[ HULA BOWL ]
Marcia and Lenny Klompus officially cut ties with the Hula Bowl yesterday after a nine-year run that saw the game go from likely extinction at Aloha Stadium in January of 1995 to new life on Maui three years later. Schaller takes over
ownership of Hula Bowl
By Paul Arnett
parnett@starbulletin.comGov.-elect Linda Lingle announced yesterday that Lenny Klompus would be her senior advisor for communications once she officially takes over for Gov. Ben Cayetano in January. Marcia Klompus said she would help her husband in his new venture.
"Which means we have to give up the Hula Bowl," Marcia Klompus said. "I remember we took over that game in October of 1994 and had 90 days to decide whether we wanted to keep it alive. We said we needed at least 15,000 fans for the game and we got 20,000."
Klompus partner Dick Schaller will be the new owner of the Hula Bowl.
"And I told him to take good care of it," Lenny Klompus said. "There were many, many hours put into that game. When we took it over, it was on life support."
The Klompus' held the 50th anniversary on Oahu in 1996, then moved the game to Maui two years later, thanks in part to then-Maui Mayor Lingle. The first game in 1998 was a huge success, prompting the partnership to continue. This is the first of a new five-year deal that will keep the game at War Memorial Stadium.
"To tell you the truth, this is the first time in many, many years that I know very little about what's going on in college football," Lenny Klompus said.
Marcia Klompus added, "But I do know the Hula Bowl is in very good shape and in very good hands. We're both going to miss it, but we're very excited about what lies ahead."
Klompus said in August that he received a verbal commitment from Washington State quarterback Jason Gesser to play in the game in January. He added last night that the American Football Coaches Association and ESPN-TV had signed five-year deals as well. The Heisman Trophy committee is also expected to continue its ties to the game.
Hula Bowl
