COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER
MARCH 27, 2023
Prince Kuhio Day
Today, state and county offices are closed as we observe a uniquely Hawaiian holiday that honors the life and legacy of Prince Jonah Kūhiō Kalanianaʻole. One of Prince Kūhiō’s greatest accomplishments that is recognized every year by the community and celebrated by Native Hawaiians is his role in creating the legislation that became the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act. Most notably, Prince Kūhiō was elected to Congress in 1903, and as a non-voting member, he was able to secure the support needed to approve the legislation. The 100th anniversary of the enactment of the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act was celebrated in Washington, D.C. two years ago in 2021.
Project Update
The project team continues to work with Governor Green and his new administration to finalize the due diligence on the project structure and delivery approach while simultaneously working with the Legislature to come to an accord on future direction. This project is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to deliver great outcomes for the people of Hawai‘i, and we want to get it right.
Reaching consensus is critical to ensure project success and we are optimistic that agreement on the future direction will be forthcoming in the coming months. The Stadium Authority plays a large part in the future direction of the project and last week the Stadium Authority convened via a special board meeting to be briefed on the due diligence activities that have been completed thus far.
Swap Meet Update
The Aloha Stadium Swap Meet & Marketplace is OPEN. Since 1979, the Aloha Stadium Swap Meet has become Hawai‘i’s premier outdoor market, featuring over 400 vendors, crafters, and artists from all over the world – a true melting pot of Aloha. The Stadium Authority is committed to supporting the Swap Meet & Marketplace before, during, and after construction of the New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District. We value our partnership with our Swap Meet vendors, and we recognize that it generates significant revenue for small businesses and provides a great value to Hawai‘i.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How much funding has the State appropriated for NASED?
In the Media
KHON’s Sam Spangler spoke to the chair of the Āliamanu-Salt Lake-Foster Village-Airport Neighborhood Board and the president of the ‘Aiea Community Association to discuss how surrounding communities have been involved in NASED from the beginning and what local residents would like to see as part of a new multipurpose stadium and vibrant community and entertainment district.
Kama‘ilio Korner
What’s Going on at Aloha Stadium
TMR Events Returns to Aloha Stadium
Music filled Aloha Stadium once more this past February as we hosted Gary LeVox (lead singer of Rascal Flatts) along with special guests Kapena, Kala‘e Parish and Kalena Ku on Friday, February 10. The very next evening fans were treated to Grammy Award-winning reggae group SOJA along with Tribal Seeds, Ka‘ikena Scanlan, Likkle Jordee and Natural Vibrations. “Our past events on February 10 & 11 went exceptionally well. With ample parking and being in the most centralized location in the state it was a smooth & hassle-free experience for concert goers,” said Ray Ho, Jr., founder of TMR Events. “TMR EVENTS is excited to bring a series of concerts back to Aloha Stadium in summer & fall of 2023.”
DINE.SHOP.PLAY at Aloha Stadium Swap Meet and Marketplace
Shopping at Hawai‘i’s largest open-air marketplace has gotten even better. Dine & Shop PopUp at the Aloha Stadium Swap Meet & Marketplace features a mix of local grinds and specialty foods from some of Hawai‘i’s favorite restaurants and food trucks! Each week we’ll highlight new local vendors, located in Section 8D of the swap meet. For a list of featured vendors visit:
Swap Meet Vendor Spotlight
At the Aloha Stadium Swap Meet & Marketplace, you can find discounts on a wide selection of high-quality products, from clothing, accessories, Hawaiian souvenirs, pre-packaged ethnic foods, to fine jewelry and vintage antiques. Beautifully handcrafted products and exclusive art pieces are made and sold by the artists themselves. Rediscover what the Swap Meet has to offer as we spotlight one vendor video each month. You can also follow us on Instagram @alohastadiumhi for more vendor videos.
This month we’re excited for you to meet vendor Hung. She’s been selling a variety of hats since 2006! You can find her booth on Wednesday: Section 13D, Saturday: Section 11D and Sunday: Section 13D.
Past Swap Meet Vendors: Where are they now?
Coming full circle from playing football at Aloha Stadium, to selling artwork in the parking lot with former players, Pictures Plus founder Kent Untermann has grown from a young entrepreneur to a strong supporter of sustainable manufacturing and a dedicated mentor to others. All of this while becoming Hawai‘i’s framing leader.
Kent played at the stadium for the University of Hawai‘i during the Tomey era, where he also met his wife Lori. In 1986, Kent and Lori Untermann took a chance on a new business idea and started selling framed artwork at the Aloha Stadium Swap Meet. Business went so well they were able to start hiring former players like Eugene Price (nephew of Coach Larry Price). Today, the Untermanns employ over 150 people through sustainable manufacturing on-island, but what makes them most proud are employees like Eugene who have opened their own successful local manufacturing businesses. “Making things on an island is hard,” said Kent. “But I love the people we work with, believe in sustainable manufacturing and want to do this until I’m 80 and mentor as many aspiring young people to do the same.”
In 1993, the Untermanns opened their first retail store in Pearl City. A few years later, Pictures Plus moved manufacturing to a 43,000 sq-ft facility in Kapolei, where they remain to this day. They’ve expanded over the years to offer a variety of printing services, including prints on metal, canvas, and wood. At their Kapolei facility, they also manufacture home décor and goods for their sister company, CocoNene, as well as cabinetry and storage systems as the Hawai‘i franchisee for California Closets.
“The gratitude I have for Aloha Stadium and the people of Hawai‘i means so much more to me for how it is integral to my life and family today,” added Kent. The Untermanns have generated $600 million in sales, over $20 million in general excise taxes and they measure “success” by the average hourly compensation of their employees. At a time when so many products are made overseas, we’re proud to see our former Aloha Stadium Swap Meet vendor continuing to ‘keep it local’. Congratulations to the Untermanns and Pictures Plus!
This Month in History: Were you there?
March 1987: ZZ Top Concert
UH SPOTLIGHT
Play Ball: It’s Officially Baseball Season!
Did you know Aloha Stadium was the first stadium in the United States to reconfigure from a football stadium into a baseball stadium? From 1975 to 2007 the four movable 7,000-seat sections, each weighing 3.5 million pounds, hosted minor league Hawai‘i Islanders games, as well as high school baseball, and the Cardinals vs. Padres (1997) as part of the Paradise Padres Series. In 1979, in front of a crowd of 18,345 fans – an NCAA record at the time – Aloha Stadium hosted standout pitcher Derek Tatsuno’s final home game in a Rainbow Warrior uniform.
Industry Update
Swift Kicks Off ‘Eras Tour’
Taylor Swift has kicked off her new tour and there’s no doubt Hawai‘i is filled with Swifties who will travel to the continent to catch a performance of the multi-Grammy-winning artist. The Eras Tour features 52 dates in 20 stadiums across the country, with Swifties treated to hit songs from every era of T.Swizzle’s nearly two-decades-long career. Although Swift has hopscotched across the Pacific Rim during past tours, she has yet to perform in Hawai‘i. However, the interminable Swift drought in the Islands could come to an end with the construction of a new multi-purpose stadium in Hālawa capable of hosting “Tay Tay” and a variety of other top artists. NASED envisions the new multipurpose stadium will be built with riggings and load handling capabilities to make the facility more attractive and financially feasible for mega performers such as T-Swift.
For the latest on Swift’s Eras Tour, please follow the link below.
Community Spotlight
Merrie Monarch Festival
The 60th Merrie Monarch Festival will run from April 9-15 in Hilo, Hawai‘i.
We wish the best of luck to:
Hālau Lilia Makanoe (Pearlridge Center – ‘Aiea)
KUMU HULA SHELSEA LILIA AI
Hālau Keolakapuokalani (Āliamanu/Salt Lake/Stadium Area)
KUMU HULA DRAKE KEOLAKAPU DUDOIT DELAFORCÉ
Loko Iʻa Pāʻaiau
A place to experience healing and peace. By walking into the pond, visitors time travel and step back into the footsteps of the ancestors.
The Ali‘i Pauahi Hawaiian Civic Club was created in 1973 by Native Hawaiian elders who advocated for the preservation and protection of Native Hawaiian culture, education, sacred site restoration and healing practices. It is a charter member of the Association of Hawaiian Civic Clubs, founded by Prince Kūhiō in 1918, the oldest Native Hawaiian community-based advocacy movement and sits on the O‘ahu Council, Ke One o Kākuhihewa, named after a benevolent chief of O‘ahu who was the grandson of Kalanimanu‘ia, the founder of Loko i‘a Pā‘aiau.
Ali‘i Pauahi Hawaiian Civic Club holds a MOU with the U.S. Navy to restore the fishpond. Living Life Source Foundation(LLSF) is a 501(c)(3) organization that promotes the practice of Aloha and peace. As determined in the MOU, LLSF serves as the fiscal sponsor for the restoration project.
To learn more and get involved visit:
Get In Touch
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