The New Aloha Stadium and Entertainment (NASED) and Aloha Hālawa District Partners (AHDP) announced the signing of their first two agreements towards dismantling the old Aloha Stadium and constructing the new one.
On Aug. 13, NASED and AHDP signed a ground lease agreement ahead of a self-imposed Aug. 15 deadline between two parties. Then on Aug. 21, the City and County of Honolulu issued the permits needed to dismantle the current Aloha Stadium.
Dismantling of Aloha Stadium is projected to be completed by July 2026, with the new Aloha Stadium still on track to open in March 2029.
Multiple officials spoke during Thursday's monthly Stadium Authority meeting in Hālawa, including Hawaiʻi Department of Accounting and General Services (DAGS) special projects manager Chris Kinimaka and NASED program director David Harris.
"This is a pretty complex project," Harris said, one in which the state is contributing $350 million towards dismantling and construction. An initial seating determination of 22,500 can be expanded upon in the future if additional funding is secured.
"Now the hard work begins," said Stanford Carr of Stanford Carr Development and one of the AHDP leads.
Carr mentioned materials are being assembled for the dismantling of the stadium, including two cranes and a security camera.
"If you're excited, we're excited," said Aloha Stadium Authority chair Eric Fujimoto. Fujimoto also praised former Stadium Authority chair Brennon Morioka in aiding the progress towards a new Aloha Stadium to where it is today.
Carr, who spoke at the meeting virtually via Zoom, also announced an event for Oct. 25 to commemorate the old Aloha Stadium in the Lower Hālawa Lot. Local music legend Henry Kapono will be among the performers. Highlights of past former University of Hawai‘i football games at the stadium will be shown, as will classic high school football games that took place at the venue.
Initial plans have the Oct. 25 event taking place from 4 to 10 p.m., with tickets in the range of $5-10.
Housing will also be an initial part of the new Aloha Stadium's surrounding entertainment district, with space for hotels and retail serving as another part of the development.
A specific date has yet to be set for when dismantling of the current Aloha Stadium will begin, "because there's a whole range of things that need to occur, like all the site mobilization fencing," Harris said. "There are some abatement activities that need to take place. There's utility cutting and capping and the actual physical dismantling. ... Their plan was to commence in January. AHDP are looking at ways to bring that forward into this calendar year as well."
For the latest news of Hawai‘i, sign up here for our free Daily Edition newsletter.
Christian Shimabuku can be reached at christian@alohastatedaily.com.
