A new year marks a new look for the University of Hawai'i. The athletics department, along with President David McClain, Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw, state legislators and representatives of the Clarence T.C. Ching Foundation dedicated the newly resurfaced Clarence T.C. Ching field on Monday, Feb. 2.

"This was our (the foundation's) first gift to the community. It was longer than we anticipated, but it's (the new field) here, and we couldn't be more proud," said Jack Tsui, chairman of the foundation.

The former Cooke Field was renamed the Clarence T.C. Ching Field last May after the athletics department received a $5 million donation from the foundation - the largest gift the UH athletics department has ever received. The gift kicked off the project, and crews broke ground last October.

"The installation of this field turf is the first step in the creation of the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex. Today we move closer to realizing this multi-purpose center of student activity, for athletics, physical education, recreation, band, ROTC, cheerleading and a site to host community events," said Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw.

The turf replacement project cost an estimated $1.2 million. It was installed by Sports Turf Hawai'i, the same company that installed the Domo turf at Les Murakami Stadium a year ago. The field sports the "H" logo and the word "Hawai'i" in both end zones.

"The turf comes in 15-foot panels (that) run from sideline to sideline, and there's a tape and glue that we use to secure the turf," said Sports Turf Hawai'i representative Logan Hamocon. "There are also roughly 230,000 pounds of sand that we put on and another 250,000 pounds of rubber, so that acts as a weight and balance."

State Sen. Shan Tsutsui was one of many who lobbied for the field reconstruction.

"One of the things that makes it (the field) so special is that the state was able to leverage private money, the $5 million from the Clarence T.C. Ching Foundation, and we looked at this as a great opportunity to accomplish a very important need for the University of Hawai'i," Tsutsui said.

The new turf was just the first phase of renovations to the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex, and, upon completion, the field is scheduled to include seating for 5,000 with locker rooms and coaches' offices.

"We're going to take our leadership from the athletic director and from the chancellor ... and prioritize some of the other projects that we want to move forward on," Tsutsui said. "Hopefully in a few years, the lower campus won't look anything like it did just a couple of years ago. So we're excited, and this is only the beginning and hopefully a lot more to come."

Cooke Field was the site of UH's first on-campus track meet in 1916 and was relocated to the makai campus in 1960. Although the track and field was renamed, the grass football and soccer practice fields will continue to carry on the name Cooke Field.

One notable difference between the T.C. Ching Field turf and the turf at Aloha Stadium will be an upgrade in the material, which is of a newer technology.

"It's a much thicker carpet ... (and) the lifespan of the field depends on the wear and tear and how well they maintain it, but it could be upwards of 15 years," Hamocon said. "There will be a machine that will be used to maintain the field that basically every time upon use, the field will need to be groomed and brushed in, rotating the fibers for the rubber to settle."

After being unable to use the field since 2003, the Warrior football team will kick off spring practice on the new turf on March 30.

Outtakes from the Clarence T.C. Ching field dedication ceremony

House Speaker Calvin Say

"The University of Hawai'i has an honored tradition of excellence when it comes to athletics. However, as much as the program depends on good student-athletes and on outstanding coaches, so does it depend on quality facilities," House Speaker Calvin Say said on behalf of the Legislature.

"With the completion of this new field turf installation, the campus takes a significant step in assuring the excellence for continuous years to come."

Chairman of the T.C. Ching Foundation, Jack Tsui

"This is truly a great day for all of us, the university, the Clarence T.C. Ching Foundation, the community and all the students. We are very excited about this because of the thousands of students that will use this, not just our great football team, but the entire student body," Tsui said.

"A few years from now, we will see other additions to this field, which will be equally spectacular and I think that community will embrace that also," Tsui said.

Kahu Kordell Kekoa

"It's about great people who bring about great facilities that do good things for the world," Kahu Kordell Kekoa said.

"There are many beautiful Hawaiian songs about the rain of M?noa and it's so true because look how green we are. Not just the band or their uniforms. Not just the turf, but it's also profitability. … That's what we remember and it's encouraging young people, not just our great education but for their future for their life."

Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw

"The field was in dreadful condition and it really and truly needed to be replaced for a long time. So this is why this is so exciting too," Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw said.

"The athletes will have a facility and a place where even if it rains, they can still to practice and get ready for their competition, so that's a big part of it. There we'll also have a lot of other activities as well from the band, ROTC and Special Olympics."