State officials have unanimously approved the contracts to begin the redevelopment of the Aloha Stadium site, five years after the venue’s closure. On Wednesday, the Aloha Stadium Authority gave the green light for the interim stadium manager to execute agreements with Aloha Halawa District Partners, a group that includes Stanford Carr Development and Hawaiian Dredging. This marks the formal start of the public-private project.

The state has committed $400 million to the project, with $350 million designated for construction and $50 million for project management. The developer will cover the remaining costs to build a 22,500-seat stadium, which is now projected to be completed in March 2029, a year later than originally planned.

Once finished, the new venue will serve as a multi-purpose entertainment space. Its most notable tenant will be the University of Hawaii football team, whose Rainbow Warriors have been playing at the temporary Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex at The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa since 2021.