Tailgating will be available at every home game for the University of Hawai‘i football team, the first time UH fans have been able to do so for every home game since moving away from Aloha Stadium.
The Rainbow Warriors have played their home football games at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex at UH-Mānoa on a temporary basis since the 2021 season. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Rainbow Warriors played in an empty Aloha Stadium in 2020. After the 2020 season, Aloha Stadium was deemed unsafe to hold crowds of any kind.
Tailgate parties were initially prohibited from UH football games on campus until the school tried it out for one game on Nov. 30, 2024, which was also the season finale for the Rainbow Warriors.
For the 2025 season, fans are now able to purchase season tailgating passes for $250, which comes with a parking spot. Zone 13, the designated tailgating area, is placed on upper campus, whereas the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex is on lower campus. Tailgate passes must be purchased ahead of gameday.
A set of rules are in place for UH football tailgates, which includes no alcoholic consumption in the parking lot, as well as no charcoal, wood or deep fryers. Gas grills with tanks ranging from five to 25 pounds are allowed for cooking, however.
The tailgate area will open four hours prior to kickoff and close 30 minutes before kickoff, where fans will be instructed to make the walk to the on-campus stadium.
Tailgating is not allowed in the regular Zone 20 parking structure.
Hawai‘i will play its home games at the Clarence T.C. Ching Athletics Complex until 2027. The new Aloha Stadium is currently slated to open in time for the 2028 season.
Christian Shimabuku can be reached at christian@alohastatedaily.com.
