GEORGE F. LEE / GLEE@STARBULLETIN.COM
New England Patriots fans Buck Rogers, left, Tracy McAuley, Lauren Merrill, Anne Coffeen and Clint Autrey cheered at the All Star Cafe in Waikiki yesterday during the broadcast of the Super Bowl.
Honolulu watering holes
and eateries host football fans
looking to catch the biggest
game of the year
First dates are supposed to be memorable.
So Barbara Southern, of Waikiki, and Terry Duggan, of British Columbia, Canada, kicked off their relationship yesterday with beers and football.
"It's a great first date," Southern said as the two sat along with about 200 others at Ryan's Grill at Ward Centre yesterday, gorging on appetizers and watching the New England Patriots and the Carolina Panthers duke it out in the Super Bowl.
"It's a big block party," said Southern, adding that she and Duggan were rooting for Carolina. "It's kind of a national event."
Across the state, residents crowded into homes, sports bars and beer halls to watch the game on huge screens and cheer on their team with friends. A number of eateries that highlighted the game with Super Bowl parties reported near record crowds.
Pipeline Cafe vice president and general manager Jed Roa said 300 people showed up at his club's football party yesterday.
That's more than for last year's Super Bowl, he said, adding, "I'm rootin' for a good game."
Mililani resident Wendy Schindler, who was at the cafe along with two friends, was rooting for a good time.
"We're not really for a certain team," she said. "We're just here to be here."
A few tables down, Darrin Tanaka, who has been catching the Super Bowl for more than 30 years, said the game is "an excuse to go out and party."
Cristina Castagnini, a psychology intern, said she lives for football and is behind Carolina.
"I hate New England because they kept the Raiders from going to the Super Bowl two years ago," she said.
Back at Ward Centre, sounds of the Super Bowl -- cheers, yips and boos -- could be heard coming from a few restaurants, including the kitchen at the Yum Yum Tree.
Adrian Valentin and her family are at Ryan's Grill, roaring for Carolina "because they haven't been to the Super Bowl" before.
But, Valentin said, "I'm a 49ers fan, so I don't really give a damn who wins."
At that, Valentin's family broke into laughter. "I think you've had enough to drink," her granddaughter told her with a laugh.
Valentine winks. "They have the best chocolate margaritas. You can watch the Super Bowl anywhere, but it's the little things that count."
