HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Mayor Rick Blangiardi’s seventh and final Town Hall of the year Thursday evening included some long-awaited news for Oahu’s racing community.

“I am happy to let you know that the National Park Service has allowed us to do an interim use for the 20-acre lot out at Kalaeloa for a motorsports recreation use,” city Parks and Recreation Director Laura Thielen announced to the gathering in the Kalani High School cafeteria.

“They are looking forward to working with us on the long-term master planning as well,” she said, as applause broke out.

But there is a catch. Nearly 20 years after Hawaii Raceway Park shut down, putting all that asphalt off-limits, the new raceway will start as a dirt track.

Longtime racetrack supporter Li Cobian said the dirt track will be just

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