The results are in, and the nation has spoken! In USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards for this year, ʻAuana by Cirque du Soleil has been voted the No. 4 Best New Attraction in the entire country.
Staged in a custom 784-seat theater in Hawaiʻi, this is quite the honor for a show that just opened a little over a year ago. The ground-breaking new production takes audiences on a journey through the island’s history, from early Polynesian migrations to the golden age of tourism, combining signature high-flying moves with cultural storytelling.
To uncover the list of best attractions, USA Today relied on nominations from an expert panel that were then voted on by its readers. Here’s what the publication wrote about ʻAuana:
“Performers bring Hawaiian storytelling to life through gravity-defying feats and hula, while original music blends traditional Hawaiian instruments with contemporary sounds in this celebration of Pacific culture.”
You don’t need to travel far to experience the wonder of Cirque du Soleil
While we dream of escaping to the lush landscapes of Honolulu, this major award for Cirque du Soleil is the perfect reminder that we don’t need a plane ticket to experience its acrobatic spectacle! That’s because LUZIA is currently running at Gulfstream Park here in South Florida.
The two productions, although different, share the artistry that makes a Cirque du Soleil experience so undeniable. On one hand, ʻAuana means to wander or “veer off the beaten path,” reflecting its journey through Hawaiʻi’s stories, while LUZIA is a mix of the words “luz” (light) and “lluvia” (rain) in Spanish. It’s actually the first touring show to successfully incorporate cascading rain and water into its acrobatic acts!
And in the same way ʻAuana is a tribute to Hawaiʻi, LUZIA is described as a “surreal love letter to Mexico,” taking folks on a mesmerizing trip through Mexican folklore and landscapes. The show flows effortlessly from one environment to the next, all driven by a soundtrack that blends, cumbia, marimba and more.
How to catch LUZIA at Gulfstream Park
If you’d like to see the eye-catching stunts for yourself — and not miss one of the world’s premier performing arts companies right here in South Florida — LUZIA is running for a limited time! You can find it under the iconic Big Top at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach (3208a Hibiscus St, Hallandale Beach, FL 33009) by grabbing tickets here.
And click here to see which other attractions made the 10Best list.