The constantly growing Hawai'i High School Athletic Association "SOS" (Save Our Sports) campaign now has brought light to the Maui Interscholastic League football season.

Thanks to more than $30,000 in contributions from Maui businesses and individuals, the MIL will resume its tradition of night football games, a month after state budget cuts forced a league decision to play day games to save on electricity costs.

"I ran into a constituent, who said (day games) would cause all kinds of problems," said State Sen. Shan Tsutsui (D-4th, Kahului). "I started calling around and found people who were very willing to help. The result was tremendous."

Leading the way was a $10,000 contribution from Keaka Robinson of Maui Linen Supply.

At least 20 other Maui businesses and individuals, including Tsutsui himself, contributed $1,000 each.

Tsutsui said preserving Friday and Saturday night football was important to the Valley Isle community.

"No. 1, it's tradition," Tsutsui said. "No. 2, it's not just (better for) the football players; it's the band, the cheerleaders, the fans. To have parents and grandparents coming out at 1:30 in the afternoon and sitting in the sun for three hours — that's not a good way to support those people."

This week's contributions — roughly totaling $62,576 — bring the campaign's three-week total to approximately $656,711. All money will go toward offsetting state budget cuts that left public high school athletic programs looking at more than a 36 percent shortfall for the 2009-2010 year.

This week's contributors include the Hawai'i Hotel Industry Foundation, which made a gift of $20,000 using proceeds from its Visitor Industry Charity Walk.

"We're glad to be a small part of the solution," said Murray Towill, president of the Hawai'i Hotel and Lodging Association. "We saw this as an opportunity to help the public schools get through these tough times."

L&L Drive-Inn and Foodland each raised more than $1,000 through promotional campaigns, and this past week's contributions also include almost $10,000 from a total of more than 100 individuals. KITV sports reporter/anchor Rob DeMello and wife, Christy gave $450; this follows a $500 gift last week from KITV co-anchors Gary Sprinkle and Pamela Young.

To contribute, make checks payable to "HHSAA SOS Account" and send it to HHSAA, P.O. Box 62029, Honolulu, HI 96839.

Contributions also can be made by going to www.sportshigh.com or at First Hawaiian Bank (checks only).