Stadium will try to spread Aloha

By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer

Workers prepare the new $1.3 million FieldTurf at Aloha Stadium for the coming football season. The high school Father Bray Classic will be held Saturday and the University of Hawai'i opens its season Aug. 30. Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser Prohibited items Weapons Coolers Backpacks Outside food or beverages Bottles and cans, fireworks Air horns or noisemakers Umbrellas Illegal contraband Permitted items (must pass security check) Fanny packs purses and handbags Adults with baby items to care for their child. All baby items must fit in a diaper bag. Strollers must be stored under your chair

In an effort to make University of Hawai'i football games more accessible, Aloha Stadium officials yesterday said they will revise some security procedures, increase the number of turnstile gates and add cameras that monitor traffic surrounding the stadium to its new Web page.

"This is what we're trying to do to make it more fan-friendly," Aloha Stadium manager Eddie Hayashi said. "If the message gets out, I feel the public will be happy and satisfied when they come to a football game."

In recent years, some fans have complained about the stadium experience, calling it an inconvenience to navigate traffic, pass security checks and endure long waits to watch UH games. Some fans even explained that it would be better to watch the games on television, rather than face the situation at the stadium.

The new plans will cover high school football as well as UH football games at the 50,000-seat stadium, Hayashi said. The first high school football game is the Father Bray Classic on Aug. 23, while UH opens its season Aug. 30 against Appalachian State.

For the first time in two years, fans carrying purses and handbags will be allowed into the stadium after the bags pass a security check. Also, express lanes at each entry gate will be available for fans without bags.

Ed Spezio, the stadium's Wackenhut Site Supervisor, said the stadium's extensive security measures deployed after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks were "not too well received" by the fans, but added the new security changes will be more user-friendly and speedier.

Scott Chan, the stadium's assistant events manager, said the revised security measures that would allow more items into the stadium would not jeopardize fan safety. He said the stadium would keep the same number of security personnel, about 75 Honolulu police officers and about 30 Wackenhut security guards.

"Now that time has gone by, we felt we had to loosen up and become fan-friendly," Chan said. "(But) we're not going to compromise security. We'll just do it in a more subtle way with training and more public awareness."

For entry into the stadium, the number of turnstile gates will be increased from 32 to 48. The additional entries will hopefully alleviate the backlog of fans who rush into the stadium just prior to the game, Chan said.

The stadium also launched a new Web site at www.alohastadium.hawaii.gov that covers security rules and other stadium topics. The site also gives commuters a sneak peak at traffic in Halawa.

Notes: Parking rates at Aloha Stadium are $5 for passenger vehicles and $15 for commercial trucks and buses. All parking gates will open to the public at 2:30 p.m. with turnstiles opening at 3 p.m.

Alternative parking will be available at the following sites: Leeward Community College (free parking, $2 shuttle service available); Kam Drive-In ($5 per vehicle, free shuttle service); Radford High School ($3, no shuttle service). Fans can listen to KKEA 1420 AM for live traffic updates.