The buzz on Maui is building

By Christie Wilson
Advertiser Neighbor Island Editor

WAILUKU, Maui — Although tickets sales on Maui initially were slow, buzz for the UH-Montana game has been building in recent days. The Hula Bowl office at the Maui Mall in Kahului reported a flurry of ticket buyers in the past two weeks. As of yesterday afternoon, only scattered seats in the end zone remained.

It is unknown how many Hawai'i residents are flying to Maui for the game. Panda Travel, which arranges travel packages for off-island UH sporting events, sold out both its charter flights.

An estimated 2,000 Montana fans are on Maui for the game. About 100 of them greeted the visiting team Thursday at Kahului Airport. Baldwin and Maui high school students, clad in aloha wear, were also on hand to pass out lei and high-five the players.

Parking is $5 at the stadium, Keopuolani Park and Maui Community College.

Free shuttles will be available to take fans from outlying parking lots to the stadium. Shuttles will be operating approximately every 15 minutes, starting at 3 p.m. and running until an hour after the game's conclusion.

The gates will open at 3:30 p.m., with kickoff scheduled for 6:05 p.m.

Danny Kaleikini will sing the national and state anthems. Na Hoku Hanohano nominee Ellsworth Simeona and his hula halau will provide pre-game and halftime entertainment.

Maui County residents who played on past UH football squads will be honored during a pre-game show.

Other halftime entertainers include country music singer Dita Holifield, Kevin and Ikaika Brown and the Brown Ohana of Maui, and Richard Ho'opi'i.