When Aloha Stadium rolled out a new $1.3 million artificial turf in May 2003, the expectations were that the new surface would last until early 2011. Six years later, the turf already has hit a rough patch.

Playing-field conditions have generated complaints and were a factor behind a major international soccer tournament declining to return to Hawai'i. The player-friendly artificial turf, which carries an eight-year warranty, was installed to keep the Pro Bowl in Hawai'i. University and high school athletics also benefit from the turf, which consists of blade-like material stabilized in sand-and-rubber infill.

However, the surface increasingly is drawing criticism that it's worn and no longer offers a soft cushion.

The stadium hopes to replace the turf before next football season, said Aloha Stadium manager Scott Chan. It's unclear how much new turf will cost. However, it's doubtful the costs will be covered by warranty, he said.

"No matter what we do in terms of the warranty, I don't know if they will replace it because it is acceptable — you can play on it," Chan said. "It's just not up to the standards we'd like to see for our athletes."

According to a 2005 Aloha Stadium planning study, the current turf wasn't scheduled for replacement until 2012 at a cost of $550,000.

Montreal-based FieldTurf provided the turf under a sole-source contract awarded by the Hawai'i Tourism Authority in 2002. The turf replacement was required under a contract between the HTA and the Pro Bowl to keep the annual all-star event in Hawai'i. The $1.3 million cost was split between the state and the National Football League.

This time around, it's unlikely the stadium can count on cash from the state's tourism promotion agency. That's because replacing the playing surface is the stadium's responsibility, said Lloyd Unebasami, HTA's chief administrative officer.

"The stadium is the responsibility of the stadium authority," he said. "We're not here to put in a new turf for the stadium. However, we're here to work with the stadium to find the best way that we both can work together to possibly help the stadium with a timely turf" replacement.

The authority considered bringing the Pan-Pacific Championships soccer tournament back to Hawai'i in a deal that could have helped pay for a new field. Under that proposed arrangement, the tournament, which was held at the stadium in February 2008, would return next spring, potentially offsetting business lost from the Pro Bowl's temporary move to Miami. Under one proposal, incentive fees paid by HTA to bring the international event to Hawai'i could have been redirected to pay for a new stadium surface, Unebasami said.

"Our cost for the event would stay the same; it's just a matter of where the money goes," he said.

However, the tournament opted not to return, partly because of turf conditions, stadium and HTA officials said.

"People are saying they won't come here because of the turf," Chan said. "Even though it's acceptable, they don't want to bring their event — I'm talking about soccer — so we're trying to address that."

The stadium started seeking money to replace the tough turf last year. Given the state's tight finances, it's unclear when the the turf will be replaced. At the very least, the turf likely will need replacing before the Pro Bowl returns to Aloha Stadium in 2011.

"I sure don't want to be the one that gives them an opportunity to say 'We're not coming back because of the field turf,' " Chan said.

"We're just trying to make sure it's in by 2011. If it's earlier, we're willing to entertain that because of the fact that little was known about this product back in the day when it was put in."