The Aloha Stadium Authority has secured the necessary permits from the City and County of Honolulu to start work on dismantling the old stadium in Halawa, but the stadium board chair said it will likely be “early in the new year” before the public starts to notice large pieces of the old facility being torn down.
Eric Fujimoto added that the “full process” of tearing down the old stadium so the new one can be built will take about 12 months.
Earlier this month, officials said the completion date of the new stadium is pushed back to 2029 instead of 2028, Also, the new facility will have capacity for 22,500, but will be expandable.
Officials also said they are in the final stages of signing two documents with Aloha Halawa District Partners to work with the state in building the stadium and developing 93 acres surrounding it with real estate including restaurants, shops and affordable housing. Two other documents need to be signed later for other aspects pertaining to development of shops, restaurants, homes and other real estate in the 95 acres around the stadium.
In other stadium news, the board completed its membership with the addition of Moanalua High School Athletic Director Joel Kawachi. Kawachi, a Red Hill resident, has been Moanalua’s AD for 22 years and worked at the school for 32.
“We now have our full nine seated board members, and two ex-officio members,” stadium manager Chris Sadayasu said.
The board also announced that that the stadium swap meet will not be paused while the old stadium is being dismantled and the new stadium is being built.
“We’re working with AHDP and Hawaiian Dredging as we move forward,” Fujimoto said.
Source: The Garden Island
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