Waikiki Theaters Closed

The Waikiki Theaters closed yesterday with no advanced announcement made to the public except for what was broadcast on the news last night and appeared in the paper today. It is another piece of our Honolulu that has gone by the wayside in favor of something bigger (Ward Movieplex) though probably not better.

There is nothing we can do to bring those theaters back. According to Consolidated Theater's management, the reason for the closure was simply economic... the movie theaters were losing money due to dwindling movie attendance. You would think that 3 theaters right in the middle of Waikiki would at least draw tourists to watch first run movies in droves... but that is not the case. The Waikiki theaters relied mostly on local people to fill the seats.

Given the popularity of the movieplexes with their many screen choices, their convenient locations in places adjacent to affordable shopping, dining, and free parking, it was only a matter of time before fate would catch up with the Waikiki theaters.

Now that they are closed, we can share our memories of movies viewed there and perhaps ideas as to what the properties should be used for, since Consolidated has no immediate plans for them.

BTW, the adjacent IMAX Theater also owned and operated by Consolidated Theaters will remain open. It was mentioned that some feature movies will be shown there. They have recently shown an IMAX version of Disney's Beauty and the Beast and are now showing an IMAX version of Star Wars Episode II: Attaack of the Clones.

One of my recent memories from a few years ago was waiting in line and then finally seeing Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace on the first day it opened in Hawaii. I was there at the first matinee movie of the day at the Waikiki #2 Theater with a 900 other Star Wars fans who had up to that time been waiting some 22 years in which to catch the first chapter of the much fabled space opus. So what if that movie was not as good as the original.. the fact that 900 screaming fans in the cavernous theater was truly awesome and probably the last time I been there where the entire hall was sold out.

The most recent movies I saw at the Waikiki Theaters were Lilo & Stitch and Signs this past summer. Little did I know these were the last 2 movies I would ever watch at the Waikiki Theaters.

As to what should be done to the properties, more than likely Consolidated will find a developer to develop it into either another multis-story hotel or sell it off so someone else can develop it into another Gucci-like megastore or high-rise.

That said, I think the original Waikiki #3 theater should be saved, and restored with its original fake Palm trees and sky motif and used to showcase live Hawaiian music concerts and other types of venues. It may be something worth trying.

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I too was shocked to read about it in the paper this morning. You were in that Phantom Menace line on the first day? So was I! Fond memories I have of that alley packed with fans....the runs to the toilet....the runs for food....plastic lightsaber battles....

As to the future of the vacant space, I hope they put something else besides retail establishments. But it's Waikiki; who am I kidding.

I was devastated to hear about the shutdown. I immediately wrote and faxed a letter to Consolidated Theatres' management, and another letter to the Star-Bulletin letters section.

The fact that they closed are not a surprise - I remember talk of it when I lived in Waikiki five years ago. But the fact that it was shut down with five hours notice was incredible to me.

There have been "send-offs" for other historic Honolulu theaters, the Cinerama (now Checker Auto Parts) for example. I made it a point to say a bittersweet goodbye to the Cinerama, Kam Drive-In, and the Kapiolani theaters... but of all theaters that deserve a big farewell, the Waikiki 3 is at the top of that list.

The organ player. The twinkling "sky" above. The huge, huge aisles, the side exit that dumps straight into a madhouse of cheap gold chains and gaudy candles. I remember being crushed on the front steps at many, many a big A-list movie premiere. When I fondly remember the old Consolidated Theaters opening credit (now it's a bunch of hula dancers on a lava field, but it used to be an animated thing with a cheesy upbeat tune and a crying baby being plucked away with a 'pop!'), I'm in the Waikiki 3 in my mind's eye...

They should at least open the new Lord of the Rings film there, a big finish, one last day where it will turn a profit. I guarantee it, because I'd be there, and I know I wouldn't be alone.

Announcing the Theater-House Closing Pool

Which of the stand-alone movie-houses will close next, and in what year?

Unless I'm missing something, there are only two remaining: The Varsity and that one in Kailua near Daiei. Everything else has a mall attached to it, right? Except maybe Kapolei, which grew there first and brought the little stores with it.

I'm going with Varsity in 2006.

The Varsity's days have been numbered for a while, too. I don't know how many times my friends and I had been the only people in a showing. By that, 2006 sounds optimistic to me.

But unlike Waikiki, at least its neighborhood still seems to sustain less-than-mainstream, niche businesses. Until Dobelle's vision of a giant University Town are realized, I hope the rent isn't too unreasonable for Consolidated to keep it going. I know I'd still see something at the Varsity, even though the Restaurant Row Art House is putting up a good fight.

And yeah, on the Consolidated side, I think Varsity and Aikahi are all that are left. All the rest are megaplexes - Dole with 18 (S), Pearlridge West, Kapolei and Ward with 16 (C), Mililani with 14 (C), Pearl Highlands with 12 (S)...

I gotta believe that there's a conservancy organization in Hawaii that can organize a campaign to save the Waikiki 3, much like the Hawaii Theater was saved a few years ago. Here in L.A., the Los Angeles Conservancy does a good job of highlighting the plight of endangered buildings, including the classic, closed down theaters of old downtown L.A.
Would a similar org, such as the Outdoor Circle, take up the fight in Honolulu? After all, the Waikiki 3 is truly the last grand theater left in multiplex-obsessed Honolulu. It would be a shame to see it demolished.

Well, doctah, that would probably be the Historic Hawai'i Foundation.

Odd congruence of things in the news, here. Consolidated says it doesn't have enough ticket buyers, and the amount of charitable gifts from Hawai'i residents averaged $1100. If movie-goers can't be motivated, can all those donors to save the place?

I just wrote to them to ask if there might be any interest in preserving the Waikiki Three. I've already printed out a copy of the nomination form (PDF), but I'm still looking for the criteria (both at the HHF site and the state Historic Preservation Division).

The Hawaii Theatre was built in 1922 (by Consolidated Amusement). I would expect the Waikiki 3 - built in 1936, though it was just the "Waikiki Theatre" until 1969 when the smaller twins were built - meets the age requirement as well.

I found some of the information on this page at "Cinema Treasures," and submitted a sad update.

Hmm. Here are the criteria (per Hawaii Administrative Rules, 13:8:198): In deciding whether a property should be entered and ordered into the Hawaii register, the review board shall evaluate whether the property meets or possesses, individually or in combination, the following criteria or characteristics:

1. The quality of significance in Hawaiian history, architecture, archaeology, and culture, which is present in districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects of State and local importance that possess integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association, and:
   • That are associated with events that have made a significant contribution to broad patterns of our American or Hawaiian history;
   • That are associated with the lives of persons significant in our past;
   • That embody the distinctive characteristics of a type, period, or method of construction, or that represent the work of a master, or that possess high artistic value, or that represent a significant and distinguishable entity whose components may lack individual distinction; or
   • That have yielded, or may be likely to yield, information important in prehistory or history;
2. Environmental impact, i.e., whether the preservation of the building, site, structure, district, or object significantly enhances the environmental quality of the State;
3. The social, cultural, educational, and recreational value of the building, site, structure, district, or object, when preserved, presented, or interpreted, contributes significantly to the understanding and enjoyment of the history and culture of Hawaii, the pacific area, or the nation.

No date cutoff, as far as I can tell, and I think many of the other buildings already designated as historic in Honolulu are younger than the Waikiki 3. I think if the Hawaii Theatre warrants preservation for its place in stage entertainment, the Waikiki 3 does as well for movies. And because it's in the heart of Waikiki, whose history and character is already being diluted by high-end boutique stores and other development.

I feel a movement coming on...

At $350 a square foot, there will be immense pressure from the property owners and developers to tear the theaters down and put something else in their place that will generate huge revenues and profits for them. There already is agreement that the location is not good to sustain a theater of any sort. More information in Erika Engle's article in today's Star Bulletin.

Preservation of the Waikiki #3 is a favorable option with me as long as it can be done with private funds only. It will be an uphill battle to mount a preservation campaign. The property is just too valuable.

By pure economics, there's absolutely no justification for keeping that space a theater. I'm no historian, so I don't even know if there's any merit for preservation. I just hope someone looks into it.

What can be done with the building, should it be perserved, if not used for showing movies? If not round-the-clock showings of Edgy Lee's "Waikiki" or Elvis' "Blue Hawaii"?

It is a theater-shaped venue, and I figure it could be converted to a stage setup without much work (as it used to host live musical performances, at least). What if they took out every other row, put in long tables, and established a cross between "Medieval Times" and the Polynesian Cultural Center night show? Grand song-and-dance with kalua pig and poi you eat with your hands? After all, the PCC is the number one paid attraction in the state... but it's biggest weakness is its distance from where the tourists are.

If you could stage something between the tired Germaine's Luau and the blockbuster PCC presentation, and plop it in the middle of Waikiki, you might have something.

(Especially since the free former-Kodak hula show finally and sadly gave up the ghost.)

Speaking of theater-shaped venues that have been converted, the Straub Clinic out here on Pali Momi is located where Pearlridge West (or whatever those four theaters were collectively called) once was. I've always wondered how much it cost to re-grade it to level, among other things.

Such change is inevitable. I can accept the change, though I sometimes don't want to see it happen. But what leaves a bad taste in my mouth is when companies decide to make such change unannounced and in the dark of the night.

Linkmeister, I've been in that Straub Clinic at Pearlridge many times, and try to work out in my head where the screens were, where the bathrooms were, where the popcorn machine was. I hope they didn't just fill in the slope with concrete, and at least saved the deepest portion for basement storage of some kind.

Come to think of it, I've also been in the Checker's Auto Parts store on S. King in the old shell of the Cinerama Theaters. I wonder if they did anything underground? I sure am glad they kept some of that great facade.

kane, the timing was my complaint as well. The Star-Bulletin printed my letter to the editor to that effect. Sadly, I saw footage on the news over the weekend of the Waikiki 3's screen all torn up... so unless they can find a really big bedsheet, I guess I'm out of luck for that "last hurrah."

Hi my name is Jon Howard Lemon
and I'm 14 years old, I'm in the 9th Grade and I'm from the state of Utah and I would just like to say that if Consolodated Theaters wants to close down there Waikiki theaters then why don't they sell them to someone else like the Reel Theater Company could have ownership of the standared movie theaters while destination cinama could have ownership of the IMAX theaters.

The Waikiki Theaters and the iMax closed nearly 2 years ago. Consolidated still owns the properties but are developing them into retail operations.

On another note, a new movie chain to Hawaii called Regal just bought the 4 Signature Theaters movieplexes in the islands.

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