Posted on: Tuesday, May 24, 2005
Public gets say on theater
By Christie Wilson
Advertiser Neighbor Island Editor
WAILUKU, Maui — Maui County officials want the public to weigh in on the future of historic 'Iao Theater in the heart of Wailuku town.
Advertiser library photo • Sept. 2, 2004 But since talking with the various parties, Araki-Regan said county leaders decided they should check first with the folks who would be attending activities at the 'Iao to find out what they would like to see there and how to get more use from the building, which is open for events only a few nights each month.
The neighborhood business community also has a stake in the theater's future, she said, since the Market Street venue could be used to attract cruise-ship passengers from nearby Kahului Harbor and other visitors, perhaps as a mini-museum, a starting point for historic Wailuku walking tours, or as a place to show tourist-oriented films.
"We rethought the direction we were going in and decided that a community-needs assessment was important," Araki-Regan said.
Mayor Alan Arakawa this year established the Mayor's 'Iao Theater Restoration Initiatives Task Force and hired consultant Cultural+Planning Group to conduct interviews and meet with community focus groups. Company representatives will conduct the first in a series of community meetings at 6:30 p.m. tomorrow at the Cameron Center in Wailuku.
'Iao Theater community meeting, 6:30 p.m. tomorrow, Cameron Center, Wailuku. Call (808) 270-7710. 'Iao Theater is listed on the state and national registers of historic places as one of the oldest continuously operating theaters in the country. It opened in 1928 as a movie house and also served as a venue for vaudeville acts and USO shows. The county bought the one-acre property in 1993 to prevent its demolition, and has invested hundreds of thousands of dollars in a partial refurbishment.
The 'Iao's dilapidated condition has prevented fuller use of the facility, and there also is concern that Maui OnStage, which has held the lease for 10 years, has monopolized the 'Iao for its own productions. Leaders of the nonprofit group say the building's deficiencies, particularly its lack of air-conditioning, are the reason more events aren't being held there, and that they have cut their production schedule down to four shows a year to allow other groups more access.
Officials estimate it would take several millions dollars for a complete renovation — a major fundraising challenge for whoever ends up with the lease.
Araki-Regan said the county is open to all options, including selling the theater to a private owner.
Reach Christie Wilson at (808) 244-4880 or cwilson@honoluluadvertiser.com.
Late last year, groups that wanted to use the county-owned theater for stage productions and other activities were invited to submit proposals on how they would manage the facility. There was interest from several parties, said Lynn Araki-Regan, the county's economic development coordinator. Among them was Maui Onstage, the leaseholder until Sept. 30.
'Iao Theater opened in 1928 as a movie house and also served as a venue for vaudeville acts and USO shows. The theater in Wailuku is listed on state and national registers of historic places.
Once the assessment is complete, the task force will submit recommendations on the theater's fate to Arakawa for his consideration.
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