John F. Kennedy Theater was designed by the noted architect I.M. Pei. It was originally called the East-West Center Theater but was renamed the John F. Kennedy Theater just five days after the president's assassination a week before it was to be officially opened. It took a special session of the Board of Regents to rename the theater on Nov. 27, 1963. Kennedy Theater was the first public building named after the late president.

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Hawaii By Dave Donnelly, Friday, November 23, 2001 http://starbulletin.com/2001/11/23/features/donnelly.html