By Pat BigoldSays it never asked for the high school association's Aloha Stadium space
Lenny Klompus, Jeep Eagle Aloha Bowl Charities, said yesterday that his nonprofit organization will use its resources to find a new office for the HHSAA, which has been told to vacate Aloha Stadium by July 1.
Klompus said he decided to help the HHSAA after reading a newspaper report yesterday in which stadium manager Eddie Hayashi said the HHSAA office space was needed to store equipment for licensees like the Aloha Bowl and the Hula Bowl, both functions of Jeep Eagle Aloha Bowl Charities.
"We're in the business of helping young people and the last thing we'd ever want is to have something we do hurt young people," said Klompus. "We'll do everything we can to help these people find space. We know a lot of people who have space."
Klompus said he never requested, nor does he think he'll ever need the stadium office used by the HHSAA. He said the room he's used - for only six to eight days per event - has been adequate.
"It's wonderful when a licensee goes into a venue and is given the opportunity to store some supplies that they're going to use that week," said Klompus. "But it's for a period of five to seven days, not 52 weeks. We have our own offices (in the Varsity Building). We don't need somebody's office to store balloons, banners, and water coolers."
Klompus said he is sensitive to the current friction that exists between the incoming and outgoing HHSAA administrations.
"But I don't care about personalities," he said. "I care about the kids, period."
Hayashi said the the HHSAA is being told to leave the stadium because it has broken its ties with the Department of Education. The HHSAA became independent on July 1, 1995.