The 23-year-old 4,312-seat stadium, known as "the house that Les built," was renamed the Les Murakami Stadium in 2002 in honor of the school's first Division I, full-time, head baseball coach.

Murakami, who took over in 1971, spent 31 years leading the baseball program, building it to a national power in less than 10 years.

"UH baseball is important to the athletics program and to the people of Hawai'i," said Lingle in a press release. "The upgrades to the stadium are needed to meet safety codes as well as to provide an improved venue for players, families and the community to enjoy."

"We are certainly appreciative of Gov. Lingle and the legislators who assisted the university in securing this funding," Athletics Director Herman Frazier said in the release. "This is a perfect example of a state, university and athletics department partnership. These funds will benefit our student-athletes and fans. They are a positive step toward facility upgrades at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa."