom.
Call
808-768-5400Administrative Office: accommodation requests and accessible routes, ahead of your visit808-768-5252Box Office: tickets, accessible seating and accommodations when you buy (event information recording; press 0 for a cashier)
