Hawaii Theatre Center

Name

Hawaii Theatre Center

Legal name

Hawaii Theatre Center

Website

https://hawaiitheatre.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1984

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hawaii Theatre Center is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating the 1,350-seat historic Hawaii Theatre in Honolulu's Chinatown Arts District, hosting performances, concerts, and film while running youth arts education, venue rental, livestream production, and a six-tier membership program serving over 100,000 patrons annually without city or state subsidies.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Performing Arts Venue

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131), Performing Arts Companies (7111), Theater Companies and Dinner Theaters (711110)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Theater & Performing Arts Venue Operations (Playhouses, Opera Houses) (MPAGALAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Performing Arts Centers & Presenters (Programming/Booking) (MPAGABAM), Performing Arts Organizations (Theater, Dance, Opera, Music) (BPAGAHAB), Regional & Repertory Theatre Companies (MPAGABAB)

Keywords

• Performing arts venue
• Live entertainment events
• Venue rental services
• Arts education programs
• Historic theatre operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Honolulu

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Primary revenue stream from ticket sales to performances, concerts, shows, and events. Fees include $4.50 ticketing fee, $8.00-8.50 Theatre Restoration fee, and promoter fees of $3-5 per ticket.
2. Venue Rental and Licensing: Revenue from licensing the theatre to promoters, producers, and organizations for performances, fundraisers, corporate meetings, and special events. Theatre rental starts at $2,500 for half-day and $5,000 for full day. Catering kitchen and bar service available.
3. Membership Program: Six-tier membership program (The Fan, Chorus-Family, Actors, Producers, Executive Producers, Visionaries) ranging from $45-10,000 annually, offering pre-sale opportunities, discounts, and exclusive access.
4. Donations and Fundraising: Tax-deductible donations from individual donors, crypto donations (BTC, ETH, LTC, BCH, DOGE, Z-cash, GUSD), stock gifts, bequests, and honorarium/memorial gifts. Marquee message donations at $150 for naming opportunity.
5. Corporate Sponsorships: Corporate Loge Club Sponsorship program with tiered benefits including entertainment access, client relationship building, discounts on Hawaii Theatre Presents shows, and presale ticket opportunities.
6. Grants: Grant funding from foundations and philanthropists. Received $150,000 Swalm Family grant for storm damage recovery and insurance costs. Total fundraising goal of $450,000 for repairs and insurance.
7. Box Office Services for Other Venues: Community service providing ticketing support and box office services for Hawaii Symphony Orchestra and other community groups, with $12.50 fee per ticket.
8. Gift Cards: Electronic gift cards sold through LocalGiftCards partnership, don't expire and can be refilled.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Hawaii Theatre Center operates the historic 1,350-seat Hawaii Theatre in Honolulu, producing and hosting live performances including concerts, theatrical productions, films, and cultural events. It generates revenue through ticket sales, a six-tier membership program ($45-$10,000 annually), venue rental to promoters and corporate clients, professional livestream production services, children's arts education programs, donations, grants, and corporate sponsorships. The nonprofit serves over 100,000 patrons annually and provides ticketing and box office services to other community arts organizations.

Product overview

Hawaii Theatre Center operates the historic Hawaii Theatre (built 1922, 1,350 seats) as a nonprofit performing arts venue offering venue rental, a six-tier membership program, children's theatre education, docent tours, video on demand streaming, corporate sponsorships, seat naming opportunities, marquee messaging, professional livestream production services, and cryptocurrency donations. The venue attracts over 100,000 patrons annually and serves as the cultural anchor for Honolulu's Chinatown Arts and Culture District.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Venue Rental Rental of the historic 1,350-seat Hawaii Theatre venue for performances, fundraisers, corporate meetings, weddings, and other events. Includes catering kitchen, bar service, and 360-degree virtual technical tour capabilities. Pricing starts at $2,500 for half-day and $5,000 for full day, with additional services for video ($1,500/day), sound ($500/day), livestream technicians ($500/day), and lighting ($250/day). Non-profit rates available.
• Membership Program Six-tier annual membership program (The Fan $45-$70, The Chorus-Family $100, The Actors $250, The Producers $1,000, The Executive Producers $5,000, The Visionaries $10,000) offering pre-sale access, ticket discounts, annual member events, dining and retail partner discounts, and exclusive access to the Producer's Lounge for premier levels.
• Children's Theatre Programs Educational performing arts programming including the Summer Intensive Theatre Camp, Theatre for Young Audiences Series (fall musical, spring musical, Shakespeare performance), and Annual Punchbowl Music Festival. Programs serve over 12,500 Pre-K to 12th grade children annually and include outreach to underserved Title I schools. Has welcomed over 100,000 attendees since 2007.
• Docent Tours Hour-long guided tours of the historic Hawaii Theatre built in 1922, covering history, art, architecture, and restoration. Tours are scheduled on select dates with $25 admission per person and limited to 12 participants, starting at 10 a.m.
• Video On Demand Streaming platform for recorded performances and theatrical presentations available for purchase and viewing, including titles such as Taimane: Hawaiki musical and theatrical odyssey.
• Corporate Loge Sponsorship Corporate sponsorship program offering entertainment opportunities, client relationship building, discounts on Hawaii Theatre Presents shows, and presale ticket access while supporting historic venue preservation and arts education. Tiered structure includes Champion, Benefactor, Annual Season, and Presenter levels.
• Chairholder's Club Seat naming opportunity program allowing donors to memorialize connections by naming a seat in the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation Auditorium with an engraved plaque.
• Marquee Messages Donation-based program ($150) allowing individuals to display personalized celebratory messages on the historic marquee for one hour, with messages limited to 3 lines of 14 characters each, displayed in classic 1922 style. 48-hour lead time required.
• Create Your Own Livestream Professional livestream production services partnering with video and audio professionals for events, concerts, fundraisers, and performances. Streams to Facebook, YouTube, Zoom, or the theatre's proprietary LiveStream platform. Grant funding available for qualifying nonprofits through Atherton Family Foundation or City and County of Honolulu's pARTners in the Arts program.
• Community Box Office Services Community service providing ticketing and box office services for Hawaii Symphony Orchestra and other community nonprofit arts organizations, with $12.50 fee per ticket.
• Gift Cards Electronic gift cards sold through LocalGiftCards partnership. Gift cards do not expire and can be refilled. Can be emailed to recipients and checked for balance.
• Live Performances and Events Ticketed live performances including national touring shows, concerts, theatrical productions, films, television screenings, and cultural events hosted at the historic 1,350-seat venue. Serves over 100,000 patrons annually.

Quantifiable outcome

• Serves over 100,000 patrons annually
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration8 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major, champion, benefactor, presenter, annual season and partner.

• Hawaiian TelcomcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial Technology Provider of the Hawaii Theatre. Provides technology infrastructure and support for the historic venue's operations and digital capabilities.
• Hawai'i Tourism Authority (HTA)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual Season Sponsor and government tourism partner supporting arts and culture programming at the theatre.
• Alaska AirlineschampionGTM or Marketing PartnerChampion-level sponsor providing transportation support and brand association with the arts.
• First Hawaiian Bank (FHB)benefactorGTM or Marketing PartnerBenefactor sponsor and banking partner for the theatre, supporting operations and programming.
• ASB (American Savings Bank)benefactorGTM or Marketing PartnerBenefactor sponsor providing financial services and community support.
• KHON2presenterGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenter sponsor and local television partner providing media coverage and promotional support.
• Waiakea Waterannual seasonGTM or Marketing PartnerAnnual season sponsor providing product support for events and programming.
• Theatrix HawaiichampionGTM or Marketing PartnerChampion sponsor supporting theatre productions and entertainment programming.
• AC Hotel HonolulupartnerGTM or Marketing PartnerDining and retail partner offering Marriott benefits to HTC members including kama'aina rates, with complimentary valet service for theatre patrons dining at The Dotted Line restaurant.
• The Dotted LinepartnerGTM or Marketing PartnerDining partner offering 10% discount to HTC members with 'Park, Play, Dine' package including complimentary valet with $75+ spending.
• Yours TrulypartnerGTM or Marketing PartnerBar, lounge and tiki speakeasy partner offering 10% discount to HTC members.
• Merriman's HonolulupartnerGTM or Marketing PartnerRestaurant partner offering 15% off take-out or delivery during livestream events.
• Pacific Academy of Performing ArtsmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Summer Intensive Theatre Camp bringing youth to the big stage while teaching self-confidence, independence, music, acting and public speaking skills.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• Honolulu Theatre for Youth: A Honolulu-based nonprofit professional theatre company producing work for young audiences and families. It competes for the same Title I school audiences, education grants, and family-segment patrons that HTC serves through its Children's Theatre Programs.
• Hawaii Symphony Orchestra: Hawaii's professional symphony orchestra and a direct HTC partner (HTC provides box office and livestream services to HSO). It is a regional nonprofit performing arts organization in Honolulu with overlapping audiences, donor base, and reliance on Hawaii's tourism and philanthropic ecosystem.
• Maui Arts & Cultural Center: Hawaii's other major multi-disciplinary performing arts venue, located on Maui. Comparable as a Hawaii-based regional nonprofit arts presenter and education provider, with similar climate exposure and tourism dependence, but on a different island and somewhat larger in scope.

Broad incumbents

• Lincoln Center: New York's leading performing arts campus hosting resident companies, touring productions, and educational programming. Comparable in operating model (historic venue, presenting + producing, large-scale education) but at vastly larger scale and with substantially more diversified funding.
• New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC): One of the largest nonprofit performing arts centers in the U.S., operating multiple halls and large-scale education programs serving schools. Comparable in scale, presenting-plus-education model, and nonprofit funding mix, though significantly larger in budget and geographic reach.
• Kennedy Center: The U.S. national performing arts center operating multiple theaters, presenting touring productions, and running large-scale education programs. Comparable as a broad-incumbent presenter with facilities, although national in scope and federally supported versus HTC's community-funded local model.

Direct peers

• Fox Theatre (Detroit): A historic 1928 restored performing arts venue in Detroit operating as a nonprofit presenting concerts, films, and community events. Closely comparable operating model to HTC: single historic venue, mixed presenting/rental, donor-driven funding, and focus on education and community programs.
• Palace Theatre (various): A network of historic restored movie palaces (Columbus, Stamford, etc.) operating as nonprofit performing arts venues. Comparable to HTC in single-venue historic asset, mixed rental/presenting model, and reliance on donations and ticket revenue without operating subsidies.
• Neal S. Blaisdell Center: Honolulu's primary multi-venue municipal performing arts and convention complex, offering concert hall, arena, and exhibition space. It is the closest direct competitor for touring shows, concerts, and large-scale events in the Honolulu market and benefits from city subsidies HTC does not receive.

Others

• League of Historic American Theatres (LHAT): The national membership organization that recognized HTC as 'Outstanding Historic Theatre in America' in 2005. Not a competitor but a peer/ecosystem reference for benchmarking operating practices, fundraising models, and preservation strategies for nonprofit historic theatres nationwide.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/hawaiitheatre
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCm6rpvxAFn80ZYyqIb1PfMA
• Facebookfacebook.com/hawaiitheatre
• Instagraminstagram.com/hawaiitheatre

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles22 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hawaii Theatre Center