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ROARchestra Rally 2026

Hawaiʻi Youth Symphony (HYS) is readying a unique and joyful experience that’s sure to resonate with music and animal lovers, conducted in collaboration with the Honolulu Zoological Society and made possible with support from presenting sponsors Vibe Creative and the Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra.

HYS’ ROARchestra Rally: A Youth Day of Music at the Honolulu Zoo will be held on Sunday, May 3, 2026, showcasing performances from more than 500 HYS students representing dozens of public, home, charter, and independent schools across the state. The event will feature full symphony orchestras, jazz and chamber groups, string orchestras, and ʻukulele ensembles, enabling Zoo attendees to take in the sounds of some of the finest youth musicians in the country, all while exploring the grounds of a living concert hall.

Access to all the ROARchestra Rally performances, spread throughout the day from 10:30 a.m. – 3 p.m., will be included with admission to the Zoo—where guests can venture through 42 acres alongside 1,200 wondrous animals and specialized habitats. The ROARchestra Rally may even connect with a larger audience beyond the attendees! Researchers have observed that music doesn’t just move people, with gentle music known to invite chimpanzees to sway, birds to vocalize in response, and others throughout the animal kingdom to be drawn to its sound.

Tickets and zoo memberships are available for purchase onsite and online at www.honoluluzoo.org. Additional savings will be offered for kamaʻaina and active U.S. military families, with tickets priced at $10 for adults and $6 for children (ages 3-12). General admission is $21 for adults and $13 for children. Admission to the Honolulu Zoo for keiki ages two and under is always free, and also is free with a Zoo membership.

PRESENTING SPONSORS

Vibe Creative Hawaiʻi

Hawaiʻi Symphony Orchestra

GLISSANDO GIRAFFES

Starn, O’Toole, Marcus & Fisher

The Wong ʻOhana

ENSEMBLE ELEPHANTS

Central Pacific Bank & Arnold and Thuy Martines

John Love

The Hoo ʻOhana

ʻOHANA SUPPORTERS

AC Hotel by Marriott Honolulu

Brett & Christen Tominaga

Jaewon Choi

Kylie and Caleb Hall

Leah, Mike, and Charlotte Lee

Matsukawa Insurance Agency, Inc.

Oahu Gastroenterology Inc

The Resort Group

Friends of the Rally

Dr. Vivien Tham and the Pacific Vision Institute of Hawaii

Hannah Watanabe

Robin Kobayashi and Dr. Kenneth Fink