Aloha Stadium facts for kids
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The stadium in 2024
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 Aloha Stadium
Location in Oahu
Aloha Stadium
Location in Hawaii
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| Address | 99–500 Salt Lake Boulevard Aiea, HI 96701 |
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| Location | Aiea, HI, U.S. |
| Coordinates | 21°22′23″N 157°55′48″W / 21.373°N 157.93°W |
| Public transit |  HARTat Hālawa/Aloha Stadium |
| Owner | State of Hawaii |
| Operator | Hawaii Stadium Authority |
| Capacity | 50,000 |
| Field size | Baseball Left Field: 325 ft (99 m) Center Field: 420 ft (128 m) Right Field: 325 ft (99 m) |
| Surface | S5 (2011–2020) FieldTurf (2003–2011) AstroTurf (1975–2002) |
| Construction | |
| Opened | September 12, 1975 |
| Closed | December 17, 2020 |
| Demolished | beginning August 2025 (tentatively scheduled) |
| Construction cost | $37 million ($201 million in 2022 ) |
| Architect | Luckman Partnership, Inc. |
| Tenants | |
Aloha Stadium was a large sports stadium in Hālawa, Hawaii, near Honolulu. It was the biggest stadium in Hawaii for many years. The stadium closed its doors to fans on December 17, 2020. It stopped hosting new events after that date.
Aloha Stadium was home to the University of Hawaiʻi Rainbow Warriors football team. They played there from 1975 to 2020. Many important college football games, like the Hawaiʻi Bowl and Hula Bowl, also took place there. The stadium even hosted the National Football League's Pro Bowl several times.
Besides football, Aloha Stadium was a place for high school games and big concerts. It also hosted the AAA baseball team, the Hawaii Islanders, for over a decade. A popular swap meet often happened in its parking lot, drawing large crowds.
Stadium History and Design
Before Aloha Stadium, Honolulu had an old wooden stadium called Honolulu Stadium. By the 1960s, it was too old and small for major sports. A new stadium was needed, especially for the University of Hawaiʻi's football team.
Aloha Stadium was built in 1975 and cost $37 million. It was made of steel and was sometimes called the "Metal Mecca." The stadium was designed to change its shape for different sports. Four sections, each weighing 3.5 million pounds, could move. They used special air cushions to slide into a diamond shape for baseball or soccer. For football, they would form an oval.
The very first sports event at Aloha Stadium was a college football game. It happened on September 13, 1975, between Hawaii and Texas A&I. The final sporting event was the 2021 Hula Bowl.
Challenges and Changes
The stadium's location was a bit far for some fans of the Hawaii Islanders baseball team. Public transportation stops were also not very close to the stadium entrance. This made it harder for people to attend games.
In 2007, the stadium's movable sections were permanently locked into the football shape. This was because of high costs and maintenance problems. An engineer said the concrete pads under the stadium were not built correctly.
Stadium Concerns and Upgrades
Over the years, there were many worries about the stadium's condition. Lawmakers were concerned about rust and the need for repairs. The stadium was built with a type of steel that was supposed to stop rusting on its own. However, Hawaii's salty ocean air made the steel keep rusting.
A study in 2005 showed that the stadium needed a lot of money for repairs. It would cost $99 million to fix it completely. Another $115 million would be needed for ongoing care over the next 20 years. In 2007, the state decided to spend $12.4 million to remove rust.
The playing field was updated several times. In 2003, the old AstroTurf was replaced with FieldTurf. In 2011, a new synthetic turf system was installed. The stadium also got a new, modern scoreboard and video screen in 2010.
Stadium Closure and Future Plans
On December 17, 2020, the Aloha Stadium Authority announced the stadium would close. It would no longer host events with fans. This decision was due to money problems from the COVID-19 pandemic. The stadium also had many maintenance issues and was deemed unsafe for crowds.
The University of Hawaii's football team started playing their home games on campus. This arrangement began in January 2021 and was planned for at least three years.
A new stadium is planned to replace Aloha Stadium. It will be built on the same site. This new stadium will have 22,500 seats and will be a multi-purpose venue. The area around it, called the New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District, will also be developed. It will include shops, restaurants, homes, hotels, and entertainment spots. Demolition of the old stadium is scheduled to begin in late August 2025. The new stadium is expected to be finished by March 2029.
Exciting Events at Aloha Stadium
Aloha Stadium hosted many different kinds of events. It was a place for thrilling sports games and memorable concerts.
American Football Games
College Football Highlights
The Hawaii Rainbow Warriors college football team played all their home games at Aloha Stadium. This was from 1975 until 2020.
The Hula Bowl, a special game for college football all-stars, was often held here. It took place from 1976 to 1997, and again in 2006-2008 and 2020-2021. The 2021 Hula Bowl was the very last football game played at the stadium.
Three different college football bowl games were also held annually at Aloha Stadium:
- The Aloha Bowl (1982–2000)
- The Oahu Bowl (1998–2000)
- The Hawaiʻi Bowl (2002–2019)
Professional Football Action
In 1975, the World Football League team, the Hawaiians, played their last home games at the stadium. The National Football League (NFL) also brought preseason games to Aloha Stadium. Teams like the San Francisco 49ers and San Diego Chargers played there in 1976. The Los Angeles Rams and Dallas Cowboys played a preseason game in 2019.
The NFL's all-star game, the Pro Bowl, was a big event at Aloha Stadium. It was held there every year from 1980 to 2016, except for 2010 and 2015.
Baseball Games
Aloha Stadium was the home field for the Hawaii Islanders baseball team. They were a Triple-A team in the Pacific Coast League. They played there from 1976 to 1987.
In 1997, two Major League Baseball (MLB) teams, the St. Louis Cardinals and San Diego Padres, played a three-game series at the stadium. The Cardinals won two games, and the Padres won one.
Soccer Matches
Aloha Stadium hosted exciting soccer events. In 1976, the famous player Pelé scored four goals in a game there. His team, the New York Cosmos, beat Japan 5-0.
The stadium also hosted the first Pan-Pacific Championship in 2008. This was a tournament with teams from Japan, North America, and Australia/New Zealand.
Rugby Games
The stadium also saw some rugby action. In 2013, the Samoa rugby league team played against the USA team. Samoa won that match.
High School Graduations
Aloha Stadium was a special place for many local high school students. Five public high schools held their graduation ceremonies there. These included Radford High School, Mililani High School, Aiea High School, James Campbell High School, and Pearl City High School.
Concerts and Entertainment
Aloha Stadium was a popular venue for big concerts. Many famous artists performed there over the years.
| Date | Artist | Opening act(s) | Tour / Concert name | Attendance | Revenue | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| February 25, 1984 | The Police | — | Synchronicity Tour | — | — | |
| November 6, 1995 | Eagles | — | Hell Freezes Over Tour | — | — | |
| January 3, 1997 | Michael Jackson | — | HIStory World Tour | 70,000 | — | These were his only US shows that decade. He was the first person to sell out the stadium. |
| January 4, 1997 | ||||||
| May 3, 1997 | Gloria Estefan | — | Evolution World Tour | — | — | |
| May 29, 1997 | Whitney Houston | Bobby Brown | Pacific Rim Tour | 29,118 / 29,118 | $1,634,370 | Whitney Houston sang background vocals for Bobby Brown before her own performance. |
| January 23, 1998 | The Rolling Stones | Jonny Lang | Bridges To Babylon Tour | 54,006 / 60,000 | $3,317,190 | |
| January 24, 1998 | ||||||
| February 21, 1998 | Mariah Carey | — | Butterfly World Tour | 30,415 / 30,415 | $1,744,210 | |
| January 30, 1999 | Janet Jackson | 98 Degrees | The Velvet Rope Tour | 38,224 / 38,224 | $2,664,000 | |
| February 12, 1999 | Celine Dion | — | Let's Talk About Love World Tour | 22,381 / 22,381 | $1,326,805 | |
| June 1, 2000 | Tube | — | Tube Live Around Special June.1.2000 in Aloha Stadium | — | — | The band celebrated their 15th anniversary with their first US show. |
| February 16, 2002 | Janet Jackson | Ginuwine | All for You Tour | 32,211 / 33,511 | $1,472,935 | This concert was shown on HBO and later released on DVD. |
| December 9, 2006 | U2 | Pearl Jam Rocco and the Devils |
Vertigo Tour | 45,815 / 45,815 | $4,486,532 | This was U2's first concert in Hawaii since 1985. |
| November 8, 2018 | Bruno Mars | The Green Common Kings |
24K Magic World Tour | 113,751 / 113,751 | $12,394,580 | |
| November 10, 2018 | ||||||
| November 11, 2018 | ||||||
| December 7, 2018 | The Eagles | Jack Johnson | All the Light Above it Too World Tour | — | — | |
| December 8, 2018 | Guns N' Roses | — | Not in This Lifetime... Tour | 22,485 / 23,000 | — | |
| February 15, 2019 | Eminem | — | — | 31,621 / 31,621 | $3,089,448 |
Images for kids
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Proposed design for the new Aloha Stadium
See also
In Spanish: Estadio Aloha para niños
