Demolition of Honolulu’s Aloha Stadium is scheduled to begin at the end of August. Officials said during a recent Stadium Authority meeting that the contract with developer Aloha Halawa District Partners is expected to be finalized soon after detailed review. Project managers aim to complete the paperwork by mid-August to begin dismantling the old structure in preparation for the New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District.
Chris Kinimaka of the Department of Accounting and General Services told KHON2 that drawing up the Aloha Stadium contract is complex, saying, "You can imagine we are taking the state’s expectations and marrying that with a developer’s means and methods and then putting that in a whole big box that’s transparent and accountable." Preparations for demolition are underway, with contractors arranging fencing and heavy equipment and the city’s permitting process moving forward. The swap meet relocation has been slightly delayed, though renovations in the upper Halawa lot are nearly finished, with vendors expected to move in between mid-August and early September. Stadium special advisor Brennan Morioka said, "This is where the excitement begins, because people are going to be seeing a very tangible, visible progress of a new stadium coming up."
A new 25,000-seat stadium is planned to open in time for the University of Hawaii football team’s 2028 home opener. The $650 million project will also include an entertainment district and host concerts, soccer, rugby, and other events. About $400 million is allocated for the stadium itself, according to KITV.
