Is It Aloha to the New Stadium

Photo byLarry White from Pixabay

After years of planning a new Aloha stadium at Halawa, some lawmakers feel that with other spending responsibilities, more money should be available for other obligations. A lawmaker brought up the recovery of the Maui wildfire.

House Bill 2664

Lapses appropriations of general obligation bond funds previously authorized for the planning, design, and construction of a stadium in Halawa by the Stadium Authority. Transfers certain special fund moneys earmarked for the development of a new stadium in Halawa to the general fund. Authorizes the issuance of general obligation bonds for a new stadium on the University of Hawaii at Manoa campus. Renames the Stadium Authority as the Halawa Redevelopment Authority and the Stadium Development District as the Halawa Redevelopment District. Amends the powers and duties of the Halawa Redevelopment Authority.

According to Hawaii News Now, if the bill becomes law, it would eliminate any chances of building a new Aloha Stadium. It would destroy any chance of building a stadium as a future entertainment hub. The City and County of Honolulu built the Oahu Rail Transit on the idea the rail would stop at Aloha Stadium. That was a selling point to the people.

House Bill 2664 would solidify that the rail starts and ends nowhere. Everyone in the state is affected by decisions made by Hawaii lawmakers. Still, Oahu residents will feel the impact and be reminded daily of a rail system going from nowhere to nowhere.

For football enthusiasts and fans of the University of Hawaii football, it would eliminate any chance of Hawaii getting into a better conference. Whether you're for or against the stadium, many would agree that the politicians sold the idea that the rail would pass through Aloha Stadium. It was a selling point to build the most expensive project in Hawaii's history.

Is it Aloha to the new Aloha Stadium?