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ASSOCIATED PRESS
Washington quarterback Jacob Eason (10) and teammates run out of the tunnel as smoke effects go off before a game against California, Sept. 7, in Seattle. University of Hawaii will play against them today.
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SEATTLE >> The University of Hawaii hopes to expand on a partnership with the Hawaii Tourism Authority that will be on ti-leaf-waving display at today’s Rainbow Warriors football game against Washington.
The HTA is spending $50,000 to distribute 1,000 ti leaves to UH fans, bring the school’s cheerleaders and help fund entertainment for tailgate, alumni and other events surrounding the game with the 23rd-ranked Huskies, officials said.
“No question, this is a partnership that we hope to grow in the future,” said UH athletic director David Matlin. “We look at it as a win-win for both of us.”
Seattle is the HTA’s third-largest domestic market for visitors, a spokeswoman said.
It is the first major partnership between UH athletics and the HTA since 2016, when the group sent representatives to NCAA basketball appearances on the continent by the Rainbow Wahine and Rainbow Warriors.
At the time, some legislators questioned why the HTA wasn’t more active in piggy-backing such events. Previously, the HTA had been a direct sponsor of UH athletics.
HTA president and CEO Chris Tatum, who took over in 2018, started talks with the school on potential collaboration earlier this year.
UH and UW cheerleaders and the Hawaiian Airlines Serenaders visited the Seattle Children’s Hospital on Friday. The UH cheerleaders and Serenaders also took part in an alumni gathering in Bellevue, Wash., and will be at today’s tailgate at the Waterfront Activities Center bordering Husky Stadium.
