HALAWA — Understanding well the importance of a strong start, Jackie Andrade arrived at last night's season-opening football game between the University of Hawai'i and Central Arkansas with a tried-and-true game plan.

"My goal every game is to yell until I lose my voice, clap until my hands are bruised, jump up and down and bump the seat in front of me and chase away everybody from my section," said Andrade, 41, of Mililani.

The self-proclaimed "UH Queen" and her family joined a crowd of Warriors football enthusiasts that made up in early-season enthusiasm what it might have lacked in sheer numbers as UH rallied to win 25-20.

Like many of her green-clad brethren, Andrade said her growing anticipation of the first kickoff of the season began as soon as the Warriors left the field in defeat at last year's Hawai'i Bowl. She said she kept her "withdrawals" in check, barely, by watching Warriors replays on TV.

With traffic to the stadium moving unusually well, especially for a Friday rush hour, fans had plenty of time to sit back, eat and renew acquaintances with tailgate pals.

Dave Liggett, 54, of Kailua and pal Joe Cafferello, 50, of Kane'ohe reclaimed their traditional spot along Tailgate Row in the southside parking lot.

"I'm definitely hoping for a good season," Liggett said. "I hear the defense is good, and that will help the offense relax."

Liggett, who has attended nearly every UH home game over the past 15 years, said he noticed the drop in attendance since the Warriors' undefeated regular season two years ago.

"There are a lot of fair-weather fans," he said. "But we're not part of that."

Cafferello, who took a day off from his job as an electrical contractor, said the team could get off to a rocky start thanks to a schedule that finds them on the road through much of the early season.

"The next (home) game isn't for three weeks," he said. "That's really stupid."

While some chose to take in the game in person, others opted to watch at home on pay per view. About 80 fans found a reasonable middle ground at Consolidated Theatres Ko'olau Stadium 10 in Kane'ohe to see the game on a 30-foot screen. It's the second year that the theater has offered live viewing of UH football, for a $12 admission.

By halftime, with the Warriors trailing 14-9, most of the crowd sat silently in the dark.

"It's because we're losing," said theater general manager Art Downing. "Everybody is bummed out."

Last night was Kane'ohe resident Kalani Purdy's first time watching the game in a theater.

"I really like it," he said. "We're right up front and close to the action."

Purdy, 57, correctly predicted a second-half rally. "They're usually a second-half team," he said. "I still hope they pull this one out."

The mood was decidedly more festive at St. Francis School in Manoa, where principal Sister Joan of Arc Souza presided over a potluck viewing party in the school cafeterorium.

"It's a nice way to build 'ohana," Souza said. "We have students, faculty, staff, alumni, guests, babies — and we don't have to fight the crowd."

Buoyed by abundant food, cold Heinekens and a much-prayed-for third-quarter rally by the Warriors, the assembled fans cheered, groaned, whooped and grimaced with each turn of events.

"I'd like to see them make it to another bowl game," Souza said. "But it's OK as long as they play well, nobody gets seriously hurt, and everyone enjoys the season."

Susan Roberts, for one, thinks this year's team will emerge from the ups and downs of last year with more confidence and greater cohesion. Roberts, 39, of Royal Kunia was at Aloha Stadium with her husband, Richard, and 16-year-old son Parris.

For her, the first game of the season can be summed up in a single word. "Hope," she said. "Last season was last season. This is a clean slate."