UH football game on Maui good for all

By Lee Cataluna
Advertiser Staff Writer

A few years back there was a luncheon on Maui for a group of O'ahu business and government leaders to meet with then-Maui Mayor Linda Lingle. Mayor Lingle made an opening address as the little plates of arugula-and-walnut salad with liliko'i-pepper vinegarette were being brought to the table. She talked about all of Maui's attributes and accomplishments, emphasizing Maui's many "events."

Maui is very proud of its events, from the Taste of Lahaina, Kapalua Wine and Food Festival, the Onion Festival, the Pineapple Festival, the 'ulupalakua Thing (which involves onions, pineapples AND wine), Maui Writers Conference, Maui Film Festival, Makawao Rodeo, Halloween on Front Street, East Maui Taro Festival, Chaminade Classic and golf golf golf. There's something for everyone. Sort of. And that year, there was, for the first time, the Hula Bowl. Maui was extra proud.

An O'ahu lawmaker (he's back to being a private citizen now, so I'm not sure it's fair to bust on him for being so dakine and, besides, it's what he said that matters, not who he is) actually raised his head up from his macadamia-encrusted 'opakapaka with capers and asked the mayor: "It's good that you folks have the Hula Bowl and all, but how can we keep Maui from taking other O'ahu events?"

The mayor looked like she wanted to throw her poi and sesame seed lavosh at him.

As cheeky as the question was, you got the sense that it was on many O'ahu people's minds at the time, but that they had sense enough not to say it to the mayor of Maui.

This weekend, Maui hosted one of its proudest events of all time: the first UH football game played on a neighbor island. New Maui Mayor Kimo Apana was so beside himself, he must have used the word "really" fifty times during his half-time interview: "We're really, really excited to have the game here. We worked really, really hard and Maui businesses have been really, really supportive."

Apana had good reason to be really really jazzed: Maui did a good job. When the game was over, UH had won, and Maui won, too. Sure, there was room for improvement. But overall, people had fun.

So what's it going to take to bring UH football back to Maui on a regular basis? First and foremost is the UH schedule. Most years, UH has eight home games, but this year, there was one extra. UH could afford to give up the extra revenue from Aloha Stadium. Second, Maui has to want it. It sure looks like Maui does. Hula Bowl-Schmoola Bowl, it's just more heartfelt to cheer for a home team. And third, everyone has to buy in to the idea that it's a good thing, a community-building thing and not a Maui vs. O'ahu thing, that a game on Maui is good for all "us guys" and not just "you folks over there."

Lee Cataluna's column runs Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Reach her at 535-8172 or lcataluna@honoluluadvertiser.com