Council advised to renew Hula Bowl

By Timothy Hurley
Advertiser Maui County Bureau

WAILUKU, Maui — A Maui County Council committee yesterday recommended approval of a contract extension that will allow the Hula Bowl Maui to be played at War Memorial Stadium Feb. 2.

However, members of the council's Budget and Finance Committee refused to endorse a multi-year agreement until they get a chance to examine the fine print and to look at any number of issues, including just how much revenue the county should receive.

The contract extension, to Feb. 7, was approved unanimously by the nine-member committee and is expected to be adopted by the same members, sitting as the full council, in a couple of weeks.

The upcoming game was originally covered under the contract for the first five years of the Hula Bowl on Maui. But in June the game was moved from Jan. 19 to Feb. 2 when the Hula Bowl struck a deal with the NFL to play its game on the same weekend as the Pro Bowl. (Since then the Pro Bowl has been moved to Feb. 9.)

The original stadium contract, however, would have expired Feb. 1.

Mayor James "Kimo'' Apana said he wanted to secure a long-term arrangement and would have taken a proposal to the council earlier, but it lost some priority in the aftermath of Sept. 11 and the dengue fever outbreak.

Some council members remained upset yesterday that the contract was brought to them so late.

"There are too many unanswered questions at too late of a date,'' said Councilman Wayne Nishiki. "It's pushing our backs to the wall.''

Committee Chairman Riki Hokama said he would schedule a meeting in the next few months to take a closer look at the mayor's five-year contract proposal.

Under the deal, the county would receive $1 per ticket sold in the first year, gradually increasing to $5 a ticket sold. If a sellout is 20,000, the county would gain $20,000 the first year, $100,000 the fifth year.