Sports Notebook
Star-Bulletin staff
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Fans can use Ford Island to park for some UH games
The Navy's Ford Island will be made available as an alternate parking site for some University of Hawaii football home games, Aloha Stadium officials said yesterday.
Fans can park on the island in the middle of Pearl Harbor for games where more than 30,000 spectators are expected. Fans will be allowed to drive on the military property and will be shuttled over the bridge to Richardson Field, across the street from the stadium, stadium manager Scott Chan said.
Fans will also be shuttled back to their cars. No tailgating will be allowed on Ford Island.
Leeward Community College, Kamehameha Drive-in and Radford High School also remain as alternative parking lots.
To entice more people to use the alternate lots, Chan said all fans who park there will receive access to an exclusive tailgate area at the stadium where they will be allowed to buy food at reduced prices as well as enjoy live entertainment, air conditioning and watch the game on TV.
Chan said the lower Halawa parking lot will open an hour earlier at 1:30 p.m. in an effort to decrease pregame congestion.
Stadium officials are also working to offer wireless Internet service within the aging 50,000-seat stadium.
"We're trying to keep up with the 21st century," Chan said.
Getting edgy
Sophomore running back
Leon Wright-Jackson was returning punts yesterday.
"It's my first day doing this here. The coaches want me to get in there a little, just in case," said Wright-Jackson, who added that he filled that role on occasion at Nebraska.
Meanwhile, junior cornerback Ryan Mouton was returning kickoffs. He said he'll pass on punts.
"I'm not a big punt-return guy," said Mouton, who likes some room to operate.
Comings and goings
Linebacker
Brad Kalilimoku returned to full duty yesterday after benching himself with a sore knee and hamstring on Wednesday. Kalilimoku is expected to start for the Warriors in certain situations.
Junior running back Khevin Peoples is out with a muscle strain in his back. It is not known when he can return.
Pool party
Dan Kelly made a field goal to end practice early and give the Warriors a pool party. No big surprise.
"I think everybody knew it was pool day and we didn't come in with the intensity," said quarterback Colt Brennan, who turned 24 yesterday. "We'll come out tomorrow and do better."
Cindy Luis and Dave Reardon of the Star-Bulletin contributed to this report