End of an Era: Demolition of Aloha Stadium has begun

‘AIEA — Aloha Stadium Authority Chair Eric Fujimoto made it crystal clear Thursday morning — “demolition/dismantling of Aloha Stadium has begun.”

December’s Stadium Authority board meeting marked the end of an era with the announcement that steps to remove the current structure of Aloha Stadium have already started in preparation for the construction of the New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District (NASED).

“This is a pretty historic thing,” Fujimoto said. “We’re going to say aloha to a community asset, but also build a new community asset for people to share community and culture.”

The announcement of dismantling comes about five years since the old Aloha Stadium ceased operations in December 2020 after being condemned due to years of deferred maintenance and structural safety concerns.

NASED Special Projects Manager Chris Kinimaka provided an update on the project, saying key agreements and preparations have finally aligned to allow physical work on the site to move forward.

“We have very exciting news happening just this past week,” Kinimaka said. “Since September, execution of the necessary agreements to open the floodgates for the stadium work has come to fruition.”

Among the recent milestones, the stadium swap meet was successfully relocated in October and the relocation of stadium offices is underway, with a target completion in time for the January 2026 board meeting. The December 2025 meeting marked the last time the board would meet in the stadium’s current office space.

The conference room where the Aloha Stadium Authority Board held its meetings prior to January 2026.

Kinimaka said Aloha Halawa District Partners (AHDP), the project’s developer, completed its upfront work to procure materials and equipment and to finalize subcontracting needed for the dismantling process. Active work for dismantling on the site began Friday, Dec. 12.

Motorists passing the area will begin to notice changes, including the installation of dust fencing starting from the north side of the property. Early work includes site preparation, removal of hazardous materials from inside the stadium and dismantling of interior equipment and furnishings before crews begin taking down the main structure.

While much of the work may not be immediately visible, Kinimaka said the state and developer are committed to keeping the public informed.

“We are asking the developer to take good pictures and put them on site so everybody can stay up to speed on what’s happening and stay connected to all the activity,” he said.

The state will work closely with AHDP to ensure environmental safeguards are in place, including dust control, traffic management and regular communication with the surrounding community. Most of the work is expected to take place on weekdays during normal business hours.

In September, project leaders announced that AHDP signed two key agreements: the Stadium Development and Operation Agreement, which covers dismantling, design, construction and long-term operations of the stadium, and an Initial Ground Lease granting access to portions of the site to support the work.

The master development agreement and infrastructure agreement, which relates to the district’s real estate development, have not been signed yet.

“The remaining agreements for development of the real estate parts are continuing,” Kinimaka said. “We’re anticipating that being wrapped up in the coming months.”

Despite the ongoing negotiations, officials said the project remains on schedule, with completion of the new stadium targeted for March 2029.

Stadium board member Claire Tamamoto, who is on the board as a ‘Aiea community member, raised questions about traffic impacts and debris removal.

Kinimaka said cranes are already on the island and are being relocated to the site, typically after hours. Trucks hauling debris will follow designated routes and schedules to minimize impacts on major roadways, including Kamehameha Highway.

Project leaders are also working to salvage as much material as possible from the old stadium, including steel, with specialized companies brought in for that effort. Final destinations for the debris are still awaiting approval.

University of Hawai‘i Athletic Director Matt Elliott welcomed the update, calling the start of dismantling “wonderful news” for the future of UH athletics and the state. The Rainbow Warriors have had to play home football games on campus in a retrofitted stadium since the old Aloha Stadium ceased operations five years ago.

Elliott also shared a monthly update about UH athletics to the Stadium Authority and highlighted the continued growth of attendance on campus at home football games over the past two seasons. He noted that UH sold out three of the seven Rainbow Warriors’ games and that there were around 88,000 fans in attendance throughout the 2025 season.

Hawai’i football fans take part in the 2025 season-opener against Stanford, one of three sellouts this season.

As the university prepares to become a full member of the Mountain West Conference ahead of the 2026 season, Elliott also shared attendance figures from around the league to provide context for UH’s current trajectory.

He said Fresno State led the conference in average attendance this past season, drawing about 38,000 fans per game and that the Mountain West average ranged between 26,000 and 27,000 fans per game.

UH posted the lowest average attendance in the conference at approximately 13,700, though Elliott noted the number reflected capacity limitations at on-campus venues rather than a lack of interest.

“Just to give you some context what attendance was like in the Mountain West Conference this year and thinking about what our capacity is going forward,” Elliott said. “But obviously, we’re trending in a very good direction for us and excited about our full membership in the Mountain West.”

The current plans for the new Aloha Stadium is for a seating capacity of 22,500 — although there is potential for expansion if additional external monies come in towards the project.

Among other actions at its December meeting, the Aloha Stadium Authority board appointed member Mike Yadao as deputy stadium manager.

Tamamoto praised the selection, citing Yadao’s background as the project shifts deeper into the construction phase of the New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District.

“He is a good choice as we move into a different phase of the developing of the stadium,” Tamamoto said. “You have a construction background. We’re not managing anything — it’s not an operational thing anymore. We need those bricks and cement, so I wish you luck.”

The deputy stadium manager role was previously held by Chris Sadayasu, who was promoted to interim stadium manager earlier this year following the departure of Ryan Andrews at the start of the calendar year. Sadayasu was not present at the December meeting and has since transitioned to another role within state government.

Fujimoto commended Sadayasu’s leadership during his interim tenure.

“I couldn’t be prouder of how he has done in the interim stadium manager position,” Fujimoto said. “I think he’s brought us to this point today as we transition. I wanted to wish him and his family well. He’s still with the state.”

The board also approved a measure delegating authority for the upcoming 2026 legislative session to track legislation related to the Stadium Authority and to draft and submit testimony on its behalf, consistent with board-adopted policies.

That authority was granted to Vice-Chair Andrew Perreira, Deputy Stadium Manager Yadao and member Michael Imanaka.

Fujimoto said the group will continue to meet regularly and provide updates to the board as the legislative session progresses.