The Palace Theater just got a lot cooler.
After 10 years and hundreds of thousands of dollars, the historic Palace Theater is air-conditioned.
“It truly took a village to bring AC to the Palace,” said Phillips Payson, executive director of the Palace Theater. “Grant funding and support from the state were not enough to get this project completed. It was the outpouring of support from our community and patrons who helped bring the Theater Comfort Campaign to a successful conclusion. Fundraising for the roof, solar panels and sprinkler upgrades, coupled with generous donations to the greater AC project, showed that our community was behind this decade-long endeavor.”
In 2012, the theater’s roof was replaced to support the installation of 81 solar panels that would help offset the cost of electricity of running AC. Electrical and mechanical engineering drawings were made up to outline the overarching installation plan.
With building permits secured, progress came to a halt in 2019 when a complete renewal of the overhead sprinkler system was required by the Hawaii Fire Department before AC installation could proceed. Updating the 1930 sprinkler up to modern code took two-plus years of rigorous work interrupted by the pandemic, but was completed early 2021, enabling the final approval for AC installation to begin.
A series of ducts were installed in the ceiling above the auditorium, and the huge Carrier AC system now sits behind the theater. Final step was the installation of a high voltage electrical line and it all culminated at 7:30 a.m. on Monday, April 18. The switch was flipped on, bringing air-conditioning to the Palace auditorium.
“Thank you to everyone who has supported the Theater Comfort Campaign over the years,” Payson said. “We invite you back to the theater for a summer full of live concerts, stage productions, stellar film programming, and so much more. See you at the Palace!”
Stay up to date with Palace programming by visiting www.hilopalace.com or call the Box Office at (808) 934-7010, Monday-Friday, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.