• Alcohol sales on the line at Aloha Stadium Alcohol sales on the line at Aloha Stadium By ASSOCIATED PRESS HONOLULU — The Aloha Stadium Authority expects a large turnout Thursday when it hears testimony on a proposal to ban
• Alcohol sales on the line at Aloha Stadium
Alcohol sales on the line at Aloha Stadium
By ASSOCIATED PRESS
HONOLULU — The Aloha Stadium Authority expects a large turnout Thursday when it hears testimony on a proposal to ban alcoholic beverages at University of Hawai‘i football games.
“It’s not really a public hearing, but we will let anyone who wants to talk, talk and it will go however long it takes,” stadium spokesman Patrick Leonard said. “The board anticipates it will last several hours. We want people to voice their opinions whether they are for or against.
We’re setting up tons of seating.”Lt. Gov. James “Duke” Aiona has called for a ban on alcohol in the stadium parking lot before games, as well as inside the stadium during games, because of fighting, rowdy behavior and underage drinking.
Aiona wants the prohibition to begin with the University of Hawai‘i football team’s Sept. 3 season-opener against Southern California.
University interim President David McClain has said he supports the proposed drinking ban during games, but believes a parking lot ban would be impractical.
The Stadium Authority, not the university, has the final say on alcohol consumption, and already has a contract with a private company to provide beer for sale through 2011.
Grant Teichman, president of the Associated Students of the University of Hawai‘i, said he will testify at the request of Stadium Authority member Nelson Oyadamori.
“I’ll be there,” Teichman said.
“The biggest problem is nearly 50 percent of (Manoa campus) undergrads are 21. A lot of them asked us to get involved. Our stance is part of the educational experience is learning to be responsible adults.”The UH student senate passed a resolution Aug. 9 protesting the initiative.
Meanwhile, if a prohibition is enacted, police were uncertain whether they would have the authority to arrest drinkers on stadium property.
“If they ban it, we have to go back to our law to see if it would still apply to the stadium,” Deputy Chief Paul Putzulu said. “The law states you can’t be on public roadways, and areas like that, drinking. We’d have to see if the stadium parking lot and the stadium itself becomes a public area.”
Ewa Beach plays today in semifinal
The dreams of the West O‘ahu Little League squad are on the line in the United States semifinal match today on ESPN2, starting at 1:30 p.m., Hawai‘i Time.
Ewa Beach battles the Southwest champion Lafayette, La., squad.
The winner will move on to the U.S. Championship game against California on Saturday on ABC, starting at 9 a.m., Hawai‘i time.
Meanwhile, Japan jumped into the international championship game and will face the winner of Guam vs Curacao. The two teams play today at 9 a.m. on ESPN.
The championship match between the international and U.S. champions will be on Sunday on ABC, starting at 9:30 a.m.
Oride, Garcia reign supreme
Kelli Oride (girls 13-14) and Mike Garcia (boys 15-18) won in their divisions at the HSJA’s Junior Tee Series held at the Mauna Lani G.C. recently.
The two will play in a championship tourney on Dec. 10-11.
