Aloha Stadium is rusty. This should not come as a news flash to anyone who has lived in Hawai'i for more than five minutes.

OK, Hawai'i's principal outdoor sports and entertainment venue needs the $12.4 million in rust and corrosion treatment. The reality is, it is likely to be serving that function for O'ahu for years to come, so the state clearly needs to restore it at some point.

But the question is: How long are we going to be painting over the inadequacies of the stadium?

Aloha Stadium also suffers from structural and seating shortcomings and insufficient toilet facilities. It falls short of the mark with the Americans with Disabilities Act, too.

For these and other reasons, lawmakers have considered demolishing the Halawa stadium and swapping the site or selling it so that a new complex can be built closer to the second city in West O'ahu.

Legislators have been hesitant to shell out too much money for repairs because of the prospects for a new stadium. And yet they can't fully commit to a plan for a new stadium either.

At some point, state leaders have to put the paintbrushes away.

Quit wavering and make the decision, please.