Dana White eyes UFC's first Hawaii event as new arena rises

UFC CEO Dana White said on The Rich Eisen Show that Hawaii is his most desired destination for a UFC event, noting it has long been one of the promotion’s biggest markets despite the UFC never having held a card there. White pointed to Hawaii’s shortage of venue infrastructure as the main obstacle, but said the situation is changing as a new arena is being built and is expected to be ready around 2028 or 2029. He argued that a UFC event in the “Aloha State” would be a major draw for fans and UFC staff, because people would “lose their minds” over the opportunity to attend. The comments follow the UFC’s broader international expansion, including first-time events in places like Serbia, while Hawaii remains a prominent U.S. market the promotion has still not visited. Multiple articles also cite Hawaii’s deep MMA history and star power—particularly Max Holloway and B.J. Penn—as part of why there has been longstanding pressure for a home-state UFC show. Competing venues in Honolulu have previously limited the UFC’s ability to stage the large-capacity events it typically prefers.