About NASED

The New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District (NASED) project aims to create an exciting and vibrant new Aloha Stadium and surrounding district. This ambitious endeavor involves designing, constructing, operating, and maintaining the new stadium while also dismantling the existing one and revitalizing that area of the site. To make this project possible, the State of Hawai‘i will collaborate with a private developer to develop and deliver both the new Aloha Stadium and surrounding site, as one integrated public-private partnership (P3) project. The selection process for the developer involves three (3) stages: the Qualifications Phase, followed by the Proposals Phase, and concluding with the Diligence and Discussion Phase.

One of the key advantages of the P3 arrangement is that the selected developer will be responsible for maintaining the facility and the surrounding district. This proactive approach ensures that the stadium and district will be well-maintained and free from the deferred maintenance issues experienced in the past. At the end of the stadium’s 30-year maintenance term, the stadium will be returned to the state in good working condition.

The new Aloha Stadium will have a seating capacity of 31,000, compared to the previous 50,000 seats. It will be designed to accommodate various sports and entertainment events, such as football, soccer, rugby, and others played on a rectangular field. The multi-purpose stadium will be designed to enhance the fan experience with a comprehensive array of amenities and support spaces to market new events, including various seating options, extensive concessions, and efficient facility circulation.

NASED will include delivery of an integrated, mixed-use, live-work-play-thrive district anchored by the new Aloha Stadium. Development of the surrounding district is expected to occur over 20+ years and include residential market and housing options, hotels, office, retail, commercial, and entertainment uses in a manner that supports the NASED vision and objectives and will generate annual revenue to the state to help offset the cost of the new Aloha Stadium.

Schedule

Stadium Dismantling
Q4 2025		 Stadium Construction
Q1 2026
Stadium Opening
Q1 2029		 District Construction
Approx 30 years

Background

Existing Stadium Condition
The NASED project was initiated in response to the long-documented challenges the existing Aloha Stadium has been managing regarding corrosion and structural integrity, technical obsolescence and general operational efficiency.

Previous studies commissioned by the Department of Accounting & General Services (DAGS) to assist the State of Hawai‘i documented the existing Aloha Stadium exhibiting signs of aging, code non-compliance, and amenity deficiencies. Updated structural studies concluded the stadium (in 2017) required approximately $300 million in critical health and safety repairs, and an additional $121 million to bring the stadium up to ADA standards and code compliance (in 2017 dollars): “While serving the state and community for the past 44 years, the existing Aloha Stadium is well beyond its practical life as a multi-purpose stadium and requires considerable ongoing investment to keep it in working order, accessible to all users, and safe for the public.”

The culmination of the corrosion and other maintenance issues led the Stadium Authority to cease public events in the stadium’s seating bowl in 2021, effectively requiring that its key tenant, the University of Hawai‘i, find a different home venue until the new Aloha Stadium is complete.

A new stadium on the Hālawa site will eliminate the deficiencies inherent with the existing facility while providing the community with a much-needed, modern, multi-purpose sports and entertainment venue for many years to come. Additionally, a new stadium would be an improvement over a renovated existing stadium at a lower cost and would be the catalyst for over 4 million square feet of ancillary development over a 20+ year period.

As time marches on, the degradation of the building continues, leading the state to undertake an aggressive schedule to mitigate any further issues with this existing facility.

Construction Markets
All major projects must wrestle with market factors and influences from commodities fluctuations, labor costs, and even trade tariffs. Collectively, this is accounted for as ‘escalation’ costs, which means the actual cost of construction goes up every year, depending on the specific market conditions. Late 2021 and early 2022 saw significant construction escalation across all regions, and Hawai‘i was not immune, experiencing construction escalation of 20-30%. While escalation has abated, the ongoing effects of this period continue to impact the project.

Given the fixed state funding, time is of the essence, as any delays to the procurement process will mean that less scope will be afforded and included in the new Aloha Stadium.

Timeframe of Development
The surrounding district developments are expected to be built out over time to respond to market demands. While the idea of fully building out NASED over 5 to 10 years may be attractive from a site and revenue perspective, there is likely not enough demand to support that approach. The best long-term value for the State of Hawai‘i and NASED, as a district, is expected to come from a longer-term build out.

Site Operations and Event
Another key driver for how NASED will be developed is the requirement to accommodate successful continued site operations and events, including the Aloha Stadium Swap Meet & Marketplace and car parking for stadium events. The developer (AHDP) is required to ensure that its development plans accommodate these functions, as a minimum.

Meet the Team

Stadium Authority
The Stadium Authority Board consists of eight members appointed by the Governor (with Senate consent), including designated members from the West Honolulu and ‘Aiea districts. Ex-officio voting membership includes the Director of DBEDT; ex-officio non-voting members include the UH President and DOE Superintendent.

Aloha Hālawa District Partners (AHDP)
Aloha Hālawa District Partners (AHDP) was selected in September 2025 as the stadium developer for the New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District. As the stadium developer, AHDP is responsible for the demolition of the existing stadium, and the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of the new Aloha Stadium. The partnership will also lead the phased redevelopment of the surrounding district in collaboration with the Stadium Authority upon execution of the Master Development Agreement.

AHDP is comprised of: