Best Comedy Shows in Honolulu

Comedy in Honolulu does not feel like the mainland circuit got shipped in, it feels homemade. You have comics working out jokes in tucked away upstairs rooms, then jumping into louder bar shows in Waikiki the same week. The scene is small enough that faces repeat, but big enough that you can actually pick a vibe instead of just taking whatever is on.

If you like your comedy chaotic and boozy, head to Shorefyre Beach Bar + Grill in Waikiki for Sippin N Trippin Comedy. It is loud, touristy, and the drinks flow hard, which means comics have to work for it. When it hits, it really hits. This is the side of comedy in Honolulu that leans into the resort energy, the crowd is a mix of visitors and off duty service industry folks who are there to cut loose, not politely clap.

On the other end you have the local rooms that regulars guard a bit more. The upstairs space at 1034 Queen St, second floor, is one of those spots, a cozy hideout where shows like Herbal Harmony feel more like a hang than a production. You get Honolulu comics trying new bits, inside jokes about living on island, and a crowd that actually listens. Over in Moiliili, Anna O'Brien's hosts stand up that feels closer to an old school pub scene, sticky floors, strong opinions, and comics who are not worried about keeping it PG.

If you really live for this stuff, track the recurring comedy events in Honolulu like Crowd Sourced Comedy and The Island Uncles Comedy Forum. Crowd Sourced leans interactive, comics pulling ideas straight from the audience, which keeps things loose and unpredictable. The Island Uncles crew skews very local in voice and references, exactly the kind of thing visitors rarely find on their own. For the best comedy in Honolulu, you basically orbit these rooms and bar shows, then follow your favorite comics as they bounce between them.

Quick hit list of comedy to know in Honolulu:

• Sippin N Trippin Comedy at Shorefyre Beach Bar + Grill in Waikiki for rowdy resort energy
• Herbal Harmony at 1034 Queen St, second floor, for a smaller upstairs room with local regulars
• Stand up nights at Anna O'Brien's for classic bar comedy and no nonsense crowds
• Crowd Sourced Comedy for interactive sets built out of audience suggestions
• The Island Uncles Comedy Forum for heavy local flavor and Hawaii specific humor