The best thing about Hawaii’s college football bowl games might be the halftime and pre-game entertainment that will put island culture front and center for a national television audience – but maybe not for viewers in Hawai’i, where the events
The best thing about Hawaii’s college football bowl games might be the halftime and pre-game entertainment that will put island culture front and center for a national television audience – but maybe not for viewers in Hawai’i, where the events will be blacked out by ABC-TV if they aren’t sold out 48 hours in advance.
The games themselves pit teams with minimal marquee sizzle and win-loss records that have barely more wins than losses: Georgia, ranked 24th in the nation, versus Virginia in the Jeep Oahu Bowl the afternoon of Christmas Eve, and Boston College against Arizona State in the Jeep Aloha Bowl Christmas Day. These are second-tier bowls, so the matchps are about the best that promoters could hope for.
The entertainment will be a cut above, though. At halftime of the Aloha Bowl, Hawaii’s own Miss America, Angela Baraquio, will show the hula form that helped her win the crown. She’ll be joined by actress/singer Kassie DePaiva and Hawaiian pop star Ikaika Kahoano and Hula Joe and the Hutjumpers, the latter a swing band that’s built a following on Kaua’i.
And before the game’s opening kickoff, the show will be Dita Holifield, Hawaii’s top country recording artist, and the hula group known as Kuhai Halau O Kawaikapuokalani Pa Olapa Kahiko.
In addition, the state song will be sung at both games by local recording groups Forte and DisGuyz.
For Hawai’i, the games will be a non-TV event unless every seat in Aloha Stadium is sold far enough ahead. Oh, well, the main benefit for the state isn’t the football. It’s the nationwide TV exposure of the state’s culture and lifestyle that scores the most points for Hawai’i.
