Low attendance forces Waikiki theaters to close

Advertiser Staff

Consolidated Amusement tonight is closing its Waikiki 1, 2 and 3 theaters for the last time, citing low attendance and an opportunity to shift the employees to its Ward theater complex and other properties.

Customers at the Waikiki 3-Plex buy tickets to the last "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets" show for tonight. It was also the last show for the theater, which is closing, officials said today. Gregory Yamamoto • The Honolulu Advertiser

"If you look at the attendance, it's very low," Yim said. "People stopped going, particularly because of the Ward. The businesses have not been viable for a while." Yim said the Waikiki theaters have been losing money for a while.

All 30 employees of the three Waikiki theaters will be moved to jobs at other Consolidated theaters, mostly at Ward, Yim said.

He said the decision was made today because the company had to decide whether to hire seasonal workers for the holiday season or shift its current employees, and also whether to book the Waikiki theaters for holiday movies.

Yim said the company has no plan for what it will do with the properties. It owns the land under the theaters.

The IMAX theater will remain open and will also show traditional movies, Yim said.