Kaahumanu Theatres are planning to reopen Friday | News, Sports, Jobs

May 2024 · 3 minute read

Movie poster displays and the lobby of the Consolidated Theatres Ka‘ahumanu are empty Tuesday. Despite county orders allowing movie theaters to reopen, Ka‘ahumanu Theaters remained closed but planned to resume operations Friday. The Maui News / DAKOTA GROSSMAN photo

The movie theaters at Queen Ka’ahumanu Shopping Center will reopen Friday after Maui County gave cinemas the green light to resume operations.

Consolidated Theatres at Ka’ahumanu announced on its Facebook page Tuesday that it would be reopening with “a wide range of new policies and procedures for health and safety, following federal, state and local guidelines.”

“We are very excited to reopen soon, and we are working hard on our plan to help maintain safety and retain 6 feet of social distancing throughout the theater,” according to theater management.

Consolidated Theatres will require moviegoers to wear face masks in all areas of the building. Auditoriums will have reduced seating capacity and increased space between parties, and 6 feet of social distancing will be required in lines, lobbies and auditoriums. Sanitizer stations will be placed around the building, with increased cleaning of high-traffic areas. Staff will wear face masks and gloves, and the lobby will include partitions. Concessions and food consumption will be temporarily suspended.

Cash will not be accepted, only credit, debit or gift cards. Moveigoers can purchase tickets online in advance at www.consolidatedtheatres.com/kaahumanu.

Meanwhile, Maui’s other main theater, the Regal Maui Mall Megaplex, remained shuttered Tuesday as part of a nationwide closure.

Cineworld, a parent company of Regal, publicly announced earlier this week that it would be temporarily suspending operations at all of its Regal theaters in the U.S. starting Thursday.

The closures will impact around 40,000 employees across the nation.

Regal is the second-largest chain behind AMC with 536 theaters, including one at the Maui Mall in Kahului. The Maui News was unable to reach anyone by phone at the theater, and a voicemail did not contain any further information on the suspended operations, though the box office window on Tuesday posted a “temporarily closed” sign.

Cineworld could not be immediately reached for comment, but Regal theaters nationwide confirmed their closures via social media and public announcements.

“In response to an increasingly challenging theatrical landscape and sustained key market closures, Regal will suspend operations at all theaters at close of business on Thursday,” Regal said in a statement posted on its website.

Regal’s Facebook page announced that all payments for Regal Unlimited members have been suspended until they reopen, and any rewards and credits that expire while Regal theaters are closed will be extended.

Oahu has four Regal movie theaters located at Pearl Highlands, Dole Cannery, Windward Mall and Kapolei Commons. All four theaters were listed as temporarily closed due to local restrictions.

On Hawaii island, Regal has theaters at Keauhou, Makalapua and Prince Kuhio Plaza.

* Dakota Grossman can be reached at dgrossman@mauinews.com.

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