The two Democratic candidates for governor said they favor a public-private partnership to build a new, smaller replacement for aging Aloha Stadium but differ on where the facility should be built.
Gov. David Ige said he would be “open to discussions” with the University of Hawaii about locating a stadium on campus in Manoa or West Oahu, whichever the school, as a prime tenant, prefers.
Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa said she favors a facility on land adjacent to the UH West Oahu campus that could be a magnet for high school students who would also use the field.
The candidates made the comments in response to questions during meetings last week with the Star-Advertiser Editorial Board.
After a report by a state-commissioned consultant last year, the Aloha Stadium Authority recommended building a new 30,000-35,000-seat facility adjacent to the current 50,000-seat stadium in Halawa, where Aloha Stadium will open its 44th season next month amid mounting repair bills.
With a rail stop coming to the parcel, the consultant recommended mixed use ancillary development on the 100-acre parcel as a way for the state to help defray the costs of building a facility expected to cost upwards of $300 million.
The Legislature has appropriated money for an environmental impact statement and stadium master plan and the Aloha Stadium Authority has a goal of issuing a request for proposals from prospective developers by late 2019.
“I know that the university is interested in having a stadium on campus and, clearly, I would be open to having that conversation with them,” Ige said.
Because of the number of high schools that have gotten or renovated campus fields, Ige said, “I think Aloha Stadium ends up being for the University of Hawaii.
And if they would really prefer to see it in Manoa, then I’m open to having that discussion.”
Asked if that would also hold true at West Oahu, Ige said, “Yeah, if that’s what they think would be most useful.”
“I think one of he places that we should look to building the stadium is on the 500-plus acres that we have across from UH West Oahu,” Hanabusa said. “(Some) people may not like it because it may be considered to be more (of a) longer drive, but the population base is going to be there. It is going to be central Oahu.
“If you are talking about UH, most of the kids are growing up in that area.”
With a stadium attached to UH West Oahu, Hanabusa said, “The kids would get used to coming to UH West Oahu. I think it gives the kids the opportunity to see it, so that’s one of things (in favor).”
In 2014 then-UH athletic director Ben Jay commissioned a study that proposed a 30,000-seat multi-purpose stadium “reminiscent of old Honolulu Stadium” that was not site specific.
UH has still not publicly endorsed a site. UH president David Lassner has been more adamant about revenue possibilities than size or location.
“Our goal is to have a more favorable financial relationship with the stadium where we play football so that it becomes a revenue opportunity,” Lassner said last year.
Friday a UH spokesman said, “UH expects to be in conversation with the Stadium Authority over the months to come regarding possible futures for the stadium.”
“The question is whether we need a stadium of that (50,000 seats) size,” Hanabusa said. “I should caveat it by saying that I’m not someone who goes to a lot of sports, so I may be wrong but, in what I have observed, I don’t think we need a stadium of that size.”
Ige said, “I do think the consensus is that 50,000 (seats) is more than we would ever need in this environment.”