**Note: We are currently on hiatus and not throwing Hawaiʻi Slam's First Thursdays shows. When we resume operations, we will update this website and notify you by email. If you are not already on our email list, get on it by sending an email to [email protected] and we will keep you informed. Mahalo for your support through the years and for your understanding! 

This is the official site of Hawaiʻi Slam, a non-profit organization dedicated to showcasing poets from the islands and running the nationally certified First Thursdays slam poetry competition. Founded and hosted by Kealoha (the first Poet Laureate Emeritus of Hawaiʻi), Hawaiʻi Slam's First Thursdays is the largest registered poetry slam in the world (with 400+ in attendance), and home of the 2nd nationally ranked team via the National Poetry Slam.

First Thursdays features Hawaiʻi's best performance poets, live musicians, MC's, DJ's, live painters, and national touring poets.