Overlooking the turquoise waters of Pearl Harbor lays the home of the University of Hawai‘i’s football team, Hawaiian Airlines Field at Aloha Stadium. The 50,000-seat facility has been home to the state of Hawai‘i’s only Division I football team for the past 40 years.
UH made its stadium debut on Sept. 13, 1975, against Texas A&I. Three seasons later, Hawai‘i played in front of its first sold-out crowd but lost the 1978 season-finale to USC, 21-5.
Through the 1980s, fans swarmed to Aloha Stadium as the Rainbow Warriors consistently averaged more than 40,000 spectators per game. Nearly a half-million fans walked through the turnstiles in 1989, not including a sellout crowd in UH’s first postseason bowl game, a 33-13 loss to Michigan State in the Jeep Eagle Aloha Bowl.
The 1992 season, in which the Warriors claimed its first Western Athletic Conference Championship, was witnessed by an average of 44,432 fans per game. In 1999, Aloha Stadium became the venue for June Jones as he took over the helm of the Warrior football team and sparked the best turnaround in NCAA football history. The Warriors went on to appear in five Aloha Stadium bowl games under Jones and two more times under head coach Greg McMackin.
Hawai‘i’s Showcase
For more than 20 years, Aloha Stadium hosted the annual Aloha Bowl on Christmas Day. The O‘ahu Bowl was added in 1998 and created the nation’s first bowl doubleheader. Despite both bowls being moved away, Aloha Stadium now plays host to the annual Hawai‘i Bowl, which is slated for Dec. 24 this year.
The Pro Bowl, which features the top athletes from the NFL, was held the first week of February from 1980-2009 and 2011. It will return to Aloha Stadium for the 32nd time in 2016, drawing thousands of fans to the 50th state.
In addition, many big-name musicians have graced the Aloha Stadium stage in its 30-plus-year history. Frank Sinatra, Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, the Rolling Stones, the Eagles, Van Halen, Gloria Estefan, Mariah Carey, Whitney Houston, the Backstreet Boys, Celine Dion and U2 have all rocked the complex.
High schools also take advantage of the state’s largest outdoor facility. The state’s football, baseball and soccer championships have been held on Aloha Stadium’s turf many times throughout the years. Many high schools even hold their commencement ceremonies there.
The Stadium
Prior to the 2011 season, the stadium installed UBU Speed Series S5-M turf, considered the newest generation of synthetic turf.
Four spacious locker rooms, fitted with 100 lockers, are available for each team. Additionally, there are lounges, training rooms and team meeting rooms. The stadium’s loge section features the football press box that seat nearly 200 members of the media and stadium officials. Located on the South Endzone of the loge section, is a newly renovated skybox featuring private club boxes including row and lounge seating. Guests can also enjoy the stadium's South Endzone field box that includes a private enclosed air-conditioned booth with flat screen televisions, private restroom and outdoor seating to feel like they’re part of the game .
In addition to traditional stadium refreshments, Aloha Stadium features an array of worldwide dishes to satisfy every taste bud. This includes Hawaiian, Mexican, Italian, Cajun, Japanese, Greek, Chinese, American and other cuisines at concession stands throughout the facility. Aloha Stadium also provides first-aid, lost and found, security and disability parking and seating. The box office is open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Recent Renovations
An LCD screen on the North scoreboard debuted in 2010, doubling the width of the old screen. Over the last few years, several renovations have taken place. Roof replacement, waterproofing and resurfacing and reinforcement of the exterior beams have all been upgraded. Also, all or the orange seats on the first level have been replaced and handrails have been installed throughout the entire stadium. Currently, work on restructuring the main level concourses on the mauka and makai sides are being taken care of before the start of the 2015 UH football season.
DRIVING DIRECTIONS
Address: 99-500 Salt Lake Blvd. Aiea, HI 96818
From the East (Honolulu/Waikiki):
-Take H-1 Westbound
-Keep left and take I-H201 W/HI-78 via Exit 19B toward Fort Shafter/Aiea
-Take EXIT 1 toward Stadium/Camp Smith/Halawa
-Stay straight to go onto Ulune Ext.
-Turn left onto Kahuapaani Street
-Turn right onto Salt Lake Boulevard
From the West (Koolina, Kapolei, Waianae):
-Take H-1 Eastbound
-Merge onto I-H201 E/HI-78 E via EXIT 13B
-Take EXIT 1B toward Stadium/Pearl Harbor
-Merge (right) onto Kahuapaani Street
-Turn right onto Salt Lake Boulevard
From Windward Side (Kailua/Kaneohe):
-Take H-3 W toward Pearl Harbor
-Take EXIT 1C toward Stadium/Halawa/Camp Smith/Aiea
-Turn Left onto Kahupaani Street
-Turn right onto Salt Lake Boulevard
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
The City Bus Link:
http://www.thebus.org/
Honolulu Web Cams:
http://www1.honolulu.gov/cameras/
Go Akamai is a free web service that consolidates the region’s transportation information into a one-stop resource. The website provides up-to-date information on traffic conditions; schedule, route and fare information for public transportation services; carpool and vanpool referrals; roadway construction information and more.
http://www.goakamai.org/Home.aspx
