Posted on: Monday, September 29, 2003

EDITORIAL
New amphitheater can be positive for Kapolei

As with any such project, there are numerous details to be understood and dealt with, but at first glimpse, a proposal for a new entertainment amphitheater in Kapolei comes across as an appealing idea.

A private developer would build a 15,000-seat four-tier amphitheater on land leased from Campbell Estate.

The idea is to fill a niche between Aloha Stadium (suitable for mega-concerts such as the Rolling Stones) and the smaller venues at Blaisdell, the Waikiki Shell and Stan Sheriff Center at UH-Manoa.

The amphitheater would add to a critical mass of projects in Kapolei (among them, a new printing facility being built by this newspaper) that would push the region into its true original vision as a second city for O'ahu.

And in somewhat of a break with the typical pattern these days, the developers do not appear to be asking for any special tax or financial help from government for their project. They are simply applying for the necessary permits and land-use approvals.

That process should look, among other things, on the potential traffic implications of a major attraction of this size.

If such questions can be answered satisfactorily, then this new amphitheater would be a worthwhile addition to the many amenities O'ahu offers.