HONOLULU — An Oahu stadium needs $30 million from the state Legislature to keep the facility safe and operable, according to officials.
The Aloha Stadium Authority adopted Thursday the latest structural integrity report that found several corrosion problems at the arena near Pearl Harbor. The University of Hawaii football team plays in the stadium.
Immediate repairs are needed over the next two years to fix corroded diagonal support braces, cracked bracing clips that stabilize seating sections and rusted floor edges beneath seats, according to the report. About 200 steel members and 85 panels of lightweight deck were found with severe corrosion.
“First and foremost we want to make clear that the stadium is safe,” Authority chair Ross Yamasaki told KHON-TV . “However, the report finds that the facility is deteriorating at an accelerated pace. This is not unexpected given the age of the facility.”
The authority is seeking $20 million for 2020 and $10 million for 2021 to repair the nearly 45-year-old stadium.
“The maintenance and safety of the facility has always been our top priority,” stadium manager Scott Chan told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser . “That’s why we’ve been proactive about commissioning these assessments and evaluations, so we can identify and prioritize needed repairs.”
The authority is also planning to conduct annual inspections instead of inspections every other year.
“Until the state takes action to redevelop the site and build a new stadium or explore other options, we must continue to maintain the facility to ensure Hawaii has a venue to accommodate large-scale community, entertainment and sporting events,” Chan said. “It is our hope that the Legislature recognizes the importance of funding our budget request.”