Report Title:

Aloha Stadium; Disposition and Acquisition of New Land

 

Description:

Authorizes: (1) disposition of Aloha stadium and surrounding lands that are part of the stadium; (2) acquisition of land in Ewa plains or central Oahu upon which a new stadium may be built.

 


HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

H.B. NO.

282

TWENTY-FOURTH LEGISLATURE, 2007

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

 

A BILL FOR AN ACT


 

 

relating to the aloha stadium.

 

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 


     SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that Aloha stadium, located on one hundred four acres in the Aiea area of Oahu, has a rich and varied history, serving as the venue for numerous sporting, music, and other events, and has played a central role in the lives of many of the State's residents.  However, the legislature further finds that it is an incontrovertible fact that the useful life of Aloha stadium, which first opened on September 12, 1975, is drawing to an end.  In the Aloha stadium planning study final report published on December 22, 2005, the study described various large sections of the stadium as being "constructed with structural steel, in particular, a weathering type of structural steel.  This steel was purported to be resistant to corrosion after an initial, dense, stable rust layer develops on the surface.  This dense, stable layer of rust is often called a 'protective patina' in the technical and marketing literature for this type of steel.  However, it was later learned that weathering steel is sensitive to salt-laden air environments like Hawaii.  In such environments, the protective patina does not stabilize but instead continues to corrode."  A ten-year corrosion abatement program was started in 1985 and completed in 1995, costing $80,000,000.  However, the structural certification performed in 1995 did not examine wind loads on the structure.  Therefore, the structural safety of Aloha stadium under wind loading is unknown.

     The study also reported a plethora of issues that need to be addressed concerning structural safety and general conditions including:

     (1)  Major maintenance of corrosion protection systems;

     (2)  Excessive deflections of curved pedestrian bridges;

     (3)  Replacement of entire main roof canopy metal deck;

     (4)  Replacement of waterproofing membrane for seating bowl and concourses;

     (5)  Replacement of seating needs throughout the entire stadium seating bowl;

     (6)  Replacement of undersized scoreboard cooling system;

     (7)  Replacement of piping insulation and other water damaged finishes;

     (8)  Rejuvenation of moveable stand transport system;

     (9)  Additional toilets;

    (10)  Repairs to severely deteriorated concrete-and-metal deck throughout the stadium;

    (11)  Raising of guardrails in numerous locations for safety;

    (12)  Addition of passenger elevators that presently do not exist and need to be added to comply with current Americans with Disabilities Act provisions;

    (13)  Resurfacing of asphalt parking lot;

    (14)  Replacement of technologically obsolete scoreboard;

    (15)  Replacement of field lighting and associated transformers and lighting control system that are nearing their useful lives;

    (16)  Upgrading existing fire alarm systems; and

    (17)  Replacement of parking lot lighting transformers.

     The 2005 study also identified a host of capital improvements to Aloha stadium that, if all the identified capital improvements are implemented in the near future and a systematic, cyclic capital improvement program is adhered to throughout its remaining life, would extend the useful life of the stadium twenty to thirty years.  The anticipated cost for the initial improvements needed is $99,200,000 with an additional $115,400,000 anticipated to be expended for ongoing maintenance over a twenty year period.

     Both the State and the city and county of Honolulu have consistently focused on new development in the Ewa and West Oahu areas.  As population and infrastructure begin to reach a critical mass on the west side of Oahu, it would become more and more appropriate for a new stadium to be located on the Ewa plains or central Oahu.

     The purpose of this Act is to require the governor to direct the department of land and natural resources to dispose of the Aloha stadium and arrange for the acquisition of land in the Ewa plains or central Oahu on which a new stadium may be constructed.

     SECTION 2.  (a)  The governor shall direct the department of land and natural resources to:

     (1)  Dispose of the Aloha stadium and the surrounding land upon which the stadium is situated that are a part of the Aloha stadium, by any appropriate method, including sale, lease, or exchange of land;

     (2)  Acquire suitable and adequate lands in the Ewa plains or central Oahu upon which a new stadium may be constructed, by any appropriate method, including purchase, lease, or exchange of land; and

     (3)  Ensure that the proceeds of the sale, lease, or land exchange of the Aloha stadium and surrounding lands in paragraph (1) are to be applied to the purchase, lease, or land exchange of suitable lands in paragraph (2).

     (b)  The department of land and natural resources shall begin plans to implement the disposition of the Aloha stadium and the identification and acquisition of replacement lands for the construction of a new stadium immediately.  The department shall submit annual written progress reports to the legislature twenty days prior to the convening of each regular session until the Aloha stadium is finally disposed of and new lands are finally acquired.

     (c)  The Aloha stadium authority shall fully cooperate with the department of land and natural resources to carry out the purposes of this Act.  The duties, responsibilities, and functions of the Aloha stadium authority shall not be affected in any way by the implementation of this Act.


     SECTION 3.  This Act shall take effect upon its approval.

 

INTRODUCED BY:

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