Prior to the University of Hawaii football game on Saturday, I did something I do about twice a season. I stopped by a tailgate party before heading into work at Aloha Stadium. Ohana and friends listened to music, shared jokes and caught up with each other on a beautiful afternoon. Some enjoyed a few alcoholic beverages along with plenty of delicious food.

I can say with certainty none of these people were among those creating mayhem a few hours later, late in the game in the stands. These folks definitely weren’t involved in what those who saw it call one of the worst brawls ever at a UH football game.

And neither were the vast majority of the 30,568 at the stadium — people who know how to enjoy a sports event without acting like barbarians.

The fact that these fights are so common that we have varying levels to compare is bad enough. That people were badly injured and that the fight went on long enough to escalate and spill over to fans who were just trying to peacefully watch the game? That’s inexcusable.

I’VE KNOWN Aloha Stadium manager Scott Chan for many years, and have always been convinced of his sincerity in trying to make the facility as fan friendly as possible. But fighting in the stands is a growing problem — one which Chan and his staff, the Stadium Authority, UH officials, law enforcement, the Legislature and all other interested parties need to address. Immediately.

Yes, this is not a problem unique to Hawaii. But that doesn’t mean it’s to be ignored. Maybe there is no 100 percent solution, but steps must be taken before a tragedy like the beating at a Giants-Dodgers game last March that put a man in a coma — or worse, like the fatal shooting at the 49ers-Raiders preseason game — occurs here.

ALCOHOL IS OFTEN a major factor in these fights. Apparently, Saturday’s really got going when one young man threw beer into the face of another.

It was an extremely unpopular idea when Duke Aiona pushed for banning alcohol sales at the stadium a few years ago. Other colleges and conferences survive without selling beer at games. Continue to allow consumption in the parking lot? Maybe that can be part of a compromise, along with disallowing drunks to enter the stadium.

I’m against limiting personal freedoms because of the irresponsible actions of a few. But — especially at a state facility we all paid to build and still pay to maintain — public safety and access are the priorities. It’s terrible that fans won’t bring their children to the stadium for fear of their safety.

Cutting sale of beer (vastly overpriced, by the way) would mean lost revenue. But some would be regained as fans return to a more family-friendly stadium.

I keep thinking about the happy, friendly tailgate I attended. That is how nearly all UH football fans handle themselves. They know how to have a good time — those who drink and those who don’t — without infringing on others and creating a dangerous, uninviting atmosphere.

But the punks who want to get drunk and fight ruin it for everyone around them. It’s a problem that must be addressed before somebody gets killed.