Stadium staff overzealous in searching patrons at gate

By June Watanabe

POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Oct 02, 2012

~~<p>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?</p>
<p>Answer: The guards were enforcing Aloha Stadium’s no-outside-food policy, but stadium Manager Scott Chan said searches should be conducted “within reason.”</p>
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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.” Login for more...