Waianae High School’s Raymond Torii Field, located right on the shoreline, is expected to get $4 million worth of upgrades for the aging football stadium.

In March, Gov. David Ige released funds for the project, which also will improve the field’s track. The Legislature approved funding during the 2021 session. Now, surveyors have begun preparing the site for construction.

“It was a long time coming,” said Elizabeth Tiolu, the school’s athletic trainer. “We, at Waianae, have the worst athletics facilities in the state. Hands down.”

The new funds will be used to convert the football field from grass to turf and to rubberize the track for use in any weather.

The Raymond Torii Field is one of the few in the nation to sit just steps away from the ocean. Sunsets and crashing waves provide the backdrop to football games and other sporting events.

The project has a few tough construction challenges, Tiolu said. The field intersects a canal that is bridged through the stadium’s track. To complete the job, contractors must determine whether to stabilize the bridge or re-route the canal.

Rep. Cedric Gates, who represent Waianae, announced the release of funds via social media. Waianae Athletic Director Kekoa Kaluhiokalani met with contractors earlier this week to discuss next steps in the process, according to Tiolu.

In 2019, Raymond Torii Field was ranked fourth in the nation for best high school football stadium, according to USA Today. That same year, the school renovated its visitor bleachers. Tiolu said these new bleachers will most likely be torn down during the stadium’s upcoming construction, and she doubts those will be brought back.