BY DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM Armed guards at the main security gate greeted Vincent Lemos and Pennie Tsuha.

Pro Bowl security
plays stingy defense

The tight rules force some fans
to miss the football game

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By Lisa Asato
lasato@starbulletin.com

Uniformed National Guard troops and helicopters circulating overhead were visible signs of increased security at the Pro Bowl yesterday.

Guard members, who carried sidearms but no rifles, helped check under parked vehicles and search arriving cars.

National Guard spokesman Maj. Chuck Anthony said he believes this is the first time the Guard has been called out to help with security at the stadium.

But not everyone was happy with the tighter security, especially the rules which banned bags and strollers.

"We came all the way from San Jose, Calif., paid $100 for tickets, and she can't bring in her purse so we can't go," said Paul Hartford, who caught a city bus from Waikiki with his wife, Mary.

"They should at least have lockers here," he said.

BY DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM Tight security at yesterday's Pro Bowl left some people unhappy, including Joanne Powell and husband Reg, above, who wondered what to do with her bag as security guard Kim Fong informed them that no bags or purses were allowed into Aloha Stadium. The Powells, from Minnesota, said no one advised them about the restrictions and lamented the lack of lockers.

Usher Hayley Taga had the job of telling people to return banned items to their cars or they would not be let in. A common scenario went like this: "We don't let in strollers," she told a couple trying to enter the gate. "What do we do?" they asked. "Take it back to your car."

"We don't have a car; we took a bus. ... We can't do anything?"

"I'm sorry."

"Most people are OK with it, but I can understand why they're mad," Taga said.

Shawn Stevenson and Amy Tuttle of Maui flew to Honolulu for the day. They were frustrated with inconsistencies at security checkpoints.

One gate would not let Tuttle bring in her purse while another would not let Stevenson bring in a plastic bag full of Pro Bowl visors and T-shirts he bought from a vendor outside the gate. "We just bought all this stuff and we can't take it in the stadium," he said.

Wackenhut Corp. security said tour companies were told to inform their Pro Bowl visitors of the ban on purses, coolers, umbrellas, weapons and backpacks.

Ed Spiezio, site supervisor at Aloha Stadium for Wackenhut estimated that there were 25 percent more security personnel on duty yesterday than at last year's Pro Bowl.

This year the NFL also required that water barriers be placed near parking lot entrances, he said, just in case "worst case scenario, someone wanted to drive a bomb into the stadium, those barriers were put in strategic places so that could not happen."

"It's a national game so we try to accommodate (the NFL) as best we can," he said. "People were very cooperative, and the game went well and went on without incident. Hopefully everybody had a nice time."

Most people said they appreciated the increased security.

"We're fine with all the regulations for the sake of everybody," said Angel Valido, who was tailgating with co-workers and customers.

Walking to the gates, Dewey Mullins, of Wahiawa, said he was encouraged to see security being taken seriously.

"I feel absolutely safe coming out here," he said, noting the helicopter overhead and police presence at every intersection coming in.

Army Sgt. First Class Robin Brown was going to see her first game at Aloha Stadium. She said she would like to have seen cars searched for "anything that may hurt anybody."

Those who arrived early said traffic was smooth. And in the hour before kickoff, lines into the stadium near the ticket office moved quickly even as Wackenhut security searched fanny packs and diaper bags.