HALAWA — Demolition work on the aging Aloha Stadium is expected to begin within weeks, marking the first visible step in a much-anticipated redevelopment project that will transform the site into a modern sports and entertainment district.
Stanford Carr, part of Aloha Halawa District Partners and lead developer on the New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District (NASED) project, said demolition will begin on the west side of the stadium and move clockwise over 10 months. The steel from the structure will be salvaged, sold, and recycled.
“We’ve already secured our demolition and grading permits, so we’re good to go,” Carr said in an interview on Spotlight Now on Hawaii News Now, hosted by Ryan Kalei Tsuji and Yunji De Nies. “We’re finalizing some legal documents that should be executed by tomorrow, and then we’ll issue the notice to proceed and get started.”
The stadium’s steel will be salvaged and sold-off in the market to be recycled.
Preserving Pieces of the Past
Some elements of the current structure will remain. Brennon Morioka, senior advisor to the governor on NASED, said parts of the north and south end zone foundations will be reused, saving about $90 million. Carr added that the concrete structures in both end zones, which underwent structural inspections, are still sound and will remain in place.
The Satoru Abe sculpture known as “the volcano” will also be preserved and incorporated into a public park. Stadium seats will be auctioned off to fans to honor decades of memories.
New Stadium Design
Design work is expected to begin in October and wrap up in December. The project will use a design-build approach, allowing construction and design to occur simultaneously.
Phase one of the stadium will include 22,500 seats, 10 suites, a club lounge, press box, and lower bowls. Phase two would expand seating to between 44,000 and 46,500, with all foundations prepared for the full build-out.
Populous, the global architecture firm behind projects such as Las Vegas’ Sphere and Colorado State’s Canvas Stadium, is leading design efforts. AECOM Hunt will manage construction.
Carr confirmed that all seats in the new stadium will be individual chairs with cup holders, with limited bleacher seating planned for the east side.
University of Hawaii Partnership
The University of Hawaii will be the stadium’s primary tenant under a license agreement negotiated with UH Athletics Director Matt Elliott. UH will control ticketing, suites, lounges, and parking revenue. The facility will also host high school football, graduations, and potentially international events such as soccer and rugby matches.
Beyond Football
Carr said the redevelopment team has fielded interest from Live Nation for concerts and from professional sports leagues, including U.S. Soccer and rugby organizations. Plans also call for a Hawaii Sports Hall of Fame Museum inside the stadium to keep the venue active year-round.
Location and Transportation
The Halawa site was reaffirmed as the most suitable location due to its central position on Oahu and future connectivity to Honolulu’s Skyline rail. Early years will allow for traditional tailgating, though long-term plans include vertical parking structures and mixed-use development integrated with residential and commercial spaces.
Housing and Mixed-Use Development
The broader district will eventually include 4,000 to 4,500 housing units, two to three hotels, retail and dining spaces, cultural attractions such as a Hawaii Music Hall of Fame Museum, and potentially a new multi-story school. Residential construction is expected to begin around 2029 or 2030.
Financial Model
ASM Global will manage stadium operations under a design-build-operate-maintain contract, ensuring upkeep over 30 years without additional requests to the Legislature. Revenue from real estate components is expected to subsidize stadium maintenance.
Carr described the vision as a “transit-oriented community” blending housing, entertainment, hospitality, and cultural elements, with the project addressing both Hawaii’s housing needs and the state’s demand for modern event facilities.
“This is about creating a place where people can live, work, play, learn, and thrive,” Carr said.
The comments from Carr and Morioka were shared during a recent episode of Spotlight Now on Hawaii News Now.