Large section of Aloha Stadium demolished as project proceeds

The dismantling of Aloha Stadium took a big step forward today with the first section of seating pulled down from the steel structure.

Half of the elevated deck-level seating on the stadium’s makai side was severed and toppled down backwards as part of demolition work that began in February.

The other half of the upper makai-side seating is slated to come down Tuesday, followed by similar sections on the mauka side and both end zones, though the concrete foundations for lower-level end-zone seating are being preserved for a new smaller stadium to rise on the same site.

A private partnership, Aloha Halawa District Partners led by local developer Stanford Carr, is replacing the 50,000-seat Aloha Stadium, which opened in 1975 and was shuttered in 2020, with a new stadium featuring up to 31,000 seats.

AHDP is using $350 million of state funding toward the cost of the new stadium, which could be $475 million or more, and will operate and maintain the facility on state land for 30 years with a land lease.

The development team also is to redevelop much of the 98-acre stadium property dominated by parking lots with a new mixed-use community that includes at least 4,100 residences, two hotels, an office tower, retail, entertainment attractions and open spaces expected to be delivered in phases over 25 years and costing close to or more than $5 billion or $6 billion.

Earlier parts of stadium demolition work led by Hawaiian Dredging Construction Co. included removing four covered multi-story spiral walkways leading to the upper level from the ground, and concourse bridges.

Demolishing the stadium is projected to be done by August, according to Carr. Construction of the new facility is expected to be finished in 2029.