Once the crown jewel of the University of Hawai'i's lower campus, Les Murakami Stadium has some of its luster restored.

Baseball fans returning to watch the Rainbow baseball team this season will be in for a field day. Out is the 11-year-old faded AstroTurf with its splitting seams. In is synthetic turf by Domo Sports & Leisure Grass that covers the bullpens and entire playing field, save for the pitcher's mound and home plate area.

Paradise has definitely been found.

"It's a source of pride that's back at Les Murakami Stadium that maybe over the last couple years that people were looking at it more of an eyesore," UH coach Mike Trapasso said. "And now it's a sight for sore eyes."

Indeed.

The old turf had outlived its seven-year warranty. Splits in seams could be seen from the farthest seats in the stadium. There were bad hops on grounders, making life for infielders an adventure at best.

"The turf had almost, well, not almost ... it became a safety issue," Trapasso said. "We could not have played another season on the old turf because it was getting dangerous."

The project started when Gov. Linda Lingle released $2 million in May for the turf replacement and other improvements to the 25-year-old stadium, which is nestled in the lower Manoa campus. Demolition of the old turf started in November and the playing field was ready for use when players returned to classes Jan. 14. Full team workouts started Tuesday.

Sports Turf Hawaii and RMY Construction were the contractors for the project. Sports Turf Hawaii owner Logan Hamocon said the project was within budget. UH did not have a figure by deadline. The field was still being touched up by the contractors even though it was released to UH for use.

The installation was perfect timing for the baseball team. It completed an expanded fall practice — the NCAA allowed more days for fall workouts because of the later starting date for the season — that was much-needed for a team with 15 newcomers, including 10 true freshmen. Hamocon said the installation was easy. The hardest part was tearing out the old turf, which he said was glued down pretty solid.

Hamocon said this was his company's biggest project. Some 100,000 square feet of polyethylene fiber was used. Rubber granules were distributed over the field with a tractor. The granules may be visible as black patches on the field; in time through use, they will be spread out. Some close-up TV shots or photos might show the granules being kicked up by cleats or when players slide or dive on the turf. The granules cushion the turf and allow batted balls to react like they're on grass. The parallel long-slit fibers have been 85 percent fibrillated, Hamocon said. The other 15 percent will come with by natural use of the field. Hamocon said he already has had positive reviews from the coaches and players.

"I like it a lot," senior center fielder Brandon Haislet said. "It plays pretty well for me and some other guys on the team. It's a new look."But the feel of the field is a work in progress. It will take the course of a season from natural use and rain before the field "settles." Only through playing time will the players figure out the speed of bounces. Early indications from infielders is that grounders react slower than on the old turf. Outfielders will have to gauge their angles on balls hit to the gaps and down the lines.

"The first year or two, the understanding with this type of surface, it's a little bit slower than grass," Trapasso said. "The way the ball rolls will obviously help all of us because the bounces are really true."

Based in Belgium, Domo has a manufacturing plant in Dalton, Ga., which supplied UH's turf. Relatively new to the U.S., Domo turf is used at Loyola Marymount's soccer stadium and in facilities of the Los Angeles Unified School District, Hamocon said.

With the new surface, the infield, once dirt with the AstroTurf, is now Domo turf in a rust color. The pitcher's mound and home plate areas remain dirt-filled.

Unlike the AstroTurf, which had a flatter texture like an office carpet, the Domo turf has polyetylene blades that resemble grass-like texture. Special brushes will be provided to UH for maintenance. But unlike the old turf, one can't just sweep away debris.

Players no longer can munch on sunflower seeds. The discarded shells would make it difficult to clean up. Also, gum has been banned. Discarded gum on grass can be cut. Domo turf, obviously, doesn't regenerate itself.

Stadium manager Glenn Nakaya was given a "50- to 60-page" manual on field maintenance. Because there will be less maintenance on game days, Nakaya said he is cutting down his student help crew from five to four.

Only the batter's box needs to be lined before games and the infield no longer has to be dragged.

Also, with turf on the base paths, only the mound and home plate areas need to be covered during rain delays. Nakaya said new circular tarps will be ordered for the two dirt areas. They will be weighted so no sand bags are needed to hold the tarps down, he said.

Fans will get their first look of the turf when the Rainbows play an alumni team Saturday. The season opens Feb. 15 with a three-game series against UH-Hilo.

Reach Stacy Kaneshiro at skaneshiro@honoluluadvertiser.com.