Fire destroys historic Holualoa Theater
Historic Holualoa Theater is no more following a three-alarm fire Sunday morning.
Responding to the 7:53 a.m. alarm, firefighters from the Kailua, Keauhou and Makalei fire stations arrived at 76-5925 Mamalahoa Highway to find flames and heavy smoke emanating from the 2,376-square-foot commercial building, according to a press release.
The fire was brought under control at 9:26 a.m. and declared out at 9:40. All units were back in quarter by 12:30 p.m. No injuries were reported and no occupants were on scene.
Old Mamalahoa Highway, also known as Highway 180, was closed between Holualoa Elementary School and the Kona Imin Center while the 19 firefighters battled the blaze.
Holualoa Theatre was one of three Kona theaters dating from 1920s to 1940s that remained standing in the 2020s. Following Sunday’s fire, only the defunct Kona Theatre and the still-in-operation Aloha Theatre remain.
The Holualoa Theater was also owned by H. Tanimoto and Sons, which operated theaters in Honokaa, Papaaloa, Paauilo and Honomu, according to West Hawaii Today archives. Long-time resident Norman Sakata said in 2007 that half the Holualoa had no seats and people would bring “futon,” Japanese-style cushions, to sit on during the show.
According to the Kona Historical Society’s book “A Guide to Old Kona” there also was the Kealakekua Theater that stood near the Manago Hotel and was operated by the Goto family, and the Honaunau Theater.
According to Hawaii County tax records, the Holualoa Theater was built in 1940, however, the Hawaii Fire Department called it the “1929 Historic Holuloa Theatre.”
