Historic Queen Theater in Kaimuki for sale after 50+ years

News admin June 11, 2026 0 Comments

Historic Queen Theater in Kaimuki for sale after 50+ years

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – The historic Queen Theater property in Kaimuki is officially on the market.

This is the first time the theater has been brought to market in more than 50 years, according to listing agent CBRE.

The building was originally constructed in 1936 and sits on a 10,396-square-foot parcel along Waialae Avenue.

The 850-seat theater hasn’t been in operation in decades, and community advocates have been pushing for its restoration for years.

“It’s very exciting,” said Kaimuki Neighborhood Board member Becky Gardner. “This is something the community’s been working on for quite a while.”

CBRE said the property is being offered fee simple and as-is. The company did not include a listing price in its announcement.

The city’s latest assessment valued the land at just over $2.8 million and the building for just $459,300.

“The Queen Theater has been a fixture on Waialae Avenue for nearly 90 years, and opportunities to acquire fee simple control of a property like this in Kaimuki simply don’t come around,” CBRE’s Matthew McKeever said in a release.

“It would be nice if you could get it for a good price and put a two-story building and have a great retail center or great restaurants because we can always use good restaurants in a place where we can all gather,” said veteran real estate expert Stephany Sofos.

Gardner has been working for years to get the owners, the Yu family, to sell or improve the property.

“In a way it just felt like we were getting played,” she said. “And now it seems like we can go here and watch a play. You know, it’s possible.”

The city council pushed in November 2024 to have the city acquire the property, through eminent domain, if necessary.

“The Queen Theater is a community treasure and neighborhood landmark,” City Council Chair Tommy Waters said in a statement. “Though it has sat inactive and in disrepair for decades, the Kaimuki community has never stopped believing it can be restored as a gathering place that reflects the neighborhood’s character and supports the revitalization of the Kaimuki business district.”

Just last week, the city council approved up to $4 million to purchase the property.

“If the City is unable to acquire it, I hope any new owner will listen to the community, honor that vision, and become a true partner to the neighborhood,” Waters said.

While many in the community want to keep the familiar landmark facade, Sofos said the building will have to be torn down because of asbestos and other issues.

“Then what are you going to build, another three-story center for the arts? That’s going to cost you, at 15,000 square feet or 20,000 square feet — that’s another $10 million,” Sofos said.

However, there remains optimism that someone will purchase the property and improve it.

“The new owner, hopefully, will keep the history in mind and the will of the community in mind,” said Gardner.

“There might be someone out there, a developer who says ‘I’ve got to be in Kaimuki, I have to bring it to the community. I’m going to build a new structure to revitalize this community,’” said Sofos.