Renovations can begin on the University of Hawai'i-Manoa's Clarence T.C. Ching Athletic Complex (formerly Cooke Field) after the final protest against the awarding of the contract was rejected.

The second of two protests, by Ching's Nursery — the fourth lowest bidder — was dismissed today by the State Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs' Sheryl Nagata after a hearing last Thursday.

The other firm contesting the bid award was CO-HA Builders, Inc. which withdrew its protest last week. It was the second-lowest bidder.

"I'm tremendously pleased that legal obstacles are now removed and that we begin work on the project," said UH Manoa Chancellor Virginia Hinshaw in a release.

The contract of $862,381 was awarded by UH on Aug. 13 to the lowest-bidder, RMY Construction, Inc., to install a new synthetic playing surface.

The Legislature this session appropriated $1.2 million for the turf replacement project and the Ching Foundation is providing $5 million for the athletic complex.