LDS Church Acquires Former Kam Drive-In Site for $60 Million

The once-vibrant Kam Drive-In site in Aiea, dormant for years, is poised for transformation following its recent acquisition by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints for $60 million.

 

Public records confirm that the 14-acre parcel along Kamehameha Highway changed hands in early September. Local residents, long concerned about the property's deterioration, view this development as a beacon of hope.

 

“We’re really looking forward to having this place revitalized,” expressed Stephen Wood, chair of the Aiea Neighborhood Board. “Take a look at it now. Take a look at what’s happened.”

 

The site, once home to the beloved Kam Swap Meet, has become an eyesore and a magnet for illicit activities. Overgrown vegetation and unsecured structures have raised safety concerns among nearby residents.

 

“You do have a tendency to have a lot of crime, drug use, and these kinds of things that occur,” Wood noted.

 

Previous redevelopment plans, including the ambitious Live, Work, Play ‘Aiea project, stalled due to economic challenges exacerbated by the pandemic. These setbacks left the community in limbo, with the property remaining untouched.

 

“With housing and shops, and I think there was going to be convenience stores and these kinds of things, and then COVID occurred, and the financing just got through the floor. Interest rates went up, and so that’s why five years later, it still looks the same as it did back then,” Wood explained.

 

The neighborhood board has fielded complaints for years about the site's condition, including breaches in perimeter fencing that allow unauthorized access.

 

“There’s other holes in the fences around this area, and so they get access to the property that way. We have HPD in and take, you know, kindly remove them,” Wood said. “It’s an ongoing effort, and it just takes a lot of vigilance and persistence to keep it clean.”

 

A spokesperson for the Church indicated that information regarding future plans for the site is forthcoming. Meanwhile, Councilmember Radiant Cordero is coordinating a meeting with Church officials to discuss potential developments.

 

“We’re really excited as a community to have this happen,” Wood said. “Hopefully, with this purchase, we’ll have that back again. Right? We’ll have families being able to, you know, move back in, be able to utilize this property for whatever purpose that might be.”

 

As the community awaits detailed plans, the acquisition signals a promising step toward revitalizing a cherished landmark and addressing longstanding concerns.