Tihati
Tihati Productions Ltd. is a Hawaiian and Polynesian entertainment company operating 12 major lūʻau productions across Hawaii's four main islands since 1969, serving resort guests, tourists, and corporate clients with authentic cultural performances, conventions, and international touring productions.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1969
- HeadquartersHonolulu, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Tihati does
Tihati Productions Ltd. is a privately held Hawaiian and Polynesian entertainment company founded in 1969 by Jack "Tihati" and Cha Thompson and headquartered at 3615 Harding Avenue in Honolulu, Hawaii. Self-described as the largest and longest-running entertainment company in the State of Hawaii, the company operates 12 major lūʻau productions across all four main Hawaiian islands — Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and Hawaii Island — and employs over 1,000 musicians, singers, dancers, and choreographers recruited from every Polynesian island group (Hawaii, Tahiti, Rarotonga, New Zealand, and Samoa). Its core offering is the traditional lūʻau dinner show, featuring authentic Polynesian song, dance, fire knife performances, and imu (underground oven) ceremonies, supplemented by lounge entertainment, conventions and custom theme-party production, international touring, and in-house technical services for sound systems and stage lighting.
The product portfolio includes named shows such as Pāʻina Waikīkī (Waikīkī Beach Marriott), Waikiki Starlight Lūʻau (Hilton Hawaiian Village), 'Aha 'Aina (Royal Hawaiian Hotel), Ka Wa'a (Aulani, Disney Resort and Spa), Sunset Stories (International Market Place), Te Au Moana (Wailea Beach Resort Marriott), Maui Nui (Sheraton Maui), Drums of the Pacific (Hyatt Maui), The Feast At Mōkapu (Andaz Maui), Wailua Nui Lūʻau (Hilton Garden Inn Kauaʻi), and three Hawaii Island productions (Lava Legends & Legacies at Royal Kona Resort, Legends of the Pacific at Hilton Waikoloa Village, and Sunset Lūʻau at Waikoloa Beach Marriott). Tickets are sold at Standard and VIP pricing tiers through partner resort websites, concierge desks, phone reservations, and the FareHarbor booking platform integrated into tihati.com. The technical stack is conventional: WordPress-based website, Google Analytics for traffic measurement, and FareHarbor for reservation management — no AI, proprietary platform, or developer-facing API is evidenced.
Revenue is generated through multiple streams: one-time ticket sales for lūʻau dinner shows, professional services revenue from convention production and lounge entertainment bookings, hardware sales and rentals from the technical services division, and professional services fees from international touring productions (Continental U.S., East Asia, Japan, Europe, Thailand, and Norwegian Cruise Lines). Distribution is anchored by long-tenured channel partnerships with premier Hawaii resort brands — Hyatt, Marriott, Hilton, Four Seasons, Disney, and Sheraton — with regional offices on Oahu, Kauai, Maui, and Hawaii Island supporting venue operations. The customer base consists of inbound Hawaii tourists seeking authentic Polynesian cultural experiences, Hawaii resort properties requiring entertainment programming, and corporate/convention event planners.
Tihati firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Tihati
- Legal name
- Tihati Productions Ltd.
- Website
- https://tihati.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1969
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Tihati Productions Ltd. is a Hawaiian and Polynesian entertainment company operating 12 major lūʻau productions across Hawaii's four main islands since 1969, serving resort guests, tourists, and corporate clients with authentic cultural performances, conventions, and international touring productions.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Tihati industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Live Polynesian Entertainment and Lūʻau Shows
- NAICS
- Dance Companies (711120), Musical Groups and Artists (71113), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (71111), Other Performing Arts Companies (71119)
- SIC
- Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Dance Performances (THAJAFAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Cultural & Heritage Entertainment Booking (Traditional/Folk Acts) (HSACAHAG), Event Technical Production Management & Crew (MPAGAKAH)
Keywords
Where Tihati is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Honolulu
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices5 records
Markets served
Tihati business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Lūʻau Show Tickets: Ticket sales for lūʻau dinner shows at resort venues across Hawaii. Shows include dinner buffets and cultural performances with various seating options including standard and VIP packages.
- Convention & Event Production: Custom theme party design and production for conventions, corporate events, and private functions. In-house conventions department creates refined custom events for specific client needs.
- Lounge Entertainment: Top lounge entertainment booking services providing local musical acts to prestigious resort venues throughout Hawaii.
- Technical Equipment Services: Design, sales, rental and repair of sound systems and stage lighting equipment.
- International Tours: International touring productions including shows in Continental U.S. (Las Vegas, Washington D.C., Detroit), East Asia, Japan, Europe, and Thailand.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard Dinner Seating |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | VIP Dinner Package |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels4 records
Tihati product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Tihati Productions Ltd. produces and operates authentic Hawaiian and Polynesian lūʻau dinner shows, cultural performances, and lounge entertainment at resort venues across the Hawaiian Islands and through international tours. In addition to live shows, the company provides convention and corporate event production, technical services for sound systems and stage lighting, and lounge entertainment booking for hotels.
Product overview
Tihati Productions Ltd. is a Hawaiian & Polynesian entertainment company operating as the largest and longest running entertainment company in the State of Hawaii since 1969. The company employs over 1000 employees including musicians, singers, dancers, and choreographers from every Polynesian island group. The core product portfolio consists of 12 major lūʻau productions across four Hawaiian islands (Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and Hawaii Island), each show featuring authentic Polynesian entertainment with traditional songs, dances, fire knife performances, and imu ceremonies. The portfolio includes: Oahu shows (Pāʻina Waikīkī, Waikiki Starlight Lūʻau, 'Aha 'Aina, Ka Wa'a at Aulani, Sunset Stories); Maui shows (Te Au Moana, Maui Nui, Drums of the Pacific, The Feast At Mōkapu); Kauai show (Wailua Nui Lūʻau); Hawaii Island shows (Lava Legends & Legacies, Legends of the Pacific, Waikoloa Beach Marriott Sunset Lūʻau). Beyond live shows, Tihati offers International Tours, Technical Services (sound systems and stage lighting), Convention Services (custom theme parties), and Lounge Entertainment bookings. The company has produced for conventions, television appearances, international tours, and motion pictures.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Pāʻina Waikīkī Lūʻau
Quantifiable outcome
- 12 major productions across Hawaii
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Tihati
Customer profileNamed customers18 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Tihati technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration2 records
Feature1 record
Tihati partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Norwegian Cruise LinescoreTihati has featured shows on Norwegian Cruise Lines as part of their international touring operations, bringing Polynesian entertainment to cruise ship audiences.
- Hyatt Regency MauicoreHost venue for Tihati lounge entertainment and lūʻau productions. One of Hawaii's premier resort properties.
- Four Seasons Resort MauicoreHost venue for Tihati lounge entertainment at one of Maui's most prestigious luxury resorts.
- Grand Wailea Resort and SpacoreHost venue for Tihati lounge entertainment at this luxury Maui resort property.
- Hilton Waikoloa VillagecoreHost venue for Legends of the Pacific dinner show production on Hawaii Island.
- Royal Kona ResortcoreHost venue for Lava Legends & Legacies lūʻau production on Hawaii Island's Kona Coast.
- Hawaii Prince HotelcoreHost venue for Tihati lounge entertainment on Oahu.
- Hyatt Regency WaikikicoreHost venue for Tihati lounge entertainment in Waikiki, Oahu.
- Hilton Hawaiian VillagecoreHost venue for Waikiki Starlight Lūʻau at Hilton Hawaiian Village's rooftop venue.
- Wailea Beach Resort – MarriottcoreHost venue for Te Au Moana lūʻau production on Maui's Wailea coast.
- Sheraton MauicoreHost venue for Maui Nui lūʻau at Kaanapali Beach, featuring cliff diving and Polynesian entertainment.
- Hyatt MauicoreHost venue for Drums of the Pacific Lūʻau featuring authentic Hawaiian and Polynesian performances.
- Andaz Maui at Wailea ResortcoreHost venue for The Feast At Mōkapu luxury lūʻau experience at Mokapu Beach.
- Waikīkī Beach MarriottcoreHost venue for Pāʻina Waikīkī, Waikiki's newest lūʻau show presented multiple days per week.
- Royal Hawaiian HotelcoreHost venue for 'Aha 'Aina - A Royal Celebration lūʻau, the iconic Pink Palace of the Pacific.
- Aulani, Disney Resort and SpacoreHost venue for Ka Wa'a lūʻau featuring Hawaiian history and canoe exploration themes at Disney's Hawaii resort.
- International Market PlaceminorHost venue for Sunset Stories storytelling performance on Kalākaua Avenue. Free public entertainment.
- Waikoloa Beach MarriottcoreHost venue for Sunset Lūʻau at Waikoloa Beach Marriott on Hawaii Island.
- Hilton Garden Inn Kaua'i Wailua BaycoreHost venue for Wailua Nui Lūʻau featuring traditional imu ceremony and island cultural activities on Kauai's east side.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves1 record
Expansion highlights5 records
Tihati competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Polynesian Cultural Center: Laie, Hawaii-based Polynesian performing arts and cultural attraction operating since 1963, presenting live歌舞 and cultural demonstrations from across Polynesia. Directly comparable as the largest dedicated Polynesian cultural entertainment operation in Hawaii with similar authentic cultural positioning.
- Old Lahaina Lūʻau: Maui-based traditional Hawaiian lūʻau operating since 1986, focused on authentic cultural dining and performance. Direct competitor to Tihati's Maui productions (Te Au Moana, Maui Nui, Drums of the Pacific) targeting the same tourist segment at premium pricing.
- Chief's Lūʻau: Maui-based lūʻau dinner show featuring Polynesian performances and traditional imu ceremony. Direct competitor to Tihati's Maui venue productions in the same tourist entertainment category.
- Paradise Cove Lūʻau: Oahu-based beachfront lūʻau with traditional imu ceremony and Polynesian performances. Direct competitor to Tihati's Oahu productions (Pāʻina Waikīkī, Waikiki Starlight Lūʻau) targeting the same Honolulu tourist market.
- Feast at Lele: Lahaina, Maui-based luxury lūʻau combining multi-course dinner with performances from Hawaii, Tahiti, Samoa, and New Zealand. Direct competitor in the premium lūʻau segment with comparable authentic cultural positioning and pricing tier.
Emerging players
- Toa Luau: Oahu-based lūʻau emphasizing authentic Polynesian warrior cultural themes with smaller-scale production. Emerging competitor in the same Oahu tourist market with partial overlap in target customer base.
Broad incumbents
- Cirque du Soleil: Global live entertainment production company operating resident shows and international tours across multiple geographies. Comparable as a large-scale live entertainment operator with international touring capability similar to Tihati's international tour vertical, though focused on theatrical acrobatics rather than Polynesian cultural content.
- Disney Live Entertainment: In-house entertainment division of The Walt Disney Company producing live shows across Disney parks, cruise ships, and resorts including Aulani, Disney Resort and Spa. Comparable as a large-scale, branded resort entertainment operator and Tihati's venue partner at Aulani.
- Royal Caribbean Productions: In-house entertainment production arm of Royal Caribbean Group producing Broadway-style and destination-themed shows across its cruise fleet. Comparable as a large-scale cruise and resort live entertainment producer with cultural-themed content similar to Tihati's international touring.
Others
- Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings: Cruise line operator that has hosted Tihati Polynesian productions onboard its ships. Comparable as a major buyer and co-presenter of cruise-based Polynesian entertainment, representing both a customer and a category-defining live entertainment delivery channel.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Tihati social profiles
Digital presenceTihati financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Tihati leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Tihati funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Tihati M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Tihati
What does Tihati do?
Tihati Productions Ltd. produces and operates authentic Hawaiian and Polynesian lūʻau dinner shows, cultural performances, and lounge entertainment at resort venues across the Hawaiian Islands and through international tours. In addition to live shows, the company provides convention and corporate event production, technical services for sound systems and stage lighting, and lounge entertainment booking for hotels.
Is Tihati a public or private company?
Tihati is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Tihati founded?
Tihati was founded in 1969. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Tihati based?
Tihati is headquartered in Honolulu, United States, in the North America region.
How does Tihati make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Lūʻau Show Tickets are the primary driver. The others are convention & Event Production, lounge Entertainment, technical Equipment Services and international Tours.
Who are Tihati's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Polynesian Cultural Center, Old Lahaina Lūʻau, Chief's Lūʻau, Paradise Cove Lūʻau and Feast at Lele. Toa Luau is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Cirque du Soleil, Disney Live Entertainment and Royal Caribbean Productions. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings is listed as an others.
Does Tihati have an API?
No public API is recorded for Tihati.
What industry is Tihati in?
Tihati's product category is Live Polynesian Entertainment and Lūʻau Shows. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THAJAFAD, Dance Performances, with a secondary code of HSACAHAG, Cultural & Heritage Entertainment Booking (Traditional/Folk Acts). Its NAICS code is 711120 and its SIC code is 7900.