Maui Tropical Plantation To Showcase Burlesque Night

By Madeline Ziecker

A shot from a recent Kit Kat Cabaret photo shoot of "kitties" Ellen Peterson (left) and Jessica Dungans (right). Photo courtesy of Jack Grace.

“Maui’s own sweethearts of cabaret burlesque,” Kit Kat Club Cabaret, will heat up the Maui Tropical Plantation on Friday, March 30 in “Coconut Island” – a night full of exotic, tropical-themed entertainment.

The event will begin at 6:30 p.m. with cocktails, food, and a VIP hookah (flavored tobacco smoked from a large pipe) lounge followed by the show at 7:30 p.m.

Kit Kat Club Cabaret’s six sultry ladies will perform three acts throughout the evening, taking on the fantastical personages of go-go dancing stewardesses, security guards, pirates, genies, and mermaids.

The show will also include fire dancing, vintage visual art projections by Douglas Deboer, and antique beats by DJ Scott.

Ellen Peterson, the creative director, founder and “Head Kitty” of the Kit Kat Club Cabaret shared about the upcoming event.

“It has one of those exotic, tiki feels to it. Everything we do is vintage inspired, so when we looked at the Maui Tropical Plantation it seemed like a really god spot to have one of these shows.”

Jessica Dungans of Kit Kat Club Cabaret. Photo courtesy of Michael Andrew.

Maui Tropical Plantation usually only hosts banquets and weddings, but this year they are branching out. In the next six months they plan to build an outdoor venue to host more events like “Coconut Island.”  The Kit Kat Club Cabaret show on Friday will serve as somewhat of a ‘soft opening’ for Maui Tropical Plantation as another Maui venue, according to Peterson.

Themed cuisine will be offered during the show such as mahi mahi with kale and pineapple salsa from Chef Elijah and homemade coconut ice-cream from Coconut Glen for desert. There will also be tropical drink specials available and a coconut kefir tonic bar.

After dinner and the show, DJ Scott will continue to play for those who want to dance with the ladies of the cabaret. All attendees are invited to an after-party bonfire outdoors to conclude the night.

Though the show is for those 18 years and older and burlesque is known for being slightly raunchy, Peterson says, “We’re very much PG-13 in terms of our content. We’re not going to strip like in the classic burlesque acts, but we’re fun and flirty and the show appeals to such a wide range of people.”

Visit the Coconut Island event Facebook page to find to the secret speakeasy password for the night. Tickets are $10 in advance at and $15 at the door.