The prospect of a Max Holloway-led UFC card at Aloha Stadium isn’t dead, Hawaii Tourism Authority chairman Rick Fried assured the HTA board Thursday.

“It is just resting,” Fried said.

“We’re leaving the door open and will be back in touch with them,” Fried said following the meeting.

Last month the HTA rejected a UFC proposal that had called for a $6 million fee from the state to bring an August card to Aloha Stadium and the UFC turned down an HTA counteroffer of $1 million.

In view of a January face-to-face meeting with UFC officials in Las Vegas, Fried said, “I think there is room for negotiation. I think we could both give a little” under the right circumstances.

Holloway (19-3) is scheduled to defend his featherweight championship against unbeaten Brian Ortega (14-0) on July 7 at UFC 226 in Las Vegas and HTA officials said a victory there could be a springboard to further talks about a card here.

The HTA was also opposed to an August date because it came in prime tourist season, when rooms are already approaching capacity, and would prefer a fall or other date when visitor traffic is slower.

Peter Honig, a vice president at Ascendent Sports Group, which represents the HTA, confirmed there have been what Fried termed “informal” talks with the UFC.

Honig said the UFC’s $6 million asking price based on the $5.2 million Pro Bowl payment “is not apples to apples” and added, “There needs to be a balanced medium for negotiations. We want to be fair partners. We understand that there is risk associated with an outdoor event, but they also need to be sensitive to our budget realities and where we are coming from as a board.”