Hawaii Theatre Center

The Pride of the Pacific

aka Hawaii Theatre   |   Honolulu, HI   |  www.hawaiitheatre.com

Mission

HTC’s mission is to serve arts audiences, arts organizations and the community of Hawaii by: - Preserving Hawaii’s historic Hawaii Theatre - Promoting Hawaiian cultural arts - Presenting world class arts and cultural experiences - Providing arts education for students - Creating our neighborhood block as the premier arts and culture destination The historic Hawaii Theatre has played a significant role in Hawaii’s cultural landscape for 95 years. The Hawaii Theatre opened in 1922 as the flagship Theatre of the Consolidated Entertainment empire. Over time, the facility was neglected, and it was nearly demolished after it closed in 1984. Local citizens formed the nonprofit Hawaii Theatre Center (HTC) in 1984 and raised $32m to restore her to her former glory.

Ruling year info

1990

President & CEO

Mr. Gregory Dwight Dunn

Main address

1130 Bethel Street

Honolulu, HI 96813 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

99-0229658

NTEE code info

Performing Arts Centers (A61)

Community, Neighborhood Development, Improvement (S20)

Arts, Cultural Organizations - Multipurpose (A20)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

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Communication

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Hawaii Theatre's largest financial challenge is the growing depreciation of the Theatre and surrounding buildings owned by the Theatre and the upkeep and maintenance of the 95-year-old structure. The Theatre's annual depreciation reaches nearly $1 million. It's been 22 years since the Theatre reopened fully restored and the facility is beginning to show wear-and-tear. The Theatre has a few large capital improvement projects that need attention, including the replacement of the emergency lighting transfer system.

The Theatre is planning to make requests for capital improvement funding with individual funders and local corporations who haven't given to the Theatre in recent years. In the last six months, we have made a concerted effort to reach out and reengage these past funders.

Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

Children's Theatrical Education

Each year the Hawaii Theatre Center’s Education Program reaches thousands of school children with our series of affordably priced productions that are suitable in length and content for young audiences. Each offers unique and captivating educational experiences that are guided by current science, history, social studies, literature and cross-curricular standards. By tailoring our series to target specific age range demographics, we aim to reach students as young as pre-kindergartners up through seniors in high school.

Student Matinee performances are offered for these productions with the goal to make a positive impact on students’ academic success by promoting literacy and cognitive and creative development through the excitement of live theatre – and also to appeal to the adults accompanying our young audiences!

Every production is supplemented by a comprehensive study guide to help teachers prepare students so they will receive maximum benefit from the performances and link their live theatre experiences to Hawaii Preschool and DOE Content Standards.

Population(s) Served
Children and youth
Infants and toddlers

Become part of the excitement at the Hawaii Theatre by becoming a volunteer!

Whether it’s helping backstage, front-of-the-house ushering, or doing clerical work and projects at the Theatre, the Hawaii Theatre can help you find the right role in our cast- and train you too! Any amount of time you can spend is much appreciated.

This program is an intergenerational opportunity for senior citizens to regularly interact with younger volunteers in supporting the mission of the historic Hawaii Theatre.

Population(s) Served
Seniors
Adults

The Hawaii Theatre Center non-profit organization is entrusted with the upkeep and maintenance of not only the historically significant Hawaii Theatre building, but also other historic structures it owns. The organization owns the historic McClean Block building, the historic Austin Block building and the historic (and yet to be restored) "Pantheon Saloon" - Silva building. These buildings were all constructed shortly following the devastating Chinatown fire in the late 1800's, and are key to maintaining the charm and character of the historic arts and culture district.

Population(s) Served
Adults
Economically disadvantaged people

The Hawaii Theatre's primary source of earned operating income is from the use of the historic theatre building as a performing arts venue. Built in 1922, the Hawaii Theatre is the second largest proscenium performance facility in the state and the only remaining theatre of its type in Hawaii. Listed on both the State and National Registers of Historic Places, it is recognized locally, nationally and internationally for its superb technical capacity and beautiful ambiance. The Hawaii Theatre Center was incorporated in 1984 as a non-profit 501(c)3 corporation.

Auditorium Seating Capacity: 1,350

Population(s) Served
Adults

Where we work

Awards

Outstanding Historic Theatre in America 2005

League of Historic American Theatres

Torch Award for Business Ethics 2006

Better Business Bureau Hawaii

Our results

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

How does this organization measure their results? It's a hard question but an important one.

Total number of performances

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Age groups, Ethnic and racial groups, Family relationships, Social and economic status

Related Program

Performing Arts Venue

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Total number of free performances given

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Related Program

Performing Arts Venue

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Increasing

Total dollars paid to artists

This metric is no longer tracked.
Totals By Year
Population(s) Served

Social and economic status, Family relationships, Ethnic and racial groups, Age groups

Related Program

Performing Arts Venue

Type of Metric

Output - describing our activities and reach

Direction of Success

Holding steady

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

In the last six months the Theatre has made a concerted effort to reach out and reengage past donors. Many of these patrons actively participated in the restoration of the Theatre 22 years ago. We are seeing a return of these long-time patrons and they are reengaging with the Theatre again. We have also grateful for the gracious support provided by President Emerita Sarah Richards and her willingness to assist with the fundraising efforts.

The Theatre has operated at a deficit for the past few years. Last year, the deficit was reduced nearly in half. It is likely we will end our current fiscal year in a deficit, but much lower than in years past. As we move forward, operating under a new business model, which includes the new theatre rental fee structure to was designed to generate an operating surplus & begin to fund depreciation, has shown a dramatic increase in HTC's realized income over the course of the last six months, and will very ably place HTC on a course for sustainability

The Theatre networks in various ways in and out of our sector. As a public performance venue, Hawaii Theatre Center's reach is global. Most of the networking on the large scale is managed through our website, social media and email. HTC is a key source of economic development in the Chinatown neighborhood. When the HTC has a show, the neighboring restaurants and retailers benefit with the increased foot traffic. The Theatre hosts monthly neighborhood meetings where business owners, groups, police and City and County Officials gather to discuss the issues and create solutions for the neighborhood. The Theatre also has a strong Dining Partner program for its members featuring discounts at participating neighborhood eateries and shops. Our “pARTners for the Arts" program allows us to collaborate with artistic groups in bringing a production to the Theatre. We have also been able to expand our collaboration efforts outside of the Theatre's auditorium by providing Box Office services.

Hawaii Theatre is in a constant state of engagement and learning in the community we serve. We recently launched a new “texting" system whereby patrons can now “text" us any questions or concerns. The Theatre is supported by a very large volunteer group who helps us with ushering, staffing special events, helping with fundraisers and being the Theatre's biggest champions out in the community. We simply could not do what we do without the help of our volunteers. In the past year we have changed the way we do things based on the input of our community. Guaranteed and affordable parking was also a challenge and now we offer self-parking at 1132 Bishop for many of our shows. We are still working on long lines at our concession stands, but have already started to make progress with pre-paid concessions, express pickup lines and creating satellite concession stations. We value our community input and strive to provide the best customer service and experience for our patrons.

Hawaii Theatre has also made some operational changes to increase the level of customer service and removing pain points for our patrons. For example:
- Accessibility to picking up tickets and the long lines to enter the Theatre have been reduced by at least 50% with the introduction of online ticketing which allows patrons to print their tickets at home or download them to their smartphones.

-We recently launched a new “texting" system whereby patrons can now “text" any questions or concerns and receive timely responses.

-We are still working on long lines at our concession stands, but have already started to make progress with pre-paid concessions, express pickup lines and creating satellite concession stations.

-As a result of our revamping of our member engagement software and ticketing system, we have seen our membership numbers grow nearly 20% over where they were last year at this time.

Financials

Hawaii Theatre Center
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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Connect with nonprofit leaders

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  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.

Hawaii Theatre Center

Board of directors
as of 12/09/2021
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board chair

Mr. Tim Howell

Ernst & Young

Term: 2021 - 2023

Peter Apo

Office of Hawaiian Affairs

Rick Fried

Cronin, Fried LLP

Cathy Lee

Cathy Lee Style

Don Murphy

Murphy's Bar & Grill

Ligaya Stice

Bright Kids Foundation

Carol Davis

Atlas Insurance Agency

Elizabeth Whitehead

American Savings Bank

Jordan Brant

Alexander & Baldwin

Mathew Lee

Elite Pacific Construction

Steve Colon

Hunt Development

Coby Barbata

First Hawaiian Bank

Marilyn Katzman

Carolyn Berry Wilson

Tyrie Jenkins

Jenkins Eye Care

Sarah Richards

Kenneth Robbins

Bronster, Fujichaku, Robbins

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • Board orientation and education
    Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes
  • CEO oversight
    Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes
  • Ethics and transparency
    Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes
  • Board composition
    Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes
  • Board performance
    Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Yes

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 12/2/2021

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.

Leadership

The organization's leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
White/Caucasian/European
Gender identity
Male, Not transgender
Sexual orientation
Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, or other sexual orientations in the LGBTQIA+ community
Disability status
Person without a disability

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

Transgender Identity

Sexual orientation

Disability

We do not display disability information for organizations with fewer than 15 staff.

Equity strategies

Last updated: 12/09/2021

GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more

Data
  • We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
  • We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
  • We analyze disaggregated data and root causes of race disparities that impact the organization's programs, portfolios, and the populations served.
  • We disaggregate data to adjust programming goals to keep pace with changing needs of the communities we support.
  • We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
  • We disaggregate data by demographics, including race, in every policy and program measured.
  • We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
Policies and processes
  • We use a vetting process to identify vendors and partners that share our commitment to race equity.
  • We have a promotion process that anticipates and mitigates implicit and explicit biases about people of color serving in leadership positions.
  • We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
  • We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
  • We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.
  • We measure and then disaggregate job satisfaction and retention data by race, function, level, and/or team.
  • We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.