The Red Band Project

New signage on the front marquee announces the opening of the Keolu theater.

Residents on the Windward side of Oahu will be happy to hear that a new family friendly theater will be opening in their neck of the woods starting today. Taking over the old Wallace/Hollywood Keolu 4 Cinemas location, The Water Gardens Keolu 4 will be a sub run and family oriented theater. What exactly does “sub run” and family oriented mean? Sub run films are movies that have typically been released in the past 6-12 weeks.

So wait, they’re going to show old movies here?

Just follow me for a second cause I know that’s what you’re thinking. Yes, the films won’t be brand spanking new, but they’re not going to be super old either. The benefit of showing films that have been in release for 6-12 weeks is that the theater can charge lower ticket prices! Here are the prices via the Water Gardens Keolu 4 Facebook:

• $5 – All Tickets

• $1-3 – Drink & Popcorn Sizes

• $2 – Hot Dogs

• $2 – Cotton Candy

• $1-2 – Candy

The price structure definitely factors into the family friendly orientation. With a $10 bill, you can get your ticket, popcorn, a drink, and candy. I’m sure that’s very appealing for anyone that wants to go to the movies and wants to save some dough.

Another aspect of the family friendly environment is that the theater will not be showing any ‘R’ rated films. Kids can come with their friends without having to worry about having an adult to purchase tickets and parents will almost certainly be able to find a movie that the whole family can enjoy. In fact, look for these films to open this weekend at Water Gardens Keolu 4:

Footloose, In Time, Puss in Boots, Real Steel, and Tower Heist are the films that will be shown on opening weekend.

If you were wondering just who’s behind Water Gardens Keolu 4, look no further than local boy and owner Scott Daniels. Growing up in Kailua, and literally right down the street from the location of the theater on Keolu Drive, Daniels is a movie lover whose most memorable movie experience was camping out at the old Cinerama to see Star Wars (Episode IV – A New Hope) when it first came out in 1977.

In talking with Daniels about the Water Gardens, though they occupy the same building as the previous theater, extensive renovations needed to be made to the space in order to get it ready for their opening. Remediation was done in areas where there was water damage from rain collection, birds had found their way into the building and had been nesting, the concession area needed to be redone, and old seats and projectors were taken out to make way for newer equipment. However, after a lot of hard work, Water Gardens Keolu 4 is ready to open its doors to the Windward community.

A few more details about Water Gardens Keolu 4:

• For showtimes, visit their page on Facebook or search Google for ‘Water Gardens Keolu 4’

• Water Gardens Keolu 4 will be running on a matinee schedule (showtimes begin around 11:00/11:30 and finish before midnight) now through the beginning of January during Christmas vacation, Saturdays, and holidays.

• Regular Monday-Friday schedule showtimes will run from about 3:00pm to midnight and will begin in early January when area schools are back in session.

• The Water Gardens Keolu 4 will be closed on Sundays.

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More on Water Gardens Keolu 4 from local media:

‘Movie theater to open in Kailua Friday’ – Pacific Business News

‘Keolu Center theater to reopen’ – Honolulu Star-Advertiser (subscription required)