About Us
Welcome to Aloha Stadium. Located in Central Oahu, the Aloha Stadium is Hawaii’s largest outdoor arena, and home to the University of Hawaii Rainbow Warriors football team. In addition, the Aloha Stadium hosts a multitude of events attracting visitors from around the State including soccer matches, concerts, car shows, fairs and the ever popular Aloha Stadium Swap Meet & Marketplace.
The stadium bowl is now closed as we prepare for the New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District. We will continue to host the Aloha Stadium Swap Meet & Marketplace as well as other outdoor events and activities in the surrounding parking lot areas.
When the stadium opened back on September 12, 1975, we became one of the first stadiums in the country to offer four movable sections. Our 50,000-seat stadium could be configured to offer multiple seating arrangements and field formations that allowed football, soccer, and baseball. Fun fact: the highest seat in the stadium is as high as a ten-story building.
*all photos courtesy of Alan Straub
MISSION STATEMENT
To meet the challenge of providing a first class arena where the dreams of our young people can be realized through participation in sporting and other special events, where the spirit of achievement can be nourished by the thrill of competition, where families can gather to share their cultural diversity with pride and a feeling of Aloha.
VALUES
How we conduct ourselves in accomplishing our mission is as important as the mission itself. Fundamental to our success are these basic values:
People – Our employees are the source of our strength. They meet and greet the public and their actions determine our reputation and vitality.
Customer Service – The products we and services we offer our fans must be the best in quality, price and value. They mirror our dedication to providing events in a pleasant, safe and comfortable environment.
Facilities Development – Our facility exemplifies the beauty and uniqueness of Hawaii. Our commitment to quality maintenance and development of the facility will ensure that it remains the best venue for outdoor entertainment in the state.
As the historic facility evolves into the New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District, or NASED, the stadium continues to host exciting events that attract local residents and global visitors, including holiday light shows, car exhibits, fairs and the ever-popular Aloha Stadium Swap Meet and Marketplace.
There is no greater place than the Aloha Stadium!
Here are just some of the highlights over the past 47 years…
The 70’s
September 13, 1975 – Crowd of 32,247 come to support UH against Texas A&I for the stadium’s first season opener.
1975 – The Hawaiians play Jacksonville in the very first professional football game.
Soccer star Pele and New York Cosmos lure 21,705 for victory over Team Japan on April 7, 1976.
The first NFL Exhibition Game featuring San Francisco 49ers defeating San Diego Chargers 17–16 before a crowd of 36,364 fans on August 21, 1976.
The Honolulu Jaycees bring the 50th State Fair to the stadium in 1976.
Kalapana and C & K end the year with a great December 1976 concert.
In 1977, Team Hawaii joins the North American Soccer League and makes Aloha Stadium its home.
First sellout crowd of 48,767 watches eventual national champion University of Southern Cal beat UH 21–5 on December 2, 1978.
18,348 fans come out to support UH’s Derek Tatsuno as he strikes out 12 in an 11–1 UH victory over Nevada Las Vegas on May 19, 1979.
The Aloha Flea Market opens in the summer of 1979 and becomes the largest operation of its kind in the state.
Highlighting Concerts: Chicago (2/5/79), Santana, Boston/Big Horn (4/29/78), C&K, The Beach Boys (8/11/79), Heart (8/11/79), Eagles (9/30/79), Jimmy Buffett (9/30/79)
The 80’s
January 27, 1980 – The first of 34 Pro Bowl games draws a crowd of 49,800 (10th annual Pro Bowl).
The Oahu Prep Bowl game between Iolani and Waianae draws 31,484 — the largest crowd to watch a high school football game in Hawaii on November 28, 1980.
March 14, 1981 – Andy Ganigan scores third-round TKO over Manuel Abedoy in the co-main event of a CBS nationally televised boxing card.
August 30, 1981 – Heart, Blue Oyster Cult, Gamma Band, Fortune Concert.
August 1, 1982 – Foreigner, Charlie Daniels Band, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Surf Punks Concert.
November 14, 1982 – Stevie Wonder concert.
December 25, 1982 – Aloha Bowl debuts with Washington in a 21–20 victory over Maryland.
February 25, 1984 – The Police hold their farewell concert with over 31,000 fans — one of the largest concert crowds ever at Aloha Stadium.
December 1984 – The Hawaii Super Pull truck and tractor event debuts and becomes an instant hit.
March 3, 1985 – Olympian Duncan Macdonald wins first Great Aloha Run.
1985 – Superbog Mudracing comes to the stadium.
July 26, 1986 – Frank Sinatra concert draws more than 25,000.
August 21, 1987 – ZZ Top, Run-D.M.C., Stevie Ray Vaughan Concert.
April 18, 1987 – Eddie Money Concert.
August 1987 – Hawaii Islanders play final season in the stadium before moving to Colorado Springs, CO.
June 30, 1989 – Robbie Knievel crashes in motorcycle event.
August 1989 – Super Bowl of Wheels featuring motorcycles, cars, bikes, and skateboarding holds its inaugural event.
December 25, 1989 – UH makes first NCAS bowl appearance in 33–13 Aloha Bowl loss to Michigan State.
The 90’s
November 6, 1995 – Eagles Concert.
January 3–4, 1997 – Michael Jackson plays back-to-back sellout concerts.
May 28, 1997 – Whitney Houston Concert.
April 19–20, 1997 – San Diego Padres host regular season series with St. Louis Cardinals drawing 77,432 fans over two days.
January 23–24, 1998 – Rolling Stones, Johnny Lang concert draws more than 55,000.
February 21, 1998 – Mariah Carey ends her Butterfly World Tour.
December 25, 1998 – Air Force defeats Washington 45–25 in inaugural Oahu Bowl game. Game is played two more years before it moves to Seattle.
January 30, 1999 – Janet Jackson Concert.
December 4, 1999 – Saint Louis School defeats Kahuku in first state football championship game.
The 2000’s
2002 – Janet Jackson’s 2nd concert to the islands, All for You Tour, broadcasted on HBO.
December 25, 2002 – Tulane defeats UH 36–28 before 35,513 in inaugural Hawaii Bowl.
December 9, 2006 – Pearl Jam / U2’s final stop on their Vertigo Tour.
November 23, 2007 – Largest UH crowd (49,651) sees Warriors beat Boise State 39–27 for the school’s first outright conference championship.
December 1, 2007 – Crowd of 49,566 sees UH complete unbeaten (12–0) regular season and clinch Sugar Bowl berth with comeback victory over Washington 35–28.
January 12, 2008 – Hula Bowl plays its 25th and last game.
February 20–23, 2008 – Inaugural Pan-Pacific Championship Soccer Tournament.
2012 – Ziggy Marley Concert.
2013 – Rugby Team USA vs. Samoa.
2014 – US vs. Samoa Rugby League Lava Lava Festival.
2017 – The Chainsmokers Concert.
2018 – Bruno Mars, Eagles, Guns N’ Roses, Snoop Dogg, Cardi B.
2019 – Eminem, Monster X Tour, Hawaii Supercross.
Aloha From Aloha Stadium Closing Activities Tribute
As the historic facility evolves into a new Stadium, on Saturday, February 25, 2023 the community was given one last chance to tour the facility and visit unseen areas usually not available to the public. Thousands of Kama’aina and fans from all around the world enjoyed activities and shared memories of this iconic stadium.
Photos courtesy of ESPN and Free Spirits
Mahalo to our Sponsors!
