Sheraton Hawaii Bowl

Whoops!
Got ahead of myself.
On Christmas Eve, I journeyed once again to Aloha Stadium for the final live football game of the 2009 season.
Coach June Jones made good on his promise to take the SMU Mustangs to a Bowl Game after a 25 year drought of losing seasons. They faced Nevada, who earned the right to represent the WAC after Hawaii lost to Wisconsin.

I had an early flight so I started with oatmeal at Starbucks instead of my usual favorite, fried rice and corned beef hash with eggs. I ran into Amy Kuraoka in the waiting area and caught up on the past few years. Amy is a devoted and knowledgeable Warriors fan too! Then the Walkers were in the seats behind me- all traveling to be with family on Oahu for Christmas. Their daughter is a medical student and takes care of the the wounded Warriors on the sidelines during the games!

My Tsai-ko tsister MeiLing picked me up and we met fellow blog friends at Schooners restaurant in Pearl Harbor for a pre-game lunch. I brought homemade cookies and my neighbor's ono kulolo (only took 2 scans at the airport) to share with everyone.

I was a good girl and had a salad with fish instead of the juicy burgers and fries that many of the other folks enjoyed.

After the kulolo disappeared, we headed to Aloha Stadium and hooked up with more Tsai-kos in the parking lot.

I got an SMU supporter shirt on the way to the gate and we got there just in time to see the SMU Band entertaining in the stadium. Here is part of our group. The halftime show featured Henry Kapono and an amazing fireknife dance routine!

As for the game, well, SMU ended their drought and reminded us of our Perfect Season when Colt Brennan and company lit up the playing fields for UH. I still get a lump in my throat to see the dedicated SMU fans who brought their support, their band, cheer and dance squads, their mustangs and mascots, traditions and their BELIEF to Aloha Stadium. Unlike our 30K Sugar Bowl Warrior faithful, they left that night with their team, their coach and the WIN.

I am so happy for them!

So after the game, and a lot of texting and facebooking, we got together again in the parking lot with more Tsai-ko friends and MeiLing and I headed to Sorabol to celebrate!

Sorry for the image quality. I accidentally left my cameras home and had only my iPhone to capture the moments. No- I'm not complaining  :-)