The first customer arrived at the Blaisdell box office at 9:45 a.m. Friday — about 45 minutes earlier than the Mainland record — for tickets that went on sale at 6 a.m. Saturday, said Mei Jeanne Wagner, senior vice president for StarrPR.

And Saturday's individual ticket sales generated a one-day sales record for "The Lion King," with 19,000 tickets being snapped up last Saturday for a box office tally of $1.65 million.

Wagner did not have figures pertaining to the previous record. She noted, however, that officials tied to the production had noted that ticket sales of about $800,000 would have been considered a success.

"We are overwhelmed by the community support we have received in Honolulu, and Saturday's tickets sales are a reflection of the aloha the state of Hawai'i has given us," Jack Lucas, President of WestCoast Entertainment said in a news release issued by StarrPR, a local public relation firm.

"We were extremely pleased at the end of the day by the number of ticket sales that were generated by the initial on-sale, and I hope Hawai'i will continue to welcome us with open arms."

The Tony Award-winning musical is initially selling seats for a six-week run through Oct. 28, though an extension is highly likely.

As a point of comparison, "Phantom of the Opera" logged a gross of $11.3 million in a multiweek run in 1994 and "Les Miserables" grossed nearly $8 million here in 1993 tour. "The Lion King," if it sells through a planned December run, could emerge as the theatrical frontrunner.

Tickets remain available at the Blaisdell box office, Ticketmaster outlets and online at www.ticketmaster.com, and by phone at (877) 750-4400.

Orders for groups of 20 or more may be placed by calling (808) 593-2468. Groups sales were available prior to Saturday's first day of individual ticket sale.

Hotel packages are also available through Outrigger Enterprises Group and may be purchased by calling toll-free at (866) 721-4221.