GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARADVERTISER. COM
Empty seats at Aloha Stadium after the University of Hawaii Warriors game against Nevada on November 28.
JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARADVERTISER. COM
Hawaii offensive part Calvin Turner (7) puts his arm stiff on the defensive side of UNLV Tyson Player (14) at the time he is part of a school football game on Saturday, December 12, 2020 at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu, Hawaii. Hawaii won 38-21.
TONY HEFF / WORLD SURFING LEAGUE VIA GETTY IMAGES
Two-time WSL champion John John Florence of Hawaii is the winner of the Billabong Pipe Masters through Hyro Flask on December 20, 2020 in Oahu, Hawaii.
GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARADVERTISER. COM
The University of Hawaii basketball team warmed up with cardboard cutouts before their game against Hawaii-Hilo on December 19 at the famous SimpliFi Arena. Fans have not attended UH events since the pandemic ended sports in March.
One day, march 11, the University of Hawaii’s Rainbow Wahine basketball team enjoyed a first-round win over Cal State Fullerton at the Big West Conference basketball tournament in Anaheim, California, and looked forward to its semi-final.
The next day, without even haggling a little more basketball, they were on their way home, among the first to suffer the game of the hasty COVID-19 pandemic in Hawaii that turned the global home game as it did in life in general.
In a short time all college and secondary sports were canceled, leaving closed gyms, grounds and swimming pools, some are.
Several primary events, including the Lotte Championship, Honolulu Marathon, Diamond Head Classic and SoFi Hawaii Bowl, were cancelled during the year.
It wasn’t until more than seven months later, on October 24, that UH opened its late and truncated football season in Fresno State that there would be a comeback festival for one of its sports teams.
For Rainbow Wahine, it would be nine months later, on December 14, before they returned to the competitive court, Hawaii Pacific University.
FOOTBALL UH
Less than two weeks after the start of the new year, 2020 already had a replacement year for UH football.
On January 9, Quarterback Cole McDonald announced his goal of leaving his senior year of eligibility to continue the NFL draft. Four days later, he announced that head coach Nick Rolovich was heading for greener pastures in Washington state.
By the time his replacement, Todd Graham, elected, hired staff and plans to begin spring practice were ready, the pandemic struck.
The Rainbow Warriors won their first game of the new regime and finished 5-4, culminating in a win over Houston at the New Mexico Bowl in Frisco, Texas. Ball catcher/carrier Calvin Turner, above, led the Warriors with 11 touchdowns.
WSL RETURNS
After the pandemic took the 2020 maximum from local professional surfers, the World Surf League began its 2021 season here last month.
Previously, the WSL had concluded its men’s and women’s championship tours here, but used the opening to begin its calendar in Hawaii, an agreement with the state and counties that respects COVID-19 prevention and social estating by prohibiting viewers from going to the beach.
The women’s championship tour began with the Maui Pro, which began at Honolua Bay and moved to Banzai Pipeline, where Australian Tyler Wright won the first women’s championship held at the legendary long-claimed and male-ruled site. John John Florence, upstairs, won the Pipeline Masters the same day.
ALOHA STADIUM
As the 45-year-old Aloha Stadium nears the end of its usefulness, plans to build its successor failed in 2020.
Due to a loophole in the proposed measure, the state legislature deferred the passage of Senate Bill 2940, which would have transferred authority over the allocation from the Hawaii Community Development Authority to the Aloha Stadium Authority.
It will now be up to the Legislature to approve the invoice when the new consultation opens in January before a winning builder can be named the 3 finalists.
The delay may force the state to postpone its scheduled opening on 2 September 2023.
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