Wheeler Outdoor Track

Wheeler Outdoor Track
Name	Wheeler Outdoor Track
Location	Honolulu, Hawaii
Opened	1960s
Owner	State of Hawaii
Operator	University of Hawaii
Capacity	7,000 (approx.)
Surface	Rekortan M99 track surface

Wheeler Outdoor Track is an outdoor track and field venue located on the campus of the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa in Honolulu, Hawaii. The facility serves as the primary competition and training site for the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors and Rainbow Wahine track and field programs, hosting collegiate meets, high school championships, and regional athletic events. Positioned within the UH Mānoa campus athletic complex, the venue is an established site for Pacific-region competitions and community athletics.

History

Wheeler Outdoor Track traces its origins to the postwar expansion of the University of Hawaiʻi campus during the 1950s and 1960s, a period that also saw the development of Stan Sheriff Center-era facilities and improvements coordinated with the State of Hawaii Department of Education. Early iterations of the track accommodated local meets featuring athletes from Kaiser High School, Punahou School, and Iolani School, dovetailing with the growth of organized track in the Hawaii High School Athletic Association. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, the venue hosted Pacific regional events featuring participants from the Pacific Games and visiting teams from the NCAA Division I circuit. The facility gained prominence as the home of the University of Hawaii track programs under coaches who later moved on to roles at institutions such as USC, Oregon, and UCLA. Wheeler has also been used for community fitness initiatives in partnership with the City and County of Honolulu and the Athletics Hawaii organization.

Facilities and Layout

The track is a standard 400-meter oval with eight lanes surrounding a grass infield configured for horizontal and vertical jumps, as well as throwing events. The site integrates facilities common to collegiate venues: a competition-grade long jump runway, triple jump pit, pole vault boxes, and dedicated throwing sectors for discus, shot put, javelin, and hammer. Support infrastructure includes locker rooms associated with the Les Murakami Stadium complex, offices linked to the Department of Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Science (University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa), and storage used by the Big West Conference member programs. Spectator capacity is accommodated via permanent and temporary seating along the home straight, with press and photo positions suitable for events sanctioned by USA Track & Field and the NCAA. Proximity to campus landmarks such as the Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology and the Moanalua neighborhood situates the track within established transit corridors served by TheBus (Honolulu) routes.

Events and Competitions

Wheeler Outdoor Track annually hosts a mix of collegiate invitationals, high school championships, and open meets. Prominent recurring events include university invitational meets that attract teams from the Big West Conference, West Coast Conference, and visiting programs from Pacific-10 Conference regions. The venue has served as a site for qualifiers for the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships regional competitions and has been selected for state-level meets organized by the Hawaii High School Athletic Association and the Hawaii State Federation of Dopplers (sic—note: common athletic federations). Community-oriented fixtures have included relay carnivals that draw clubs such as the Hawaii Track Club and youth programs affiliated with USA Track & Field Hawaii. Special events have featured appearances by Olympic-caliber athletes from Japan, Australia, and the United States Pacific training groups.

Records and Notable Performances

Wheeler Outdoor Track has seen notable collegiate and regional performances, including meet records in sprint, middle-distance, and field events by athletes representing University of Hawaiʻi, visiting NCAA Division I programs, and regional clubs. Standout performances have been posted by athletes who later competed in the Olympic Games, the IAAF World Championships in Athletics, and national championships organized by USA Track & Field. Several Hawaii-born athletes who trained at the venue advanced to professional careers with stints at organizations such as Nike, New Balance, and international training groups in Oceania. Relay teams from Punahou School and Iolani School have recorded state-leading relay times at invitationals held at the track. The facility’s altitude and coastal conditions have occasionally influenced performance, prompting tactical race strategies comparable to those used at other sea-level venues like Hayward Field and Cobb Track and Angell Field.

Tenants and Organizations

Primary tenants include the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors and Rainbow Wahine track and field teams and the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa athletics department. The track also supports local scholastic programs from Punahou School, Kamehameha Schools, and Kaiser High School, and hosts clubs such as the Hawaii Track Club and youth programs affiliated with USA Track & Field Hawaii. Partnerships with the Big West Conference and the Hawaii High School Athletic Association facilitate championship scheduling and compliance with national standards. Community programming has involved collaborations with the City and County of Honolulu parks division and health initiatives tied to the Hawaii State Department of Health.

Renovations and Upgrades

Over the decades, Wheeler Outdoor Track has undergone resurfacing projects and facility upgrades coordinated with the University of Hawaiʻi capital improvement plans and funding sources including state appropriations and private donations from alumni networks associated with the Hawaii Warriors boosters. Renovations have included installation of a modern synthetic surface comparable to surfaces used at Hayward Field and Icahn Stadium, enhancements to drainage systems, and improvements to field-event sectors to meet World Athletics and USA Track & Field specifications. Recent upgrades also addressed spectator amenities, press facilities, and accessibility improvements to comply with standards promoted by organizations such as the Americans with Disabilities Act enforcement offices in Honolulu County. Future capital projects remain under planning review by the university in coordination with the State Historic Preservation Division when applicable.

Category:Athletics (track and field) venues in Hawaii Category:University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa sports venues