Tailgating is a nice
holiday gift for visitors
It looked a lot like Christmas at Aloha Stadium tailgate parties yesterday with University of Hawaii fans decked out in green and Houston fans wearing red.
Wini Tam said she and her family celebrated Christmas and opened presents in the morning, "just in case you got a nice shirt to wear to the game."
Tam and about a dozen friends were enjoying pre-Hawaii Bowl festivities at their usual tailgating spot in Section 12. Ray Ramones said the group has met at the same spot at every Hawaii home game for more than 15 years.
"When the season first started, we were waiting to see if the team got to the Hawaii Bowl, and they did," said Lisa Tam.
"You know, Sam Choy, he's outdated. You gotta come to Anakalea," said Ramones, pointing at tailgate chef Joseph Anakalea, who was putting the finishing touches on steamed moi "with lup chong on top" and lotus root soup.
Also on the serving table covered with a green-and-red Hawaiian-pattern tablecloth were roast pork, roast duck, spinach rolls, croquettes, salmon dip, Spam and rice, and bread pudding.
Families of University of Houston players, some wearing red aloha shirts and paper leis, gathered in front of Gate 1 at the stadium. A tailgate party for Houston fans was going on inside, but the person with their tickets was late.
Betty Krenek, aunt of Houston defensive tackle Kade Lane, said being able to come to Hawaii was like a Christmas present from her nephew.
"We've enjoyed it. We've done as much as we possibly can," she said.
"It doesn't feel like Christmas 'cause we're in Hawaii," said Amy Kolb, the sister of Houston quarterback Kevin Kolb. Usually the Kolb clan has a big gathering at Christmas, but this year, 11 family members are in Honolulu for the game.
As they waited to get into the stadium, Amy and other family members made up signs saying "Merry Christmas Texas" and "Go Cougs'" in hopes of being on television so the family members at home could see them.
Outside the ticket office, scalpers were asking $30 for $40 sideline seats. Some seats were being sold for $20.
Military families with ID could get in free. That's what attracted Gary Smialek, who serves in the Coast Guard, and two neighboring families to the game.
The group of about 15 people, ranging in age from 2 to 45, got their tickets at the box office and then went back to a pregame party.
"We had Christmas this morning. Now we're going to have Christmas dinner at the tailgate," said Amy Smialek.
Honolulu police Lt. Aaron Correia said there had been no problems for the first few hours after the parking lot opened yesterday morning.
"So far, so good," he said. "We're here to be visible, and we're not anticipating any problems but we're ready."
Not far away, Vili, the Warriors' muscular mascot, was putting makeup on Leland Char, 13, who said he weighs 90 pounds. Char was the first person to sign up for a KKEA radio station Vili look-alike contest at halftime of yesterday's game.
"I want to be just like Vili," Char said. "I want to have a great experience and walk on the field. I want to be in front of 20,000 or 50,000 fans."
Vili said he is enjoying the game and the contest.
"Everybody gets to look ugly," he joked. "It's nice. It's exciting to get everybody pumped up and showing the world we're the Warriors."