The state Department of Accounting and General Services is recommending a series of renovations and improvements for Aloha Stadium, including club and "super suite" seating, designed to upgrade and prolong for another "30 years" the life of the 33-year-old facility.

New private elevators would whisk patrons to exclusive suites and lounges and "enhance the spectator experience to a level on par with other venues of its size and, hence, its revenue-producing potential, thereby offsetting future maintenance costs," according to a section of the DAGS draft environmental assessment for stadium improvement.

State Comptroller Russ Saito and a consultant are scheduled to brief the Aloha Stadium Authority on the report at its June 26 meeting, according to Kevin Chong Kee, chairman of the authority. Public hearings are also planned.

The renovations, if they continue to be approved and funded, could make the stadium "look brand new" in four or five years, Saito said. Work would be scheduled around University of Hawai'i football seasons.

The report, prepared by consultant Myounghee Noh & Associates, says the project would "mitigate the current stadium condition to improve public safety and aesthetics and increase its useful life by at least 30 years." Chong-Kee said he believed 30 years to be "realistic."

"DAGS considers renovation of Aloha Stadium to be the preferred alternative to construction of a new stadium due to the relatively smaller financial burden this alternative would place on the public," the report states.

Aloha Stadium, almost since its 1975 birth, has been enveloped in lawsuits and costly repairs. Built at a cost of $32 million, it underwent $80 million in corrosion abatement alone between 1985 and 1995, fueling a continuing debate over whether a new stadium should be built — either on the present 88-acre site in Halawa or elsewhere — or the current facility refurbished.

The Noh report estimated it would have cost $240 million to $300 million in 2007 dollars (not including land and infrastructure costs) for a new stadium while capital improvements could be done for almost half that.

The first in the new series of renovations, funded by a $25.1 million appropriation from the Legislature this year, is to strengthen pedestrian bridges, raise rails and replace some roof elements, which have been identified as the most pressing safety needs. Aloha Stadium manager Scott Chan and the authority have made safety issues the priority in requesting funding.

In later years, the report proposes adding 12 suites between the two sideline main stairs at back of the lower bowl. Access would be through new elevators, which would also provide access to other areas by the disabled. The report said 308 of the current seats would be eliminated to make room for the suites.

The suites would each have two rows "of upgraded 24-inch-wide padded stadium chairs with one row of bar stools" and private toilets. Suites would contain 6 to 18 seats and 3 to 9 bar stools.

A sideline club lounge on the press box level would have padded seats and TV monitors as well as an enclosed lounge area with upgraded toilets and concession stands.

In addition, gaps between the end zone and sideline stands would be enclosed with what are described as "indoor club seats" and an expanded concourse party deck.

Since the stadium would be locked into football configuration, the existing baseball press box would become what is described as a "super suite" with a "unique upscale environment for approximately 270 premium seats," according to the report.

The report said, "it is anticipated that tickets would be sold to small and large groups on both a season and game-by-game basis."

Other plans call for adding passenger elevators, resurfacing parking lots and improving lighting.