There won’t be a bad seat in the house at the new Regal Kapolei Commons 12 when it opens for a series of community preview events next week.
Every one of the 1,290 luxury recliners installed throughout the 12-screen multiplex is equipped with electronic controls to ease guests into a nearly horizontal viewing experience. Cup holders and adjustable food and beverage trays keep drinks and snacks within arm’s reach, and the number of seats in each theater was decreased by as much as 50 to 60 percent over those with traditional stadium seating to provide ample room to maneuver through aisles.
“It’s nothing like anything that exists in Hawaii,” said Jeff Dinsmore, director of development and asset management at the MacNaughton Group. “It’s a much more luxurious, comfortable, private setting.”
The MacNaughton Group worked with the Kobayashi Group and Craig Realty Group in conjunction with Regal Cinemas to complete the project, which comprises 56,000 square feet of auditorium space.
The high-end amenities extend to the lounge-like setting of the lobby, which will eventually flow into an outdoor courtyard. A series of custom pendant lights hang in a pattern mimicking the constellations over Hawaii’s northern skies, carpets feature fishnet-inspired artwork and plantation-style teak shutters accent lobby windows.
The theaters themselves each feature “giant, wall-to-wall” screens and high-resolution digital projection systems that receive content via a satellite uplink, according to Regal officials, who would not provide screen dimensions or information on how much all this luxury will cost moviegoers.
But it might not matter once you settle in for a movie in the showcase Hale Ikua theater (translated from Hawaiian as “house of the loud and thunderous voice,” according to a Regal spokeswoman). The leather-like recliners are plush and put guests in a comfortable position while maintaining an unobstructed line of sight to the enormous screen.
Audio envelops the auditorium and will make patrons feel immersed in the action on screen, thanks to a Dolby Atmos sound system with up to 64 discrete audio channels (standard Dolby Digital Surround audio systems are installed in the other theaters).
The overall decrease in seating to accommodate the recliners provides an air of exclusivity. Gather a large enough group of friends, and watching a movie in one of the smaller theaters will feel like a private screening.
Local management said a daily maintenance plan is in place to make sure the seats are wiped down after each screening, with a deep- cleaning process scheduled at the close of business every night.
Regal is also trying to make visiting the Regal Kapolei Commons 12 as stress-free as possible. Reserved tickets will be available for all seats and show times, with online payment options available so patrons can park and walk right in. The upgraded food menu exclusive to the new multiplex includes gourmet burgers, specialty sandwiches, made-to-order pizzas and fresh-baked desserts. The options are similar to those at Consolidated Theatres’ Premiere Wing at Ward Stadium 16, which began offering premium concession items and alcohol in a dedicated 21-and-over area last month.
While the new Kapolei multiplex’s grand opening takes place Thursday with a slate of current releases, Regal is partnering with three local nonprofit organizations to offer $3 movie tickets, $3 soft drinks and $3 popcorn on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, with proceeds from the community preview screenings going to the Boys and Girls Club of Hawaii, Make-A-Wish Hawaii and the University of Hawaii West Oahu’s Academy for Creative Media.
Sunday’s films will include recent family-friendly fare, while Monday’s “Regal Superheroes for a Cause” theme will feature comic-book-focused films. Tuesday’s “Reading, Writing and Regal” will showcase movies adapted from books. Find more information online at regmovies.com.
Visit Jason Genegabus’ blog at inthemix.staradvertiser.com for a closer look at the upgraded menu items available at Regal Kapolei Commons 12.