Aloha Stadium Authority frustrated by bureaucracy over new facility

The Aloha Stadium Authority’s frustration with state bureaucracy over planning for a new facility spilled over in Thursday’s monthly meeting.

“What is concerning to me is that we are not all on the same page because we are right at the crossroads where we are not only looking at an existing facility but in the planning process for a new facility,” board member David Uchiyama said.

“We need to get going on this stadium,” board member Keith Amemiya said.

Authority chairman Ross Yamasaki said, “As a board, we are going by a set of assumptions married to certain expectations and when those don’t happen there is frustration. Hopefully we’ll get some clarity.”

Part of the frustration, participants on the nine-member, volunteer appointed board traced to what it termed a lack of clarity over responsibilities and delays in getting going on an environmental impact study of the land the current facility occupies, master planning for a replacement and alternate-site studies.

Members said the Legislature appropriated $10 million to fund those items in 2017 and Gov. David Ige signed off on them nearly a year and a half ago but said a contract has yet to be fully executed. Last month, officials said they expected the contract to be finalized this month.

In response to questions from the Star-Advertiser, the Department of Accounting and General Services, which oversees the Stadium Authority, said in an email, “The entire $10 million has already been allotted and there have been no delays.”

The stadium panel’s frustration follows a briefing last month in which it was told that its consulting structural engineer is now recommending accelerating inspections for corrosion damage from biennially to annually.

Of particular concern to some members has been the amount of corrosion reported on some braces, seat plates and decking floor slabs.

DAGS said Thursday, “We continue to ensure that the stadium is safe and useful.”

Authority members also expressed disappointment that a planned trip recommended by a consultant to study facilities in Los Angeles and Atlanta that feature ancillary development similar to that envisioned for a new stadium in Halawa was rejected by State Comptroller Roderick K. Becker.

In a letter to the Stadium Authority, Becker wrote, “We note that the stated purpose of the trip does not fall under the powers and duties of the Stadium Authority.”

“What is concerning is this last sentence,” Uchiyama said. “Where does our authority actually go if he says the purposes of the trip don’t fall under (stadium authority)?”

The trip, which was to include Stadium Authority members and some senior stadium staff, was to be funded by approximately $25,000 from stadium revenues, officials said.