Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 5, Number 3, 1 March 1988 — Tailgate Parties Ran Full Course [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Tailgate Parties Ran Full Course

Ho'olokahi represented many "firsts" for Hawaiians, one of them being probably the biggest tailgate party ever shared by this community. So you arrived at 11 a. m. after waiting in line an hour, and there are still four hours to go before the program begins? Plenty of time to party and eat. Take the hoaloha of Halau o Pohai Kealoha for example. These early birds got in the stadium line after midnight on Saturday morning in order to be the first in and to get their ehoiee parking !ot loeation for food setup. Their buffet-style line was at least two car lengths long, and offered ono food for the 39 dancers and their families. Rambling through the crowded parking lot under the noonday sun was like stro]ling through a blocks-long backyard party. On beach chairs or in late-model vans, in high-rider piekup trucks or lowriders, families from all over the islands eame to-

gether. The aroma of a thousand hibachi grills blended with music, laughter, babies crying and children laughing and kupuna telling stories. Walking from one row to another meant finding old friends and family, a ehanee to hug and laugh and catch up with eaeh other. Near the South Gate, one group definiteiy stood out. Showing their Hawaiian pride by flying not one, but two large Hawaiian flags from the back of their three piekup trucks, was this "ohana" from Hauula and Punalu'u, including Kauwila Werner and his wife Rhonda Bass, Junior Santiago and sons Scott and Lane Santiago, Kimo Sayles and his wife Ady. Thei^sumptuous tailgate feast, presided over by "Chuku" Kam, included ono fried ehieken, teriyaki beef, noodles, fresh lobster with butter, and sushi, all with a relaxed and happy feeling of aloha.

Showing their Hawaiian pride by flying a Hawaiian flag at tailgate party were, left to right, Kauwila Werner, Junior Santiago, Lane Santiago, Kimo Sayies and Scott Santiago.

Oldtimers Edward E. Lee and Sol K. Bright, famous for his "Hawaiian Cowboy" rendition, run into eaeh other at Ho'olokahi.