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Sounds of the Ocean is an award-winning immersive experience that invites you and your family to the heart of the deep blue sea.
In a society burdened with stress, this transformative project offers calm and rest. It is an invitation to forge a deep connection with the enchanting life that dwells beneath the waves. The experience combines sounds of whales & dolphins, original music, immersive visual art and ocean imagery to guide you on a mindful underwater odyssey.
"We want to take you on a sonic scuba dive, to inspire a deep connection with ocean life and yourself."
- Joshua Sam Miller, Creative Director
An Official UN Ocean Decade Activity.
360° FULLDOME
PROJECTION
5.1 SURROUND
SOUND
100% REAL
OCEAN IMAGERY
10% of proceeds to support plastic cleanup by the Papahānaumokuākea Marine Debris Project
REVIEWS
"An exceptional event!"
"The sounds of the ocean fill the room with tranquility and joy."
"Wow! I've got goosebumps man!
Who knew there was that much sound underwater?"
MEET THE CREATORS
Sounds of the Ocean is a project built from our passion for the ocean, film, music and creative storytelling. It evolved naturally over the course of five years while touring through the United States, Costa Rica, the Middle East and Europe.
Our immersive experience is designed to take you on a “deep dive” to better understand what life is like underwater, feel the love in dolphin and whale song and return gently to the surface feeling more connected. Our hope is that you find the experience to be deeply relaxing and supportive of your overall wellbeing.
From this place of building a loving connection with oneself, we believe that we can make small changes in our daily habits to reduce our consumption and live more sustainably in balance with the natural world.
- Joshua & Elise
FAQ
What is Sounds of the Ocean?
This mindful underwater journey is family-friendly, designed to support your mental health, and is suitable for all ages 4 years and above.
Take a moment for yourself, as we take you on a scuba dive into the deep blue sea!
Are there any live dolphins or whales in the show?
No! We us all recorded images and sounds of ocean life. No animals were harmed in the making of this film.
How do I book tickets?
Tickets for Sounds of the Ocean can be purchased here.
A limited number of seats are available each performance, so to avoid disappointment please book your tickets early, especially if booking groups.
Are there any promo codes?
Yes! We offer 10% off discounts for families, groups and returning guests.
When selecting your tickets look for ‘Redeem coupon/voucher’ text below your Shopping Cart, underneath your carts total. Discounts apply to the entire cart.
SOTOFAMILY - 10% off for adults booking with children
SOTOGROUP - 10% off when booking 6 or more tickets
SOTOLOVE - 10% off if you have seen "Sounds of the Ocean' before
Planning a visit for a large group?
We have the following discounts available:
15% off for bookings of 20-49 tickets, 20% off 50+ tickets
Please contact us for group discounts.
How do I contact the Box Office?
Please direct all customer service enquiries to our Sounds of the Ocean Box Office Team
All tickets are non-refundable.
If you have a special request, please email our Customer Service Team and we will aim to reply within 24 hours.
Is the show suitable for people with sensory needs?
We have found that people with sensory needs LOVE our shows, especially kids! Please note the venue is dark and there is surround sound. We advise sitting at the end of a row if you think a quick exit might be required. Our on-site staff will assist if you alert them at check-in.
Show Times & Seating Schedule
Check-in begins 30 minutes before each show.
Please note:
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VIP ticket holders are invited to enjoy early seat selection in the planetarium, starting from 15 minutes before show start time.
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Seating is on a “first come first serve” basis.
We suggest that you arrive early to have the best pick of seating for your group. -
Due to the dark environment of our theater, please plan to arrive on time and before the show starts. Latecomers will not be admitted.
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There are no food or drinks offered at the venue but water bottles are allowed in the omnitheater.
VENUE INFORMATION
The Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum
J. Watumull Planetarium
Bishop Museum’s Jhamandas Watumull Planetarium opened its doors on December 12, 1961. Originally called the Kilolani Planetarium, the Watumull Planetarium has served over six million visitors and students over 60 years of continuous operation. The Planetarium was instrumental in the recovery of the nearly lost art and science of traditional, non-instrument navigation in Hawaiʻi. Nainoa Thompson spent countless hours in the Planetarium with Will Kyselka and other Planetarium staff in the late 1970s learning how to read the night sky. We are honored to continue that legacy by serving as a training space for today’s navigators.
Our GOTO Chronos II optical star projector provides one of the most vivid, realistic recreations of the night sky available today, with 8,500 pinpoint stars and realistic, bright planets. Our Digistar 4K full-dome video system covers the entire dome in immersive video, allowing us to fly through the rings of Saturn, into the depths of the Orion nebula, out to the edge of the universe, and even simulate a voyage across the Pacific.
The Planetarium has 64 seats and serves 70,000 people a year. The planetarium focuses on programs about Hawaiʻi, blending live and prerecorded elements within each program.
Address
Bishop Museum, 1525 Bernice Street, Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96817
Visitor Center & Opening Hours
Your tickets permit entry to the planetarium for the performance time you have booked for, no other tickets need to be purchased for you to attend!
However, if you wish to visit the Bishop Museum, which houses houses the largest collection of Hawaiian and Pacific cultural artifacts and natural history specimens in the world, the museum opening times are:
Daily: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
(Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day)
Parking & Directions
Parking is available on a first-come, first-served basis.
Please pay for parking using a mobile phone through a posted Parklinq QR code (card payments only) or have your member parking sticker on your car.
Please see Directions and Parking for more information.
More Information
This is an in-person event at the J. Watumull Planetarium at Bishop Museum. No online options or recordings will be available.
Seating is first come, first served.
No late seating. Doors close when the program begins. Please plan to arrive no later than 15min before the start of the show.
Check-in and entry will be near Bishop Museum’s Shop Pacifica (front entrance and gift shop). The check-in table will be located at the top of the main staircase/ramp and to the right.
Check-in and viewing of the planetarium lobby will begin 30min prior to showtime. Doors open for planetarium seating 15min before showtime. The presentation will last approximately an hour.
No food or drink allowed in the planetarium.
The planetarium is fairly cool; you may want to bring a light sweater.
More Info:
MAKE AN IMPACT
Oceanic Global and Sounds of the Ocean have partnered to harness the power of music and immersive experiences to deepen humanity’s connection to the Ocean. This collaboration merges Oceanic Global’s mission-driven approach with Sounds of the Ocean’s unique blend of nature’s soundscapes, music, and meditation to inspire environmental awareness and Ocean stewardship. Together, we aim to create transformative experiences that foster well-being, promote sustainability, and encourage a deeper appreciation for Our Blue Planet.
Sounds of the Ocean is produced by Embodied Sounds, Inc., an award-winning immersive wellness experience studio focused on supporting mental health and environmental activism.
Embodied Sounds is proud to be a 1% For the Planet Partner and EU4Ocean Platform Partner.
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All Rights Reserved.