Celebrating 100 years of film and performance at Hawai‘i Theatre

The iconic Hawai‘i Theatre, featuring an elegant neo-classical theme with stately Corinthian columns, a domed ceiling and Lionel Walden’s mural, Glorification of the Drama, on the proscenium arch, first opened its doors on Wednesday, September 6, 1922. Over the decades, the theater has played a significant role in Honolulu’s cultural landscape bringing live music and performances to O‘ahu. Its original neo-classical design by Honolulu residents and architects Walter Emory and Marshall Webb, saw the theater christened the ‘Pride of the Pacific’ on its opening.

From plays, world-renowned musicians, award shows like the Na Hoku Hanohano Awards, film screenings and comedy shows, the theater, nestled in Honolulu’s Chinatown, has been a gathering place of creators and fans alike.

In 1984, a group of concerned citizens reestablished the theater as a nonprofit organization, renamed it the Hawai‘i Theatre Center (HTC) and rescued it from demolition. HTC was restored to its former glory with public and private funds and re-opened in 1996. While the theater has experienced several shortfalls and closings throughout its lifetime, the mission of the non-profit Hawaii Theatre Center helped to continue to provide a broad range of entertainment, cultural and educational experiences; promote redevelopment and revitalization of downtown Honolulu/Chinatown; and enhance the quality of life in Honolulu. As part of the conversion to a non-profit, the theater was also designated as a national historic property, preserving many of the historically significant features of the architecture. Elements such as the fine detail of the tiny maile leaves (reminiscent of Greek-style headdresses) adorning the proscenium arch to a large canvas mural of dancing figures overlooking the audience and the theater’s 1921 Robert Morton pipe organ. HTC is the second largest proscenium performance facility in the State and the only remaining theater of its kind in Hawai‘i.

HTC’s Education Program promotes literacy and cognitive and creative development through performing arts for thousands of school children and the Arts for All program provides affordably priced productions for seniors and low-income households. HTC continues its mission of “Preserving yesterday… Performing today Preparing for tomorrow” by providing a broad range of entertainment, cultural, and educational experiences and opportunities. When the Covid pandemic shut down the venue, the theater adapted by hosting virtual events.

The Hawai‘i Theatre is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization and was recognized as the “Outstanding Historic Theatre in America” in 2005 by the League of Historic American Theatres and, in 2006, received an Honor Award by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Listed on both the State and National Registers of Historic Places, the restored Hawaii Theatre attracts 80,000-100,000 patrons a year to its beautiful auditorium.

: Interior view of the historic theatre.

: The crowd at a film premiere circa 1940s.

: Theatre marquee notes milestone anniversary.

The 100th anniversary of Hawaii Theatre Center will be commemorated at the 2022 Preservation Honor Awards Ceremony and Reception on October 20, 2022. Click here for information about the event.