Kam Drive-In

98-850 Moanalua Road,
Aiea, HI 96701

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Additional Info

Previously operated by: Consolidated Theatres

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Kam Drive-In

Located in Aiea, north of Honolulu. Opened on February 1, 1962 with Doris Day in “Lover Come Back” & “The Right Approach”. The single-screen Kam Drive-In was once one of the most popular outdoor theaters in Hawaii. The drive-in was twinned sometime in the 1970’s. It was operated by Consolidated Theatres.

With attendance in sharp decline, the chain cut the drive-in’s operation down from daily to weekends and holidays, starting in 1997. However, this didn’t help, and in late-1998, Consolidated shut the Kam Drive-In down. In 2001, its two massive screens were demolished.

The Kam Swap Meet operated during the daytime at the drive-in from 1966 until it was finally shut down on March 5, 2017. Since 2014, the land parcel has been permitted for a planned mix-use commercial residential development called Live Work Play ‘Aiea, but as of spring 2018, no construction has begun, leaving the area unused since the closure of the swap meet. The site is now a shopping center.

Contributed by Bryan Krefft

Recent comments (view all 14 comments)

Mike Rogers
Mike Rogers on November 7, 2009 at 8:41 pm

I could swear i saw an HAWAII 5-0 episode where a car drives by a DRIVE-IN theatre. I wonder if this is the one?

stevemcgarrett
stevemcgarrett on April 25, 2010 at 1:58 pm

Lets see when the Drive Ins were still the place to go…..

Kam Drive In owned by Consolidated also operated Kailua Drive In

Royal Sunset which was in Waipahu/Kunia Area & Waialae was Royal Theaters

thisisjohnbook
thisisjohnbook on January 17, 2013 at 1:23 pm

Lots of memories here, not only from all the times my family would go to the swap meet, but a good share of movies was seen, including “Clash Of The Titans” in 1981 on the Kam 2 screen.

thisisjohnbook
thisisjohnbook on March 5, 2017 at 5:03 pm

March 5, 2017 will be the last day the Kam Swap Meet will be held. After today, the entire drive in will be eliminated and turned into apartments.

rivest266
rivest266 on March 12, 2017 at 11:59 am

This opened on February 1st, 1962 by Royal Theatres. Grand opening ad in the photo section.

Denny Pine
Denny Pine on April 12, 2018 at 1:56 pm

Final day of operation was September 7, 1998 with “Knock Off”, “Dance With Me” and “The Mask Of Zorro” on Screen 1, and “Blade”, “Why Do Fools Fall In Love” and “Snake Eyes” on Screen 2.

Scott Neff
Scott Neff on April 12, 2018 at 4:57 pm

I’m assuming it has something to do with the Kamehameha Highway nearby.

davidcoppock
davidcoppock on October 3, 2018 at 4:29 am

Site is now Pearlridge Shopping Center.

R Norenberg
R Norenberg on July 6, 2021 at 7:17 pm

When the Kam was still showing movies does anyone know what they were using for sound? As in Speakers, Cine-fi, AM or FM transmission? Thanks

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