HAWAII Magazine reader Judy Fleischer wrote to us with a question about the only movie theater in Waikiki that comes complete with sand, surf and the sound of swaying palms.The flicks run the gamut from the latest Pixar movie, to action films and romantic comedies, to preview episodes of Hawaii-filmed TV series Lost before broadcast on ABC. But movies aren’t all the event is about.
Live music or hula often kicks off the Sunset on the Beach first in the afternoon, coaxing hundreds of residents and visitors to come out a bit early to stake a place in the sand for their beach mats. Food booths set up by local restaurants serve everything from shave ice to plate lunches to loco moco.
Once the sun sets, dimming the skies above the makeshift outdoor theater, the show begins.
There’s some good news, though. After an entire summer season without an event, Sunset on the Beach returns to the beach this weekend for Saturday and Sunday night screenings of recent summer blockbusters, courtesy of lead event sponsor Tesoro Hawaii.
Showing on Sat., Aug. 29, at 7:30 p.m. is Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, starring Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson and Amy Adams, just released to theaters in May. Showing on Sun., Aug. 30, at 7:30 p.m., is Harrison Ford’s summer 2008 return to the bullwhip and fedora, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull—partially filmed on the Big Island of Hawaii (photo, above).
Food booths open at 4 p.m. both days, with live entertainment kicking off at 5:30 p.m.
Sadly, no future Sunset on the Beach events are currently scheduled for the remainder of the year. Keep checking HawaiiMagazine.com’s events calendar for updates.
