Question: We went to the Saint Louis-Punahou football game Friday, Sept. 14, at Aloha Stadium. At Gate 1, two security officers were searching people, Gestapo-like, asking even little kids to show what was in their pockets and searching every little compartment of handbags and purses. They took everything edible, including mints, little rolls of candy and small bags of cough drops. My auntie had to give up a small bag of Cheerios meant for her toddler grandson. My 8-year old son had a marble-size piece of candy in his pocket that caused the security guy to chastise him, bringing my son to tears. He then told my son to throw it away or take it back to the car. What gives? We’ve been to many, many high school football games, and we are season ticket holders for University of Hawaii football games, but we’ve never seen such militarylike tactics before. Why is there so much focus on little things when there are major things to focus on?
Answer: The guards were enforcing Aloha Stadium’s no-outside-food policy, but stadium Manager Scott Chan said searches should be conducted “within reason.”
He said he extends his “sincerest apologies for the inconvenience” and frustration of the searches, but added, “Unfortunately, we must adhere to the contract in place with our food and beverage concessionaire.”
That contract states the stadium is not to allow outside food through the turnstiles to protect the rights of the concessionaire, who bid for the right to sell food and beverages on stadium property, he said. Fans can expect to be checked for prohibited items, including food and beverages, but “within reason,” he said.
“Although the procedure is not new, some of the security staffing the gates are, and we will continue to do our best to train and inform them of the approach we would like them to take” when doing checks, Chan said. “We will continue to do our best and hopefully improve our approach at the turnstile gates, but enforcing the rules at the same time.”
Prohibited Items
See what the Bag Check Inspection policy is on www.alohastadium.hawaii.gov, the Aloha Stadium website.
Among the items you can’t take into the stadium in addition to food and beverages, as well as the obvious (weapons and illegal drugs), are noisemakers, cans and bottles, umbrellas, coolers, fireworks, balloons, sticks, confetti, lasers, inflatable objects, poles, skateboards, skates, bicycles, animals (except service animals) and “any item which may pose a health or safety issue.”
Stadium-goers also are warned that “all bags, jackets, guests and vehicles are subject to check upon entering the premises.”
Auwe
To the person who went through the back of our truck at Aloha Stadium during the UH-Nevada game and stole new chairs I use for tailgating. It is kind of an honor system where you can leave some things out so that you can tailgate after the game. I hope this person gets what they deserve as what goes around comes around. Nothing like this has ever happened in our 12 years of tailgating. — Ed
Mahalo
To an honest person. On Aug. 29 I returned home from Pearlridge Center by bus, then walked to Foodland. When I went to get my wallet, it was gone! I immediately prayed to God that at least one honest person on the bus found and turned it in to the driver. I walked to Kamehameha Highway and waited for the same bus to return on its trip back to Honolulu. After a long wait the same bus with the same driver stopped to pick up a woman. I asked whether anyone had turned in a black wallet. The driver asked, “Do you live at (my home address)?” to which I answered, “Yes!” She then handed the wallet to me, with everything, including $50 cash, intact. I hope that honest person knows how appreciative and grateful I am. — Roger K. Poaha
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