Neal Blaisdell Center is a multi-purpose facility conveniently and centrally located in downtown Honolulu, minutes from the downtown business district, restaurants, major shopping areas and Waikiki hotels.
The arena is suitable for concerts, sporting events, large meetings, conventions, consumer shows, family shows and other specialty events.
The Center was constructed in 1964 on the historic Ward Estate with the original name Hawaii International Center. But later it was renamed after the Mayor of Honolulu Neal S. Blaisdell.
This premier complex is composed of an internationally renowned arena, concert hall and the exhibition hall comprising of galleria and meeting rooms. It was remodeled and expanded in 1994. It is also the home of the Hawaii Basketball League Honolulu Bandits.
The Arena at Neal Blaisdell Center has an open floor of 190 feet diameter circle. The stage is up to x 64 foot wide and 63 inches in height while the diameter is of 40 foot. The pressure barricade available and there are 4 foot by 8 foot platforms at various heights.
There is a 24″ x 24″ boxing ring in the arena. There is also a basketball court in the arena with the volleyball set up on it. The floor load of the court is 100 lbs/sq. ft. with removable, modern scoreboard and message display in center of the court.
The seating capacity of this arena is determined by its set up according to the event. The seats have unobstructed view and is segregated ah the upper level has 5, 451 upholstered theatre style fixed seats while the lower level has padded chairs on scaffolding risers and floor.
If the arena is holding a stage show it can accommodate approximately 8,700 patrons, for boxing matches around 8,800 and for basketball approx. 7,775. The Concert Hall is Hawaii”s premier performing arts theater for the Honolulu Symphony and the Hawaii Opera Theatre.
Broadway productions such as Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserable, Rent, Miss Saigon, Chicago, Cats and other national touring shows have performed here. The stage of this hall is made of pine deck painted flat black which is 72′ wide and 47′ deep.
The 11′ x 45′ orchestra pit on lifting reduces seating by 2 rows that make the total of 50 seats, while on scaffolding it reduces seating of additional 3 rows that is 90 seats. The seating of the hall is of continental style with the capacity of 2,157 spectators. It has 140 removable pit seats.
On orchestra level is has 1,310 permanent seats and on balcony 706 patrons can be seated. The hall has a full complement of standard stage lighting while there is built-in sound system and infrared hearing assist system benefiting the listeners.
There is a 65,000 square feet Exhibition Hall in this center with the seating capacity of 5,000 people if used as a theatre venue, 3,500 to 30,000 for banquet events and 7,200 for the standard receptions. There is an overall public address system installed in this venue.
It consists of The Carla Coray Galleri; a gateway to trade and consumer shows held in the Exhibition Hall and the meeting rooms. The meeting rooms comprise of the Hawaii Suite, Pikake Room and Maui, Oahu and Kauai Rooms. The Hawaii Suite is the most versatile meeting space at Blaisdell Center on the first floor.
The Suite is easily divided into twelve individual 22′-6″ x 30′ breakout rooms. Each room is air conditioned with acoustical walls and can be combined to open to larger spaces.
All the twelve rooms of the suite can be transformed into one large area for small exhibit shows with a capacity of 50 booths or can open to the Exhibition Hall, creating an additional 8,100 square feet of exhibit space.
The Pikake Room can be used as a theater or for parties, catered events and meetings. The Maui, Oahu and Kauai Rooms are permanent walled function rooms ideal for seminars, breakout rooms, small meetings, luncheons and on-site offices.
Currently, the arena is home to the Hawaii Hurricanes of the American Basketball Association’s current incarnation. It was previously home to Honolulu Hurricanes and the Hawaii Hammerheads, and most recently the af2’s Hawaiian Islanders.
The arena also hosts the start of the exhibition season for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association. Elvis Presley had a sold out concerts in this arena and the world famous “Aloha from Hawaii” concert was also held here.
The recent concerts in this venue featured artists like Elton John, Van Halen, Bon Jovi, Motley Crue, No Doubt, Fleetwood Mac, Celine Dion, Ricky Martin, NSYNC, LeAnn Rimes, Jimmy Buffett, Chris Brown, 50 Cent, Nine Inch Nails, and Gwen Stefani.
Other events at the arena include World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), Disney on Ice, Sesame Street Live, college basketball and volleyball, and international gymnastics.
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