It’s hard to believe 22 years have passed since the renovated Hawaii Theatre Center reopened its doors to the public following a decade-long effort by community volunteers to raise $32 million and save the historic structure from the developer’s wrecking ball. Today, volunteerism is still the lifeblood of the Hawaii Theatre Center. The complex encompasses not only the historic Hawaii Theatre building, but also the McLean Block building, the historically significant Pantheon Saloon building and the Austin Block building. HTC also stewards Dr. Sun Yat-sen Memorial Park adjacent to the theatre.
Having nearly an entire block of Chinatown to maintain and manage is a challenge not for the faint of heart. First and foremost, our volunteers are critical in ensuring the theatre is staffed with helpful and smiling ushers who not only assist in welcoming patrons to the theatre, but also are trained to assist in any emergencies or evacuations we may be faced with.
Volunteers who are part of our Hawaii Theatre Docent program provide historical tours of the facility, during which guests are treated to a mini-concert on the 1922 Robert Morton pipe organ in the Weinberg Auditorium. Though we currently only have enough docents for monthly, or bi-monthly tours, we hope to recruit additional volunteers for expanded reach into the community.
Another very active volunteer group is our HTC Stars group. This group of community-minded philanthropists help in supporting our fundraising events, HTC membership recruitment at our shows and other work needed by our Membership Services staff.
One of the areas of focus for the coming year will be facilities repair and maintenance. Our hope is to form a group of tradespeople with a little time on their hands to help with minor carpentry, painting, landscaping, and generally completing odd jobs around the facility. Our list of deferred maintenance items is too long to list here, but for an active group of seniors who take pride in their handiwork and would like to remain active by helping to maintain and improve the condition of the entire Hawaii Theatre Center campus, this is a golden opportunity!
For more information on any of our volunteer opportunities, please call to schedule a visit. Amy Bennett, our Director of Donor Services, would appreciate hearing from you at 808-791-1301, or you can email amybennett@hawaiitheatre.com to set up a time for you to visit! E Komo Mai! Join us in preserving our community’s last remaining historic theatre—“The Pride of the Pacific”.
HAWAII THEATRE CENTER
1130 Bethel St., Honolulu HI 96813
808-528-5535 | www.hawaiitheatre.com
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