Improv HI
Improv HI is a Honolulu, Hawaii improv company founded in 2012 by Kimee Balmilero after she returned to Oahu following improv and performance training in Los Angeles and New York. The company began as an online event calendar and touring ensemble before acquiring The Tiny Stage in 2020, a dedicated studio and class space at 419 South Street in the Kakaako neighborhood. Improv HI offers weekly classes across all levels under the motto Building Confidence Through Comedy.
History
Founding (2012)
Kimee Balmilero founded Improv HI in 2012 upon returning to Oahu after performing and studying improv in Los Angeles and New York. The company launched as an online event calendar and touring entity, performing across multiple Honolulu venues without a permanent home.
The Tiny Stage (2020)
In 2020 Improv HI acquired The Tiny Stage, a dedicated class and studio space in the Kakaako neighborhood at 419 South Street, giving the organization a permanent home in Honolulu for the first time. Original monthly shows including improvised musicals, comedy rap battles, and open jams anchor the programming calendar alongside corporate training.
Hawaii Comedy Festival
Improv HI produces the Spring Improv Showcase within the Hawaii Comedy Festival, extending its visibility across Hawaii's comedy community.
Artistic Identity
Improv HI serves Hawaii as the state's primary improv company, building ensemble confidence through weekly multi-level classes and original monthly shows at its Kakaako studio. Balmilero's performance background informs the company's mix of improvised musicals, comedy performance, and corporate training.
Key Events
Improv HI Founded in Honolulu
Kimee Balmilero founded Improv HI in 2012 in Honolulu, establishing Hawaii's primary improv company after training in Los Angeles and New York.
How to Reference This Page
The Improv Archive. (2026). Improv HI. Retrieved March 17, 2026, from https://improvarchive.org/companies/improv-hi
The Improv Archive. "Improv HI." The Improv Archive, 2026. https://improvarchive.org/companies/improv-hi.
The Improv Archive. "Improv HI." The Improv Archive, 2026, https://improvarchive.org/companies/improv-hi. Accessed March 17, 2026.
The Improv Archive is a systemically maintained repository. The archive itself acts as the corporate author.