47 Years of Aloha
Forty-seven years ago when the stadium was completed, the state of the art facility was the first of it’s kind to offer four movable sections. Our 50,000-seat stadium could be configured to offer multiple seating configured arrangements and field formations that allowed football, soccer, and baseball. Here are just some of our event highlights over the last forty-seven years….
*all photos courtesy of Alan Straub
The 70’s
Crowd of 32,247 come to support UH against Texas A&I for the stadium’s first season opener on September 13th
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 Fran 49ers defeat 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 it’s 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 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, Santana, Boston, C& K, The Beach Boys, Heart, Eagles
The 80’s
January 27, 1980 becomes the first of 34 Pro Bowl games announced crowd of 49,800 (10th annual ProBowl)
The Oahu Prep Bowl game between Iolani and Waianae draws 31,484 the largest crowd to watch high school football game in Hawaii on November 28, 1980
March 14, 1981 – Andy Ganigan scores third round TKO over Manuel Abedoy in co-main event of CBS nationally televised boxing card
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 making this one of the largest concert crowds ever at Aloha Stadium.
December 1984 – A truck and tractor pull event, the Hawaii Super Pull makes it’s debut becoming 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 1987 – Hawaii Islanders play final season in stadium before moving to Colorado Springs, Colo
June 30, 1989 – Robbie Knievel crashes in motorcycle event
August 1989 – Superbowl of Wheels featuring motocycles, 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
January 3-4, 1997 – Michael Jackson plays in back to back sellout concerts
May 28, 1997 – Whitney Houston Concert
April 19-20, 1997 – Sand Diego Padres host regular season series with St. Louis Cardinals that draw 77,432 over two days
January 23-24, 1998 – Rolling Stones concert draws more than 55,000
February 21, 1998 – Mariah Carey ended 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
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 was broadcasted on HBO
December 25, 2002 – Tulane Defeats UH 36-28 before 35,513 in inaugural Hawaii Bowl
December 9, 2006 – 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 out-right conference championship.
December 1, 2007 – Crowd of 49,566 see UH complete unbeaten (12-0) regular season and clinch the 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 Dog, Cardi B
2019 – Eminem, Monster X Tour, Hawaii Supercross