The Palace was built and opened in 1925 at the peak of the heyday for American movie palaces. It was originally part of a small family of theaters owned and operated by Adam C. Baker, a dashing Hawaiian gentleman who was the nephew of the last royal governors of the island of Hawaii. Adam Baker had been involved in the theater business since the early 1900s and was a well-known showman in Hawaii.
One unusual feature was that the Palace’s structure was entirely of redwood, imported from the Pacific Northwest. Fourteen huge redwood columns supported the wooden roof trusses which span the entire width of the building. The roof, sides and back were sheathed in corrugated sheet metal, a very typical construction style in tropical Hawaii. The building’s façade is an elegant neo-classical design executed in stucco with wood molding accents. The photo is of the auditorium in the early 1930s. The Palace was designed to take maximum advantage of its limited property size. The stadium seating arrangement (pre-dating the "discovery" of stadium seating by modern theater operators in the 1990's) allowed for unobstructed sight lines, while giving the Palace a very spacious
Designed and built in the days before electronic sound amplification systems, the Palace boasts excellent natural acoustics for live musical groups and drama. One of the most enchanting, nostalgic, and thrilling experiences is the music of the original Robert-Morton pipe organ in concert or before a movie presentation.
From the early 1930's through the mid 1950's, generations of Hilo kids grew up attending the Mickey Mouse Club on Saturday mornings at the Palace. Today the Palace is still alive with activity. The theater is a fixture in the Hilo community and provides a wide range of art films, live theater productions, and concerts by both local and visiting musicians throughout the year.
The theater is located on the bay front in Hilo and complete information on current happenings can be obtained by calling 808-934-7777
A great little piece of Hilo’s culture and history. A must see!