Waiola Development Partners has dropped out of the running to become the lead developer of the New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District.
This leaves only Aloha Halawa District Partners to construct a 25,000-seat venue plus the planned outlying housing and retail facilities on the 98-acre site of the old Aloha Stadium.
The stadium authority states that the withdrawal will not affect construction timelines and that 2028 remains as the opening target for the new stadium. It hopes that the new facility will be able to host the University of Hawai’i Rainbow Warriors for 2028.
“The request for proposals (RFP) was designed to accommodate the possibility of having only one offeror, and this withdrawal will not affect the ongoing RFP process,” said stadium authority chair Brennon Morioka.
“We are on track to meet all of the RFP milestones, and we look forward to welcoming UH football and the community back to Aloha Stadium in 2028.”
The next key milestone under the RFP is the selection of a lead developer in autumn of this year. Provided that is successful, negotiations will then take place with the state with the aim of agreeing on a contract in the summer of 2025.
The RFP calls on the state to supply $400m (£315m/€374m) towards the demolition of the old Aloha Stadium and the construction of its replacement, while the developer will take on the rest of the cost.
It is said that the rest of the site, which is secured in a 99-year land lease agreement, would then be developed over decades. Around 4,500 housing units and 430,000 square feet of retail space are planned.
“Aloha Halawa Development Partners will still be required to submit a proposal in accordance with the RFP, and the state will evaluate that proposal according to the provisions of the RFP,” said Department of Accounting and General Services controller in Hawaii Keith Regan.
“The proposal will be required to meet prescribed standards and requirements and demonstrate value to the state.”
