PEARL CITY, Hawaii — After closing in May 2016 to undergo nearly $12 million in renovations, Leeward Community College’s Leeward Theatre opened back up to the community in Jan. 2019 featuring Lin Manuel Miranda’s Tony Award-winning musical, “In the Heights.” Anticipation ran high for an exciting season until COVID-19 closed the campus in March 2020.

What You Need To Know

  • After a five-year closure due to renovations followed by the pandemic, Leeward Community College’s Leeward Theatre welcomed back audiences earlier this year

  • Theater improvements include a 100-foot mural by Jean Chariot, comfortable new seats, a modernized stage and lighting and increased stage crew access

  • Students, faculty and staff use the theater for plays, concerts and recitals; community groups, schools and local companies also rent the facilities for private or public performances, seminars or workshops

Now, two years later, Leeward Theatre welcomed audiences in September with the debut of the Lili‘u Project’s “Makalapua,” and the 2022-2023 season is booked until the end of June. The only major arts presenter and arts education center serving Leeward and Central Oahu communities is back.

A 100-foot-long mural by Jean Charlot in the lobby greets the public. Theater improvements also include comfortable new seats, a modernized stage and lighting, and increased stage crew access.

New Leeward Theatre Manager Elisa Olson has worked at theaters in 49 states. She has also been a production stage manager for national tours and served at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.

“We have something very special here, which I am very excited about, and the ability to utilize that is fantastic,” said Olson. “As far as what we have to offer and our capability, we can do just about anything.”

Students, faculty and staff use the theater for plays, concerts and recitals. Community groups, schools and local companies also rent the facilities for private or public performances, seminars or workshops.

“Honestly, what I’m the most excited about is the ability to really engage with the community and build a program that’s here that represents Leeward,” added Olson. “We are planning on coming back for our 50th anniversary, which is next year, and offering a full slate of what we expect from Leeward Theatre and some new things along the way.”

Growing up in Waianae, student Mokihana Garcia is hoping to perform in the new theater. “Me coming from where I’m at, we never really talked about performing or singing or acting as a lifelong kind of career aspiration. A real stage like this is unknown, at least in my experience, so revolutionary. But to finally be at LCC, just the college in general, where you get to make your own choices, it’s different, and it’s a lot more eye opening.”

The lineup closing out 2022 and heading into 2023 looks like this:

  • Nov. 25-27, 2022: Hawaii Ballet Theatre, “Nutcracker”
  • Dec. 4: UH Manoa Bands
  • Dec. 9-10: Pas De Deux Hawaii
  • Dec. 13: Hawaii Symphony
  • Feb. 2023 (TBD): Hawaii Symphony
  • Feb. 19: X1 Entertainment, Piper Rockelle, social media influencer
  • March 4-5: Starpower Talent Competition
  • March 24: Treasure Box, Goldmine Dance Comp
  • April 14-15: UH Outreach College, Atamira Dance Company
  • April 22-23: EnerGy National Dance Competition
  • April 30: UH Manoa Bands
  • May 6: Iolani School
  • May 12-14: Ballet Hawaii
  • May 27: Island Pacific Academy
  • June 2-3: Spotlight Dance Cup
  • June 9-10: Rosalie Woodson Dance Academy
  • June 16-18: Pas De Deux Hawaii
  • June 24: Waipahu Community School for Adults

Sarah Yamanaka covers events, environmental and community news for Spectrum News Hawaii. She can be reached at sarah.yamanaka@charter.com.