Back in business: Laie Palms Cinemas
July 1st, 2009 by CarynIt was pretty tragic last year (or has it been longer than that?) when our beloved Laie Theaters closed down suddenly. I remember that there was only a single screen back when I was very young, and then how amazing we all thought it was after it was renovated into two theaters a few years later.
One of my first experiences holding hands with a boy took place in that theater, not to mention countless other times we went to watch movies for family outings, birthday parties, or 'just because'. You just couldn't beat the convenience (we didn't have to drive 30 minutes just to get to civilization, like usual), and the price was always much cheaper than the fancy theaters in Kaneohe or Mililani.
Anyway, the good news is that Laie Theaters is going to reopen!
In case you hadn't noticed (read the big sign hanging up in the shopping center), it's undergoing renovations right now in order to make a July 17th grand reopening as Laie Palms Cinemas.
The best part? The new owners, Don and Alicen Nielsen, are Laie residents. Two big thumbs up for community members who are willing to step up to the plate and help to provide important services here in our remote corner of the world. (Important service? The movies? YES! We all need recreational outlets, and quite frankly, I think that many of us are getting tired of drving to Kaneohe or Miliani to pay $10 to see a movie. And then another $20 to eat afterward, since we're about 10,000 miles from home).
Laie Palms Cinemas will be run as an independent theater, which will allow the Neilsens to tailor the films shown to the community. It will also show first run movies a week late to help cut down on costs, which are expected to be less than your typical chain theater but more than a dollar theater.
Yay for the Neilsens! I promise to be a faithful, regular patron to help support our local businesses. Can't wait to check it out.














Photo courtesy Ashleigh Lautaha


