Dana White teases UFC finally going to Hawaii with new arena being built

Dana White says the UFC is likely to finally hold an event in Hawaii once a new arena is completed in the state, potentially as soon as 2028 or 2029.

Hawaii has produced several UFC champions, most notably B.J. Penn and Max Holloway, yet the promotion has never staged a card there despite the islands being one of its strongest markets since inception. The barrier has always been infrastructure: existing venues lack the capacity and facilities to host a major UFC event.

White addressed the issue while appearing on The Rich Eisen Show, explaining that the state's new arena construction could finally unlock the door. "One of our biggest markets since day one has been Hawaii and we've still never put on an event in Hawaii," White said. "We've had multiple world champions from Hawaii. The infrastructure there can't support a UFC event. But now they're building a new arena there. Supposed to be done in [2028, 2029]."

The UFC president expressed enthusiasm about the prospect, noting that a Hawaii event would generate enormous interest among fans and staff alike. "I like destinations where people [want to go]. When we do UFC Hawaii, people will lose their minds. Who doesn't want to go to UFC Hawaii?" he said.

White acknowledged that while nothing is yet finalized, he views a Hawaiian UFC event as inevitable—a matter of when, not if. With multiple homegrown fighters currently on the roster eager to compete at home, the eventual arrival of the UFC to Hawaii figures to be a landmark moment for both the promotion and the state's fighting community.