10th annual Hawaii Comedy Festival celebrates AAPI stories

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The 10th annual Hawaii Comedy Festival is celebrating AANHPI month with improv, sketch, musical, and stand-up comedy by an all-star cast of talent from across Hawaii and the continent.

Kimee Balmilero, founder of the Hawaii Comedy Festival, Will Choi, founder of comedy troupe Asian AF, and Anette Aga, founder of comedy troupe Polynesian AF, joined HNN’s Sunrise to talk about their special variety show and workshops happening today.

The Hawaii Comedy Festival Variety Show starts at 7 p.m. tonight at the Honolulu Museum of Art’s Doris Duke Theatre, 900 S. Beretania St. Tickets are $35.

Parking is available behind the Honolulu Museum of Art School, 1111 Victoria Street, for $5 for the first 5 hours. $2 for every additional 30 minutes. Cash only.

The Hawaii Comedy Festival is also hosting workshops today. Tickets are $35 each:

• Characters Workshop: Albert Franz Dance Studio, 419 South St., Suite 140, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
• Write a Comedic Song: Improv Hawaii’s Tiny Stage, 419 South Street. Suite 163, 12-2 p.m.
• Intro to Musical Improv Workshop: Albert Franz Dance Studio, 419 South St., Suite 140, 2-4 p.m.
• Improv Openings Workshop: The Honolulu Museum of Art’s Doris Duke Theatre, 900 S. Beretania St., 2:30-4:30 p.m.

For tickets and information, visit hicomedyfest.com and follow @hicomedyfest on Instagram.

The cast includes:

• Alfred Aquino II (Filipino AF, Netflix is a Joke, Dropout, UCB LA)
• Allyn Pintal (Filipino AF, UCB LA, Wong Fu Productions, Earlwolf Presents: Dragons AF)
• Anette Aga (Polynesian AF – producer, Improv Hawai’i, Kumu Kahua Theatre)
• Daryl Jim Diaz (Filipino AF, Gaysian AF, UCB LA, Quick and Funny Musicals)
• Elexis Draine (Polynesian AF, Kumu Kahua Theatre)
• Gilbert Galon (Filipino AF, Tiger Belly, UCB LA)
• Jiavani (Filipino AF, Gaysian AF, Between Two Ferns: The Movie, Cartoon Network, Reno 911: Defunded)
• Jose Ver (Filipino AF, Improv Hawai’i, Magnum P.I., Waikikii PD)
• Joy Regullano (Filipino AF, Barry, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Modern Family, Supportive White Parents)
• Kaliko Fase (Polynesian AF, Improv Hawai’i, Magnum P.I., Hawai’i Five-0)
• Kay Kaanapu (Filipino AF, San Francisco Sketchfest)
• Kimee Balmilero (Filipino AF, Hawai’i Comedy Fest – founder, Hawai’i Five-0, Doogie Kamealoha)
• La Fa’amausili-Siliato (Polynesian AF, Diamond Head Theatre)
• Marni Ramirez (Polynesian AF, Improv Hawai’i, Waikiki PD)
• Matt Soriano (Improv Hawai’i, Yes, And Dragons)
• Arinex Poasa (Polynesian AF, Improv Hawai’i, Next Goal Wins)
• Ryan Okinaka (Polynesian AF, Improv Hawai’i, Hawai’i Five-0, Doogie Kamealoha MD)
• Sarah Claspell (Asian AF, UCB LA, Brooklyn Nine-Nine)
• Shilpa Das (South Asian AF, UCB LA, Quick and Funny Musicals, Laugh Factory)
• Vince Yap (Filipino AF, The Rookie, General Hospital, American Horror Stories)
• Will Choi (Asian AF – co-founder, BoJack Horseman, Bob’s Burgers, Central Park )
• Sean Joseph Choo (Polynesian AF, Improv Hawai’i, Magnum PI, Kumu Kahua Theatre)
• Alex Song-Xia (The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, Rick and Morty, High Maintenance, Dimension 20)

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