Last month the consultant hired to work with the state on the future of Aloha Stadium told a public forum that "hundreds of reports" have been compiled on the facility in its nearly 40 years.   

Well, 294 documents (studies, investigations, reports etc.) — and counting — to be exact, we are told.

"That’s an incredible amount of paper," observed Irwin P. Raij, the consultant from Foley & Lardner.

Yes, it is, and the number of trees sacrificed on behalf of a greater understanding of the rusting edifice was supposed to end soon. After all, one of Gov. Neil Abercrombie’s first promises upon taking office — a "definitive decision on Aloha Stadium and any future stadium we might build" — was contained in his first state of the state speech in January 2011.

The problem with waiting 2 1/2 years to get going is that you might not get a second term, which is, of course, what has happened. And, now it is his eventual successor — Duke Aiona, David Ige or Mufi Hannemann — who will have the next say. 

Along with an office view atop the state Capitol and the key to Washington Place comes Aloha Stadium and all its assorted baggage. 

The hope is that whoever takes over the office will not bury an Aloha Stadium decision under the accumulated pile of issues awaiting him. Or decide to start all over again from square one.

Whoever lands the top job, you hope the current $250,000 study, which is in phase three of a planned nine-phase process scheduled to conclude in 2015, will be the study that ends all studies, illuminating the options. 

We’re getting later in the game here. The "Rust Palace," as it has long been known, has been getting by on little more than health and safety repairs as the state has put off other upgrades to save money. But even that price tag is rising with indecision. The state Department of Accounting and General Services has estimated that $120 million in "high priority health and safety improvements are needed to keep the stadium operational for the next five or 10 years," according to the most recent report.

That’s more than half of what the Foley & Lardner study suggests it could cost to build a new facility, depending upon the size. And the longer the wait the more the eventual bill escalates.

Not only will the next governor get to call the shots on the stadium’s future, but he will weigh in on what kind of a deal the prime tenant, the University of Hawaii, gets. Will UH be merely a client of the place that was ostensibly built with it in mind, or will it finally be allowed to share in some of the revenues it helps generate but has long been denied?

The stadium manager and Aloha Stadium Authority are constrained in what they might like to do on UH’s behalf by their marching orders from the state. But as the landlord, the governor can carry the day.

So, gentlemen, start formulating your plans while you wave those signs, because Aloha Stadium could soon be yours.  

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@staradvertiser.com or 529-4820.