The Hawai'i Theatre Center has received the League of Historic American Theatres' 2005 Award for Outstanding Historic Theatre.

Sarah Richards, theater president, received the award at the group's 29th annual conference in Kansas City, Mo.

The theater was cited for demonstrating "the highest standards of excellence in its vision, execution of the physical restoration, and community service." The selection jury also noted the theater's "impressive strength in all criteria categories, the impact of program service, diversity of engagement, its economic benefit to its community and artists, excellence of management and governance and the quality of its planning and execution of the physical restoration of the theater."

In accepting the award, Richards said, "Hawai'i Theatre is the arts organization of the future, bringing together all segments of the community to celebrate the performing arts of our diverse population. We are honored by this extraordinary national recognition."

When it originally opened in 1922, Hawai'i Theatre was dubbed "The Pride of the Pacific" and has been popularly designated as "the Carnegie Hall of the Pacific" because of its prestige as a performing arts space. After years of neglect, the facility has undergone a $32 million restoration. and become a showcase for such touring productions as "Stomp," "Cookin'," "Slava's Snowshow," "Spirit of the Dance" and "The Vagina Monologues," and local entities including the Hawai'i International Film Festival, Hawai'i International Jazz Festival, Hawai'i Opera Theatre, Ballet Hawai'i and Iona Contemporary Dance. The theater also has popularized the Hawaiian Friday night "Hana Hou" series and the Christmas spectacle featuring Jim Nabors.