Kapahulu Theatre
replaced by shops

Question: What ever happened to the old Kapahulu Theatre?

Answer: The 44-year-old Kapahulu Theatre ran its last picture show on Feb. 19, 1980, and faced the wrecker's ball the following month.

Consolidated Amusement Co., which owned the theater at the time, constructed a one-story building to take its place at 611 Kapahulu Ave.

That building is now a small shopping complex that houses Papa John's Pizza, Dave's Hawaiian Ice Cream Parlor, Soccer Locker & Sports (its only remaining original tenant) and a few other small businesses.

Soccer Locker owner Bob Picerno said the complex is now owned by Japanese-based Nisso Inc. and is managed by Pacific Acquisitions Ltd. in Honolulu.

Picerno said his store, formerly located in Kilohana Square in Kapahulu, moved to the shopping complex when it first opened.

Vivian Lee, an employee at Ono Hawaiian Foods across the street since the 1960s, used to go to the theater occasionally, and remembers it being torn down.

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