Council questions
Hula Bowl’s usefulness

WAILUKU, Hawaii » Maui County Council members are questioning whether the annual Hula Bowl college all-star football game is worth supporting.

Council members on the Budget and Finance Committee on Tuesday raised the question as it discussed the $11,062 the Hula Bowl owes from the game played in January, based on $2 per ticket sold.

"Has the Hula Bowl outlived its purpose?" Budget Chairman Riki Hokama said.

Hula Bowl owner and president Dick Schaller, who was not at the meeting, said he has until December to pay the county.

Council woman Charmaine Tavares said the game still provides a benefit to the community through television exposure. She said the Hula Bowl should continue to receive support from the county.

"We worked hard to bring the Hula Bowl to Maui," she said. "I'm for: Let us collect this money, but not jeopardize the Hula Bowl from being here."

The Hula Bowl was brought to Maui in 1998 after years of declining attendance at the 50,000-seat Aloha Stadium in Honolulu. Maui has since upgraded War Memorial Stadium and installed a new field for the Hula Bowl. But the game has struggled with financing because of a lack of major sponsors and low attendance.