The 46th Hawaiʻi International Film Festival opens in Honolulu on 21 October 2026 and travels to other islands in November. Here is what visitors need to know before choosing a film, buying a ticket or planning a journey across the islands.
When and where HIFF46 takes place
HIFF46 begins with a special opening-night event on Wednesday, 21 October 2026. Regular screenings are scheduled on Oʻahu through 5 November, with further dates from 6 to 15 November across Maui, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi and Hawaiʻi Island. The printed programme and individual booking page should determine your actual day out: there is no single cinema, ticket or island-wide festival location.
The Honolulu portion starts with the world premiere of The Navigator at Hawaiʻi Theatre Center in Chinatown. The regular programme at Consolidated Theatres Kahala follows from 22 October to 1 November. Additional Oʻahu films screen in Kapolei from 3 to 5 November. The neighbour-island programme has its own locations, dates and ticket instructions.
An opening film with a Hawaiʻi story
The festival opens with The Navigator, directed by Jordan Manley, following renowned Native Hawaiian navigator Nainoa Thompson and the tradition of voyaging by stars and natural signs. The opening screening is set for 7pm on Wednesday 21 October at the historic Hawaiʻi Theatre Center, 1130 Bethel Street, Honolulu.
Do not confuse this historic theatre with the main festival multiplex at Kahala. Tickets for special events can follow a different sales route. The opening film page says ticket holders must check in at least 15 minutes before showtime, as unclaimed reserved seats can be released.
The 2026 film line-up
The 46th programme includes 84 features and 86 shorts. The festival announced 30 Made in Hawaiʻi films and a programme spanning Asian, Pacific and international cinema, including screenings and discussions with filmmakers. That range makes HIFF an appealing evening activity even for visitors who are not following the awards circuit.
A useful way to choose is to look first at films labelled Made in Hawaiʻi, Indigenous or Pacific-focused, then check the language and subtitling details on that film’s own booking listing. Some programmes are shorts packages, while others are feature films, panels or special events. Running time and admission conditions can differ.
The opening documentary and the centrepiece Drifter, directed by Sung Kang, have received particular attention from the organisers. Neither film’s presence in an announcement guarantees seats at every showing. Browse the current screening grid before arranging transport or an evening meal.
Oʻahu screening venues and dates
Hawaiʻi Theatre Center, 1130 Bethel Street, Honolulu: special opening-night premiere on 21 October. It is in downtown Honolulu, not within the Kahala shopping centre.
Consolidated Theatres Kahala, 4211 Waiʻalae Avenue, Honolulu: main public festival screenings 22 October–1 November. The cinema is located in Kahala Mall, making it a practical evening plan if you are based in Honolulu but requiring a journey from Waikīkī.
Consolidated Kapolei Theatres, 890 Kamokila Boulevard, Kapolei: West Oʻahu programme 3–5 November. This is not an alternative entrance to Kahala: Kapolei is a separate journey across the island. Choose the film and theatre first, then arrange transport.
The neighbour-island schedule
Molokaʻi: Mango Theater, Kaunakakai, 6–8 November. Hawaiʻi Island: Kahilu Theatre in Waimea, 7–8 November, and Palace Theater in Hilo, 12–15 November. Lānaʻi: Lānaʻi Theater at Hale Keaka, 10 November. Maui: Maui Arts & Cultural Center in Kahului, 14–15 November.
A festival screening is not by itself a reason to make a same-day inter-island transfer without checking flight and ground-transport logistics. On a smaller island, a cinema, lodging and arrival airport may be separated by considerable distance. Book the screening using the appropriate venue’s authorised ticket page, especially for events outside Oʻahu.
Tickets and passes: what costs what
For most advance screenings at Kahala, the official 2026 box office lists US$17 general admission, US$15 student, senior or military tickets with appropriate ID, and US$14 member admission. Student showcases and shorts programmes are also listed at US$15. Rush or tickets purchased within 12 hours of showtime are listed at US$20 and are not eligible for normal discounts. A transaction fee or special-event price may apply.
Regular passes and packages are an option if you plan multiple films: the organiser lists a six-admission package at US$90, a 12-admission package at US$160 and an all-access pass at US$500. Six- and 12-ticket packages may be split between screenings or shared, subject to eligible tickets. The organiser explicitly limits these passes to Kahala and Kapolei, so do not assume one covers a Maui or Hawaiʻi Island screening.
Reserve in advance through the HIFF box office rather than assuming walk-up tickets. The Kahala box office opens one hour before the first show daily but does not offer advance in-person sales. Some high-demand films are already marked sold out. Prices, availability and screening times should be reconfirmed at the point of booking.
Sold out, cancelled or changed: check first
The organiser maintains a separate HIFF46 updates page with screening changes. As of the published 22 September update, the 28 October Kahala screening of My Sassy Girl was cancelled, and numerous sessions were listed as sold out. Because these statuses can change again, use the film’s current checkout screen rather than a static list from an article.
If a sold-out screening offers a rush line, HIFF says the standby queue normally forms about one hour before the start. Entry is subject to available seats, generally begins around 10 minutes before the screening, and costs US$20. Arriving for a rush queue is not a booking or a guarantee of entry.
Getting to the cinema without spoiling the night
From Waikīkī or central Honolulu, Kahala Mall is a separate trip from the beachfront tourist precinct. Allow time for traffic, finding the cinema inside the mall and walking to the auditorium. Confirm your bus or taxi route against the actual film finish time, especially when a discussion follows the credits.
For the opening night in downtown Honolulu, locate Hawaiʻi Theatre Center on Bethel Street; do not follow instructions for Kahala. For Kapolei, expect a distinctly longer journey from Waikīkī. On neighbour islands, confirm local venue access and return transport before paying for a late film.
HIFF advises bringing a digital ticket or pass on your phone for scanning. Screenings can include filmmaker Q&As and different entry rules. If travelling with children, check ratings and venue policies for that exact film rather than presuming every festival session is family-friendly.
An easy visitor plan
For a single Honolulu evening: choose one Kahala film on your preferred date, buy the ticket, note the end time, then arrange transport and a dinner stop nearby. For film enthusiasts: consider a six-pack, but make sure all screenings are eligible and in the right venues. For a culturally focused trip: look for Made in Hawaiʻi and Pacific cinema and leave time for any filmmaker discussion.
Do not confuse the end date on Oʻahu with the full festival. HIFF’s neighbour-island events extend the celebration to 15 November. An island-hopping trip should be shaped around your actual accommodation, flights and cinema address, not simply the festival banner dates.
Official information to use before you book
The live HIFF programme and booking site has current films, remaining seats and any special-event prices. The How to HIFF page explains venue and ticket rules, while the venue directory maps the neighbour-island dates. The festival updates page lists changes and rush procedures. This guide was checked on 9 October 2026.
Official reference links: Official HIFF46 programme · 2026 box office, admission and venues · HIFF venue and neighbour-island dates · Screening changes and rush tickets · Festival passes and restrictions